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The Scene #StopAsianHate: Asian Celebrities Rally To Raise Awareness Following Atlanta Shootings

#StopAsianHate: Asian Celebrities Rally To Raise Awareness Following Atlanta Shootings

Julie Tran holds her phone during a candlelight vigil in Garden Grove, California, on March 17, 2021 to unite against the recent spate of violence targeting Asians and to express grief and outrage after yesterday's shooting that left eight people dead in Atlanta, Georgia, including at least six Asian women. - Police have said suspect Robert Aaron Long, a 21-year-old white man, has so far denied a racist motive for the three shootings in the southern US state of Georgia. (Photo by Apu GOMES / AFP)
Photo: Apu Gomes / AFP
By Lainey Loh
By Lainey Loh March 19, 2021
Celebrities of Asian descent speak out against the string of violent and unprovoked attacks, the latest being the deadly Atlanta shootings, which have left Asian-Americans feeling increasingly unsafe

On March 16, metro Atlanta was rocked by a shooting rampage at three spa businesses that left eight people dead–most of them Asian women, four of Korean descent. The mass shootings, which happened all in the span of 45 minutes, was carried out by 21-year-old suspect Robert Aaron Long.

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Long was arrested on the same night at the end of a police chase. He was on his way to Florida to carry out more shooting when he was arrested, according to Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.

People hold lights during a vigil organized by Nailing It For America for those who have died from Covid-19 and to "Stop Asian Hate" on March 4, 2021 in Fountain Valley, California. - Orange County community volunteers formed the message of "Stop Asian Hate" with luminaries as reports of hate crimes against Asian Americans have increased since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. (Photo by Patrick T. FALLON / AFP)
Photo: Patrick T. Fallon / AFP

“A motive is still not clear, but a crime against any community is a crime against us all,” Bottoms said in a statement. “I have remained in close contact with the White House and APD as they work with federal, state and local partners to investigate the suspect who is responsible for this senseless violence in our city.” Long has since been charged with eight counts of murder and homicide and one count of aggravated assault. 

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As Atlanta authorities continue to investigate the motive behind the deadly shootings, US President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, as well as Asian celebrities from around the world took to social media to express their heartbreak and frustration. “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,” Crazy Rich Asians actress Gemma Chan wrote in an Instagram post.

Echoing her sentiment is a slew of personalities of Asian descent including To All The Boys star Lana Condor, professional basketball player Jeremy Lin, Bullets over Broadway actress Jennifer Tilly, DJ and producer Steve Aoki, K-pop superstar CL, Into the Badlands actor Daniel Wu, actress and former TV host Olivia Munn, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' Simu Liu, RuPaul's Drag Race alum Kim Chi, The Office's Mindy Kaling, and many more.

Read more: 12 Asian Actresses Making It Big In Hollywood And Why That Matters Today

See their tweets below:

If you'd like to join them in raising awareness and combating anti-Asian violence, you can. Donate to the Support the AAPI Community Fund, a collaborative effort between GoFundMe and Asian fashion industry insiders Philip Lim, Opening Ceremony's Humberto Leon, Carol Lim, Susie Bubble, Bryanboy, and Eva Chen.

The campaign aims to raise funds to support organisations that empower and uplift the AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islanders) community, with initiatives such as increased community safety and support for those affected by violence.

See also: 5 Asian Fashion Insiders In NYC Talk Challenges, Family And Food

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The Scene Stop Asian Hate Stop AAPI Hate Atlanta Shootings

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