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April 21, 2021

University Libraries' Diversity Council statement regarding anti-AAPI violence 

In keeping with our Diversity and Inclusion Statement, our past statements of solidarity, and the Virginia Tech Principles of Community, the University Libraries at Virginia Tech stands in solidarity with the Asian, Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Desi American community, and with the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA) in recognizing and strongly condemning the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes that have permeated our country over the past year. 

Our hearts are with the impacted communities as we mourn the hurt and loss of all the victims of the violent events that have taken place recently and historically. We reaffirm our solidarity in opposition to hate, racism, and violence in any form; and our commitment to create, sustain, and share inclusive ways of knowing in conscientious community with each other and all the people we serve in every space we shape, and to build and maintain enduring climates of mutual care, respect, and responsibility.

Asian, Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Desi American perspectives have been marginalized. As an action towards addressing this harm, we commit to making a concerted effort to build AAPIDA perspectives into our collections and events. As a library we want to remediate the persistent lack of knowledge about AAPIDA culture and history in our country. We also commit ourselves and urge our fellow Virginia Tech community members to counter silence and report acts of discrimination to the Office of Equity and Accessibility for review.