Written by Laurie Melchionne, Editor in Chief

The debate on Asian discrimination in America came to a head on Tuesday, March 16 when Robert Aaron Long, 21, shot eight and killed people in three different Asian-ran salons in Atlanta, Ga. Six of the eight victims were of Asian descent.

On Tuesday, March 16, Robert Aaron Long, 21, open-fired on the workers of 3 massage parlors across the Atlanta, Ga area. Of the eight people killed, six of them were women of Asian descent. The suspect told Cherokee County authorities that the killing spree was motivated by his “sexual addiction”, and that by killing the Asian women, he was eliminating his “temptation”. However, in a year that saw 3,800 hate crimes against Asian Americans, many have debated this motivation. 

Stockton’s Asian Student Alliance (ASA) is one of these organizations that debate the truth of the suspect’s claims, and recognize that discrimination toward Asian Americans has been a rising concern in the U.S. 

In a statement from the Asian Student Alliance, President Julie Tran said, “The history of racism towards Asian Americans in the United States is no surprise to me. Historical xenophobia for Asians can date back to the murder of Vincent Chin in 1982 […] Chin’s death sparked the beginning of the Anti-Asian American movement.”

Although ASA acknowledges the problem, they also recognize the support the #StopAsianHate movement has received. “I am quite grateful for all of the support the Asian American community has been receiving from everyone across the U.S,” Tran also said. “Recently, multiple Stockton organizations have reached out to us expressing their concerns and encouragement which has been awesome. Through ASA, we are doing what we can to show our support to the Asian American community through advocacy presentations at our general body meetings, discussion-based workshops, and sharing resources to our members and social media.”

To show your support to the Asian American community, ASA is joining with Stockton’s Muslim Student Assocation from Monday, March 29 to Friday, April 2 to raise money for the Asian American Advancing Justice Foundation. The goal is to spread awareness to stop hate crimes. 

For Julie Tran’s full statement, keep reading below!

Julie Tran
Stockton ASA
March 28, 2021

I am quite grateful for all of the support the Asian American community has been receiving from everyone across the U.S. I’ve been seeing fundraisers, local rallies, and events being held to stand up against racism. I attended a vigil in Atlantic City last Thursday and was taken aback by the number of attendees and city leaders present. It was amazing seeing people of all ages and races coming together to #StopAsianHate that day.

The history of racism towards Asian Americans in the United States is no surprise to me. Historical xenophobia for Asians can date back to the murder of Vincent Chin in 1982. He was a Chinese American man brutally murdered by two white men on the streets when he was mistaken to be Japanese. During that time, Japanese auto industries were being blamed for the high unemployment rates. These white men were released on a small bail and justice was never given to Chin. Stories like these need to be highlighted in the education system for us to understand how violent and how long racism towards us has occurred. Chin’s death sparked the beginning of the Anti-Asian American movement.

Recently, multiple Stockton organizations have reached out to us expressing their concerns and encouragement which has been awesome. Through ASA, we are doing what we can to show our support to the Asian American community through advocacy presentations at our general body meetings, discussion-based workshops, and sharing resources to our members and social media. 

From Monday, March 29 to Friday, April 2, ASA will be collaborating with the Muslin Student Association of Stockton University to fundraise money to donate to the Asian American Advancing Justice foundation to stop further Asian hate crimes. You can check ASA’s Instagram: @stocktonasa or MSA’s Instagram: @stocktonmsa for further details! Any amount is appreciated. 

For more resources on Anti-Asian Violence and Stop Asian Hate Resources, you can check out our ASA’s Linktree: https://linktr.ee/stocktonasa.