People gathered over the weekend to take a stand against the violence and hatred that Asian Americans face, holding rallies and vigils in the United States after shootings in three spas in the Atlanta area.
The shooting on Tuesday left eight dead, including six Asian women. The attacks occurred during a spike in hate incidents against Asians in the United States and sparked conversations about the hypersexualization commonly faced by Asian women; the suspect was reportedly a client of two of the spas and told the police he had a “sex addiction”.
As the crimes inspired feelings of anger and fear, people also responded with calls for action. Demonstrations in several cities called for an end to racism and solidarity with Asian American and Pacific Island communities. The vigils honored the victims, who were remembered for their hard work and compassion and the love they shared with their families.