STOP Asian Hate marches are being held across the United States as the Atlanta shootings that killed six Asian women have prompted fear in communities. States across the nation saw marches in the wake of the March 16 bloody rampage against the Asian community in Atlanta, Georgia. The marches come as social media was flooded […]
STOP Asian Hate marches are being held across the United States as the Atlanta shootings that killed six Asian women have prompted fear in communities.
States across the nation saw marches in the wake of the March 16 bloody rampage against the Asian community in Atlanta, Georgia.
The marches come as social media was flooded with “Stop Asian Hate” messages the morning of March 17.
Eight people – predominantly women of Asian descent – were killed on Tuesday evening in a series of shootings at three spas.
Robert Aaron Long – the 21-year-old “sex addict” who alleged gunned down eight people – has since been charged over the attack.
After Long was charged, people took the the streets on Wednesday in New York City, Pennsylvania, California, Washington, DC, and Washington state.
Approximately 200 New Yorkers in Jackson Heights, Queens, took to a plaza to hold a vigil for the Asian-American community, according to the New York Times.
Attendees chanted “stop the hate” as they gathered in memory of the Atlanta spa shooting victims.
One local told the crowd: “I’m scared for every sex worker and street vendor, you can turn around and see them now.”
People in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, gathered for a candlelight vigil on Wednesday night to mourn the mass shooting victims.
Anne Ishii, executive director of Asian Arts Initiative, planned the vigil and said the Atlanta attack “feels racially motivated,” according to WHYY.
And more than 100 concerned citizens took to the streets of Washington, DC, to call for an end to hate crimes against Asian American and Pacific Islander.
They also denounced white supremacy as the event was held in D.C.’s Chinatown neighborhood, WUSA9 reported.
Another candlelight vigil took place in Garden Grove, California, and Tammy Kim, the vice-mayor of Irvine, slammed the Atlanta shootings and ongoing hate crimes as “not acceptable,” a CBS-affiliate reported.
In Newcastle, Washington signs against Asian hate crimes were held by the Asian American Pacific Islanders Organizing Coalition Against Hate and Bias group.
Prior to vigils being held across the US, alleged gunman Long was arrested on Tuesday night after leading cops on a three hour car chase, Cherokee County Sheriff’s spokesperson Howard J Baker said.
Captain Jay Baker said that Long had been charged with four counts of murder and one count of aggravated assaulted for the Cherokee County shooting, the New York Times reported.
However, charges have not yet been announced in connection with the attacks in the City of Atlanta.
And cops have released the chilling 911 calls from when the alleged gunman attacked.
The first shooting occurred at a Cherokee County massage parlor about 30 miles northwest of Atlanta before two other spas across the street from each other in northeast Atlanta were targeted.
Long was taken into custody “without incident” and was being held at the Crisp County jail.
The suspect is heading back to Cherokee County for a court hearing regarding the slaughters.
The FBI are now assisting the investigation into the shooting spree, that saw six Asian women shot dead.
Of the eight dead, seven were women and one a man, according to officials.
South Korea has since confirmed that four of the victims were of Korean descent.
The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the four victims who died at that location were: Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33, Paul Andre Michels, 54, Xiaojie Yan, 49 and Daoyou Feng, 44.
They added that one victim who was injured, but is in stable condition, was identified as Elcias R. Hernandez-Ortiz, 30.
Further details have not yet been released on the victims, but Atlanta Police Chief Rodney N. Bryant confirmed the majority were female and Asian.
The first shocking shooting happened at around 5pm at the Youngs Asian Massage Parlor off Bells Ferry Road and Highway 92 in Acworth, Georgia.
Two people died at the scene. A further three were transported to hospital, were another two succumbed to their injuries.
Less than an hour later, police responded to a call off a “robbery in progress” at Gold Spa, in northeast Atlanta.
Three women were shot dead in the appalling attack.
The gunman then headed to another spa situated just across the street, the Aromatherapy Spa, where officers found another woman deceased.
The suspect was captured by surveillance video pulling up to the business around 4.50pm, just minutes before the shooting.
The sheriff’s office posted surveillance pictures on its Facebook page, asking people to share the images that show the man near the vehicle.
From Young’s Asian Massage, it’s believed the gunman drove more than 30 miles and opened fire at two other businesses north of the city in the suburb of Woodland Hills.
