“We of the VONA community condemn the recent wave of anti-Asian hate crimes, racism, and animus, and we express our deepest sympathy and support for the Asian American community. So many of these hate crimes have been directed towards Asian American women and elders, and the murders in Atlanta have reinforced the trauma and pain the Asian American community has experienced this past year.

But this pain is not just recent; anti-Asian animus has a long history in America--from the lynching of 18 Chinese in LA in 1871 to various anti-Asian immigration laws to the ways America’s wars and tensions with Asia have fueled racism against Asian Americans.

Our BIPOC community of writers, artists and activists must continue the fight against racism in all forms and in support of all our communities. Our lives and our stories are intertwined and we are so much stronger when we all stand together.”

— VONA Board of Directors

M. Evelina Galang, President; David Mura, Secretary; Maurice Carlos Ruffin, Treasurer;
Stacie Evans; Samuel Autman; Yaniyah Pearson; Connie Pertuz Meza