Another hate crime has transpired against Asians but the only difference seems to be that it has not gone unnoticed. 

On March 16, a gunman shot eight people, six of whom were Asian women. The officers in the Atlanta Police Department have graciously labeled this attack as not “racially-motivated” and said killer Robert Aaron Long was having a “bad day.” 

How long can the police excuse the killing of People of Color just because the killer is white?

Long claimed he was not racially motivated and has a “sex addiction,” killing them to get rid of the “temptation.”

The fact that it is even debated if this was a hate crime should be enough to stir protests. 

“To think that someone targeted three Asian-owned businesses that were staffed by Asian American women … and didn’t have race or gender in mind is just absurd,” Director of organizing at Asian Americans Advancing Justice in Chicago Grace Pai told The Guardian. 

People have been so busy believing Asians have risen to privileged standards, thanks to the Model Minority myth, they seem to turn a blind eye towards the unfathomable hate crimes that have only increased because of COVID-19. 

“That statement would almost be laughable if it weren’t for the extreme circumstances we’re in,” senior Abby Liu said. “Most Asians immigrated to the Americas after other immigrants initially did. Saying that Asians are privileged is an insult to all the hard work Asians have put in to reach the success they now have.”

This attack is one of many disturbing crimes against Asians. Actor Daniel Dae Kim spoke out about these attacks in his testimony to Congress. 

“Noel Quintana, face slashed with a blade from ear to ear. An 89-year-old woman set on fire. Tara Taka Ono, a professional jazz pianist beaten so badly he can no longer play piano. Georgia, two days ago, six of whom were women. These are only a few of the 3,800 reported incidents since last March,” Kim said.

The fact that an elderly woman was set on fire just because she was Asian leaves my heart aching for her family that lost a beloved family member to racism. Asian Americans are terrified, and rightfully so.

“These attacks have made me feel afraid to walk into public and have given me an overall sense of unwelcoming,” Junior Aiden Henke said. “I feel like I am not wanted in this country and has made me feel quite insignificant.”

Senior Eileen Pan worries for her family and relatives because of the constant intake of Asian attacks on the news.

“The fact that it’s the twenty-first century and attacks like these are still happening just blows my mind because I just don’t understand why anybody would commit such rotten acts as the ones being committed against Asian-Americans right now,” Pan said. “These crimes make me angry, sad, and worried all at the same time, and they’ve become a huge weight that I wish would be lifted off my shoulder already.”

If you are a non-Asian looking for ways to help, educating yourself is the only way to truly stop the cycle of ignorance and hate toward People of Color.

“There are plenty of resources online that have information on how to help the Asian community and there are many fundraisers out there that people can donate to,” Pan said. “Just please educate yourself about the Asian community and don’t do nothing.”

Non-Asians will never be able to truly understand the hate crimes toward Asians, so the best thing you can do is amplify Asian voices rather than talking over them. Listen, understand and be a true ally. 

Western culture has happily appropriated many things from Asian culture. It is time for America to advocate for Asians as much as they profit from bubble tea and Anime.