Mass shootings at Half Moon Bay and Monterey Park spark shock, fear of retribution through AAPI community

SAN FRANCISCO (CGO) — The two mass shootings happened just hours apart, shocking the Asian American community to the core.

“It’s very rare. It’s really unheard of,” Justin Zhu said.

Zhu is the executive director of Stand with Asian Americans in San Francisco.

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He says the attacks in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay sent shock waves through the local AAPI community. The mass shootings in California “broke shock” to the AAPI community, especially as they happened at the very beginning of the sacred Lunar New Year. Celebration of the year.

“To see this happening and the thought of older Asians doing this at this time really hurts our hearts and our families,” Zhu said.

But Zhu says the attacks are only part of the story.

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He says the past few years have been difficult for many Asian Americans because of the pandemic and the resulting surge in hate crimes.

“This is a wake up call for our community to check on each other. To look at our mental health,” Zhu said.

Pickets are held throughout the Bay Area in memory of the victims.

On Wednesday night alone, people gathered at the crosses in places like Santa Clara and also in Oakland, where dozens of people gathered.

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Carl Chan was one of those who attended the East Bay event.

He says some in the public fear that the recent mass shootings could trigger retribution.

“Some people will use this to start a new wave of attacks on the AAPI community,” Chan said.

But as the week’s trauma begins to surface, Zhu and Chan say it’s important that those inside and outside the AAPI community show support.

Stay strong in difficult times without letting the past weigh them down.

“Please don’t let all these incidents stop us from doing what we do every day. Because we have to move on,” Chan said.

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