ATLANTA - A Reminder of Hate

Hate: extreme dislike or distrust. This standard definition grossly oversimplifies the vexing plague haunting civilisations since the emergence of intelligent species. Our minds, a complex web encapsulating our consciousness, are capable of extraordinary feats culminating in love, happiness and kindness. Yet, in split seconds we can fall victim to the human weaknesses of greed, anger, and, hate - as vividly displayed on the events of March 16th. No strangers to mass shootings, the latest cycle of senseless death in America arose between lush foothills of the peaking Appalachian mountains, in the metropolitan city of Atlanta. In working another hectic afternoon and hustling to dominate the forceful rush-hour, dozens of Georgians would encounter a wrath unlike any.

With no laws enforcing strict waiting periods or demanding credible licenses, perpetrator Robert Long effectively purchased a lethal 9mm semi-automatic pistol from a nearby firearms store. Mobile, the 21 year old soon arrived at local parlour ‘Young’s Asian Massage’, hovering idly in the parking lot for an hour before infiltrating the premises and unleashing unimaginable horror unto innocents. After suffocatingly crucial minutes, frantic 911 calls beckoned police to a gruesome scene of 2 fatally shot individuals and 3 remaining seriously wounded - without any apparent gunman. Police detained the grieving husband of a deceased customer, interrogating him relentlessly for hours while he bore unimaginable agony. Of the three wounded, only one survived this despicable, unwarranted attack.

Their names are:

Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33: A recently married mother of two young children.

Xiaojie Tan, 49: Business owner of the spa and an immigrant living the ‘American Dream’. Died one day shy of her 50th Birthday. “Full of smiles and laughter”.

Daoyou Feng, 44: Recently hired employee, described as kind and quiet.

Paul Andre Michels, 54: Maintenance worker, ex-military and married for 26 years.

Elcias R Hernández-Ortiz, 30: The lone survivor, a mechanic and immigrant from Guatemala who remains in intensive care after shots to the forehead, lungs and stomach.

Thirty meagre miles away from the chilling scene, Long was persisting in his campaign of terror. Descriptions of robbery at ‘Gold Massage Spa’ streamed into the APD, who discovered 3 women deceased from gunshot wounds upon inspection. Abruptly, commotion soared across the street. Another shooting was underway at ‘Aromatherapy Spa’, attracting police to discover another woman murdered. The striking parallels between each abhorrent crime was unmistakable, prompting the FBI to initiate an investigation.

Their names are:

Hyun Jung Grant, 51: A hard working single mother to two sons who immigrated from South Korea as a schoolteacher.

Soon Chung Park, 74: The oldest victim, a cook for the employees expected to live a long healthy life.

Reports from an escaped survivor allege hearing Long exclaim “I’m going to kill all Asians” - a sinister sentiment during a period where record high Asian hate-crime rates have risen 150%. Previously, Long was admitted to an evangelical treatment centre battling various disturbing behaviours at odds with his deeply religious background. As a result of his unsettling actions, he was evicted and disliked by many including his parents. While Long retains his abominable attack was not racially motivated, the Asian majority victims uncover another stitch in the accelerating pattern of hate crimes amidst the stinging COVID-19 pandemic (described as ‘Chinese Virus’ by President Trump). In weaponizing shared suffering of the virus, and targeting hatred towards an uninvolved minority, Asian-Americans grapple with the most smothering atmosphere in the USA since WW2.

How can we make a dent in such a viciously cruel machine? Well to start, remember. Remember the past. Remember their names. Remember the faces in front of the bullet. In a time when prejudice remains ingrained in society, each victim is an ode to the toxic atmosphere we all engage with. We globally accept that ‘hate’ is not something humans are naturally born with, so why continuously teach it to the youth? Instead, our best efforts must be aimed at treating everyone with respect and dignity, so the next white supremacist coupled with unregulated gun control doesn’t create more devastating headlines. So that bigotry doesn’t breach justice systems where the excuse of “having a bad day” is easier to create than attributing blame accordingly.

Some resources for supporting the Asian community:

• Advice on what us students can do in regards to specifically Asian Hate

• add links to websites or organizations

• Don’t be afraid to ask and open up to your Asian friends on how to help/if you do or say anything that bothers them (eg: the Asian jokes you may make about them, any names you call them, etc)

• Avoid making stereotypical comments and jokes as it is very normalised

• Stop using slurs against Asians https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ethnic_slurs_by_ethnicity#Asian

• Stop mocking Asian languages and/or accents

• Learn the difference between culture appropriation and culture appreciation

Websites/Organisations:

• https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate

• https://www.gofundme.com/f/atlanta-march-16-fund

By Manaal Khan 11B and Sophia Allam 12A