Newsroom

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 12, 2021

Queens Library Guild, Local 1321 condemns anti-Asian violence and racism

The members of Queens Library Guild, Local 1321, DC 37, AFSCME, AFL/CIO condemn the verbal and physical violence towards Asians in our community, including our own coworkers and customers. We also condemn all forms of racism without equivocation. It must stop.

Asians have experienced verbal and physical attacks, and racism in our country for years. However, since the pandemic hit our shores, these attacks have risen exponentially and citizens of Asian descent have become afraid. The most vulnerable, the elderly, were pushed, beaten, spit on, verbally abused, and murdered. Others have been stabbed, tormented in their homes, and called racial epithets in public.

Our Queens Library is composed of people from all walks of life and are representative of the community we work in. We are constantly working towards a library that is a safe, open, and welcoming space for colleagues and everyone who walks through our doors or accesses our services remotely. As members of our union we are also striving for equality and understanding. In all we do as a Union for our diverse membership, we have stood for civil rights, fair treatment, and respect for all. We will continue to stand up to this racism and will not tolerate any attacks or discrimination towards our Asian colleagues, their families and friends and our community. Queens Library Guild, Local 1321 is committed to our values of equality and acceptance for everyone and ending racism in all its forms.