Members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus commemorated the anniversary of the Atlanta-area spa shootings, which killed eight people including six Asian women, on the steps of Capitol Hill.
On March 16, 2021, Robert Aaron Long shot and killed eight people at three different Atlanta-area spas: Xiaojie “Emily” Tan, 49; Daoyou Feng, 44; and Delaina Yaun, 33; and Paul Michels, 54; Suncha Kim, 69; Soon Chung Park, 74; Hyun Jung Grant, 51; and Yong Ae Yue, 63. The other victims included Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33; and Paul Andre Michels, 54.
Members of CAPAC, including Congressmembers Judy Chu, Ted Lieu and Grace Meng honored the victims on the Capitol steps. They also spoke about the rise in anti-Asian violence.
“We cried together then, but since then our tears have only continued to flow,” Meng said as she addressed the other acts of violence against Asian women like Michelle Go.
Chu said she will never forget the moment she learned of the spa shootings.
“America was finally shocked awake to the reality of anti-Asian hate,” she said.
On Tuesday, a day before the anniversary, Chu, CAPAC representatives and Georgia representatives introduced a resolution to commemorate the anniversary of the shooting, The Yappie reports.
At the end of her remarks, Rep. Chu called on all communities to stand up against anti-Asian hate.
“As these stories show, these crimes are continuing, and we will not be safe until we end the xenophobic rhetoric that puts lives in danger,” Chu said. “And that’s why we rely on all Americans, all of you of all ethnicities, to stand up and to stand together to stop Asian hate.”
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