Framingham business leaders condemn attacks against Asian Americans
Photo | WBJ File
Downtown Framingham
A group of business, nonprofit and community stakeholders in and around Framingham released a collective statement on Saturday condemning verbal and physical attacks against Asian Americans, following what it describes as an uptick in racist attacks across Massachusetts and the country.
The statement comes after a March 16 shooting in Atlanta which killed 8 people, six of whom were Asian American women, and after a year in which watchdog organizations have reported an increase in violence targeting Asian American and Pacific Islanders, following anti-Asian statements made by former President Donald Trump in relation to the coronavirus pandemic.
“As we celebrate the Lunar New Year, these news stories are particularly heartbreaking. What is supposed to be a time of celebration and togetherness for millions of people around the world has been marred by these senseless acts of violence,” the statement reads.
Signatories attached to the statement include Jim Giammarinaro, president of the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce; Towma Rastad, business marketing group account representative for Wegmans Food, Scott Richardson, principal and vice president of Gorman Richardson Lewis Architects; Jim Cuddy, executive director of South Middlesex Opportunity Council; Eric Masi, president and CEO of Wayside Youth & Family Support Network, Inc.; Helen Lemoine, executive director of Leadership MetroWest; Martin Cohen, president and CEO of MetroWest Health Foundation; Paula Kaminow, vice president of operations-Framingham and contracts at the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center; Lino Covarrubias, CEO of JFS of Metrowest; Steve Kerrigan, president and CEO of the Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center; Anna Cross, executive director of MetroWest nonprofit Network; Paul Mina, president and CEO of United Way; Maria Rosado of Pelham Learning Center; Diane Gould, president and CEO of Advocates, Inc., as well as a spate of educational, religious and civic leaders.
The letter further called on members of the community to work to combat racism against the APPI community in their everyday life.
“In our busy days we must take time out to evaluate the environments we work and live in, and make changes if we are not inclusive,” the statement continued. “In addition, we must always take action to prevent any scenarios where hate, discrimination, bullying, and inequity are allowed.”
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