Following Saturday night’s shooting in Monterey Park, California, several members of the Asian American community have spoken out in support of those affected by the shooting.
Monterey Park is a predominantly Asian community, with 2020 data from the city’s website noting that of the city’s 61,096 residents, 65.6% are Asian.
"Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" actor Simu Liu called attention to this on Twitter and shared a statement in the wake of the shooting, calling for his followers to support those affected.
“I am shocked, saddened, angered, and heartbroken for the families who have been affected tonight. Please use the replies here to post more info as it comes out, as well as any verified fundraisers for the victims. I’d like to give what I can,” Liu tweeted.
The organization Stop AAPI Hate also shared a statement on Twitter, speaking out against the violence against the Asian community.
“Our community has faced so much tragedy and trauma over the last several years,” the statement read. “This tremendous act of violence, on one of the most important days of the year for many Asian Americans, at a place where Asian American families come to gather and celebrate, is sending shockwaves through our community.”
A report from the organization that collected data from March 19, 2020, to December 31, 2021, found that there were “10,905 hate incidents against Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) persons” reported to Stop AAPI Hate.
Sunday’s statement from the group continued, calling out gun violence, saying, “as we struggle to process the pain, we must also work to prevent this from ever happening again.”
“While the details are still developing, we do know that the shooter’s access to guns turned this into a massacre,” the statement added. “From local parades, to LGBTQ+ gatherings, to classrooms, to grocery stores, to spas, gun violence continues to devastate communities of all stripes, including our own.”
Other groups shared their condolences for those who lost their lives, including Asian Americans Advancing Justice, which called the shooting a "tragedy" on a day meant for celebration.
Several well-known Asian Americans also took to social media on Sunday, denouncing the violence and sharing their support for those affected.
“A whole community wracked by gun violence and death, on what should have been a joyous Lunar New Year celebration,” George Takei shared on Twitter. “No motive is yet known. But we must act to end the ability of murderers to take so many lives so brutally.”
Investigators have shared that it is too early to know if the attack was racially provoked or if the suspect knew any of the victims. Still, L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna said they are not ruling anything out and that “everything is on the table.”
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