From US President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris to celebrities and K-pop stars, people are condemning the rising wave of attacks and violence being perpetuated against Asians in the US especially the killing of eight people in three spas in Atlanta, Georgia.
“Jill and I are keeping everyone impacted by the shootings in Atlanta in our prayers. We don’t yet know the motive, but what we do know is that the Asian-American community is feeling enormous pain tonight. The recent attacks against the community are un-American. They must stop,” President Biden posted on Twitter.
Harris tweeted, “Doug and I grieve with the families and communities of those whose lives were horrifically taken last night. Violence is never acceptable and has no place in our country. While the motive is unknown, @POTUS and I want the Asian American community to know we stand with you.”
The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said four of those killed in the Atlanta shootings were of Korean descent.
GoFundMe has organized an online donation, “Stop Asian Hate: Together, We Can Make a Difference.”
“We must act now. A horrific and heartbreaking surge in violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) is happening across the US. Together, it is our responsibility to condemn hate and create lasting social change. GoFundMe stands with the AAPI community and remains committed to rectifying the racial inequalities in our society. Support the AAPI Community Fund to uplift and protect Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders,” according to the donation page at https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate.
Celebrities and K-pop stars posted online about #StopAsianHate and #StopAAPIHate.
Tablo of Epik High tweeted, “Please,” sharing the #StopAsianHate donation drive.
“My heart #stopasianhate,” according to Eric Nam.
CL, formerly of 2NE1, posted, “We stand together. #StopAsianHate.”
“#StopAsianHate very simple,” said Jay Park.
K-pop boy band P1Harmony posted on Twitter, “Please #StopAsianHate.”
American DJ and producer Steve Aoki tweeted, “#StopAsianHate it’s really as simple as that. I’ve said it before it’s much easier to love one another and focus on what brings us together instead of focusing on what divides us!! We are your friends, family, and fellow human beings. Spread love not hate.”
“This is sooo heartbreaking…praying for our world. To my Asian American family, please take time to grieve but know youre loved, seen and IMPORTANT. We have to keep standing up, speaking out, rallying together and fighting for change. We cannot lose hope!! Red heart#StopAsianHate #NOW,” according to basketball star Jeremy Lin.
The Stop AAPI Hate organization received 3,705 reports of hate incidents in the US from March 19, 2010 to Feb. 28 this year, which “represent only a fraction of the number of hate incidents that actually occur, but it does show how vulnerable Asian Americans are to discrimination, and the types of discrimination they face.”
According to its report, “Chinese are the largest ethnic group (42.2%) that report experiencing hate, followed by Koreans (14.8%), Vietnamese (8.5%), and Filipinos (7.9%).”
“These attacks in Atlanta are horrific and our hearts are with the victims and their loved ones. The recent uptick of violence against the AAPI community must stop. We must all come together to #StopAsianHate,” said GLAAD, the world’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) media advocacy organization.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), which organizes the Oscars, tweeted, “Today, we pause the celebration. We pause to show respect to the eight lives that were lost. We pause to shine light on the continuing rise in hate crimes towards Asian and Asian-American communities. Sending strength, hope and support to the AAPI community as we continue to stand in solidarity, as well as denounce anti-Asian racism everywhere. #StopAsianHate.”