SALISBURY– The City of Salisbury, Maryland is pleased to announce its virtual celebration in honor of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month. The City stands in solidarity with the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community and firmly denounces any hate or violence directed at the AAPI community.
In 1992, Congress designated May of each year as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month. May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants.
Recent studies show that 1 in every 4 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have experienced some sort of hate crime or violence in their lives, and so far in 2021, 1 in every ten members of the AAPI community have had at least one of these experiences.
“Salisbury prides itself on being a place where all are welcome, where all are equal, and where everyone deserves to live their lives free of discrimination and violence. We are proud to stand with the AAPI community this month and every month, and we will continue to advocate for all members of our community wherever possible,” shared City Administrator Julia Glanz.
Everyone is encouraged to join the City of Salisbury this month as we learn more about the Asian American Pacific Islander’s culture, history, and experiences, amplify AAPI voices, and better understand how to support the AAPI community, especially when it pertains to racism, xenophobia, and Asian hate.
Explore free documentaries, music, podcasts, resources and more on the City’s official Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month webpage at salisbury.md/aapiheritage
The City of Salisbury encourages attendance to Salisbury University’s upcoming panel discussion “Dismantling Anti-Asian Racism,” Tuesday, May 4, at 7 pm. Hosted by Joan Williams, Chief Diversity Officer and Associate Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion and moderated by Dr. Maarten Pereboom, Professor of History and Dean of the Fulton School of Liberal Arts, the online event will delve into the history and experiences of Asian Americans and the impacts of anti-Asian racism.
Information and tickets to the online forum can be found at salisbury.universitytickets.com/. The City will also share SU’s event livestream on our Facebook page (facebook.com/CityofSBY).
Click here to read this press release online.
