"Stop Anti-Asian Hate Crimes" Candlelight Vigil Held in Atlanta Koreatown

Over 300 People Including Koreans, Asians, Whites, and Blacks
Buddhists, Christians, Catholics, and Muslims
United in Solidarity in the Rain Beyond Race and Religion

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Minyoung Cha] Despite the rain and lightning, over 300 people wearing raincoats gathered in the heart of Atlanta's Koreatown, holding candles. They came together to mourn the victims of the Atlanta shooting incident that shocked the world and to condemn anti-Asian hate crimes. Attendees of the rally, including Koreans, Asians, Black people, and White people regardless of race, shouted, "Stop anti-Asian hate crimes."

The 'Atlanta Asian Hate Crime Stop Emergency Response Committee,' composed of more than 20 Korean organizations, held a candlelight vigil on the 25th (local time) at Gwinnett Place Mall in Duluth, Georgia. Duluth is the center of Atlanta's Koreatown and the residence of three out of the four Korean victims of the shooting.

Although the gathering was led by Koreans in Atlanta, Asians including Chinese and Vietnamese, as well as Black and White people, attended to convey messages of solidarity and friendship. Religious figures from Christianity, Catholicism, Buddhism, and Islam also participated to pray for the victims and call for awareness among Asian immigrants.

Kim Baek-gyu, chairman of the emergency committee, stated, "This incident is a hate crime against Asians itself," adding, "We pay taxes and vote as Americans. We are not foreigners, and we will reclaim our rights." Korean-American Sam Park, a member of the Georgia House of Representatives, shared details of his meeting with President Joe Biden during his visit to Atlanta last week, emphasizing, "Georgia's political circles will never tolerate attacks against Asians and will protect you."

Carolyn Bordeaux, a White U.S. Congresswoman representing Koreatown, said, "Attacks against Asians are no different from attacks against me," and pledged, "The political sphere will do everything possible to prevent hate crimes." Elizabeth Omilami, director of the Hosea Foundation and a Black civil rights activist, said, "Dr. Martin Luther King bravely fought against racial discrimination and was shot dead. The tragedy continues," and vowed, "The Black community understands the pain of Koreans and Asians and will fight together."

Notably, a Black group attending with Gwinnett County School Board member Taris Johnson took the stage and expressed solidarity in Korean, drawing a strong response. He said, "No one should feel fear when leaving their home or going to work," and added, "We will fight against racial discrimination together."

Chairman Kim expressed gratitude to the attendees, saying, "It is especially meaningful that an event bringing together all races and generations was held in the heart of Atlanta Koreatown."

In major U.S. cities including Atlanta, New York, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Houston, and Washington, street protests calling for an end to anti-Asian hate are spreading. According to The New York Times (NYT), hundreds of people participated in each city, with thousands nationwide.

A total of eight victims, including six Asian women and four Koreans, died in the shooting incident that occurred on the 16th in the Atlanta area of Georgia. They were working at spas in the city when they were killed by the shooter Robert Allen Long. Long claimed "sex addiction" as the cause, but the incident is analyzed as a hate crime targeting a specific race, Asians.

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