A Resolution on Behalf of the American Anthropological Association in the Wake of the 2016 National Elections
Whereas, The 2016 national election campaign season has been characterized by painfully divisive, often threatening rhetoric regarded by many as racist, anti-immigrant, misogynistic speech that has touched every corner of American society and, indeed, the entire world;
Whereas, Organizations advocating racism, gun violence, and misogyny openly endorsed the winning presidential candidate;
Whereas, During the course of the 2016 campaign, numerous threats were made against anti-racist and feminist politicians, academics, journalists, and activists;
Whereas, A spike in hate crimes and harassment has followed the election, with more than 700 reported accounts of hate crimes in the US in the weeks since the election results were announced;
Whereas, The discipline of anthropology is distinctively placed to contribute valuable insights to advance our collective understanding of migration, cultural diversity, and racism;
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the American Anthropological Association rejects in the strongest terms the climate of hostility that threatens the personal and intellectual diversity of American society;
RESOLVED, That the Association reaffirms its commitment to protecting the pursuit of free inquiry about the human condition with scholarly rigor, offering the greatest possible opportunity for people to take part in and benefit from that inquiry, and engage the many communities that make up the United States and the world in valuing diversity;
RESOLVED, That the Association urges its members to stand in solidarity with students, colleagues, employees, and community-based collaborators who feel they are threatened or under attack, and engage with local civic organizations to effect positive outcomes in their own communities;
RESOLVED, That the Association is dedicated to working collaboratively with other scholarly and professional organizations and institutions of higher learning to honor its commitments, to monitor, intervene, and update its membership on key issues that have a clear impact on anthropology, and to participate as a valued disciplinary stakeholder in shaping policy outcomes rooted in core values of mutual respect, equal rights, freedom of expression and freedom from discrimination.
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Founded in 1902, the American Anthropological Association, with 10,000 members, is the world’s largest professional organization of anthropologists. The Association is dedicated to advancing human understanding and addressing the world’s most pressing problems.
