We at JAMS are deeply saddened by the recent violence against the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. JAMS, along with its staff and neutrals, denounces these abhorrent acts and remains firmly committed to anti-racism and diversity. JAMS stands with the AAPI community and strives to create an environment that is safe for and supportive of our associates and panelists, as well as the members of the legal and business communities with whom we work. We will continue to promote diversity, equity and inclusion; fight racism; and be part of a larger solution.
As an organization rooted in conflict resolution, JAMS aids in finding peaceful resolutions to the issues and conflicts among individuals, businesses and communities. This includes the work of neutrals such as Chris M. Kwok, Esq. We applaud Chris’s recent efforts in leveraging his skills and experience as an alternative dispute resolution professional to serve as co-executive editor of a report that proposes comprehensive solutions to address racially motivated hate and violence against the AAPI community. The report, “A Rising Tide of Hate and Violence against Asian Americans in New York During COVID-19: Impact, Causes, Solutions,” reviews contributing factors and actions taken by politicians, law enforcement and community organizations to address these incidents and proposes seven initiatives to foster dialogue, initiate concrete actions and break the cycle of violence against the AAPI community. We believe this type of proactive approach is critical to combat racism and support diversity, equity and inclusion.