I Stand in Support of our AAPI Community

I want to address the violence and discrimination towards our AAPI community; it has been there for hundreds of years. It is now apparent that it was, in some cases, under-reported or ignored. Most certainly it was greatly under-appreciated. However, recent news coverage of these reprehensible attacks and the resulting amplification of this evidence of violence have shown a constant spotlight on what seems to be daily instances of violence and discrimination.

We live and work in the Bay Area. We are blessed with a thriving Asian community. This community is an integral part of our Bay Area and of our Sutro identity. I have lived in ignorance about what can only be characterized as a dark underbelly of violence and discrimination against our AAPI community. I regret that I wasn’t more sensitized to these issues.

My friend and fellow Kilimanjaro climber, Nancy Hong, published an Op Ed today in the Timmerman Report. She has captured more eloquently than I the essence of these issues. I especially appreciate her biotech perspective. I hope you will take a moment to read this article; her views represent my own; and I stand in support of finding solutions to end violence and racism aimed at the AAPI community:  https://timmermanreport.com/2021/03/asian-americans-in-biotech-breaking-the-silence/

As encouraged by Nancy, I have added my name as Sutro’s CEO to join with other leaders in supporting www.standwithasianamericans.com and I have also made a personal donation to the Asian Pacific Fund. Clearly there is more to be done to address this assault on our AAPI community, but it is important we be on record as not tolerating this racism and violence. I look forward to engaging with our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging team to find other ways that we at Sutro can stand up and be counted. We cannot be and will not be silent any longer.