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 neighborhood was collaborating in a Lunar New Yr celebration.
At this stage, it is unclear if the mass taking pictures was a hate crime, however the motive remains to be being investigated. Because the taking pictures occurred, the AAPI neighborhood has been rocked. On Sunday, legislation enforcement officers launched a photograph of the suspect, who seemed to be an Asian male. Nonetheless, the suspect’s identify was not launched. Per CNN, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna mentioned that at the same time as legislation enforcement continues to search for the suspect, they’re additionally in search of methods to assist these affected by tragedy. “As we’re in search of 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 an announcement 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’t think about the ache that so many households are experiencing immediately.”
They continued, “At Cease AAPI Hate, many individuals on our workers know this neighborhood nicely 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 great act of violence, on one of the necessary days of the yr for a lot of Asian Individuals, at a spot the place Asian American households come to assemble and have a good time, is sending shockwaves by means of our neighborhood. As we wrestle to course of the ache, we should additionally work to stop this from ever occurring once more.”
Because the 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 assist to the victims and their households. Learn their statements forward.