Beverly Asian-American & Pacific Islanders Solidarity March

BEVERLY, MA — A march in support of the Beverly Asian-American & Pacific Islander community is planned for Saturday at the Beverly town common gazebo.

Community member Amber Jogie is organizing the walk in solidarity with the city's AAPI community "as an outward display of our united voices against hatred and violence."

Reports of violence against Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders have risen sharply in the year since the onset of the coronavirus health crisis with national attention increasingly focused on that violence following the killing of eight Asian-American women in Georgia last week.

"Beverly stands against hatred and racist violence in all forms," Beverly municipal and community leaders said in a joint statement. "We condemn the recent deadly attacks in Georgia and grieve with our Asian and Asian-American family, friends and neighbors. We acknowledge devastating new reports that anti-Asian hate crimes have increased by 149 percent in 2020, according to the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism's survey of police departments in 16 major U.S. cities.

"Throughout the pandemic, we have also seen an increase in violence against women worldwide. We must condemn this violence, other acts of aggression, and the hate that motivates it, unequivocally and with one voice."

Mayor Mike Cahill, City Council President Paul Guanci, Beverly Police Chief John LeLacheur, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Director Abu Toppin and Beverly Human Rights Committee Chair Caja Johnson released the joint statement.

The Beverly event will include a 2-mile walk beginning at 4 p.m., which will take about 30 minutes, and a tribute to the Atlanta victims and speakers at the conclusion of the march.

The event is planned to last about two hours.

Marchers must wear masks and are asked to bring signs as "an affirmation of ways we can support our AAPI community."

Parking will available on sidestreets around Beverly Commons.

Go here for more information on the event.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)