Traditional Chinese Translation, 中文
Simplified Chinese Translation, 中文
Vietnamese Translation, Tiếng Việt
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, MAY 16, 2022, LOS ANGELES, CA — Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL) issues the following statement in response to two mass shootings this weekend– Sunday’s attack against a Taiwanese church congregation in Laguna Woods, a city in Orange County, CA and Saturday’s rampage inside a supermarket in a predominantly Black neighborhood in Buffalo, NY.
Connie Chung Joe, CEO, Asian Americans Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California states,
“This weekend has been devasting for the Taiwanese communities here in Orange County’s Irvine and Laguna Woods. What should have been a peaceful Sunday church reception turned into a tragic violent episode leaving a vibrant Taiwanese faith community in OC in unimaginable pain and experiencing unspeakable trauma. Although we don’t know at this point the motives of the shooter, who was also Asian American, what we do know is that the attacks against our communities must stop. We grieve with the family of the victim whose life was lost, and our hearts are with the 5 injured and hospitalized as a result of this senseless attack.
We also stand in solidarity- and mourn the ten people in Buffalo, New York who were gunned down inside a neighborhood supermarket. This despicable expression of white supremacy and savage anti-Blackness must end. We call on all our fellow Asian Americans to join BIPOC brothers, sisters and allies to speak out and demand systemic changes in our country that will stop this devastation and gun violence.”
Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL) is the nation’s largest legal and civil rights organization for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI). Through direct services, impact litigation, policy advocacy, leadership development, and capacity building, Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California focuses on the most vulnerable members of Asian American and NHPI communities while also building a strong voice for civil rights and social justice. With offices in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, and legal helplines in 7 Asian languages and helplines including Mandarin, we encourage community members to reach out for help. More at www.ajsocal.org and @AdvancingJustice_LA.
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