Asian Pacific American Studies Program Statement on Antisemitism

September 28, 2021 - Naoko Wake

The faculty and staff of the Asian Pacific American Studies Program write to express our concern at recent antisemitic incidents at MSU. As faculty and staff dedicated to educating our students and broader MSU community about white supremacism with the goal of ending it, we recognize the shared roots of antisemitism, anti-Asian racism, anti-Black racism and all other forms of racism. As Asian Pacific Islander and Desi Americans (APIDAs) and Asians in the United States have faced increasing anti-Asian incidents, Jews in the United States have also faced increasing incidents of antisemitic harassment, violence and vandalism. We share our sorrow and indignation at all these acts of hatred, especially when such hatred is expressed in deadly acts of violence. We also recognize that American Jews, like APIDAs, have faced undue questions about whether the threats that they face are truly hate crimes and whether their fears of racism are overblown or unfounded. We stand in solidarity with Jewish students, staff and faculty at MSU, in our local community and anyone negatively affected by the recent incidents. We reject all forms of racism.