It is with heavy hearts and great mourning that we at National APAMSA now take a step back from the festivities of the Lunar New Year to respond to the tragedy that occurred the same weekend. On Saturday, January 21st, 2023, a mass shooting took place in Monterey Park, CA that killed 11 victims and injured 9 others. Just two days afterward, Half Moon Bay, CA likewise suffered a mass shooting that took the lives of at least 7 more people. Many of those who passed away were members of the AANHPI community.

We lament the horrors that unfolded at a time meant for celebrations and rejoicing with loved ones; we cannot know how unspeakably painful it must be for those who lost their loved ones that same evening. Our hearts and deepest sympathies go out to all those in our AANHPI communities who must now endure such unbearable sorrows.

We respond to the Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay shootings with the recognition that they are tragically not the only ones that have disproportionately affected racial minorities generally and the AANHPI community specifically. The past year has seen far too many violent crimes, from New York City and Brooklyn to Laguna Woods and Buffalo. And earlier this month, an Indiana University student was stabbed for “being Chinese”. It is with great frustration and heartbreak that we must reiterate our condemnation of the senseless violence that endangers our communities. We continue to offer our support to all of our local chapters and members, especially in California and Indiana, and we encourage you to reach out with any specific ways we can be of service. Please also consult our list of mental health resources if you are interested in learning more.