Asian Americans were already worn down by a year of pandemic-fueled racist attacks when a white gunman was charged with attacking three Atlanta-area massage parlors and killing eight people, most of them Asian women. Hundreds of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders turned to social media to air their anger, sadness, fear and hopelessness. The hashtag StopAsianHate was a top trending topic on Twitter hours after the shootings that happened Tuesday evening. Many were also outraged that the suspect, year-old Robert Aaron Long, was not immediately charged with hate crimes.
Being Asian American herself, Huang said the shootings felt personal. Mahmood said Asian American business owners in the Atlanta area were already fearful because of incidents like graffiti and break-ins.
The shootings will raise that worry to new heights. Her organization is partnering with other groups like the Atlanta chapter of Asian Americans Advancing Justice to offer resources in multiple languages, including mental health assistance, self-defense training and bystander training.
Meanwhile, from Phoenix to Philadelphia, Asian American organizations nationwide organized events aimed at showing unity. As much despair as Asian Americans feel, Seshadri said, the shootings also mark a flashpoint.
He thinks the slayings have galvanized the local community to go beyond vigils. For the past several weeks, Asian Americans have questioned how to deal with a recent wave of assaults — many on the elderly — that coincided with the pandemic.
