In the wake of Tuesday’s mass shooting in Atlanta, which took the lives of six women of Asian descent and eight people altogether, several athletes have used their platforms to denounce the brazen violence and condemn racism against Asian-Americans.
The shooter, a white man, was charged on Wednesday with eight counts of murder in connection with the attacks. Investigators have said they have not ruled out racial bias as a motivating factor for the killings even as the suspect denied racial animus being part of his motivation once in custody.
Over the last year, hate incidents against Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders have dramatically increased. A report released Tuesday by Stop AAPI Hate, a group formed in March of 2020 to document and prevent discrimination against Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders during the COVID-19 pandemic, said nearly 3,800 incidents had been recorded between March 19 and Feb. 28. The number, the group said, could be higher because not all incidents are reported.
“The recent attacks against our brothers and sisters in the Asian-American community are heartbreaking,” Dwyane Wade, a three-time NBA champion with the Miami Heat, wrote in a statement on social media. “The physical assaults and recent killings are rooted in racism. It needs to stop. We cannot be silent. My thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost their loved ones due to this senseless hatred. To the Asian community — we love you and are standing united with you. Enough is enough. #StopAsianHate”
My condolences goes out to the families of all the victims and the entire Asian community tonight on what transpired in Atlanta at the Aromatherapy Spa. Coward a** young man!! Just senseless and tragic!!
— LeBron James (@KingJames) March 17, 2021
Kyle Kuzma, LeBron James’ teammate with the Los Angeles Lakers, quote tweeted James’ message with praying hands and went on to make several of his own posts reflecting the history of race in America.
Racism isn’t just one race. Sad we’ve got to continue to see hatred among us all.
— kuz (@kylekuzma) March 17, 2021
Jeremy Lin, who is of Chinese and Taiwanese descent, had previously shared multiple incidents in which he was the victim of anti-Asian racism in the past, including being called “coronavirus” during a recent stint in the G League.
Lin commented on the Atlanta shootings on Twitter as well, calling them “heartbreaking,” and advocating for everyone to rally together and fight for change.
This is sooo heartbreaking…praying for our world. To my Asian American family, please take time to grieve but know youre loved, seen and IMPORTANT. We have to keep standing up, speaking out, rallying together and fighting for change. We cannot lose hope!!#StopAsianHate #NOW https://t.co/Xm4ojbJALw
— Jeremy Lin (@JLin7) March 17, 2021
Lin also urged media to focus on telling the victims’ stories, not the murderer’s, in response to comments from an Atlanta police officer who said the shooter had “a really bad day” before committing the violence that left eight people dead.
My heart goes out to the victims and surviving family members of the shootings in Atlanta yesterday.Once again our country faces the trauma of hate inspired mass murders. We have endured similar race or religion based atrocities at mosques,nightclubs, temples,schools & churches.
— Steve Kerr (@SteveKerr) March 17, 2021
It is on all of us to speak up & snuff out hate based violence. The current climate of animosity toward Asian Americans is idiotic and devastating. Just because a virus originated in a foreign country, we are going to blame people from that part of the world, denigrate them and
— Steve Kerr (@SteveKerr) March 17, 2021
even kill them???? We are all ‘accidents of birth.’ We are all born into this world with no choice as to our skin color or physical characteristics. We must value all human life and denounce anyone who displays racial/ethnic hatred in any form. We have to be better than this. We
— Steve Kerr (@SteveKerr) March 17, 2021
must support our fellow Asian American countrymen&women, especially during this pandemic. It’s NOT okay to call COVID 19 the ‘Asian Flu,’ like our ignorant ex president did. It’s not okay to fan the flames of racism by blaming others for something they had nothing to do with.
— Steve Kerr (@SteveKerr) March 17, 2021
Off hand, ignorant remarks connecting Asian Americans to COVID-19 are leading to widespread racism, which turns into violence and even murder in our communities. We all have to do our part to stop this from happening again.
— Steve Kerr (@SteveKerr) March 17, 2021
SICK about what happened here in ATL yesterday, my Condolences go out to the family’s & loved ones who were affected by this tragedy Nothing else needs to be said… I’m with you!
STOP ASIAN HATE!!!!!!— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) March 17, 2021
To my Asian brothers and sisters I’m here for you. We love you!!! You are not alone!!! We got your back, we won’t stay silent!!! This hate must stop!!!
— Baron Davis (@BaronDavis) March 17, 2021
We stand with our Asian brothers and sisters!!
—Jamal Crawford (@JCrossover) March 17, 2021