Our country is, once again, in mourning following the murder of eight people—including six women of Asian descent—in Georgia on Tuesday. Police continue to investigate the motives of the person who carried out these attacks, but the fact that the man targeted women of Asian descent comes as we’ve witnessed a nationwide escalation over the past year in anti-Asian violence and xenophobia.

Stop AAPI Hate recorded more than 3,795 incidents of racism and discrimination against Asians, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders between March 2020 and February 2021.

The rise in anti-Asian hate, harassment, discrimination and violence experienced by members of our communities is heartbreaking. At the University of Utah, we stand in solidarity with our Asian, Asian American and Pacific Islander students, staff, faculty and community members and denounce race-based discrimination, bias and violence. Please join us in resolving to do what we can to stop the hate. Call it out. Name it. Speak against it. Report it.

We know that the murders in the Atlanta area and incidents of violence elsewhere in our country cause fear, anxiety and anger for many members of our campus community. We have numerous resources available to provide support and I encourage you to reach out as needed for help.