In the two days since a gunman killed eight people in the Atlanta area, including six women of Asian descent, groups have gathered in New York City, Seattle and Southern California, with more marches planned for this weekend. Social media has lit up.
Their common theme: The incident is mobilizing Asian-Americans who have seen their communities victimized by hate crimes over the past year, even if police haven’t determined whether the shooting belongs in that category.
At vigils, on Twitter and in workplaces, the slayings seemed to resonate with millions of people in a way that many said was reminiscent of George Floyd, a Black man whose death in Minneapolis police custody sparked a summer of unrest and conversations about race in the U.S.
President Biden ordered flags at federal buildings to be flown at half-staff in honor of the victims and plans to meet with Asian-American leaders in Atlanta on Friday. Many employers were quick to declare their support for racial equity and for Asian-Americans in particular.
