Two of Boston's most historic parks - the Boston Common and the Public Garden - are located immediately adjacent to one of the country's longest established Asian-American neighborhoods. The rise of hate crimes against Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the recent shootings in Georgia are painful reminders that stereotypes, bias, and racism continue to cause serious harm to AAPI residents in our country.
The Friends of the Public Garden stands in solidarity with our Asian friends and neighbors and is committed to ensuring that Boston's parks remain welcoming places that celebrate the diversity of Asian culture. As stewards and supporters of these special public spaces, we see them as a gateway to community building and a place to foster better relationships between and among all residents of our city. Chinatown residents and civic organizations provided valuable input to the Boston Common master planning process. These parks have played central roles in the lives of our Chinatown neighbors for many years, and we felt that it was important to openly share our support for our neighbors with you.
To be a friend means to care, deeply. To be an ally means to act, make space, and use our platforms to bring awareness to the important issues affecting our neighbors. We encourage you to listen, as we are, to the many Asian voices speaking authentically about their experiences with racism.
Sincerely,
Leslie Singleton Adam
Chair of the Board
Liz Vizza
Executive Director
