In response to the rise of attacks, harassment, and discrimination against the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, the San Bernardino Community College District (SBCCD) in April invited SBVC faculty and staff members to participate in training workshops on how to intervene and stop anti-AAPI harassment.  
 
“We are deeply troubled by the escalating discrimination against the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community since the COVID-19 pandemic changed our daily lives,” said SBVC President Diana Z. Rodriguez in a joint statement with the SBCCD. “Everyone here at the San Bernardino Community College District stands in solidarity with those who are facing racial prejudice, verbal abuse, harassment, and even physical violence. However, it's not enough to condemn acts of hate. We must take action to root out the xenophobia that has contributed to recent attacks against our AAPI friends, neighbors, colleagues, and loved ones.” 
 
The workshops were offered by Asian Americans Advancing Justice and Hollaback!, and provided specific tips on how to react based on whether a person is a bystander to harassment or on the receiving end of it. The one-hour, interactive training workshops discussed the "spectrum of disrespect," from microaggressions to violence, and the five strategies for intervention: distract, delegate, document, delay, and direct. Participants also learned how to prioritize their own safety while intervening in an act of discrimination or violence.  
 
SBVC stands in solidarity with the AAPI community and anyone facing racial prejudice and harassment.