A Special Message from DRI President Emily Coughlin and CEO Dean Martinez

March 19, 2021

Dear Members,

We hope that you and your families are healthy and well.

We are pausing today from our usual COVID-19 update to acknowledge the tragedy this week in Atlanta, Georgia. Although the matter is still under investigation, we are saddened by the recent violence and the upswing in racist acts against the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.

As we noted in a statement issued earlier today, racism, bigotry, sexism, and violence against any person in any form is a public crisis. We stand with Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States in calling for an end to the alarming rise in hate crimes against their community and the violence against any community. As an organization dedicated to justice, we pledge to do our part to end racism and division in all its forms and call on all members of the legal profession to do the same.

With the guidance of our Diversity and Inclusion Committee and our Women in the Law Committee, we will continue to work toward building an inclusive community free of bias. We are part of a very special and influential community and are committed to doing our part to help make everyone feel safe and included.

Sincerely,