#StopAsianHate: Asian American celebrities call for an end to hate crimes
The recent spa shootings in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States have sparked outrage and fear in the Asian-American community as eight women, six of whom were of Asian descent, died in what many believe to be a hate crime.
The suspect who open fired in three spas in Atlanta was later identified as 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long. He has been arrested after his parents alerted the police, saying they believe their son is the suspect in the horrific shootings.
Asian American celebrities call for an end to Asian hate / Source: @gemma_chan (IG) @lanacondor (IG) @margaretcho (Twitter) and @kenjeong (IG)
The police were able to track his phone and eventually arrest him about 150 miles south of Atlanta, and is now facing eight counts of murder.
The South Korean Consulate in Atlanta confirmed that four of the eight victims were ethnic Koreans.
Even before the Atlanta shootings occurred, there has been a growing movement to stop the Asian hate, as the number of hate crimes against Asian-Americans soared during the COVID-19 pandemic.
And the recent shootings have prompted Asian-American celebrities in Hollywood to use their voices to help put an end to the unspeakable hate crimes.
To All the Boys star Lana Condor asked everyone to stand with Asians and to check on their Asian friends, as many of them are “deeply scared, horrified, sick to their stomachs and wildly angry” even though “they aren't publicly grieving on social media.”
Korean-American actress and stand-up comedian Margaret Cho expressed her fury and grief in a video uploaded on Twitter.
Margaret said, “I'm so angry and full of grief because of what happened yesterday in Atlanta. I lived in Atlanta for seven years and I'm…I just don't understand. And it is a hate crime. It is a hate crime. When you kill eight Asian women, it's a hate crime. I don't know why there's even a question. This is terrorism and this is a hate crime. Stop killing us.”
Crazy Rich Asians star Gemma Chan also called for an end to the different kinds of hatred directed toward Asians.
Part of her Instagram post reads, “Racism and misogyny are not mutually exclusive. In fact, sexualised racial harassment and violence is something that many of us face regularly.
“We need to stop the dehumanisation of Asians. We need to stop the scapegoating of Asians for Covid. We need to unite against all forms of hate.”
The Hangover actor Ken Jeong also pinned a video on his Twitter account, which was originally posted on June 19, 2020. It was about the harassment and violence that Asians experienced when the pandemic began. It also showcased several Asian celebrities and personalities such as Kelly Hu, Brian Tee, Randall Park, Ming-Na Wen, and Ken Jeong himself.
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Speaking of Asian-Americans, check out the gallery below of Hollywood celebrities with Filipino blood.