Reactions to the shootings at three Atlanta-area massage
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"Jill and I are keeping everyone impacted by the shootings in Atlanta in our prayers. We don鈥檛 yet know the motive, but what we do know is that the Asian-American community is feeling enormous pain tonight. The recent attacks against the community are un-American. They must stop." 鈥� President Joe Biden.
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鈥淩acially motivated violence must be called out for exactly what it is and we must stop making excuses for it or rebranding it as economic anxiety or sexual addiction. ... Words matter. Leadership matters. We must all loudly condemn actions and language rooted in fear and bigotry that harms all of us.鈥� 鈥� Democratic U.S. Rep. Marilyn Strickland of Washington, the first Korean-American woman elected to Congress.
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鈥淲hile the details ... are still emerging, the broader context cannot be ignored. The shootings happened under the trauma of increasing violence against Asian Americans nationwide, fueled by white supremacy and systemic racism.鈥� 鈥� Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta.
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鈥淟ast night was an act of pure racist hatred. This is very personal to me as a mom of a child who is both Black & Asian.鈥� 鈥� Shonda Rhimes, TV writer and producer.
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鈥淚鈥檓 angry. This is terrorism. This is a hate crime. Stop killing us.鈥� 鈥� Margaret Cho, comedian.
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鈥淲e鈥檙e not yet clear about the motive. But I do want to say to our Asian American community that we stand with you and understand how this has frightened and shocked and outraged all people.鈥� 鈥�
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鈥淚 am deeply saddened that we live in a nation and world permeated by hate and violence. I stand with Asian members of our World House, who are a part of our global human family.鈥� 鈥� The Rev. Bernice King, daughter of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
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鈥淗ate crimes against Asian Americans are a result of the hateful rhetoric and dangerous narratives espoused from Americans, including our former president, who believe their words don鈥檛 have dangerous consequences. ... Let鈥檚 be clear, domestic terrorism is cancerous, and it is growing in our country. We must work together, regardless of race and political affiliation, to stop it.鈥� 鈥� The Rev. Al Sharpton, president of the National Action Network.
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鈥淥nce again we see that hate is deadly. Praying for the families of the victims and for peace for the community.鈥� 鈥� U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia.
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鈥淵esterday鈥檚 shootings are another tragic reminder that we have far more work to do to put in place commonsense gun safety laws and root out the pervasive patterns of hatred and violence in our society. ... Although the shooter鈥檚 motive is not yet clear, the identity of the victims underscores an alarming rise in anti-Asian violence that must end.鈥� 鈥� Former U.S. President Barack Obama.
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鈥淭he surge in violence against Asian Americans over the last year is a growing crisis. We need action from our leaders and within our communities to stop the hate.鈥� 鈥� Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
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鈥淎 disgusting and disturbing example of how the spread of domestic terrorism has been allowed to torment communities. These acts are the visible manifestation of hateful words birthing hateful acts! An attack on One is an attack on ALL!鈥� 鈥� NAACP.
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鈥淲e can draw a straight line between white supremacist violence and the rhetoric of leaders who scapegoat our communities. These incidents are no different. ... We oppose harmful and inaccurate narratives that paint Asian American and Asian immigrant communities with one brush in an effort to diminish their lives and their contributions.鈥� 鈥� The Movement for Black Lives
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鈥淭o my Asian American family, please take time to grieve but know you're loved, seen and IMPORTANT. We have to keep standing up, speaking out, rallying together and fighting for change. We cannot lose hope!!鈥� 鈥� Jeremy Lin, NBA player.
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鈥淭hese shootings are a vicious and vile act that compound the fear and pain that Asian-Americans face each day. ... Our entire nation must come together to speak out to Stop Asian Hate." 鈥� U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
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鈥淭he race of the person committing the crime matters less than the simple fact that if you act with hate in your heart, you are part of the problem. And to those with the power to help and yet sit idly by, your silence is complicity.鈥� 鈥� Daniel Dae Kim, actor.
The Associated Press
