STATEMENT: AAPI Victory Alliance on the 2nd Anniversary of Atlanta Spa Shootings

WASHINGTON (March 16, 2023) — Today, on the second anniversary of the Atlanta Spa Shootings that killed six Asian women, AAPI Victory Alliance released the following statements:

AAPI Victory Alliance Board Member Katie Nguyen Kalvoda issued the following statement:

“Two years later our community is still reeling from this vicious act of gun violence and xenophobia. What was described by the perpetrator as a ‘really bad day’ resulted in the loss of eight people’s lives, and inflicted irreparable emotional, physical, and mental harm to our AAPI community.”

“As we continue to work toward a more inclusive and equitable future, we must hold our elected officials accountable and urge them to enact common-sense gun safety legislation. As leaders in the community, we will continue to show solidarity and ensure we never forget the families torn apart by gun violence.”

“Today, and every day, we remember the lives and memories of Daoyou Feng, Delaina Ashley Yaun, Hyun Jung Grant, Paul Andre Michels, Soon Chung Park, Suncha Kim, Xiaojie Tan, and Yong Ae Yue.”

AAPI Victory Alliance Board Member and Co-Founder of Sister District Lala Wu issued the following statement:

“Despite the indelible harm this act of violence has brought to our community, we have continued to organize and rally for systematic change. This act of violence, along with the countless others that have happened within the last two years, has solidified the importance of fighting for representation across every level of government to promote empathy and address ever-mounting AAPI safety concerns.”

“The epidemic that is gun violence in America can only be eradicated when all of our elected officials are dedicated to the cause. As we remember the lives lost in the Atlanta Spa Shootings, we must also continue to advocate and urge our legislators to fight for gun safety legislation.”

AAPI Victory Alliance Board Member and Senior Executive Vice President of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East Maria Castaneda issued the following statement:

“In the two years since the Atlanta Spa Shootings, we’ve seen an uptick in gun violence in America. In 2023 alone, there have been over 100 mass shootings and almost 8,000 preventable deaths. It is imperative that we continue to use our collective power to encourage and empower our communities to advocate for our shared futures. There is still so much work to be done, so we will never give up fighting for a world where everyone feels safe in their communities.”

“As we remember the lives lost in the Atlanta Spa Shootings, let us also remember the exigency of passing gun violence prevention legislation and ensuring further acts of gun violence cease to exist.”