Resolution on Violence Against, Asian, Asian-American, and Pacific Islanders
Whereas, eight people were murdered in Georgia on March 16, 2021, including six Asian American women; and
Whereas, there has been a rise in vicious attacks on Asian, Asian-American and Pacific Islanders throughout the country, including 4 on the elderly; and
Whereas, attacks on Asian American & Pacific Islander women have a long and sordid history, perpetuated by negative media images and misogyny; and
Whereas, anti-Asian violence is not a new phenomenon, but has deep roots in white supremacy and racism within U.S. society; and
Whereas, since 1882, with the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act, anti-Asian immigration laws and policies were upheld by the U.S. legal system for more than eighty years until the Civil Rights movement of the 1960’s successfully challenged them; and
Whereas, upward of 120,000 people of Japanese descent, mostly American citizens were forcibly removed from their homes and interned in concentration camps during the years between 1941 and 1946, and subsequently suffered loss of their property and livelihoods, and
Whereas, the former Trump Administration falsely blamed China and Asian people for the Covid-19 pandemic, referring to it the “China Virus” and “Kung Flu;” and
Whereas, since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the group Stop AAPI (Asian American & Pacific Islander) Hate has recorded over 3,800 reported incidents of hate against Asian American and Pacific Islanders. Many others go unreported, and
Whereas, racism against Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, has been pervasive in history yet rarely talked about in the mainstream, and
Whereas, U.S. unions historically have been complicit in policies of white supremacy and segregation, including advocating for the Chinese Exclusion Act and exclusion of people of color from labor unions in generations past; and
Whereas, the CCFT is committed to advance multi-racial unity, and to challenge discriminatory policies and practices throughout U.S. society; and
Whereas, President Biden issued an Executive Order on January 26, 2021 to combat xenophobia against Asian Americans, especially in light of the pandemic, and urged all leaders to actively commit to enact the order, and
Whereas, Teachers have a special role to play in educating the future generation within our campus, and to promote racial justice and racial healing;
Therefore, be it resolved, that the CCFT condemns the heinous murder of eight people in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 16, 2021, including six Asian Americans; and
Be it further resolved, that the CCFT deplores the rise in anti-Asian violence that has been encouraged by racist rhetoric and policies advanced by the Trump Administration; and
Be it further resolved, that the CCFT will advocate for anti-racist curriculum in the schools of California, and support expansion of Ethnic Studies, including Asian American, African American, Latina/o/e/x, and Native American Studies; and
Be it finally resolved, that the CCFT pledges to promote racial justice and racial healing, and to challenge racially motivated hatred and violence within our society.
Dismantling systemic racism
Submitted by the Ethnic Diversity in Leadership Committee, California Federation of Teachers
Whereas, CFFT strongly believes in combating racism and advocating for social justice and has publicly announced support of the Black Lives Matter national movement; and
Whereas, CFFT has an obligation to address structural racism by not only condemning racism and white supremacy, but also by proactively working toward systemic change to end white supremacy, anti-Black racism, and institutional racism in the California education system; and
Whereas, teachers, instructors, professors, administrators, and staff of color (especially Black people) are only a fraction of the total employees on schools and college campuses; and
Whereas, programs for hiring and retention of employees of color should be established and supported; and
Whereas, Black students continue to receive academically inferior education relative to their historical achievements and contributions; and
Whereas, white and other students are affected by culturally biased curriculum; and
Whereas, students of color have a higher suspension, expulsion, and dropout rate; and
Whereas, young Black men continue to be incarcerated at alarming rates compared to their white counterparts and also have the lowest enrollment numbers on high school and college campuses; and
Whereas, CFFT leadership, staff, and union officers (statewide through local unions) should be 16 representative of the students and communities we serve;
Therefore, be it resolved, that the CFFT continue to work toward passing legislation that would mandate 18 Ethnic Studies requirements for secondary schools and universities; and
Be if further resolved, that the CFFT will encourage practices to provide opportunities to develop diverse leaders; and
Be it further resolved, that the CFFT will continue its affirmative action hiring program so that the staff reflects the diversity of its membership; and
Be it further resolved, that CFFT encourage local leaders to work to increase the hiring of faculty, administrators, and staff of color in school districts throughout California; and
Be it finally resolved, that CFFT support legislation to increase ethnic diversity within the ranks of school employees.