To the Cardozo community,

Over the past year, during the pandemic, there has been a deeply disturbing surge in violence, hate crimes and verbal assaults directed against Asian Americans. As you may know, President Biden has signed an executive order condemning the attacks and calling for better data collection to help understand these disturbing trends in criminal violence.

Xenophobic scapegoating and violence targeting Asian Americans, the rise in Anti-Semitic violence, and hate crimes against Black Americans cannot be tolerated. This disturbing trend demands forceful and thoughtful responses from the criminal justice system, political leadership and society at large. These attacks appear to be widespread and ongoing. We support all efforts to fight against the rise in anti-Asian American hate speech and violence.

Within the Cardozo community, it is important to understand that patterns of hate crimes and violence against any group can result in cultural trauma, and to recognize that the rash of violence directed against people of Asian descent may impact people in our community in different ways. If you are interested in talking through how to address these issues, or if you have been a victim, please reach out to Dean of Students Jenn Kim or Director of Diversity and Inclusion Bobby Codjoe in the Office of Student Services. The Counseling Center is also a resource for those experiencing trauma.

Cardozo stands against racism of all kinds and reaffirms our commitment to work individually and as a community to resist forces of hatred and to support healing. No one should be subject to violence and incidents of hate. Asian Americans across the country are experiencing such violence and hate more frequently than at any time in recent memory. We denounce all forms of racial and ethnic hatred, and we stand with our Asian and Asian American students, alumni, faculty, and staff.

Dean Melanie Leslie

Dean and Dr. Samuel Belkin Professor of Law