The Montclair Public Library & Foundation stands in solidarity with the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. The recent spate of horrific attacks on AAPI community members, our friends and neighbors, is unacceptable in a society that upholds the ideals of equality and freedom. The history of violence toward AAPI people in the United States is rooted in the abhorrence that is racism. The most recent incidents of violence come directly from hateful and hurtful language that would blame innocents for a pandemic that overwhelmed us all as global citizens. As librarians, we counter bias based in ignorance with a commitment to uphold and value the stories of our AAPI sisters and brothers in this painful time. It is our mission to celebrate diversity and inclusion by standing with our AAPI family. We see you, we hear you, we stand with you against hate not just today but every day.
Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA) Statement