Statement on Atlanta Shootings and Anti-Asian Violence from UCA
Statement on Atlanta Shootings and Anti-Asian Violence
As organizations representing Asian Americans around this country, we are deeply outraged by the cruel and senseless murders of eight people, including six Asian American women, in Georgia this past Tuesday. This heinous act of terrorism reflects the sharply rising number of violent crimes again Asians that is now a dire national crisis that must be addressed urgently and forcefully.
Regardless of what the investigation determines is the motive behind these brazen murders, the fact remains that Asian Americans have been targeted and terrorized throughout the country in recent months, with more than 3,800 reported incidents in the past year, with 500 occurring already in 2021. Our people and our businesses have been subjected to xenophobia, discrimination and hate crimes and it is tragic that so many Asian Americans are living in fear.
We demand that the federal government, state and local law enforcement agencies and community leaders unite to take immediate action to stop the surge in anti-Asian crime to ensure the safety of Asian Americans and our businesses. Community policing and outreach must be increased, anti-hate crime units must be established where they do not currently exist and investigations, detention and prosecution of those suspected of racially motivated assaults must be expedited.
We further call on all Asian American community groups to work together to combat anti-Asian crime. Finally, we demand that federal, state and local law enforcement authorities take immediate action to charge and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law whoever is responsible for the Georgia killings.
The violence in Atlanta has once again highlighted the plight of Asian Americans, who have suffered from the recent rise in anti-Asian discrimination and violence. This must stop. We demand and deserve a better America – an America that is safe for all of our citizens.
Haipei Shue
United Chinese Americans (UCA)
