A tragedy in California that left 10 dead and several others injured during the Lunar New Year celebration in Monterey Park has cast a dark shadow on the Golden State. Several celebrities, including Simu Liu and Lisa Ling, have condemned the mass shooting that occurred Saturday night.
Liu, 33, tweeted Sunday that a “gunman murdered ten people and injured over a dozen others in Monterey Park, where tens of thousands of Asian American families had gathered to celebrate the Lunar New Year that day. He is still at large.”
The Marvel star also opined that the news should be getting way more media coverage, noting that it is a “terrible act.”
In the same tweet thread, the actor further shared that the majority of residents in LA County’s Monterey Park belong to the AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander). “It’s home of Asian American families, parents, grandparents, siblings, sons and daughters, aunts and uncles. All of whom were looking forward to celebrating the New Year this weekend,” Liu tweeted.
For those who are unfamiliar, Monterey Park is a city in LA County that is majority AAPI. It’s home of Asian American families, parents, grandparents, siblings, sons and daughters, aunts and uncles. All of whom were looking forward to celebrating the New Year this weekend.
— Simu Liu (@SimuLiu) January 22, 2023
Liu noted that the incident made him feel “shocked, saddened, angered, and heartbroken” for the affected families. He encouraged everyone to use the comment section to post more information about the mass shooting as it comes out.
“Please use the replies here to post more info as it comes out, as well as any verified fundraisers for the victims,” he concluded. “I’d like to give what I can.”
“This Is Life” star Lisa Ling addressed the tragic news Sunday on Instagram and wrote, “Monterey Park has one of the biggest Asian populations in the United States. And today is our culture’s most celebrated holiday. Shattered.”
George Takei, who is popularly known for working in the “Star Trek” franchise, also condemned the gun violence against the Asian community.
The 85-year-old actor wrote that an entire community was “wracked by gun violence and death, on what should have been a joyous Lunar New Year celebration.”
He added, “No motive is yet known. But we must act to end the ability of murderers to take so many lives so brutally.”
Just heard the horrifying news out of Monterey Park, CA. A whole community wracked by gun violence and death, on what should have been a joyous Lunar New Year celebration.
No motive is yet known. But we must act to end the ability of murderers to take so many lives so brutally.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) January 22, 2023
“Crazy Rich Asians” star Ken Jeong called the entire mass shooting “senseless,” adding, “This needs to stop now.”
Writer and novelist Celeste Ng noted that the affected area is 65% Asian population. She went on to wish everyone a “happy year of the rabbit,” noting that she planned to share how to make dumplings from scratch but now, she is “in shock” and “processing” the tragic incident.
“We don’t ‘know’ if it’s a hate crime. But: At an Asian-owned club, at a Chinese Lunar New Year celebration, in a heavily Asian area, on Lunar New Year’s Eve. I’m bracing myself, as others have said,” Ng tweeted.
We don’t “know” if it’s a hate crime. But: At an Asian-owned club, at a Chinese Lunar New Year celebration, in a heavily Asian area, on Lunar New Year’s Eve. I’m bracing myself, as others have said.
— Celeste Ng (@pronounced_ing) January 22, 2023
Hate crimes against Asians have skyrocketed in the United States since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to one report, there were more than 2,120 cases of hate crimes against Asian Americans reported within three months in 2020.
AFP / VALERIE MACON
