Message from the Chair
Dear Denton
"On the evening of July 14, 2020, an 89-year-old woman in Brooklyn was taking a walk when 2 suspects (both later identified as 13-year-olds) approached her. Without saying a word to the victim, one of the teens struck her in the face while the other set her on fire. They were later found and only charged with third-degree assault. On August 4, 2020, NYPD refused to deem this as a hate crime."
"On February 26, 2020, an elderly Asian man was seen collecting recyclables in the Bayview district (San Francisco) when bullies approached him and started using racial slurs and then they started to humiliate, assault, and rob him. The elderly Asian man was seen crying throughout the video. The perpetrator was charged with robbery, elder abuse, a probation violation (prior robbery), and a hate crime enhancement."
There are many more stories such such as the ones I pointed out. There is a nationwide rise in violence, discrimination, and xenophobia directed against the AAPI (Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders) community. It is our obligation to condemn the pervasive discrimination, racism, stereotyping, and injustice that exists now in our society.
While we grieve the current events that have caused pain and public outrage throughout our country, The Denton Together Coalition will continue to work alongside the community in our unified fight against injustice and unequal opportunity.
On behalf of the Denton Together Coalition, I invite the community to unite and dialogue on how we address racism in America. Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. said, “It is always the right time to do what is right.” Now is that time.
According to an article written by change. Org entitled Raising Awareness & Ending Hate Crimes Towards the Asian Community encourages us to act by:
- "Holding the court system accountable for prosecuting and sentencing the offenders to the appropriate crime(s).
- Recognize the increase in xenophobia and encourage victims of hate and racial offenses to report the crime to authorities.
- Attend educational seminars about the Asian community to grasp a better understanding of the issue.
- Pressure mainstream media to cover these stories.
- Urge witnesses to speak up during and after the incident.
- Use your platform to share the names of victims.
- Use your platform to get your friends and family involved.
- And, have the courage to call out hate crimes happing around you."
Peace,
Roxanne Del Rio, Ph.D.
Denton Together Coalition, Chair
Thank you change.org for providing details for this message.
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Message of Solidarity from the Denton Together Coalition
We are all deeply saddened by the tragic events that led to the murder of George Floyd and Rayshard Brooks and the many individuals that have lost their life due to racial brutality. We condemn racism. We condemn the structural and institutional biases that have created an environment and atmosphere that continues to support acts of discrimination. We will work to create a system that will change an unjust and unequal society which has stripped so many of our neighbors of their basic rights and opportunity to live in prosperity.
As I watched the video of George Floyd’s death broadcasted by the local and national news syndicates, I was bewildered by the lack of judgement and discretion of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin leading to the death of George Floyd. The news reported that Chauvin choose to bore his knee into George’s neck for almost nine minutes and while George continued to repeat “I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe” and as George called for his Mother before he took his last breath, Chauvin choose to disregard the state of George’s well-being. Officer Chauvin failed to use his discretion to safeguard George Floyd from death.
Our thoughts and prayer are with the Family Members of George Floyd. May God be with us all.
The tragic deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice, Sandra Bland, Philando Castile, Eric Garner, Freddie Gray, Botham Jean, Breonna Taylor and others had a tremendous impact on many of us, and I know we are all working to process what these events mean for our communities, our country, and our future.
On behalf of the Denton Together Coalition, I invite the community to unite and dialogue on how we address racism in America. Dr. Martin L. King, Jr. said, “It is always the right time to do what is right.” Now is that time.
While we grieve the current events that have caused pain and public outrage throughout our country, I find peace in the fact that Denton Together Coalition will continue to work alongside the community in our unified fight against injustice and unequal opportunity.
Denton Together Coalition fulfills its mission when we are unified with and responsive to the needs of our community. Sometimes that means acting as a circle of support for those who may feel that their lives don’t matter and other times repairing the fabric that keeps our community united. Our work and dedication to this mission is more important now than it has ever been.
Moving forward, Denton Together Coalition will continue to support those who do not have the loudest voice or even a seat at the table. We will continue to address racial issues and stand in solidarity with our community partners to keep our community safe from brutality and racism so that our community may live in a safe and prosperous place.
Peace,
Roxanne Del Rio, Ph.D.
Denton Together Coalition, Chair