The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT) stands with the Asian and Asian American and Pacific Islander communities against the inexcusable and unacceptable acts of anti-Asian violence in the United States, which have now culminated in the murder of eight Americans, six being Asian American. The tragedy of the COVID-19 pandemic has been amplified by the racist misinformation perpetuated regarding the origins of the virus. Words matter, leadership matters, lives matter.

We stand against racism, bigotry, or discrimination of any kind.

As allies against injustice, we must denounce harassment and hostility against the Asian American community, examine our own unconscious biases, and be involved: raise awareness; amplify the voices of Asians as well as other underrepresented minorities; call out relatives, friends, and online acts of racism and xenophobia; and be allies with surgical societies and organizations that are working towards greater diversity and inclusion in surgery, including the Society of Asian Academic Surgeons (SAAS), Society of Black Academic Surgeons (SBAS), Latino Surgical Society (LSS), Association of Women Surgeons (AWS), and Association of Out Surgeons and Allies (AOSA). There are Asian and underrepresented minorities in our midst, including medical students, trainees, colleagues, and members of our communities. We must engage and learn of their struggles in order to advocate on their behalf.

The SSAT celebrates the diversity of our community, our shared humanity, and advocates for social justice. The Society specifically denounces bigotry, intolerance, and violence. The SSAT stands in solidarity against racism and is committed to equality in healthcare to reduce disparities. As leaders within our local communities, we must join together to promote justice through our words and actions to build a brighter and better future.

“Silence becomes cowardice when occasion demands speaking out the whole truth and acting accordingly,” Mahatma Gandhi.