NORCROSS, Ga. — Saturday marked three years since eight people were shot and killed at three metro Atlanta spas.
Six of the victims were Asian women.
There was a memorial at the Korean Community Center in Norcross, to honor culture and the victims:
- Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33
- Paul Andre Michels, 54
- Xiaojie Tan, 49
- Daoyou Feng, 44
- Soon Chung Park, 74
- Hyun JungGrant, 51
- Sun Cha Kim, 69
- Yong Ae Yue, 63
Managing Director of Policy and Counsel at Stop AAPI Hate Candice Cho has been helping fight for change.
"It really catapulted into mainstream visibility--a kind of experience of being targeted when you did nothing wrong, just for being who you are," Cho said.
Robert Aaron Long, 21, is serving life without parole for opening fire in a Cherokee County spa, killing four people. He’s accused of then going to two spas in Atlanta, killing four more. He’s still awaiting trial in Fulton County.
"Unfortunately, hate is a daily fact of life for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders," Cho said. "We experience it in everyday life. And we experience it doing the most regular things."
Tan was Michael Webb's former wife. He was a speaker at the memorial.
"It was a life-changing event for my family," Webb said. "And we're trying to do the best we can to be a part of the solution."
During his speech, Webb said his hope is in the next generation.
At the event, young people were invited to celebrate culture through dance, speeches, and even singing. For example, the youth performed the Dragon Dance because 2024 is the year of the dragon, symbolizing strength and optimism. Leaders are optimistic that their strength will help extinguish hate against the AAPI community.
Webb said it starts with gun laws, as police said Long bought the handgun he used in the shootings that same day.
"I firmly believe that if there had been just a one-day waiting period, my former wife would be alive," Webb said.
The Asian Justice Movement is fired up—ready to stand together so the horror of three years ago is never repeated.
Amy Yeh's daughter sang a song in Mandarin at the event.
"The violence has to be stopped," Yeh said.
There were also commemorations in Los Angeles, San Fransisco, and New York City. Watch the live stream here.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to clarify Candice Cho's title.