Statement on the attack and murders in Atlanta, GA

We are horrified by the murders of eight people, including six Asian women, in a racially motivated hate crime by a white terrorist in Atlanta last week. Our department prioritizes an inclusive environment for persons from ALL identities, including and not limited to race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, and sexual orientation. We continue to take deliberate steps to assure that all members of our department feel that they are in a safe, supportive, and respectful environment. We explicitly state our support of Asian, Pacific Islander, and Asian American members of our department and condemn racism and hate-crimes directed at people from Asian and Pacific Islander communities by all forms and beliefs of white supremacy. We extend our sincerest condolences to those who have lost loved ones, experienced harassment or violence, or witnessed these horrific behaviors. We affirm that we stand by our Asian colleagues and explicitly remind all members of our department that we are here to support them.