APISA Statement of Solidarity

Dear friends – Circus Center is lifting up the voice of our staff member Ali, who is yonsei Japanese American. Ali offers here a response that is both personal and communal to the recent spike in anti-Asian racist crimes and activities. The Board and staff stand in solidarity with this statement, and with all of the APISA community both here and across the country. – Barry Kendall, Executive Director

Hello Circus Center community,

If you’ve walked through the front doors or emailed in a question in the past few years, it’s likely we’ve met. My name is Ali and I am a Front Desk Administrator. I’ve been a team member of the unstoppable force that is the fingers clacking away behind info@circuscenter.org since 2018. I’ve taken your calls, filed your waivers, and booked your training sessions. I’ve signed your kids up for Afterschool or Summer Camp or Pre-Pro. I’ve celebrated with you when you’ve leveled up and cheered at your performances. I’ve laughed and cried with you in the lobby that I miss so dearly.

I was originally drawn to work at Circus Center to be a part of a diverse staff, an organization with a clear mission, and a community with heart. Right now, I feel as if that heart may be broken. I know at the very least that my heart is broken.

Hate crimes targeting Asians, Pacific Islanders, and South Asians (APISA) have increased over 150% in major cities in the last year, including in our home of San Francisco. The latest major incidents of violence perpetrated against people of Asian descent culminated in the murder of 8 people in Atlanta and the injury of two elders in San Francisco this week alone. These events have been shocking and painful to process, but they are not random or unrelated.

These events are symptoms of a system built on White Supremacy - self perpetuated by policies, politicians, and political movements that directly benefit from keeping racism, xenophobia, misogyny, and classism to the highest levels of our governing bodies. Anti-Asian policies and attitudes have made their home in the U.S. for generations, especially here in San Francisco. But this resurgence of violence was clearly bolstered by the repeated Sinophobic misinformation spread by the Trump administration throughout their mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the numerous warnings from APISA-led organizations and community leaders regarding increased incidents of discrimination.

Our APISA circus community members have not been protected from the threat of racially-motivated attacks. As we grieve, care for ourselves, and support our loved ones, we still cannot guarantee our own safety or the safety of the most vulnerable members of our communities. We need everyone to channel their energy into confronting the systems we participate in that perpetuate White Supremacist violence. Below I’ve included a non-comprehensive list of resources for you where you can learn, volunteer, report violence, and donate. I’ve also included some mental health resources for our APISA community members who would like more support through this challenging time.

It cannot be ignored that Chinese acrobatics is an essential element of Circus Center’s education programs. APISA community members are essential to the DNA of who we are and what we do. APISA circus artists are the foundation, leaders, and legacy of Circus Center. We are working to identify concrete ways we can move equity to the center of our organizational values. This is a priority that is being actively discussed at the highest levels of our organization. We want to honor our origins by structuring more equitable education programs as we move toward rebuilding and reopening.

If you have the means, please consider donating to any of the following organizations listed below or an organization supporting the APISA community in your city! We understand that many still face unemployment and financial hardship due to the COVID-19 crisis, and we believe that fighting for justice is not optional. So in solidarity with our APISA community, Circus Center is proud to offer students who donate to any organization supporting the APISA community a matching dollar amount (up to $100) discount off of Online Adult Rec Classes, Solo Training, or Summer Camp enrollments. This promotion is valid for any donations made from 3/15/21-4/4/21. Please forward your donation receipt to execadmin@circuscenter.org and let us know what services you’d like your discount to be applied to.

I look forward to the day when I get to welcome you, your friends, and your family again back home to Circus Center. Until then -

With Love and Perseverance,

Ali (they/them)

Signed in Solidarity by:

Circus Center Staff

Xiaohong Weng

Serchmaa Byamba

Elena Panova

Barry Kendall

Tracey Shababo

Fernando Gambaroni

Texas Holly