On Saturday, Jan. 21, a gunman killed 10 individuals and wounded 10 extra in a taking pictures in Monterey Park, CA, CNN confirmed. The taking pictures occurred at a dance studio close to the place the town’s Asian-American group was participating in a Lunar New Yr celebration.
At this stage, it is unclear if the mass taking pictures was a hate crime, however the motive continues to be being investigated. For the reason that taking pictures occurred, the AAPI group has been rocked. On Sunday, regulation enforcement officers launched a photograph of the suspect, who gave the impression to be an Asian male. Nevertheless, the suspect’s identify was not launched. Per CNN, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna mentioned that at the same time as regulation enforcement continues to search for the suspect, they’re additionally on the lookout for methods to help these affected by tragedy. “As we’re on the lookout for the suspect, we won’t overlook the victims and survivors,” he mentioned.
Within the wake of the mass taking pictures, anti-Asian hate coalition Cease AAPI Hate launched a press release to the press. “After a day of celebration, we’re waking as much as a nightmare. That is devastating past phrases,” the assertion learn. “We can not think about the ache that so many households are experiencing immediately.”
They continued, “At Cease AAPI Hate, many individuals on our workers know this group effectively and really feel related to it. Our hearts are with the family members of all these whose lives had been taken, those that had been injured, and the numerous others who had been shaken by worry that nobody ought to have needed to expertise. This super act of violence, on one of the crucial necessary days of the 12 months for a lot of Asian People, at a spot the place Asian American households come to assemble and have fun, is sending shockwaves by way of our group. As we wrestle to course of the ache, we should additionally work to forestall this from ever taking place once more.”
For the reason that information of the tragedy broke, celebrities and politicians together with Vice President Kamala Harris, Simu Liu, and Ken Jeong have all spoken out concerning the mindless tragedy and supplied their help to the victims and their households. Learn their statements forward.