AIPLA Stands for Equality and Inclusivity, Now and Always

Last June, the Association wrote an open letter to the AIPLA community in response to the killing of George Floyd and others. This March, we again published a statement to condemn acts of violence against the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. It is therefore with a profound sense of frustration and sadness that we must again address acts of hate. 

Antisemitic violence and rhetoric have unfortunately become more commonplace in recent months. We hold an obligation to our fellow members and the IP community at large to condemn hateful acts and rhetoric toward any person or group of people, due to race, ethnicity, religion, affiliation, orientation, or any other identifying characteristic. In the words of Nobel Laureate and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, “there may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.”

As an Association, we stridently declare once more our values of encouraging inclusiveness and diversity. As members of the AIPLA community, we must together seek positive change. AIPLA has long maintained a comprehensive Diversity Mission Statement, adopted more than a decade ago, and reaffirm that all people have a right to safety and to be free of harm and harassment. Our Diversity Mission Statement remains at the heart of the Association’s activities and is consistently on our minds, but particularly when we receive unsettling reminders.

AIPLA stands for equality and inclusivity, now and always, and will continue to seek unity and celebrate diversity, within the Association and throughout the greater community. 

Joseph R. Re
AIPLA President