MATSOL condemns the surge in anti-Asian bigotry and violence since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic that has negatively impacted the Asian, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders community, many of whom are our students and colleagues. Specifically, we are horrified and saddened by the shootings in Atlanta on March 16, 2021 that killed 6 Asian women. We strongly stand in support of racial justice.
Racism and hatred have no place at MATSOL. We are committed to doing the necessary work to ensure we as an organization are practicing and supporting anti-racism.
Too often the history of discrimination against the Asian and AAPI community is overlooked and not included in our educational curriculums or conversations about racial justice. We want to make sure our members know that we are a community of educators who value diversity, equity and inclusion both within the organization and within the field of English education.
Please look for updates about how MATSOL will continue to collaborate with our members to address this issue going forward.
MATSOL Board of Directors & Staff
Resources
The MATSOL Educators of Color SIG will meet on Friday, April 9 at 3:30 PM for a listening session. The agenda will be to vent and support each other from the current hate crimes.
Please know that this is a space for all educators who identify as People of Color. Please respect the space.
If you’d like to join the group, email Jason Fei at jfei@matsol.org.
Here are a few helpful resources for teaching about the history of anti-Asian violence and racism in the United States (Thanks to Dr. Christine Leider):
- “Boxing” Asian American History curriculum unit
- Asian American PBS Documentary Series
- Anti-Chinese Racism: How Coronavirus Racism Infected My High School
- Ignoring The History Of Anti-Asian Racism Is Another Form Of Violence
- Anti-Asian violence has surged in the US since COVID-19. But it didn’t start there
- Stop AAPI Hate
TESOL Statement
As an affiliate of TESOL International Association, MATSOL strongly stands by the TESOL statement below:
TESOL Condemns Global Acts of Violence and Discrimination Against Asians
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous media reports and high-profile incidents have shown a growing number of verbal and physical assaults against adults and children of Asian descent in communities around the world. Often fueled by a rhetoric of lies about the origin of COVID-19, these actions and incidents of hate and xenophobia cannot be tolerated and must be denounced at all levels of government and society.
Last year, TESOL International Association (TESOL) supported House Resolution 908 in the U.S. House of Representatives, condemning the growing acts of discrimination and violence that were perpetrated against Asians since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is clear that despite recognition of this problem by many world leaders and advocates, these despicable actions have only continued to grow in frequency.
At its core, TESOL is an organization that values diversity, multiculturalism, and multilingualism. These acts of hatred and discrimination, directed toward communities that are made up of countless English learners around the world, run counter to those values.
TESOL is committed to working with its partner organizations and allies in order to combat the current epidemic of racism, discrimination, and xenophobia that is affecting our communities of color.
MATSOL: Equity & Excellence for English Learners 