"Stop Asian Hate" Protests Held Across the US

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] On the 20th (local time), rallies protesting the Atlanta, Georgia shooting incident in which six Asian women, including four Korean American women, were killed by a white gunman, and supporting Asian Americans were held across the United States.

On the weekend, simultaneous rallies were held in several areas including Atlanta, Pittsburgh, and San Francisco, where participants expressed anger over hate crimes targeting Asians.

According to U.S. media such as The Washington Post (WP), hundreds of citizens and activists, including Korean Americans, participated in the rally held in a park next to the state legislature building in downtown Atlanta that afternoon.

Participants pointed out and protested that six of the eight victims who died in the shooting by suspect Robert Allen Long (21) were Asian women. They marched from Woodruff Park to the state legislature, shouting slogans such as "Stop hate against Asians" and "Asians are not the virus."

The New York Times (NYT) reported, "This rally was organized for citizens to come together to share the sorrow of the tragedy, heal the pain, and show support for the victims."

According to CBS, Korean American actress Sandra Oh made a surprise appearance as a speaker at the rally held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She led hundreds of people, chanting slogans for about two minutes.

Sandra Oh said, "I am really happy and proud to be here with you all," and "I am proud to be Asian." She continued, "For many people in the community, this is the first time we can raise voices of fear and anger," and shouted, "We must reach out to our sisters and brothers and say 'help us.'"

Hundreds also gathered at Portsmouth Square in San Francisco's Chinatown, urging an end to hate against Asians.

WP reported that gatherings supporting the Asian American community were also planned in New York, Chicago, and other places that day. These rallies were held amid growing concerns about the potential spread of hate crimes targeting Asians following the shooting incident.

Earlier, on the 17th, the day after the incident, protests honoring the victims and opposing the shooting were held in Washington DC's Chinatown and Queens, where many Asians reside in New York.

Meanwhile, the family of the deceased Korean American victim has hired a lawyer to seek legal action. According to U.S. media, the family of victim Yu has retained Korean American attorney BJay Pak, who served as the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia.

Attorney Pak, the first Korean American U.S. Attorney, abruptly resigned in early January at the end of former President Donald Trump's term. At that time, reports emerged that the Trump administration was dissatisfied with the Department of Justice's refusal to investigate allegations of "election fraud" claimed by Trump to overturn the Georgia election results, and that DOJ officials urged Pak to resign.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.