Lane Powell condemns racism, hate, xenophobia and discrimination in any form and against anyone. The recent rise in hate-based violence towards Asian Americans leads us to join the call for action to put an end to these racially-motivated violent acts. Nearly one year ago at the beginning of the pandemic, Lane Powell signed the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association’s (NAPABA) Stand Against Hate campaign, and we now renew our support.
The tragic events seen in Atlanta this week, taken together with the more than 3,000 recorded hate incidents against the Asian American community since the start of the pandemic—along with many others that have gone unreported—make clear that we are witnessing a significant rise in anti-Asian violence. The U.S. Department of Justice recently announced its plan to investigate this rise in hate-based violent extremism against Asian Americans.
Racism against the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community has a longstanding and disgraceful history that extends far beyond the Coronavirus pandemic. From the Chinese Exclusion Act to the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII and the rise of the “model minority” myth in the latter part of the 20th century, Asian Americans have consistently been targets of discrimination throughout America’s history.
This discrimination and violence must stop. Lane Powell wholeheartedly stands with and supports the AAPI community in ending all forms of racism, hate and xenophobia. Times like these remind us as a firm that it is imperative we continue our efforts to combat discrimination in all communities through our pro bono work and investment in community organizations and bar associations. We remain committed to work together to collectively address anti-Asian hate, eradicate racism and advance racial equity.