GeoEquity Statement on Violence Against the Asian Community: April 7, 2021
GeoEquity acknowledges the recent escalation in anti-Asian violence. We stand in solidarity with our Asian community members during these tough times. We support the diversity of ways in which communities have been resisting hate, bigotry and prejudice towards the Asian population. The violence is inexcusable, intolerable and abhorrent.
GeoEquity would like to emphasize the power of bystander intervention in mitigating instances of anti-Asian violence. There have been several new (and free) trainings recently released that we would like to direct you towards:
– EPS’s Gradinars are providing a bystander training on April 21st, please email Suzan if interested
– NU Office of Equity Bystander Training
GeoEquity’s mission is to foster a more just and equitable community for all, and we can all play a role in creating that space.We also recognize that educating oneself is an active act of resistance against racial violence and prejudice and kindly direct you towards the following resources:
Press releases by Stop AAPI Hate, a reporting center collecting data on anti-AAPI violence:
AAAJ resources and programs to combat anti-Asian hate:
Anti-Asian American hate incidents, though clearly on the rise, have been underreported:
An overview of the rise in anti-Asian violence during COVID-19:
Organizing efforts to combat anti-Asian violence in Oakland, CA:
A report on anti-Asian violence in the Bay Area:
N.Y. Representative Grace Meng’s bill to address anti-Asian hate crimes:
In solidarity,
GeoEquity Organizers
GeoEquity Statement of Support of NUCNC: November 4, 2020
During these difficult times, GeoEquity leadership would like to share a message of support with our community:
As members of GeoEquity, an organization comprised of faculty, staff, and graduate students from the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, we express support for the peaceful protests, as Black and brown members of our Northwestern community and across the nation are disproportionately intimidated and brutalized by police. The work of student activism holds a key role in making the university a better place, and we are unequivocally opposed to the idea that our students need to be held “accountable” for peacefully protesting. We call for university leadership to instead hold themselves accountable to actions proposed on June
14th.
University leadership has failed to comprehensively listen to and work with the members of our community. We want to amplify the
statements and calls to action made by the Faculty and Affiliates of the African American Studies Department on October
15th and
20th and by many campus organizations and individuals on June
3rd. We are disappointed in University leadership for the chronic dismissal of the vast expert knowledge on anti-racism and de-colonization that exists within our Northwestern community. We urge President Schapiro and university leadership to immediately begin addressing the urgent recommendations put forth by the Faculty and Affiliates of the African American Studies Department, including but not limited to, anti-Black racism and ties with police at Northwestern.
GeoEquity Leadership
EPS Statement of Support: June 5, 2020
June 5, 2020
Dear Earth and Planetary Sciences Community:
George Floyd. Ahmaud Arbery. Breonna Taylor. Tony McDade. Iyanna Dior. Christopher Cooper. These names are familiar to us all now, and the violence against them reflects the most recent examples of the brutality affecting the Black community. They are Black people who did nothing to deserve their fate. These are only a sample of names from amongst the countless victims of racist injustice and white supremacy from across the United States.
The Faculty and Staff of the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS) stand against racist injustice to the Black, Brown, and all marginalized communities, but we recognize the current focus is on #BlackLivesMatter. We stand against police brutality in all of its forms, and systematic discrimination in academia and beyond. We recognize that making these statements alone is insufficient. We must look inwards, and have the difficult conversations about the past failings of our Earth science community. We must root out barriers and policies that allow or promote racism, and work together to build a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable future. In short, we need to do the work that has been neglected for far too long.
To our Black students and colleagues: we stand with you. Our community (EPS, Northwestern and beyond) is stronger with you in it, and we commit to cultivating an environment that explicitly values inclusion, equity, and justice.
As we move beyond statement making and into actionable commitments for systematic change, please bear in mind the following Northwestern resources that may be of immediate assistance:
GeoEquity is excited to launch our newest fundraiser initiative: the “Diversify” Sticker Series! This fundraiser supports two Black led non-profit organizations.