The AUCCCD community all held our breath yesterday as we anxiously awaited the verdict of the Derek Chauvin murder trial. Before we could exhale, we were all reminded of the institutional and systemic racial trauma that the Black and Brown community have experienced in our country due to the glaring failures in our justice system. When the verdict was announced, we were able to breathe easier for a mere moment before that trauma came rushing back while Trayvon Martin, Breonna Taylor, just yesterday, Ma'Khia Bryant and countless others have gone without justice. This was an example of one police officer being held accountable for the unlawful and egregious use of force and we maintain hope that this is a sign of change to come. We as an organization, as well as individuals within AUCCCD, recognize that there is still much work to be done before we and our Black and Brown friends and family can feel safe and secure. We cannot allow this symbolic verdict to create complacency in our continued fight for equality, justice and human rights.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, over 3,700 hate crimes against Asian, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) people have been reported in the United States, according to Stop AAPI Hate. In the last few weeks alone, there has been a series of incidents targeting senior citizens in California, some of which resulted in fatalities, random attacks on Asian residents in New York City, and the most recent shootings that occurred in Atlanta, GA, resulting in the deaths of eight people, six of whom were identified as Asian women.

AUCCCD member Micky Sharma is interviewed in the PBS NewsHour segment, How the Pandemic is Impacting College Students Mental Health

The Association for University and College Counseling Center directors (AUCCCD) strongly condemns the unlawful and unwarranted attacks in Washington, DC, brought upon by a lengthy campaign of manipulation and misinformation. While AUCCCD firmly supports the fundamental first amendment right of the people to peaceably assemble, the desecration of our Capitol, threat to our dedicated political leaders, violence, and misguided anger aimed at a fair election process unwinds the fabric of our Democracy. AUCCCD always opposes violence, obstruction of freedom and the creation of unnecessary fear and anxiety.

The Association for University and College Counseling Directors (AUCCCD) condemns the racial violence continuing to claim the lives of unarmed persons who identify as Black or African-American. This shameful 400-year history of discrimination, degradation and death must stop -- and it will require the commitment of each of us.