RAILS Statement Against Anti-Asian Violence

The Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS) stands in solidarity with the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA) in its statement recognizing and strongly condemning the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes in the United States.

We are disappointed and saddened by the rise in discrimination and violence aimed at the Asian American community following the coronavirus pandemic. Asian Americans should feel safe and free from racial discrimination at school, work, and in public spaces.

RAILS encourages our members to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion in their programs, collections, hiring practices, and policies. RAILS remains committed to developing a shared understanding of the nature of systemic racism and bias in libraries and library related organizations and is working to combat it.

We call on our members to join us in condemning anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander racism.