Lawmakers warn of surge in violence against Asian Americans after Georgia shootings

A number of lawmakers on Wednesday warned of a surge in violence against Asian Americans after the shooting spree late Tuesday in Atlanta that left eight people dead, six of whom were Asian women.

Rep. Michelle Steel (R-Calif.) called the shooting “senseless and tragic” on Twitter on Wednesday, while fellow California Rep. Ted Lieu (D) accused the Trump administration of “inflaming hate against Asian Americans” amid the coronavirus pandemic, retweeting CBS News’s Weijia Jiang’s allegation that last year a White House official called COVID-19 the “Kung-Flu” to her.

This is senseless and tragic. Hate crimes against Asian Americans must stop. I’m praying for these victims, their families, and our #AAPI community today.https://t.co/N5UHfgAtGc

— Rep. Michelle Steel (@RepSteel) March 17, 2021

One year ago, we had a former President and White House officials inflaming hate against Asian Americans. Some elected officials continue to use ethnic identifiers in describing the virus, which adds fuel to the hate. If you are one of those officials, please stop.#StopAsianHate https://t.co/Bb92pULMTX

— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) March 17, 2021

The House has a hearing scheduled Thursday on rising incidents of hate crimes and discrimination against Asian Americans.

Violent attacks against Asian American individuals increased last year by nearly 150 percent in major cities, according to NBC News, especially in Los Angeles and New York, which have large Asian populations.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) tweeted that the shooting on Tuesday “reflects a sickening trend that must be stopped.” 

“America must unite to fight the stomach-turning surge in violence against the Asian-American community,” he shared. 

This heinous crime reflects a sickening trend that must be stopped. America must unite to fight the stomach-turning surge in violence against the Asian-American community. My NO HATE Act & other steps will help. https://t.co/43qU9M3coj

— Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) March 17, 2021

More than 3,000 hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have been reported since the beginning of the pandemic in the U.S., which former President Trump continues to refer to as “the China virus.”

Atlanta police on Wednesday told reporters that it was too early to determine if the shootings, which occurred at massage parlors in and near the city, should be considered a hate crime.

The suspected 21-year-old shooter, who is white, told authorities the crimes were not racially motivated but that he has a “sexual addition” and saw the massage parlors as a “temptation” that he wanted to “eliminate.”

Several lawmakers on Wednesday took to Twitter to address the shooting, with some using the hashtags #StopAsianHate to mourn the victims.

Atlanta was shocked last night by a series of shootings leaving 8 people dead—6 of Asian descent

We can’t lose our vigilance against the forces of hate, bigotry, discrimination—We must #StopAsianHate

And we must move forward on legislation to help stop the gun violence epidemic

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) March 17, 2021

My heart is with the loved ones of those killed last night in Atlanta. This was a shattering attack.

We’ve seen an uptick in hate crimes against the AAPI community in our country—it’s incumbent on all of us to confront racism in the U.S. and #StopAsianHate. https://t.co/b3zOmhfAQZ

— Senator Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley) March 17, 2021

My heart breaks for those we lost in these senseless shootings. And this is all the more painful because AAPIs have spent the last year telling you that our communities were in danger. We cannot move forward — we cannot heal — until our country reckons with & stops AAPI hate.

— Grace Meng (@Grace4NY) March 17, 2021

My heart goes out to the families & communities of the 8 victims murdered in metro Atlanta. It’s tragic to see how the violence against Asian-Americans has been normalized. This hate has no place in our country. #StopAsianHate

— Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) March 17, 2021

I am horrified and heartbroken by the shooting last night in Atlanta. My heart is with the victims, their loved ones, and the AAPI community.

Enough is enough. We must take action to #StopAsianHate.

— Senator Alex Padilla (@SenAlexPadilla) March 17, 2021

President Biden last week condemned “vicious hate crimes” against Asian American and Pacific Islander communities during a prime-time address marking the one-year anniversary of coronavirus restrictions.

“It’s wrong. It’s un-American. And it must stop,” Biden said.