SUNY Downstate News Releases
By Office of Communications & Marketing | Mar 12, 2021
Racist Attacks
During last night's prime time address to the nation, President Joseph R. Biden—in
addition to discussing the progress and challenges of the coronavirus pandemic—raised
an increasingly troubling issue of the proliferation of hate crimes against Asian Americans who are erroneously viewed
by some as responsible for the virus.
In various parts of the country and in our own backyard of Brooklyn, our Asian and
Asian American families, friends, and colleagues have been assaulted and attacked.
NYPD data show 24 anti-Asian coronavirus-related hate crimes between Jan. 1 and Nov. 29, 2020—compared
to just three such crimes during the same period in 2019. Across the country, there were more than 2,500 reports of anti-Asian hate incidents
related to COVID-19 between March and September 2020.
This is simply inexcusable….and patently un-American.
The entire Downstate community echoes President Biden's statement that these attacks
are wrong and must stop. We must unite and denounce anti-Asian hate and racism in all forms; xenophobic profiling
is appalling and unacceptable. Hatred, violence, and discrimination against any ethnic
group are unacceptable and have no place in our country. The Downstate Health Sciences University community
stands against all forms of social injustice, whether it is vile rhetoric against
a person's religion, gender, or excessive use of violence by police because of someone's
skin color.
Any individual who believes they have experienced discrimination should immediately
contact our Office of Diversity and Inclusion at (718) 270-1738. You may also email
ODI at AskODI@Downstate.edu.
If you are having difficulty with these incidents and would like some additional resources,
please contact the Employee Assistance Program at (718) 270-1489 or email Magda Alliancin,
Ed.D. (magda.alliancin@downstate.edu). All calls and emails are kept confidential.
You may also reach out to the Office of Student Life & Services at (718) 270-2187 or email studentaffairs@downstate.edu. All calls and emails are kept confidential.
Thank you for all you do to make SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University an inclusive
environment where all are respected and appreciated.