SUNY Downstate News Releases

By Office of Communications & Marketing | Mar 12, 2021

Racist Attacks

During last night's prime time address to the nation, President Joseph R. Biden—in addition to discussing the progress and challenges of the coronavirus pandemic—raised an increasingly troubling issue of the proliferation of hate crimes against Asian Americans who are erroneously viewed by some as responsible for the virus.

In various parts of the country and in our own backyard of Brooklyn, our Asian and Asian American families, friends, and colleagues have been assaulted and attacked. NYPD data show 24 anti-Asian coronavirus-related hate crimes between Jan. 1 and Nov. 29, 2020—compared to just three such crimes during the same period in 2019. Across the country, there were more than 2,500 reports of anti-Asian hate incidents related to COVID-19 between March and September 2020.

This is simply inexcusable….and patently un-American.

The entire Downstate community echoes President Biden's statement that these attacks are wrong and must stop. We must unite and denounce anti-Asian hate and racism in all forms; xenophobic profiling is appalling and unacceptable. Hatred, violence, and discrimination against any ethnic group are unacceptable and have no place in our country. The Downstate Health Sciences University community stands against all forms of social injustice, whether it is vile rhetoric against a person's religion, gender, or excessive use of violence by police because of someone's skin color.

Any individual who believes they have experienced discrimination should immediately contact our Office of Diversity and Inclusion at (718) 270-1738. You may also email ODI at AskODI@Downstate.edu.

If you are having difficulty with these incidents and would like some additional resources, please contact the Employee Assistance Program at (718) 270-1489 or email Magda Alliancin, Ed.D. (magda.alliancin@downstate.edu). All calls and emails are kept confidential.

You may also reach out to the Office of Student Life & Services at (718) 270-2187 or email studentaffairs@downstate.edu. All calls and emails are kept confidential.

Thank you for all you do to make SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University an inclusive environment where all are respected and appreciated.