(June 19, 2015) For Immediate Release
Contact person: Frank Xu 858-215-1162 info@sdaafe.org
San Diego, CA – San Diego Asian Americans For Equality (SDAAFE) strongly condemns the racially-motivated killing by Dylann Roof perpetrated at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families of this senseless crime. We Asian Americans stand hand-in-hand with the African American community and the rest of the country in our resolve not allowing the bigotry of a coward to drive hatred among people and communities.
SDAAFE is a rapidly-growing non-partisan political action committee with 1700+ members. We oppose racially-motivated actions of any kind, whether it is outwardly despicable or packaged under clever disguise, whether it is from the left or from the right. This is because racially-motivated actions “demean the dignity and worth of a person to be judged by ancestry instead of his or her own merit and essential qualities (Justice Kennedy).” In Charleston, a white supremacist only judged the African American community leaders in a prayer meeting by the color of their skin, whereas touching words of forgiveness from some victims’ families were already offered in prayers. What a powerful statement on the strength of character of the latter, which totally transcends the myopia view of black & white of the former. What a stark contrast between good and evil! At SDAAFE, we believe people from different communities should tolerate, respect and celebrate the vitality and diversity among people, and work together to build a just and equitable world that could be color blind. Together we shall overcome.