The Mountaineers
This blog was originally published on March 19, 2021.
The COVID-19 pandemic has not impacted everyone equally. Communities of color have been disproportionately affected at all levels, and in the past year, anti-Asian violence has been on the rise throughout our cities, region, and country. This week, eight people were murdered by a racially-motivated white gunman. Six of the victims were Asian women.
This week’s tragedy is not an isolated incident. It is an escalation of violence towards Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) in this country. These murders are a stark reminder of the racial inequities that exist in America.
The Mountaineers believes a diverse and inclusive outdoors inspires unity, respect, and passion for the places we love. But as in all facets of society, the experience of being outdoors is not the same for all. The Mountaineers is committed to making the outdoors a welcoming place for all. We also understand that discrimination in the outdoors cannot be separated out from what happens in indoor places; spaces should be safe for all people wherever they are. We stand with our AAPI members and the broader AAPI community, today and everyday.
Take action towards change by educating yourself on the history of racial violence and systemic racism in our country - our Equity & Inclusion resources are a good place to start. Reflect on ways you have been complicit in these systems; one of those ways may have been your silence. Activate your network by sharing what you have learned with other people. Talk with your friends, family, and fellow Mountaineers about the rise of anti-Asian hate and violence in America. Check-in with your AAPI friends and other community members and take these steps if you witness hate (Stop AAPI Hate):
- Take Action: Approach the targeted person, introduce yourself, and offer support.
- Actively Listen: Ask before taking any actions and respect the targeted person’s wishes. Monitor the situation if needed.
- Ignore Attacker: Using your discretion, attempt to calm the situation by using your voice, body language, or distractions.
- Accompany: If the situation escalates, invite the targeted person to join you in leaving.
- Offer Emotional Support: Help the targeted person by asking how they’re feeling. Assist them in figuring out what they want to do next.
Asian American & Pacific Islanders are the largest community of color within The Mountaineers. We are immensely proud of the contributions of our AAPI members throughout the organization. In particular, we want to recognize the AAPI members of our Equity & Inclusion Committee for their tireless work to make The Mountaineers more welcoming for all.
The Mountaineers has no tolerance for racism or violence in our community and expect all members to be familiar with and adhere to our Member Code of Ethics. We take behavior complaints seriously. If you have been the target of harassment in a Mountaineers program, we want to hear from you and encourage you to submit a Behavior Complaint.
