The Montgomery County Food Council stands in solidarity with our Asian-American community members, organizational partners, and neighbors who have been living in a heightened state of anxiety over the past year, not only facing the stress and uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic but also facing the stress and fear regarding their safety and livelihood as hate crimes against the Asian-American community have skyrocketed. The recent murders in Georgia, taking the lives of eight Americans, including six women of Asian descent, are just the latest in a string of more than 3,800 violent, racist incidents targeting Asian-Americans since the beginning of the pandemic. This must stop.
In Montgomery County, we have seen how the COVID-19 outbreak has disproportionately affected communities of color, including the more than 150,000 County residents who identify as Asian. At the same time, Asian-American-led food assistance providers, including the NHÀ VIỆT NAM Vietnamese Literary and Artistic Club and Vietnamese American Services, have been at the forefront of community food security efforts, working diligently to address the ongoing hunger crisis. Asian-American-owned businesses such as American Shochu Company, Sarah’s Handmade Ice Cream, Mama Goon’s Chinese Almond Cookies, and Cinnamon Tree Organics have pivoted to continue serving customers and collaborating with fellow businesses, contributing to the success and resilience of our local food economy.
The Food Council recognizes and uplifts the leadership of Asian-American partners throughout the local food system, and we strongly condemn any acts of violence or hate against the Asian-American community. We remain committed to ongoing self-awareness, education, and advocacy in pursuit of our primary priority to build equity and justice in a food system that has, since its very beginning, established and reinforced structural racism and social injustice.
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View our Racial Equity Statement here.