This past weekend, communities around the United States came together to honor the eight victims of the tragic Atlanta-area spa shootings. Vigils took place from New York City to Phoenix, drawing thousands of mourners who paid their respects to the following individuals: Minsoo Park, 74; Yuna Grant, 51; Suki Kim, 69; Mei Yue, 63; Delaina Ashley Yang, 33; Paul Andre Michaels, 54; Xiaojie Tan, 49; and Daoyou Feng, 44.
Atlanta
In Atlanta, just days after the horrific shooting by a white man, dozens gathered for a vigil at Youngs Asian Massage, one of the locations where the violence occurred. Flowers were laid in memory of the victims, and community members expressed their grief and anger. “We’re stressed out, and the way ahead may not be completely clear, but one thing is clear: anti-Asian racism must be stopped,” said vigil attendee, Maria Chen.
New York City
In Union Square, hundreds held a vigil, displaying signs with the victims’ names and messages like “Asian is not a virus. Racism is” and “stop Asian hate.” Candles were lit and flowers were scattered in honor of the lives lost. Jo-Ann Yoo, Director of the Asian American Federation, remarked, “We are here to stand together because we are sad, we are angry, and we are exhausted by the emotions that have surfaced.”
Houston
In Houston, the AAPI organization OCA-Greater Houston hosted a vigil where people not only remembered the victims but also condemned the rise in hate crimes against the AAPI community.
Washington, D.C.
Approximately 200 individuals gathered at the Chinatown Arch in Washington, D.C. “I am furious,” said attendee Janet Namkung. “People are being harassed and attacked simply for looking like me. This must end.”
Phoenix
In Phoenix, around 250 people participated in a candlelight vigil at the Arizona Capitol. Each victim’s name was read aloud, followed by the tolling of bells. New York State Senator John Liu, who attended the New York City vigil, expressed outrage that the attack might not be classified as a hate crime.
The shootings are part of a disturbing trend, with the nonprofit coalition Stop AAPI Hate reporting nearly 3,800 incidents of anti-Asian hate between March 2020 and February this year. “Today, it happened to massage parlors; tomorrow it could be restaurants, salons, anywhere else,” noted local business owner Ching Hsia during a virtual vigil.
More vigils are scheduled across the country in the coming days, including events in San Francisco and Cincinnati. For a comprehensive list of these gatherings, visit the Asian American Leaders Table’s website or check out this other blog post that offers insights into community support.
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In summary, vigils held nationwide highlighted the community’s solidarity against anti-Asian violence and honored the victims of the Atlanta shootings. The outpouring of grief and calls for change underscore the urgent need to combat racism and violence.