(MADISON) — Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wikler issued the following statement in response to the tragic shootings in Atlanta and acts of hate against the AAPI community:

“Three weeks ago, Wisconsin Democrats spoke out against the rise of anti-Asian violence across our country. We are heartbroken that this violence has only intensified, culminating with this week’s heinous murder of 8 people in Atlanta, including 6 Asian women. We mourn their loss, and our hearts break for their families.

“Closer to home, we were saddened to hear that a van belonging to the Hmong American Center in Wausau was vandalized this week. A small, nonprofit community center, the Hmong American Center has worked through this pandemic to support the Hmong community with food boxes, rental assistance, help with unemployment, youth mentoring and support for homebound elders. As a community group with limited resources, such a hateful act of vandalism has a real and direct impact on services to elders and to families relying on deliveries of food.

“It is on all of us to come together as one Wisconsin family and heal the trust shattered by these acts of hate. We must listen and be present for our Asian-American and Pacific Islander friends and neighbors, we must answer their calls to action, we must reject the forces of white supremacy and misogyny, and we must press to ensure justice is done. On a week when Rush Limbaugh — one of the foremost purveyors of hate and division in recent American history — was honored by Republicans on the floor of our State Senate and Assembly, the evidence is overwhelming: we must do better. It is all of our job to #StopAsianHate.”

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