A Statement from the ONYX National Council on behalf of the Men of ONYX.
On March 16, eight people were killed at three different spas in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Six of the people killed were Asian American and all but one were women. This comes at a time when the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community are already grappling with the trauma of increasing violence nationwide. According to recent studies, hate crimes against Asian-Americans have increased by over 150% across our nation's major cities. Likewise, we are all painfully aware of the on-going epidemic of state-supported violence against our brothers, sisters, Trans siblings and arguably every minority group comprising people of color or members of marginalized communities.
Sadly, we share the experience of hatred and bigotry all too well. We add the names Daoyou Feng, Delaina Ashley Yaun Gonzalez, Hyun Grant, Paul Andre Michels, Soon Chung Park, Suncha Kim, Xiaojie Tan and Yong Ae Yue to the long and ever-growing list of those whose names we must not forget. The United States' long history of white supremacy and systemic racism is deeply rooted in our social fabric. The Men of ONYX stand united against the misogyny, white supremacy and systemic racism we constantly endure within our wonderfully diverse communities.
The marked rise in acts of anti-Asian hatred and violence that is occurring against the entire Asian community and specifically Asian women is unacceptable. We condemn these deplorable acts of racialized and gender-based violence and stand with the Asian and Asian-American community and their loved ones. Xenophobia and racism have no place in ONYX. We are committed to being a community of acceptance and true belonging for all people. We call upon the Men of ONYX and our allies to continue to reject hatred and violence and strive instead for empathy, understanding, and compassion for all people.
The tragic events in Atlanta also require us to reassess the manner in which we support and demonstrate solidarity for our brothers and friends in the Asian-American community. Yes, it's exhausting as People of Color to live in this space when harm and injustice are ever increasing without limits. Yes, we have work to do across our many marginalized communities to ensure we build better bridges in our own levels of mutual understanding and support. To this end we recall the words of Dr. King: ''Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. we· are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly." Our communities are interconnected. Standing united for one group does not devalue the rights or needs of others within of our community- but rather it strengthens those rights.
We play an important role in supporting both our Asian-American members and the AAPI community as a whole:
Listen first.
Act with compassion, understanding and empathy.
Reach out to our impacted friends and allies. Continue to check-in and demonstrate solidarity.
Speak out against anti-Asian hate speech when it occurs.
Educate ourselves. Anti-Asian racism and xenophobia are not new phenomena.
Examine our own practices and culture within ONYX chapters toward the development of a standard Code of Conduct that holds members responsible for their words and actions.
Make our voices heard when we make decisions regarding Federal, State and Local elections.
Engage in productive discourse with the Asian-American community to expand understanding.
As People of Color, we the community must stand united for all our members and allies. We call upon our siblings in Leather and Kink, our LGBTQIA+ family, and all people of conscience to take a stand against anti-Asian racism.
ONYX SW stands in support of our AAPI members and associates.
Silence is complicity. Demonstrate solidarity! Speak up! Take Action!
The Men of ONYX