Solidarity Statements

This statement was issued by the leadership of Theatre@First on March 31st and shared with our participants and supporters via email. We continue to explore ways that we can dismantle barriers, create change, amplify the voices of AAPI, and support anti-racism work as a theatre community.

The leadership of Theatre@First are horrified by the March 16 murders of eight people at spas in Atlanta and by the increase in hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders throughout the United States by more than 150% over the past year.

Together we mourn the loss of the six women who were targeted for their race, gender, and employment. We also mourn the two other victims and hope for the full recovery of the surviving injured bystander.

We are particularly concerned at this time for the Asian American and Pacific Islander artists and other participants, audience members, and friends within our community who feel the impact of these events most sharply. Theatre@First is a strong community, full of care and support for all of our AAPI members in the face of bigotry, hatred, and violence. We see you, we love you, and you are not alone.

Resources

1. How to Support the Asian-American Community in Boston

2. Solidarity Statement by the Alliance Theatre of Atlanta

3. Atlanta Action Carrd with ways to learn more, donate and support organizations working to Stop Asian Hate.

4. Learn how to help stand up against anti-Asian violence with Hollaback’s free bystander intervention workshop

Actions

Please explore the EDI/Anti-Racism section of our website and read our FirstWords blog for updates on the actions and policies we are committing to in an effort to create anti-racist theatre and community.

This statement was issued by the leadership of Theatre@First on June 3rd and shared with our participants and supporters via email. We continue to explore ways that we can dismantle barriers, create change, amplify the voices of BIPOC, and support the protests against racism and police violence as a theatre community.

BLACK LIVES MATTER

The murder of George Floyd has been added to the list of too many Black lives that have been taken by police and other perpetrators of white violence. While live performance at Theatre@First is on hiatus, we are still here and we are grieving and raging at the specific injustices and systemic racism that yet again echo across our screens and through our streets.

We are particularly concerned at this time for the Black artists and other people of color within our community, who are especially impacted by the cruelty of recent events. We see you, you are an important part of our community, and you are not alone.

Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities, already disproportionately affected by the coronavirus pandemic, have endured systemic and specific racism for too long. At Theatre@First we are committed to listening to the voices of those primarily and directly affected by these poisonous aspects of our society, joining and supporting anti-racist protests, and following BIPOC leadership toward essential change.

The core mission of Theatre@First is to provide the space and support to bring the artistic dreams of our theatre community to life and to enrich our wider community by sharing those visions. Dismantling the racist systems of our culture depends on creating and sustaining visions of change. Theatre@First stands with BIPOC and all who envision anti-racist change. Now is the time to bring those dreams to life.

Resources

Please visit the StageSource Anti-Racism Resources page for a list of organizations, anti-racist action steps, mental health resources, plus information on racial justice, racism, privilege, white supremacy, and police & prison abolition. Theatre@First is a member of StageSource and proud to support them in these efforts.

Actions

Please explore the EDI/Anti-Racism section of our website and read our FirstWords blog for updates on the actions and policies we are committing to in an effort to create anti-racist theatre and community.