Overview
McDermott Will & Emery Executive Committee member Stephanie McCann and Global Diversity & Inclusion Committee Chair Anthony Upshaw issued the following statements on behalf of the Firm:
“We are heartbroken and outraged by the rising discrimination and violence against the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) and Asian communities. Last week’s deadly shootings in Atlanta, where six of the eight victims were Asian women, like me, has hit home as a truly alarming reminder that unrest and violence in 2021 is still on the rise.
Mistreatment of anyone, regardless of their race, economic status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or cultural and religious background is intolerable. We must condemn and fight against discrimination in our communities. An act of violence or hate against any individual is an act of violence or hate against us all.”
– Stephanie McCann, McDermott Will & Emery Executive Committee Member
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“In 2020, Anti-AAPI and Anti-Asian hate crimes in the United States has increased by 150%. Many of our colleagues have expressed sorrow, frustration and a desire to help create positive change. As a starting point, we will continue our work to combat racism, hate and discrimination and focus fiercely on diversity, equity and inclusion at our Firm, in our profession and in our communities.
For more immediate action, we are sharing the tangible actions recommended by our pro bono partner, Asian Americans Advancing Justice (Advancing Justice). These resources are starting points and we look forward to embracing new ideas from within our McDermott family.”
– Anthony Upshaw, McDermott Will & Emery Global Diversity & Inclusion Committee Chair
What Can You Do? Resources collected by Advancing Justice
- Report and help the Advancing Justice document hate and harassment: If anyone in our communities has witnessed anti-Asian discrimination, the Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC) organization invites you to share your experiences; the site is accessible in Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese.
- Learn Intervention Techniques: Advancing Justice has partnered with Hollaback! to make training available to equip people with techniques on how to safely intervene when they see or experience anti-Asian harassment.
- Follow Advancing Justice to receive updates about the organization’s work, including ways to get directly involved in your local areas:
- For additional resources on addressing anti-Asian hate and COVID-19, see:
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