CIVIL RIGHTS
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Unity Against Anti-Asian Violence
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lushing, NY: Local residents, faith leaders and civic activists representing the diversity of the World’s Borough gathered on the steps of the Queens Public Library in downtown Flushing, Queens, to stand in unity against anti-Asian violence and hate. Today’s vigil was an opportunity for our community to mourn the lives lost in the recent mass shooting in Georgia, condemn the white supremacy and racism dividing our country, and stand in solidarity across race, religion, and gender lines in mutual support and protection against future acts of violence. "We came together today to stand united against hate," stated John Choe, executive director of the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce, who organized today's vigil against anti-Asian violence. "We must come together as a community to build solidarity and mutual support. The police are crime fighters; they cannot solve the racism and sexism that are at the root of these attacks. Only we can protect us." On March 16, a white man gunned down nine people. At 5pm on Tuesday, the suspect opened fire at Young's Asian Massage in Acworth, killing four people and injuring a fifth, before driving 30 miles into Atlanta and killing four more people at two businesses, Gold Spa and Aromatherapy Spa. Six of those killed were Asian American women: Soon
Photo: Suechin Chang
Chung Park (74); Hyun Jung Grant (51); Suncha Kim (69); Yong Ae Yue (63); Delaina Ashley Yaun (33); Paul Andre Michels (54); Xiaojie Tan (49); Daoyou Feng (44). “Today we grieve for the eight lives lost,” stated Julie Ae Kim, Co-founder of the Asian American Feminist Collective. “Then we imagine and build a future where this can’t happen again. We hold our elected officials, advocates, and community accountable for stigmatizing and perpetuating harm to massage parlor workers, migrant workers, sex workers and we use this moment to call for justice. We know that the only way through this is together.” The vigil began with an opening prayer by Rev. Dr. Richard McEachern, Pastor
of Macedonia AME Church, and a song by Soh Young Lee-Segredo, educator, community activist, Charter Member of the Greater Flushing Chamber of Commerce, Vice President of the Korean American Association of Queens (KAAQ) and founding member of the Multicultural Council of New York. “As members of the faith community, our prayers go out to the families victimized by these violent attacks,” stated Rev. Dr. Richard McEachern, Pastor of Macedonia AME Church. “We are outraged by these biased and senseless attacks on Asian Americans, and we will not remain silent. We must speak out against bigotry, racism, and discrimination wherever and whenever we see it. We want our Asian American neighbors,
friends, and co-workers to know we are standing with you during this difficult time.” “The experience of being treated like a stranger in our own country is part of the Jewish story and the story of the AAPI community. As Jews, we stand with our AAPI family, community members and neighbors in love and solidarity,” stated Rabbi Rachel Goldenberg, Founder of the Malkhut Jewish spiritual community of Queens. “The scapegoating by public officials, associating COVID with the Asian American community, is dangerous and irresponsible and it must stop. In particular I also want to shine a light on the intersection between misogyny and racism in the recent horrific shootings in Atlanta. Racism and sexism were operating hand in hand in this incident, and we must call it out for what it is.” Flushing is the point of origin for many workers in massage parlors across the US. Immigrant massage workers and their supporters in Red Canary Song have called for decriminalization of sex work and justice for Yang Song, who was killed during a police raid in November 2017 on 49th Road in downtown Flushing after making a complaint of sexual assault and rape by undercover law enforcement officers. The vigil was also joined by Evergreen Chou of SEIU 1199 Healthcare Workers, other religious leaders and activists.l
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