Messages from the Vice President

We cannot talk about Pride Month without talking about its foundations in the Stonewall Riots. This series of uprisings, led by transgender women of color, against police raids on the Stonewall Inn that began in June of 1969, are widely considered to be the spark for the modern LGBTQIA+ movement in the US. At the time, “homosexual activity” was widely deemed illegal and these violent raids on gay bars and clubs were a common form of institutional terrorism.

Over the last several years, we have witnessed a rise in white supremacist sentiment throughout the United States and as such, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that this has included a significant uptick in antisemitism. Our Eugene community hasn’t been exempt either. Most recently, several Eugene residents were targeted with anti-Semitic and anti-trans flyers in a clear act of intimidation.

One of the most common misconceptions around Cinco de Mayo is that it is a holiday commemorating Mexican Independence Day, which is celebrated on September 16. In actuality, Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of the Battle of Puebla, where Mexican forces defeated the French on May 5, 1862.

Two years ago, ‘Stop Asian Hate’ emerged as a rallying cry and social media hashtag in response to the spike in anti-Asian hate crimes in the United States. Not only have the hate crimes continued since, but national discussions questioning what people are actually doing to stop the hate crimes, besides talking about them, have become an annual tradition ironically commemorating the creation of the hashtag. People in ADPI American communities throughout the country are understandably concerned for their safety and frustrated by the lack of substantive action.

Women’s History Month 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of Title IX, which many see as the one of most important pieces of legislation in regards to women’s rights of the last century. Congress passed the law in June of 1972 and Rep. Patsy Mink, the first Asian American woman to serve in Congress, was the bill’s lead author and sponsor. This law targeted all education programs and activities receiving federal funding and mandated that they must protect students and employees from sex-based discrimination.

Black History Month doesn’t exist in a vacuum. A year ago this time, we found ourselves wrapped up in the aftermath of two historic moments illustrating the competing visions for the future of our country. Many of us were recognizing the results of the historic 2020 general election, which included a number of Black firsts, while also sounding the alarm that the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol was not a culmination, but rather a sign of things to come.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.” As the University of Oregon celebrates MLK Day 2022, it’s imperative that we dig deeper, both in our understanding of anti-racism and action, rather than finding comfort in the caricature of Dr. King that dominates American pop culture.

The summer of 2020 brought a level of consciousness to American society that many haven’t seen in decades. This included increased attention to Indigenous issues. Among other subjects that finally broke into the mainstream, we are now engaging with concepts like “land back” and Indigenous sovereignty, integrating land acknowledgements into public events, removing offensive Indian mascots and addressing other issues that have long gone ignored in the name of Indigenous erasure.

According to the United States Department of Labor, individuals with disabilities comprise the largest minority in the US at nearly 50 million people. Yet, when it comes to raising awareness of the systemic issues facing people with disabilities, never mind effectively tackling them, our institutions have an extraordinary amount of work to do. A small but important step towards improving these efforts is recognizing observations like National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM).

2020 was a Census year and as such, population numbers are at the top of many people’s minds. Oregon is no different. According to the Census Bureau, Latinx Oregonians make up the fastest growing demographic in the state, increasing from 11.7 percent in 2010 to 14 percent in 2020. This is exciting news for the future of our state. Unfortunately, a number of news outlets and commentators have chosen to frame this news as a cause for concern.