To the editor:

Sometimes a little context can be helpful.

In response to the Atlanta killings, President Joe Biden, declared: “Whatever the motivation here, I know Asian Americans, they are very concerned, because as you know I have been speaking about the brutality against Asian Americans, and it’s troubling,” —

NBC News,

March 17, 2021.

And he tweeted: “We don’t yet know the motive, but what we do know is that the Asian-American community is feeling enormous pain tonight. The recent attacks against the community are un-American. They must stop.” —

USA Today,

March 18, 2021.

In response to the killings, Vice President Kamala Harris said: “We don’t yet know — we’re not yet clear — about the motive. But I do want to say to our Asian American community that we stand with you and understand how this has frightened and shocked and outraged.” —

NBC News

, March 17, 2021.

In response to the killings, former President Barack Obama tweeted: “Although the shooter’s motive is not yet clear, the identity of the victims underscores an alarming rise in anti-Asian violence that must end.” —

USA Today,

March 18, 2021

In response to the killings, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said: “Whatever the motivation was for this guy, we know that the majority of the victims were Asian. We also know that this is an issue that is happening across the country. It is unacceptable, it is hateful and it has to stop.” —

USA Today

, March 18, 2021.

Perhaps their comments were inadequate to the occasion. But we continue to regard President Biden, Vice President Harris, former President Obama, and Mayor Bottoms as well-intentioned individuals, struggling to respond to yet another horrific act of violence, in each case saying that while the killer’s motives are, as yet, unestablished, this atrocity must be seen in the context of a wave of anti-Asian hatred poisoning the United States.

Finally we come to President David Wippman’s letter to the community of March 17, 2021, in which he said: “While the motivation for this terrible crime is still being investigated, it comes in the wake of an appalling series of attacks on Asian Americans around the country.”

Perhaps David’s comments were inadequate to the occasion. But like Biden, Harris, Obama, and Bottoms, we regard him as a well-intentioned leader, genuinely struggling to respond to unspeakable evil.

Sincerely,

Lisa Trivedi

Todd Franklin

Maurice Isserman