Like you, we are shocked by an alarming increase in the number of attacks on members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Members of this community, including our own team members and colleagues, have increasingly felt the brunt of unbridled discrimination and hatred directed towards their community in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over the past year, the social narrative and the increasing acceptance of xenophobic terms within the mainstream has only made matters worse. This hatred is now sparking an increasing number of physical acts of violence against innocent individuals. Hate crime data provided by the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) revealed that the number of anti-Asian crime reports rose 114% in 2020. New York City, home to one of the largest Asian communities in the entire country, saw a ninefold increase in these Anti-Asian hate incidents in 2020. In fact, the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at CSU San Bernardino reported an increase of nearly 150% in anti-Asian American hate crimes in 16 of the biggest U.S. cities last year.
These acts of violence are so abhorrent and senseless that they defy logic, and this hatred must end now. Klinedinst condemns all forms of prejudice. There is no place for these xenophobic attacks, and we encourage each and every individual to do their part to help stamp it out. While we may at times feel helpless, we are not. Staying silent gives power to those who perpetrate hate. We can take action by strongly and vocally supporting diversity and equality, and loudly condemning those who do not.
Klinedinst PC is passionate about its commitment to diversity, the belief that law firms and businesses benefit when individuals from different backgrounds and varied experiences come together. We regularly support AAPI organizations that share this philosophy, such as National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, as well as specialty bar associations like the Filipino American Lawyers of San Diego and Pan Asian Lawyers of San Diego. We echo the statements that leaders throughout the legal community have made, and add our voice to those condemning these acts of violence in the strongest terms. We will continue to look for ways, both large and small, to help promote peace within the AAPI community.
Learn more about our commitment to diversity at www.klinedinstlaw.com/diversity
About Klinedinst
Klinedinst is the go-to firm for clients looking for litigation, trial experience, transactional representation, and legal counsel. The firm’s offices in Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, Irvine, and Seattle service the West Coast. What sets Klinedinst apart is the relationships our attorneys foster with each and every client. Klinedinst lawyers are indispensable strategic partners to business leaders, helping to achieve objectives and create proactive solutions to resolve the many legal challenges that businesses are confronted with every day. Whether vigorously advocating for clients in court, or guiding business transactions and negotiations, Klinedinst is the trusted legal advisor to have by your side.