A coalition of five Asian American and Pacific Islander legal groups jointly issued a statement Thursday calling for greater accountability when dealing with mental health emergencies.
The groups responded to the police shooting death of Victoria Lee when officers from the Ft. Lee, New Jersey police department fatally gunned down Victoria Lee after her family called for assistance getting her to mental health care.
“We stand in solidarity with the Korean American community in the Fort Lee area, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to Victoria Lee’s family and loved ones. Members of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities are not immune to the challenges caused by mental health crises, which may be exacerbated by cultural and language barriers,” the groups said.
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The Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York (KALAGNY), the Asian Pacific American Pacific American Lawyers Association of New Jersey (APALA-NJ), the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY), and the Filipino American Lawyers Association of New York (FALA NY) say they “are anguished at the tragic death of Victoria Lee during an encounter with police officers in Fort Lee, New Jersey, on July 28, 2024.”
The groups called upon the Attorney General of New Jersey to provide in-language information to the community about the investigation as well as for state and local communities to provide greater mental health awareness and services.
“Ms. Lee’s death underscores the pressing need for greater mental health awareness and services,” they said.
The coalition also requested a “meaningful dialogue” between police prosecutors and local leaders.
The death of Lee on July 28 has turned into a national issue within the AAPI community. Both Stop AAPI Hate and AAPI New Jersey launched a national petition for greater accountability and mental health support.
The two groups say the shooting is part of a disturbing pattern following the shooting of Nyah Mway in New York, Win Rozario in New York, Yong Yang in Los Angeles and Easter Leafa in Alaska.
Stop AAPI Hate says 1 in 4 AAPIs report facing discrimination by a public official, including the police.
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