FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 19, 2021

Statement from the Virginia Poverty Law Center

The Virginia Poverty Law Center (VPLC) stands in solidarity with the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community in light of the tragic shooting that occurred in Atlanta, GA, Tuesday night. We mourn the loss of these victims and send condolences to their loved ones. We are outraged over the rise in violence against Asian Americans in this country and condemn racist violence in all its forms. 

In our work serving victims of domestic and sexual violence and protecting elders from abusive and predatory practices, we know that racism and sexism are inextricably linked to the plight of low-income people from the AAPI and Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities. 

We commit to supporting our fellow AAPI-led organizations and doing the necessary work to dismantle racist, sexist rhetoric and create racial equity. In keeping with our mission, we are committed to reforming the institutions that fuel or perpetuate anti-Asian racism that allow these injustices to persist. Through our tenets of advocacy, education, and litigation, we will continue working to ensure that all Virginians have equal access to justice, regardless of their ethnicities. 

In solidarity, 

VPLC Staff 

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