It’s been one year since eight people were killed after a gunman opened fire at two Atlanta-area massage businesses. Six of the victims were of Asian descent, sparking fear and outcry within Asian American communities across the country over the possibility the victims were targeted because of their race.
The deadly attacks were part of an increase in anti-Asian violence that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, when former President Donald Trump and others called the coronavirus the “China virus” and “Kung Flu.”
In the aftermath of the Atlanta shootings, President Joe Biden said, “Whatever the motivation here, I know Asian Americans are very concerned. Because as you know, I have been speaking about the brutality against Asian Americans for the last couple months, and I think it’s very, very troubling.”
