Dean Erwin Chemerinsky sent the following message to the law school community on Wednesday, March 17, 2021:
Dear Law School Community,
The tragic killings in Atlanta appear to be the latest in a significant increase in anti-Asian violence in the United States. Last week, President Biden spoke of “vicious hate crimes against Asian Americans, who have been attacked, harassed, blamed and scapegoated.” Stop AAPI Hate, a coalition that tracks incidents of violence and harassment against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the U.S., has documented this terrible increase.
There is a long history of anti-Asian bias and unfortunately the pandemic has helped to fuel the xenophobia and hatred. As Chancellor Christ wrote in her message: “Racism and xenophobia are antithetical to our values and an affront to what we stand for as a university, so it is important in times like this that we come together, and stand together, in support of our friends, neighbors and colleagues.” We must all support our Asian American students, alumni, faculty, and staff and stand up against anti-Asian hate.
As a law school, we have a special role to play in fighting against all forms of racism and bigotry. We must loudly condemn this violence against Asian Americans and work even harder for greater equality in our school, our campus, our community, and our society.
Warmly,
Erwin
Erwin Chemerinsky
Dean and Jesse H. Choper Distinguished Professor of Law
University of California, Berkeley School of Law