One Year Later - We Remember the Victims of Atlanta, GA Spa Shooting
Dear Ascend Family,
My heart is heavy today as we mark the one year anniversary of the Spa Shooting in Atlanta, Georgia. Eight innocent souls were senselessly killed, six of which were Asian women: Soon Chung Park, Hyun Jung Grant, Suncha Kim, Yong Yue, Xiaojie Tan, Daoyou Feng, Delaina Ashley Yaun, Paul Andre Michels. I hope you will join me in remembering the victims and holding their loved ones in our thoughts and wishing them peace. In an impact statement, a family of one of the victims said “Our loved ones will never be forgotten.” This sentiment rings true for me and our Ascend community as we work tirelessly to ensure that the innocent lives lost to all hate crimes are not forgotten, and that we continue to do the critical work necessary to combat the deep rooted causes of anti-Asian hate, violence and microaggressions in the workplace and the community at large.
Since the Spa Shooting, hate crimes against Asians, especially women, have continued to multiply. I wake up most days worried about the physical safety and wellbeing of my family, friends and colleagues. I fear for my 89 year old father who should be able to freely roam the streets of San Francisco while he is still mobile. I stress about my daughter who is thousands of miles away relying on public transportation.
While the COVID-19 global pandemic gave rise to anti-Asian hate crimes, we must not forget that us Asians have been discriminated against and have been the victims of unprovoked violence long before the pandemic. This reality of our existence is evident as demonstrated in the Ascend Foundation’s thought leadership paper entitled Model Minority Myth & The Doubled-Edged Sword, and numerous Global #AscendTogether Forums to #StopAsianHate where we heard our members from all walks of life share their lived experiences of being marginalized, scapegoated and feeling like they don’t belong in the workplace and the society.
Our most recent forum Hate Knows No Boundary and Combating it Takes Steadfast Leadership, which was hosted exactly a week ago today, provided a safe space for our community to discuss the rising hate crimes in the U.S.A. and Canada, practical solutions to combat them and the importance of workplace inter-Asian allyship and how to practice it. A recurring theme which we heard at this highly engaging forum and the one that resonates with me in countless ways is that regardless of our physical differences, we are more alike than we are different, and that combating challenges successfully can only be done if we work together towards achieving the common goal of diversity, equity and inclusion for all. This gives me hope!
Amidst all the pain and suffering, I am encouraged by the collective resilience of our community to continue the fight against the growing scourge of hate and violence. I am deeply moved by the willingness of each and every member who has demonstrated the courage to share their story through our groundbreaking The Other Side campaign which continues to shed light on the dichotomy of being an Asian in the workplace. These stories bring to light the long-held stereotypes and microaggressions that demoralize us, make us vulnerable to self-doubt, lower our self-esteem, impact our mental health, and inhibit our professional growth.
To commemorate this somber day, peaceful vigils are being organized coast-to-coast, as well as virtually. We all grieve and cope differently, and however you choose to honor the victims, I wish you and your family safety and strength.
Once again, thank you for your ongoing support and for your commitment to Ascend.
With Gratitude,
Anna Mok
Ascend & Ascend Foundation, President & Executive Board Chair
Ascend Pinnacle Co-Founder
#Ascendtogether #webelong #stopasianhate