The Spire would like to express its condolences to those affected by the shootings in Atlanta, Georgia that occurred on Tuesday, March 16, 2021. We recognize the pain that this tragedy, especially alongside the accumulation of anti-Asian hate crimes nationwide, has caused in the Asian, Asian-American, and Pacific Islander (AAPI) population in the United States. We stand in solidarity with the AAPI community and would like to offer our support through this difficult time. 

We understand that many in the AAPI community are frustrated with the lingering lack of coverage directed toward the struggles that they have endured. We acknowledge the long history of anti-Asian sentiment in this country and the implications it has on the community today. As men and women for and with others, we encourage members of our community to address injustice through engaging in dialogue, whether in academic settings or in extracurricular spaces. The Spire also invites community members to utilize our Opinions section as a platform for conversation and growth, which are essential to better understanding and responding to racism in a productive manner. 

To the AAPI community at Holy Cross, we would like to echo the March 18 message from Rev. Philip L. Boroughs, S.J., president of the College: “We see and condemn the injustice, racism and violence perpetrated against you, we hear you in your fear and pain, and we stand with you in our collective outrage. We are here for you.”