SHEA and PIDS Response to the Atlanta Killings, Violence Against Asian Americans

The Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society and Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America condemn the horrific killings of eight Atlanta residents in attacks on women of Asian descent. This event, fueled by hateful speech, discrimination and violence targeting Asian Americans during the coronavirus pandemic, underscores the destructive costs of racism, xenophobia and misogyny. We cannot tolerate the profoundly offensive slurs used to describe the coronavirus over the last year that have fueled bigotry and anger toward the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Now, more than ever, we must stand together in solidarity and support to the AAPI community in the United States and abroad.

To learn more about how to stop Asian American racial profiling and xenophobia related to COVID-19, please refer to Stop AAPI Hate or National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Hate Crime Resources. 

Mary Hayden, MD, FIDSA, FSHEA, President, Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America
Kristina A. Bryant, MD, FPIDS, President, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society