Simu Liu, Chloe Bennet and more have voiced their outrage and sadness over the growing surge in anti-Asian American hate crimes following a deadly shooting in Altanta, GA that left six Asian American women dead.
The shootings in question took place across three massage parlors in the Altanta, GA area on March 16, leaving eight people dead — six of whom were Asian American women. Robert Aaron Long was later arrested in connection with the crimes by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department. This was just the latest in a string of hate crimes targeted at Asian Americans over the past year, the likes of which began to surge alongside the COVID-19 pandemic, which originated in Wuhan, China.
“I’m actually so upset I don’t have much to say because, of course this happens,” Bennet tweeted. “How could we expect anything else considering the racist rhetoric that has been enabled and fucking celebrated over the past year.”
I’m actually so upset I don’t have much to say because, of course this happens. How could we expect anything else considering the racist rhetoric that has been enabled and fucking celebrated over the past year.
— Chloe Bennet (@chloebennet) March 17, 2021
Liu wrote that he was “Feeling overwhelming grief at the senseless murder of 8 people in Atlanta. Still much we don’t know, but it’s clear to me that the shooter specifically targeted Asian women.”
Feeling overwhelming grief at the senseless murder of 8 people in Atlanta. Still much we don’t know, but it’s clear to me that the shooter specifically targeted Asian women.
Praying for the victims’ families, and for my Asian sisters. Action to follow.https://t.co/DjMcG0sBbv
— Simu Liu (@SimuLiu) March 17, 2021
Others, including Mindy Kaling, Jeremy Lin, Daniel Dae Kim and Olivia Wilde, also weighed in, condemning the hate crimes and in some cases offering support or laying out their next steps to help stop the violence.
The targeting of our Asian brothers and sisters is sickening, but not surprising given the normalizing of anti-Asian hate speech in the past year. We have to #StopAsianHate, enough is enough!
— Mindy Kaling (@mindykaling) March 17, 2021
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!! ❤️#StopAsianHate #NOW https://t.co/Xm4ojbJALw
— Jeremy Lin (@JLin7) March 17, 2021
What can I do to support my Asian-American sisters and brothers? They’re living in fear. They’re being brutalized and murdered. I don’t want to just express my sympathy. I need an education on what I can do to be an ally.
— olivia wilde (@oliviawilde) March 17, 2021
I will be speaking to the Congressional House Committee on the Judiciary about the Rise of Discrimination & Violence Against Asian Americans TOMORROW, Thurs, March 18th at 10AM EDT. You can watch it live at the link below. Please join me, and help #StopAsianHate. #Atlanta https://t.co/w9duQf8EFv
— Daniel Dae Kim (@danieldaekim) March 17, 2021
About The Author
