The Office of Diversity and Inclusion mourns alongside members of the Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander communities in the wake of this weekend’s mass shootings in California, the deadliest since the Uvalde and Buffalo shootings in May 2022. These acts of mass violence remind us that gun violence in the United States disproportionately impacts people of color.

We at ODI are heartbroken over yet another act of senseless violence against people of color, one that not only adds to the increased violence, harassment, and discrimination faced by Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, but that also disrupted a space of community building and celebration. We stand with you. We believe that everyone should be able to live without the fear of violence. We believe that anti-racism is anti-violence. To that end, we encourage everyone who is able to attend a candlelight vigil for the California victims on Tuesday, January 24th, at the Capitol Building in Hartford.

For members of the UConn community impacted by violence, know that the University has resources dedicated to supporting you. As President Maric reminded us in May, we must persist in the face of despair, and UConn’s researchers are contributing to the work to end gun violence in the United States. The University also provides access to mental health resources at Student Health and Wellness (SHaW). ODI has also compiled a list of resources for dealing with gun violence in our lives, as well as a list of mental health resources on-campus, off-campus, and at UConn Health. Visit the Cultural Centers and Programs, as well as UConn’s Faculty, Staff, Student, & Alumni resources pages for more information.

We are saddened by this violence. We stand with you and are dedicated to building safe and inclusive communities alongside you.

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