Gigi Hadid, Olivia Munn and Other Celebrities Come Out in Support of Asian Americans Following Atlanta Shootings

  • AUTHOR: midhat
  • POSTED ON: March 19, 2021

Dozens of celebrities came out in support of the Asian
American community, condemning the recent surge in anti-Asian violence after
eight people were killed this week in shootings at Atlanta. The perpetrators
particularly targeted Asian-owned businesses in that area.


Gigi Hadid, Gemma Chan, Margaret Cho, Shonda Rhimes, Lin-Manuel,
George Takei, Daniel Dae Kim and other celebrities have responded to the
outrageous attacks, which left eight people dead, including six women of Asian
community.


On Tuesday, Atlanta authorities arrested a culprit named
Robert Aon, 21 of Woodstock, Ga., who has confessed to killing the victims.


“Please pay attention to what is happening,” wrote Marvel and
“Crazy Rich Asians” star on his Instagram account. “Racism and misogyny are not
mutually exclusive. In fact, sexualized racial harassment and violence is
something that many of us face regularly.”


“We need to stop the dehumanization of Asians. We need to stop
the scapegoating of Asians for COVID. We need to unite against all forms of
hate. Please spread awareness, check in your Asian friends because we are not
ok… educate yourself and others on the model minority myth and the long history
of anti-Asian racism… Please don’t be silent,” the actor wrote.


Co, Star Trek actor and comedian, was also among those who
spoke against the attack. He emphasized that others should consider the attacks
as hate crimes. He condemned Cherokee County Sheriff Frank Reynolds’ statement
that the Atlanta attacks “did not appear to be” motivated by racism.


Activists have highlighted many factors that contributed to
the surge in anti-Asian crimes during the pandemic, including xenophobic
history related to Asian communities, along with significant political figures
such as Donald Trump’s deliberate use of racist rhetoric to describe
coronavirus.


During his public statements, Trump was repeatedly dubbing
coronavirus as “Chinese virus,” insinuating that it is originated or caused by
Chinese people.


According to a report published by Stop AAPI Hate, about 3,795
racially-motivated attacks have been occurred since the start of the pandemic
and the number is likely much higher, as many have been gone unreported.


“Whether the killer went in with intent to kill Asian women or
he just happened to go9 to three different Asian establishments, miles apart,
with intent to kill those inside doesn’t change the racial nature of these
murders,” Star Trek star, George Takei tweeted. “The best thing can do today is
to keep out against violence toward Asians in this country, especially if you
yourself are not Asian.”


“I am so angry and full of grief because of what happened
yesterday,” said Cho, who was also a resident of Atlanta for seven years. “It
is a hate crime. When you kill [six] Asian women, it’s a hate crime. I don’t
know why that’s even a question. This is terrorism, and this is a hate crime.
Stop killing us.”


Lana Condor, the “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D” and “To All the Boys
I’ve loved before” actress, also took to social media, urging fans to keep
checking up on your grieving Asian friends and loved ones.


“Wake up! Your Asian friends and family are deeply scared,
horrified, sick to their stomachs and wildly angry…. Please please please stand
with us. Please. Your Asian friend needs you, even if they aren’t publicly
grieving on social media.”


Here’s how other celebrities reacted to the violent attacks on
the Asian community:



Singer John Legend stated that the attacks were downright
“absolutely horrible,” and that the country “needs to reckon with the increased
threats being directed at our Asian-American brothers and sisters.”


The Atlanta shooting incident is a recent one in a serious of
attacks against Asian-American community. On 11th March this year, a
75-year-old man from Hong Kong was killed after being physically assaulted
during his morning walk. The culprit had a history of targeting elderly Asians.


In another similar incident, an 81 year old from Thailand was killed
after being forcefully pulled down on the ground when he was casually walking
in his neighborhood in San Francisco. Similarly, a 61 year old Filipino-American
man had his face lacerated upon confronting a man who kicked his tote bag.


Since the start of pandemic, individuals belonging from the Asian
community have been targeted and looked down upon, as if they are the only ones
responsible for the spread of coronavirus. But in reality, it is the West who is
still struggling to control the spread while China has been declared
coronavirus-free! It’s high time we should all stand against those xenophobic
individuals who endorse such hate crimes against the Asian community—or any
other community, for that matter.


For more information about this news, make sure to like our
Facebook page and stay tuned to Hayvine.


#StopAsianHate now!

Updated March 19, 2021
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