In the latest of a harrowing string of attacks, a Taiwanese church in Laguna Woods, California fell victim to a shooting on May 15th, 2022. Just the day before, Buffalo, New York suffered its own tragedy as a man shot and killed ten Black Americans at a grocery store, in what is currently being investigated as a hate crime. A few days prior to that, a shooting in the Koreatown of Dallas, Texas left three women wounded and is also being investigated as a hate crime.

We lament the fact that these horrifying events are but the latest of a recent string of violent acts, both against Asian Americans and otherwise. It is with heavy hearts that we find ourselves restating our opposition to gun violence so frequently. Yet we also take this opportunity to honor Dr. John Cheng, the 52-year-old AANHPI physician who had charged at the Laguna Woods shooter and, by his sacrifice, ensured that no one else died that day. He has demonstrated immense heroism and selflessness not only in the face of this crisis, but also throughout his faithful service to his community as a sports medicine doctor. We grieve for his wife and two children, just as we grieve for all of the families who lost loved ones over the preceding weeks.

Once more, National APAMSA offers its support to the local chapters and members of New York, California, and Texas during these frightening times, and we encourage you to reach out with any specific ways we can be of service.