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PAU Statement on Recent California Shootings

Over the past week, California has experienced horrific shootings that have rattled us to our core. 

It was not only devastating to hear of the shooting this weekend in Monterey Park as members of Asian American groups were celebrating Lunar New Year, and the following day, we learned about more tragic shootings locally in Half Moon Bay where at least seven were killed, primarily from Asian backgrounds. There was also gun violence in Oakland, in which there was one confirmed death and several injured. 

Our hearts go out to those who lost their lives and were injured in all these tragedies. We offer our condolences to their families and loved ones. We continue to stand in solidarity with our AAPI communities and all communities impacted by tragedy and violence.

We share the sentiments expressed in a statement from APA's president in response to the barrage of mass shootings in 2023:

“The American Psychological Association is outraged by the pervasiveness of gun violence in our nation, culminating most recently with shootings in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay, California, just days apart from each other…The impact of these acts of violence permeates our culture and is especially profound in communities of color. We are experiencing collective trauma and grief as a result of the constant barrage of news reports about mass shootings.”

Gun violence causes trauma and suffering not just for those experiencing it, but can be triggering for many of us bearing witness to these tragedies. We provided the following resource on PAU’s social media platforms from the American Psychological Association for coping with gun violence. We would like to specifically highlight one of the articles: Managing your distress in the aftermath of a shooting.

Below are some additional resources for any of our community members in need or seeking local services and support for others; they include some resources with special AAPI focus:

Faculty have been provided with resources to support making space for discussions of these events in their classrooms.

As a reminder, PAU offers an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for our employees. For our students, please see our Student Handbook, specifically Section I:  Student Success, 1.5 Mental Health Support. If you need additional help, please reach out to the Student Success Office at studentsuccess@paloaltou.edu.

There are no words for the type of pain and suffering we are seeing in PAU’s home state right now. Please take care of yourself and others.