Eight people were killed in a mass shooting in Atlanta recently, six of whom were Asian women.
The Asian American community has been outraged by this incident, as hate crimes against Asians have increased dramatically since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Celebrities have begun to use their platforms to bring attention to the rise in violence directed at Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI).
BTS, a global K-pop group, has recently used their Twitter platform to speak out and raise awareness about the problem.
We send our deepest condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. We feel grief and anger.
We recall moments when we faced discrimination as Asians. We have endured expletives without reason and were mocked for the way we look. We were even asked why Asians spoke in English.
We cannot put into words the pain of becoming the subject of hatred and violence for such a reason. Our own experiences are inconsequential compared to the events that have occurred over the past few weeks. But these experiences were enough to make us feel powerless and chip away our self-esteem.
What is happening right now cannot be dissociated from our identity as Asians. It required considerable time for use to discuss this carefully and we contemplated deeply on how we should voice our message.
But what our voice must convey is clear.
We stand against racial discrimination. We condemn violence. You, I and we all have the right to be respected. We will stand together.
BTS
BTS has also previously spoken out against racial discrimination and inequality. They also used their platform to support the #BlackLivesMatter movement last summer.
