The Worcester Art Museum is deeply saddened by the traumatic violence in Atlanta that took the lives of eight individuals, six of whom were Asian and Asian American women. Our hearts are with all who were impacted, and especially the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities in Atlanta, across the country, and here at home in Worcester. These events occur for the AAPI community against the painful backdrop of frequent racist and sexist attacks, especially toward women, and increased incidents of discrimination and violence throughout the pandemic. As an organization, we believe it is our responsibility to condemn acts of hate, and to continue to affirm our work to become more diverse, equitable, accessible, and inclusive--for this work is not the burden of few, but must be carried by us all.

As part of our conversations over the past few days, we connected with a member of our community, Anh Vu Sawyer, Executive Director of the Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusetts and WAM Corporator, who shared these healing words: “We will continue to love and move forward.”

March 21, 2021