In the aftermath of six Asian women being killed in Atlanta massage parlors Monday, March 22, 2021, tension has escalated. The U.S. acknowledges the rise of anti-Asian attacks within its borders. This has opened the eyes worldwide to this recent increase in violence against Asians.
Americans and citizens of other countries repeatedly hear Western politicians accuse China of being the source of the COVID-19 outbreak. This racist political rhetoric has targeted Asians.
They are alienated on the train, subjected to verbal abuse, and physical assault as accusations continue to grow to connect China to the virus. The London police have on file over 200 hate crimes against those with an eastern Asian appearance.
CNN interviewed Peng Wang, a Southhampton University lecturer in England. He stated that he was assaulted while jogging by four men that shouted racial slurs at him, including “Chinese virus.” Peng continues by saying the four men jumped out of a vehicle once he responded to their words and started punching and kicking him to the ground.
Quan Zhou Wu, a Spanish book author living in Madrid, admits that the Atlanta incident has not received front-page attention in the Spain media.
The attacks began Tuesday in Atlanta around 5 p.m. in Cherokee County, where Robert Aaron Long, 23, killed four Asians, and just a few hours later, four more were killed.
Delaina Ashley Yaun, Paul Andre Michels, Xiaojie Tan, and Daoyou Feng are the four Asians killed in Cherokee County. The Fulton Medical Examiner Office four days later identified the other four Asians as Chung Park, Hyun Jung Grant, Suncha Kim, and Yong Yue.
The spa shooter is being charged with murder but will not be prosecuted for a hate crime.
Written by Omari Jahi
Edited by Cathy Milne-Ware
Sources:
CNN: Atlanta spa attacks shine a light on anti-Asian hate crimes around the world; by Christopher Johnson and Tara John
Reuters: Atlanta shooting of Asian women was racially motivated, U.S. senator says; by Sarah N. Lynch and Valerie Volcovici
NBC News: Victims in Atlanta-area spa shootings include recently married mother, Army veteran; by Minyvonne Burke
NPR: When Is Racial Harassment Considered A Hate Crime?
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of DocChewbacca’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Asian Development Bank’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
