Megan Thee Stallion, who said she was “heartbroken” by the killing of eight people in Atlanta on March 16, pledged to donate $50,000 to Advancing Justice Atlanta in their efforts to fight for the civil rights of Asian Americans in Georgia over the weekend.
“I am heartbroken by the loss of eight individuals taken from their families on March 16 in a senseless, violent attack against Asian Americans,” wrote the rapper in an Instagram post.
Meg’s donation is in collaboration with Fashion Nova and journalist/activist May Lee, and supports the nonprofit legal advocacy organization that helps Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in Georgia and the Southeast.
“We stand in solidarity with all Asian Americans in saying that enough is enough,” Meg wrote, along with the hashtags #StopAsianHate #StandWithAANHPICommunity.
The horrific shooting, in which a gunman opened fire in three different spas in the Atlanta area, resulted in the killing of eight people — six of whom were Asian women. The victims have been identified as Soon Chung Park, 74; Hyun Jung Grant, 51; Suncha Kim, 69; Yong Ae Yue, 63; Delaina Ashley Yuan, 33; Paul Andre Michels, 54; Xiaojie Yan, 49; and Daoyou Feng, 44.
Though a motive has not yet been announced in the mass shooting, which was attributed to a 21-year-old white man, the targeting of the businesses has put a national spotlight on the dramatic increase in violence against Asian Americans in the United States over the past year. The spike is believed to be related to the racist language used by some in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which scientists believe originated in Wuhan, China.
The outpouring of support has resulted in a similar $50,000 donation to the families of the victims from Masked Singer judge Ken Jeong, as well as artists such as Olivia Rodrigo, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Ariana Grande sharing lists of resources to help combat anti-Asian bias.
One of the loudest rallying cries from many musicians and activists is to stand up and report instances of harassment and attacks. Here are some ways to do so:
Stand Against Hatred
Stop AAPI Hate
Also, if you or someone you know wishes to speak with a mental health professional or seek other professional support for abuse against Asian Americans, try these resources:
Asian Mental Health Collective
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Butterfly Asian and Migrant Sex Workers Support Network
Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project
Apicha Community Health Center
