DFL National Solidarity Statement (pdf) - Delta Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc.

CONTACT THERESA VO DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FEBRUARY 2, 2015

ATHENS, G.A. -- FEBRUARY 2, 2015 -- Delta Phi Lambda, as an Asian-interest sorority that educates about the APIA experience and advocates for Asian awareness, is reminded of our rich history in the United States. From Angel Island to the Chinese Exclusion Act to the Japanese internment camps, Asian and Pacific Islander Americans have had (and continue to have) a history of oppression and violence in the United States. Asian Americans are no strangers to police brutality and profiling based on skin color, language, immigration status, and religion. The killing of Vincent Chin in Detroit, the Sikh Temple shooting in Wisconsin, the shooting of Hmong American Fong Lee by police, the list goes on and on. With the recent tragedies in Ferguson, New York City, and the Black community at large, our thoughts are with the families and communities in mourning. As an organization of Dedicated Female Leaders with members of diverse and vibrant communities of color, we recognize and challenge the role of the complacent, compliant, silent, "model minority.” We are and remain in solidarity with the Black community at this time and refuse to be complicit in antiblackness. We will commit to educating our members and communities to the social injustices and issues that affect us all. We also believe that we can respect and show appreciation of law enforcement officers while still raising concerns about systemic and institutional inequities with respect to criminal enforcement that normalizes excessive use of force by police officers, racial profiling, and hyper-criminalization of Blackness. ### Delta Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. is a 501(c)(7) non-profit organization that advocates Asian awareness and empowers women to lead through values-based programs and everlasting sisterhood. Delta Phi Lambda’s national philanthropy is osteoporosis education and prevention, emphasizing the importance of promoting healthy lifestyles and behavior in young women. Founded in 1998, Delta Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc. has grown to 15 undergraduate chapters in six states spanning the Southeast and the Midwest. Delta Phi Lambda Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was founded in 2010. The Foundation empowers the women of Delta Phi Lambda and the communities they serve by funding scholarships and leadership development grants. For more information, visit www.dphilfoundation.org.