Photographed by Mel D. Cole - The End the Violence Towards Violence Protest & March in NYC on 2/20/21

I have been absolutely sick to my stomach following the shooting in Atlanta. It needs to be said like it is - this was a hate crime. Clearly, Asian-owned massage parlors were targeted, this is not a coincidence. I’m LIVID that the sheriff’s office statement was “he was pretty much fed up...end of his rope”., that the suspect was having “ a bad day”. We all have bad days and heart-wrenching issues and struggles we face daily, doesn’t mean we are going to go on a shooting spree. The video clip from the press conference is laughable, and honestly gets me completely enraged- Really? That’s the excuse? And that the suspect killed because of a sex addiction and wanted to eliminate the temptation - “Racism and misogyny are so deeply intertwined that they can not be disentangled. We really can’t talk about one without talking about the other. Toxic masculinity feeds racism and vice versa.” (Celeste Ng) This man is a homegrown terrorist and people are defending and humanizing him.

If you’re not speaking out about and denouncing #AsianHate & Violence, or having conversations, you are further contributing to upholding #whitesupremacy and the hate that is relentlessly hurting and killing our #AAPI communities. SILENCE IS VIOLENCE.

I thought the pain couldn’t get any worse and in the past 24 hours I’ve been wavering between completely enraged and drowning in sadness and tears. I’m continually worried about my family and friends, and constantly on the lookout when stepping foot out into my own (predominantly white, conservative) neighborhood.

We are collectively mourning and grieving - Thank you to those that have checked in and continue to amplify #AAPIvoices and the voices that are in solidarity with us and championing to #StopAsianHate.

End Violence Against Asians - In the Wake of Rising Hate Crimes and Atlanta Shootings