On March 16, 2021, in the Atlanta, Georgia metropolitan area, eight people were murdered. The shooter killed eight people and wounded one. Six died at the scene, one on the way to a hospital, and one in treatment. Their ages ranged from 33 to 74, with five of the victims above 50. Six victims, four at Piedmont Road and two at Cherokee County, were women of Asian descent. The others were a white woman and a white man, and the survivor is a Hispanic man. The South Korean Foreign Affairs Ministry reported that four of the dead were of Korean ethnicity, and one was a South Korean citizen. (Wikipedia)

They were members of families—mothers, fathers, sons, daughters.

Killed were Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33; Xiaojie Tan, 49; Daoyou Feng, 44;

Paul Andre Michels, 54; Hyun Jung Grant, 51, Soon Chung Park, 74; Suncha Kim, 69; Yong Ae Yue, 63.

Injured and in critical condition is Elcias R Hernandez-Ortiz, 30.

As we embrace our Asian family in this time of great grief, let’s support them in their right to define the narrative of this tragedy. The legal definition of a racially-motivated hate crime does not neatly explain underlying stereotypes, racism, and misogyny. As we have seen, perpetrators of racially motivated violence will emotionally deny the label of racist.

Our human craving to understand the motive of the shooter should not give him the right to define the rationale of his violence. Regardless of legal definitions, he targeted and focused his rage on Asian businesses and Asian women.

The Asian Pacific Islander Community has been under assault over the past century and particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Standing with them at this moment is imperative. If you are looking for ways to participate in events or provide your support, check out this recent piece from Baltimore Magazine.

Sadly, we are just starting to learn the details of yet another tragedy that took place last night in Boulder, Colorado.

We share your sorrow and denounce this and all violence against your communities,

Jeannie