Article Excerpt & Tweets About Three Asian Spas Targeted & Eight People Killed In Atlanta, Georgia (March 16, 2021)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents an article excerpt about a White man targeting three Asian spas, killing six Asian women and two other people in Atlanta, Georgia on March 16, 2021.

Some tweets from one of the trending twitter accounts about this massacre and the increased level of violence in the United States against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are also included in this post.   

The content of this post is presented for socio-cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

I remain in solidarity with Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) and other Asians against racism. 

RIP all those who lost their lives or were injured in this targeted attack.

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ARTICLE EXCERPT
From 
https://www.kiro7.com/news/trending/least-7-dead-following-shootings-3-spas-atlanta-area-police-say/KLS7FRQMANEXHMOM3RQFJA6EQM/ [Atlanta tv news channel] Atlanta spa shooting: Atlanta police file charges, suspect now faces 8 counts of murder

March 17, 2021 at 1:16 pm PDT

By Bob D'Angelo, Michelle Ewing and Theresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

ATLANTA — Eight people died, including six women of Asian descent, in shootings Tuesday at three spas in the Atlanta area, authorities said. One man was also injured.

Authorities are investigating the motive behind the shootings. Officials said Wednesday that the gunman, 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long, told investigators that race did not play a factor in the attack, which comes amid a document rise in anti-Asian sentiment nationwide.

[...]

Update 2:45 p.m. ET March 17: The Movement for Black Lives, a coalition of 150 organizations nationwide, reaffirmed its solidarity with Asian American and Asian immigrant communities following the shootings at three Atlanta-area massage parlors that killed eight people.

Leaders in the coalition also issued a warning about demagogues who they say continue to use the coronavirus pandemic and economic uncertainty as leverage for drumming up fears about the Asian American and Asian immigrant communities.

A white man is accused in the killings and most of the victims are women of Asian descent.

Following the release Wednesday of its report showing a surge in the distribution of white supremacist propaganda in 2020, the Anti-Defamation League told The Associated Press a significant number of the propaganda included anti-immigrant rhetoric."...

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SELECTED TWEETS

These tweets are given without their time stamps. All of these tweets are either from March 1 6, 2021 or March 17, 2021.

From https://twitter.com/search?q=AAPI
Stop AAPI Hate

@StopAAPIHate

The reported shootings of Asian American women on Tuesday in Atlanta is an unspeakable tragedy – for the families of the victims first and foremost, but also for the AAPI community — which has been reeling from high levels of racial discrimination.

**
Kenia Maravilla (she/her/ella)

@LaKeniaem

Tonight 8 Asian women were murdered by a domestic terrorist in #Atlanta. AAPI organizers have been sounding the alarm since Trump took office and w reason. Last yr alone, @StopAAPIHate reported 3,795 incidents of anti-Asian hate. 

In deep solidarity with my AAPI fam grieving.

**
Fair Fight

@fairfightaction

Tonight, we hold close to our hearts Georgia’s AAPI community, which was targeted in a spree of Metro Atlanta shootings. As we await more details on these tragic events, we must commit to overcoming xenophobia and racism. #gapol

**
Michelle Nguyen Bradley

@iamchubbybunny

Asian people are literally being hunted in America. And the media refuses to call these killings a hate crime all while people continue to insist that asians "don't experience REAL race issues." I'm so angry & sad for the AAPI community. Media: It's time to STEP the hell UP.

**
Elise Hu

@elisewho

— In 2020, anti-Asian hate crime jumped 149% in 16 of largest US cities, per Cal State San Bernardino

— 1st spike was in March 2020, amid a rise in COVID cases

— 3,700 anti-Asian incidents have been reported to #StopAsianHate, the majority of them against AAPI women

Enough.

** 
Alyssa Milano

@Alyssa_Milano

Hate speech leads to violence.

I stand with the AAPI community. [emoji of Broken heart]

#StopAsianHate

**
Andy Kim

@AndyKimNJ

I’m heartbroken to hear about this tragedy. The AAPI community across the country is frightened by these acts of violence. We have to strengthen our resolve and act against such blind hatred. Tonight we stand in solidarity with victims and their families. #StopAsianHate

**

Kurt Bardella

@kurtbardella

Since March 19, 2020, there have been 3,795 reports of hate incidents against the #AAPI community.

4 days ago, the leader of the Republican Party used the racist phrase "China Virus.

The GOP owns this violence.

**
니콜

@markbeomnyoung

Let’s all educate ourselves and let’s all help spread awareness about the discrimination and violence against the AAPI community.

http://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co

#StopAsianHate

**
Rep. Ted Lieu

@RepTedLieu

Amid a rise in anti-Asian attacks, we all have a role to play in protecting & supporting the #AAPI community. On Thursday, we’ll be joining @HouseJudiciary for a hearing on discrimination & violence against AAPIs to discuss ways we can #StopAAPIHate.

**
Dr. Melissa May Borja

@MelissaMayBorja

Six Asian American women were killed in Atlanta today. We're still learning about the motive. However, you should know this: most racist attacks against Asian Americans this past year have targeted women, and Asian American women are on edge. (1/15)

**
Dr. Melissa May Borja

@MelissaMayBorja

@StopAAPIHate (an organization with which I am an affiliated researcher) found that 68% of the attacks on Asian Americans in the past year targeted AAPI women. (2/15)

 **
Nicole Dungca

@ndungca

don’t just check on your AAPI friends. read up on the Chinese Exclusion Act, US occupation of the Philippines, Japanese internment camps. listen to AAPI women when they talk about the racist, sexualized messages they’ve heard all their lives. we’re all tired and it’s just not new

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Stacey Abrams

@staceyabrams

Our hearts are with the families of the AAPI women slain yesterday. Hatred is infectious and cumulative - it begins w pejoratives about race and evolves into acts of unspeakable violence. We must do more than condemn. Our responsibility is to protect and defend. By word and deed.

**

shonda rhimes

@shondarhimes

Last night was an act of pure racist hatred. This is very personal to me as a mom of a child who is both Black & Asian. But it shouldn’t have to be personal to know its wrong. Speak up. Hashtags are nice but actions save lives. Standing w/ the AAPI community. #StopAsianHate

**

happydays1dCherries

@julez_jpg

terrible acts of violence are happening towards the AAPI community, the news is devastating. please take time to pay attention to this serious issue. linked below are resources and ways to help/spread awareness. use your voice and take action #StopAsianHate

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Robert Reich

@RBReich

Trump's no longer on Twitter, but his bigotry is still on full display.

Yesterday, he went on Fox News to launch another racist attack against the AAPI community.

Hours later, a white man murdered 8 people in Atlanta—including 6 Asian-American women.

Racist rhetoric is deadly.

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