The recent deaths of unarmed Black people, unjustly targeted by the law enforcement and others, are heart-breaking and painful. The perpetuation of such tragedy reveals the harsh inequities in our society. Korean American Grassroots Conference stands in solidarity with the Black community suffering from hate, bigotry, discrimination and violence, based on race.
KAGC condemns the use of excessive force and violence by the law enforcement, especially as it disproportionately targets people of color. KAGC also denounces any use of language and gesture that stokes fear, xenophobia, and racism. KAGC calls for tangible action to heal.
KAGC sends condolences to all surviving families and joins in mourning the death of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless Black lives unjustly lost to racism.
According to a research collective Mapping Police Violence, Black Americans are three times more likely to be killed by police than white Americans. The levels of violent crime or population of people of color have been proven to be uncorrelated to the rates of police violence, as well. Since 2017, the number of fatal police shootings has been increasing past a four-digit figure per year in 2019. But, these are not just statistics; these are people whose lives have been taken unjustly and abruptly:
- George Floyd, unarmed and choked by a police officer on May 25, 2020 (age 46)
- Breonna Taylor, unarmed and shot by a police officer at home on March 13, 2020 (age 26)
- Ahmaud Arbery, unarmed and shot by neighbors while jogging on February 23, 2020 (age 25)
- Philando Castile, unarmed and shot by a police officer on July 6, 2016 (age 32)
- Alton Sterling, unarmed and shot by two police officers on July 5, 2016 (age 37)
- Tamir Rice, unarmed and shot by a police officer on November 22, 2014 (age 12)
- Michael Brown, unarmed and shot by a police officer on August 9, 2014 (age 18)
- Eric Garner, unarmed and choked by a police officer on July 17, 2014 (age 43)
- Trayvon Martin, unarmed and shot by a neighbor on February 26, 2012 (age 17)
- Latasha Harlins, unarmed and shot by a Korean American clerk at a liquor store in L.A. on March 16, 1991 (age 15)
Over the last few days, we have seen a rapid rise of protests across the nation, some of which included incidents of riots. In response, National Guard troops have been activated in 23 states and the District of Columbia, and curfews have been imposed in more than 40 cities as of today.
While KAGC laments the harsh reality of limited options available to express frustrations against the continued injustice, we denounce riots, looting, and burning. The ones bearing the brunt of such reaction are often the vulnerable among the protesters, small businesses, and their employees—who have still not recovered from the public health, economic, and racial justice crises still on going. Since last Thursday, at least ten Korean-American stores in Minneapolis, six in Georgia, five in North and South Carolinas, four in Los Angeles, and one in Florida have been looted.
KAGC also applauds all of our partners, supporters, friends, and students who have time and again spoken out for the need for solidarity and stood with Black Lives Matter.
Students attending the 2016 KAGC National Conference joined a Black Lives Matter protest near the Capitol after the program.
This is not a matter of law enforcement versus Black people, nor is it a conflict between different communities of color. This is all of us against racism, and all of us for a just, inclusive America. We call our community members to join in the collective pursuit to be a part of the change through consistent and active participation as Americans of Korean descent. Change requires all of our civic engagement in our daily lives, rather than at sporadic conveniences. KAGC is committed to serving as an effective ally of the Black community and all others suffering from the social inequities. In Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s words, “We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.”
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The largest nationwide network of Korean American voters, the Korean American Grassroots Conference is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization dedicated to uplifting our community through active civic engagement. With various civic engagement programs throughout the year, KAGC educates the public on the key issues of the Korean American community and empowers the community members to amplify their voice. KAGC is a 501(c)(3) organization, and donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowable under the law.