Washington, DC - APALA Executive Director Gregory Cendana made the following statement:
APALA continues to demand Justice for Akai Gurley and stands with his family who still have to deal with the reality of losing a loved one too soon at the hands of police. No matter the identity of an officer, we believe we must hold all cops accountable for their actions, especially when innocent lives are lost. This rings true even in the case of Officer Peter Liang, an Asian American, who was found guilty of manslaughter and official misconduct by a grand jury. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) across the country, led by those in New York, were the ones who called for Officer Liang be held accountable and continue to support Akai’s family.
Members of our community are not immune from police brutality. Examples include Cao Bich Tran, who was shot and killed by a San Jose police officer, Fong Lee, who was killed by a police officer in North Minneapolis, and Sureshbhai Patel, who was left nearly paralyzed after being brutally beaten by an Alabama police officer. In these cases, AAPIs demanded the officers involved be held accountable - no matter their race or other identities.
Furthermore, we understand the disproportionate impact state violence has on Black lives and refuse to have Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities be used as a wedge for racial justice. In this moment, we call on AAPI organizations and the broader community to declare #BlackLivesMatter, join hands with people of color to end criminalization in our communities and fight for our collective liberation.
Please show your support by tweeting the following:
Officer #PeterLiang Found Guilty, @APALAnational Doubles Down on Support for #AkaiGurley & Family #AAPI #1u #p2 http://bit.ly/1Quo70t
APALA continues to demand Justice for Akai Gurley and stands with his family who still have to deal with the reality of losing a loved one too soon at the hands of police. No matter the identity of an officer, we believe we must hold all cops accountable for their actions, especially when innocent lives are lost. This rings true even in the case of Officer Peter Liang, an Asian American, who was found guilty of manslaughter and official misconduct by a grand jury. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) across the country, led by those in New York, were the ones who called for Officer Liang be held accountable and continue to support Akai’s family.
Members of our community are not immune from police brutality. Examples include Cao Bich Tran, who was shot and killed by a San Jose police officer, Fong Lee, who was killed by a police officer in North Minneapolis, and Sureshbhai Patel, who was left nearly paralyzed after being brutally beaten by an Alabama police officer. In these cases, AAPIs demanded the officers involved be held accountable - no matter their race or other identities.
Furthermore, we understand the disproportionate impact state violence has on Black lives and refuse to have Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities be used as a wedge for racial justice. In this moment, we call on AAPI organizations and the broader community to declare #BlackLivesMatter, join hands with people of color to end criminalization in our communities and fight for our collective liberation.
Please show your support by tweeting the following:
Officer #PeterLiang Found Guilty, @APALAnational Doubles Down on Support for #AkaiGurley & Family #AAPI #1u #p2 http://bit.ly/1Quo70t
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