One Year After the Atlanta Spa Shootings, We Mourn, Reflect and Recommit

Today, March 16th, marks one year since eight people, six of them Asian women massage workers, were tragically killed in a series of shootings at massage parlors in Atlanta. On the one-year anniversary of this immense loss, we honor and remember the lives of the victims, we speak their names – Xiaojie Tan, Daoyou Feng, Delaina Yaun, Paul Michels, Suncha Kim, Soon Chung Park, Hyun Jung Grant, and Yong Ae Yue – and we wish for healing and peace for the survivors and families of this tragedy. Our hearts are heavy today as we mourn alongside our community. 

 ACRS, along with organizations around the country, has signed on to Asian Americans Advancing Justice’s collective statement on the anniversary. To quote one part of the statement specifically: 

 “To heal we must grapple with these truths and address white supremacy and misogyny as the root causes of violence and hate. To do so requires us to hold uncomfortable dualities. It means acknowledging the pain and fear that motivates some victims and community members to call for carceral solutions such as increased police presence, hate crimes legislation, and other forms of punishment; while at the same time interrogating how these responses criminalize and cause harm in the name of public safety.”

 Over the past year, ACRS has reflected deeply on the root causes of structural violence and how white supremacy and misogyny uniquely harm and endanger Asian migrant women and femmes. As we continue to navigate ongoing acts of violence and racism toward the Asian community, we hold on to this reflection with integrity and recommit to an analysis that places our most marginalized community members firmly at the center. All of us deserve to live free from violence and we will continue to work toward a world where that vision is possible.