Dear Members of the Ossining community:
All of us were horrified this week by the mass shooting that occurred in the Atlanta area, taking the lives of eight victims, six of whom were women of Asian descent. While the motive for these murders is being investigated, they still represent appalling acts of hatred.
Whether related or not, in recent weeks and months we have witnessed a reprehensible surge in violence targeting the Asian, Asian-American, and Pacific-Islander community, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. According to one source, Asian-American hate crimes have increased by nearly 150% in major cities (Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism of California State University, San Bernardino). These acts have included brutal and cowardly attacks on the most vulnerable: an 89-year-old woman in Brooklyn, an 84-year-old man in San Francisco, just to name two.
We are fortunate to have an Asian, Asian-American, and Pacific-Islander community. You should know that we stand with you and support you, and unequivocally condemn all acts of hatred and prejudice. In addition to our community support during this significant rise in these attacks, we are focused on your ongoing sense of belonging in Ossining.
What can we do as a community?
Whenever and wherever innocent people are targeted because of who they are, we have an obligation to come together to show that we are united, we stand as a single community, and we reject acts of hate. Our first concern is for the well-being of our families in our community. Anyone who witnesses acts of violence or bias is urged to take action by immediately reporting it to the appropriate authorities. All members of our community must live, work, and play without fear.
No matter how you identify yourself, you and your family should know we are here for you. We stand with you to keep you and your loved ones safe.
Sincerely,
Mayor Rika Levin and the Village Board of Trustees
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