04/08/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/08/2021 09:01
A Plague of Violence Fueled by Hate
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the virus has brought on a second epidemic as well: a plague of acts against members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community, a group that has faced a long history of discrimination. Shootings in Atlanta, in which six Asian women died, beatings in the streets of New York and San Francisco, and boycotts of Asian-owned businesses have intensified national attention.
The Stop AAPI Hate report, as quoted in the Los Angeles Times, notes 3,795 acts against Asian Americans between March 2020 and February 2021 in the U.S. The study found that the incidents consisted of 68% verbal abuse, 21% shunning and 11% physical assaults. In plain numbers, that's about 417 documented assaults on members of the AAPI community. Violent physical attacks have been committed against victims from various Asian ethnic backgrounds and ages, ranging from children to senior citizens.
The events and numbers remind us why we're committed to standing up for justice and speak out against hate. Real change requires creating awareness and a continuous, concerted effort by a network of individuals, communities, charities and businesses.
Assurant Acts Against Hate and Violence
At Assurant, we recognize it's a critical time worldwide to deepen levels of understanding, engagement and actions aligned with our values and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Acting on our core principles, we're marshaling our resources to stand up for our AAPI clients, customers, employees and neighbors. Assurant President and CEO Alan Colberg stated, 'I stand in solidarity with our Asian and Asian American colleagues and communities, continuing to denounce these and any acts of violence motivated by hate. As one action, we are and will continue our charitable giving to help those community partners that fight against racism, hatred and violence.'
We're leveraging the resources of the Assurant Foundation with several concrete steps to support the AAPI community:
Acting on Assurant's Values
We value the diverse voices and talents of our people because creating a global culture of mutual respect is simply the right thing to do. A truly inclusive culture requires a journey, and we know we have more to learn. So, we renew our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion every day. Because it's only by listening to and valuing different perspectives today that we can create the innovations of tomorrow.
Assurant's dedication to doing what's right starts at the top. For a clear statement of our emphasis on social justice, read these posts by president and CEO Alan Colberg:
We continue to support fair and respectful treatment for all people - not only within our own doors, but also throughout the world. Read more about our commitment to DEI in our 2021 Social Responsibility report.