Statement Against Anti-Asian Violence

The horrific massacre in Atlanta of eight people, six of them Asian women, prompts me to write to you again to reiterate that BU Bioinformatics has no tolerance for racist or sexist behavior. Our Program stands as firmly anti-racist. We pledge to do everything we can to make our society welcoming to every person.

It is saddening to see how over the past year a rise in violence against Asians has culminated in the recent massacre in Georgia. I am sure that you have seen videos of other attacks on Asian individuals, including the violent attack on a 91-year-old man on the streets of Oakland. But of course, these are only recent manifestations of the racist anti-Asian sentiment that pervades the history of our country. The shameless exploitation of Chinese workers in California in the 19th century, and the shocking internment of Japanese US citizens in the 20th century during World War II, are well-known examples. But it is the day-to-day racism toward Asian, Asian-American, and Pacific Islander (AAPI) individuals that we all must actively challenge today.

Our scientific community knows that every person is valuable and contributes to the good of society. There is no room for racism or sexism. We all must speak up against it when we witness its ugly occurrence.

Thank you for all you do to make this a better world.

Tom Tullius Professor of Chemistry Director, Program in Bioinformatics