The Asian American and Pacific Islander community have been expressing their fears of living in a society that actively threatens their safety for years now, but too many people in power refuse to listen. The Atlanta spa shootings that occurred on Tuesday, March 16th, are an Anti-Asian hate crime that should compel all of us to feel indignant and sad. As reported by the New York Times, “Eight people were shot to death at three massage parlors in the Atlanta area on Tuesday evening.” Six of the people killed were Asian, and two were white. All but one of the victims were women.
Besides being racially motivated, the Atlanta spa shootings were also rooted in misogyny and the fetishization of Asian women. It’s no coincidence that the murderer sought out Asian-owned businesses where he knew Asian women worked. This heinous crime is another example of the dangers that arise from misogyny, fetishization, and white supremacy and privilege. How many more attacks must women and minorities endure for us to receive the help and justice we deserve? Now more than ever, we must work to be anti-racist, anti-sexist, and anti-hate. It’s not enough not to be racist. We must actively work and take action to help marginalized people. Our efforts must also go beyond performative allyship.
The Atlanta shootings are not isolated incidents. Hate and violence against Asian-Americans in the U.S. have risen since last spring when the former president spread bigoted rhetoric.
To my fellow journalists, please be cautious about how you report on the Atlanta shootings. The Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) has provided guidance on how newsrooms and journalists should write about the shootings. I strongly urge you to read these guidelines. The media is responsible for how information is disseminated, and that is a huge responsibility that cannot be taken lightly.
If you have the means, please also donate to AAPI organizations. The New York Magazine has put together a list of organizations you can donate to. Please also take a moment to read @kimsaira’s Instagram post on how to be an ally and help Asian-Americans fight Anti-Asian racism.
