hate crimes – Fordham Now

Fordham Community Convenings on Anti-Asian Violence and Racism

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 18:47:19 +0000

Since the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, hateful political rhetoric, xenophobia and scapegoating of people of Chinese and East Asian descent have led to a sharp increase in anti-Asian violence and hate crimes in the United States, culminating in the horrific murders of eight people outside of Atlanta, GA, last week – six of whom were Asian women. We join Fr. McShane in condemning the hateful demagoguery, and misogynist and racist attitudes that fuel such acts of violence, and stand in solidarity with our Asian, Asian American and Pacific Islander American family, friends and colleagues.

Please join us for two panels featuring Fordham students, faculty and staff who will reflect on the historical and contemporary impact of anti-Asian violence and racism in the U.S., strategies for healing, and the possibilities for interracial solidarity at Fordham and beyond.

PANEL 1: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 2021
5:00pm – 6:30pm
Click here to join Zoom meeting

Featuring:

Mary Balingit – Associate Director for Diversity Initiatives, Office of Admissions
Arthur Liu – FCRH ’23, Economics and Political Science double major, and President/Asian Cultural Exchange
Jennie Park-Taylor – Associate Professor, Counseling Psychology, Graduate School of Education
Stephen Hong Sohn – Professor, and Thomas F.X. and Theresa Mullarkey Chair in Literature, School of Arts & Sciences

Moderator: Rafael Zapata, Chief Diversity Officer, Special Assistant to the President for
Diversity, and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs

PANEL 2: MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021
5:00pm – 6:30pm
Click here to join Zoom meeting

Featuring:

Eric Chen – Professor, Counseling Psychology, Graduate School of Education
Arianna Chen – FCRH ’22, Political Science and English double major and Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion/United Student Government
James Kim – Associate Professor, English, School of Arts & Sciences
Tiffany Yip – Professor and Chair, Psychology, School of Arts & Sciences

Moderator: Jeffrey Ng, Director, Counseling and Psychological Services

Special thanks to Akane Zusho, Interim Dean of the Graduate School of Education and Professor of School Psychology; Carolyn Velazquez-Atis, Administrative Assistant to the Dean at the Graduate School of Education; and Jacqueline Gross, Senior Executive Secretary in the Office of the Provost, for their critical support in making this event happen.

President’s Message on Anti-Asian Violence

Mon, 15 Mar 2021 21:58:37 +0000

Dear Members of the Fordham Family,

In recent months we have seen an increase in hate crimes against Asian Americans, most acutely in California, but also occurring in other cities with Asian populations, including New York. Our own Professor Tiffany Yip, Ph.D., professor and chair of the psychology department, held an important conversation on the topic with WFUV’s Robin Shannon, host of Fordham Conversations, last month. I encourage you to listen to, and reflect upon, their interview.

The University condemns in the strongest possible terms the use of hateful rhetoric and violence against people of Asian descent, and the xenophobic and racist thinking which underlies those attacks. It is wrong, of course, when any group is singled out for hateful treatment, but it seems especially bitter to scapegoat a group—one that includes our neighbors, friends, and members of the University community—for a pandemic in which they are suffering the same fears and deprivations as every other American.

It is especially in moments like this that we should enlarge, rather than shrink, our circle of compassion. Being people for others emphatically does not mean “only others whom we deem worthy.” I want to believe that we are making progress in this sphere, however fitful it may seem, and that more and more people of goodwill are finding their voices and opposing ignorance and bigotry wherever they find it. Because that is what we are called to do, my friends: called by the Gospel; called by our loved ones and friends; and called by the better angels of our nature.

Please know that I pray for all of us to have the discernment and will to do what is right in these trying times.

Sincerely,

Joseph M. McShane, S.J.

Violence Is Not the Norm: GSS and BK Nation to Co-Host Peace Conference

Joanna Mercuri — Thu, 19 Jun 2014 17:46:02 +0000

A spate of violent incidents recently highlighted in the news has yet again called the nation’s attention to a problem plaguing the country.

Next week, activists will gather at Fordham to send the message that no amount of violence should be tolerated.

On Saturday, June 28, Fordham University and BK Nation, in conjunction with Erica Ford’s Life Camp, will host the inaugural “Peace is a Lifestyle” conference at Fordham’s Lincoln Center Campus. The conference will tackle serious societal issues including gun violence, hate crimes, bullying, and violence against women and girls.

Peace is a Lifestyle Conference
Saturday, June 28
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Pope Auditorium | Lincoln Center Campus
113 West 60th Street, New York City

The daylong gathering will feature prominent speakers, as well as activists, advocates, academics, elected officials, and concerned community members of all ages.

“We want to galvanize a lasting coalition of anti-violence advocates from around the five boroughs. There are a lot of groups that are loosely working together, but we feel that there needs to be more of a collaboration, sharing information and resources,” said Kevin Powell, president and co-founder of BK Nation.

“It’s also important for the city to see this, because there is no [single]office in New York City that funds these sorts of efforts, which we think are critical. There are smaller offices that deal with discrete issues, but we feel there needs to be an overarching initiative to address violence.”

Powell, who will deliver the conference’s keynote address, has already worked extensively to curb violence in New York City through BK Nation, a national organization that promotes community activism to address matters such as education, civic engagement, health and wellness, and job and small business creation.

“Violence is an epidemic in our country. If you look at the last couple weeks alone, with the shootings in California and Oregon, you’re almost bracing yourself for the next tragedy,” Powell said. “We don’t think violence should ever be normalized in our society. There should be an outcry about these types of things happening. It should never be the case that people feel the solution to a problem is to commit a violent act against others.”

In addition to identifying pressing violence-related issues in the city, the conference will explore possible solutions and actions that communities can take to bring the city closer toward peace.

“In the wake of violent acts that are taking place both here and around the world, people in our communities are feeling hopeless. We are increasingly aware of the violence, but unaware of the groundbreaking work that’s being done in the anti-violence movement,” said Priscilla Dyer, special projects administrator for theGraduate School of Social Service (GSS).

“With this conference, we hope to go beyond talking about the problems to formulating viable solutions moving forward,” she said.

The conference is free and open to the public. For more information, visit the conference website, email Priscilla Dyer, or call 212-636-6623.

— Joanna Klimaski Mercuri