Pulse: Rampage sparks grief, outrage among Asian Americans

A roundup of quotes that caught our eye after the tragedy in Atlanta…

AAPI ACTIVISTS: “As we collectively grieve and respond to this tragedy, we must lead with the needs of those most directly impacted at the center: the victims and their families,” a coalition of advocacy organizations said in a statement published by Asian Americans Advancing Justice — Atlanta.

• Thu Nguyen, director of OCA — Asian Pacific American Advocates and manicurist in Houston, Texas: “We’re fearful of our lives in circumstances where we would otherwise feel safe — in our homes and at our jobs. Now, not only are we risking infection when going to work at the nail salon, we risk deadly targeted violence.”

• Track statements from AAPI advocacy groups across the country.

THE WHITE HOUSE: President Joe Biden tweeted Wednesday that “recent attacks against the [Asian American] community are un-American,” while the vice president said, “We stand with you and understand how this has frightened and shocked and outraged all people.”

• Here’s how other prominent politicians are responding.

CONGRESS: “It is a profound and cruel injustice that, amid the coronavirus pandemic and economic crisis, the AAPI community also faces the surging threat of violent and deadly attack,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California).

• CAPAC Chair Rep. Judy Chu (D-California): “Congress must … do more to address hate crimes and incidents through the passage of the NO HATE Act to ensure we are able to better track and address these incidents.”

• Here’s how other Asian American lawmakers are reacting.

GEORGIA: “I think that our country has always been reluctant to admit that systemic racism is a real problem that can be deadly,” Georgia State Rep. Bee Nguyen (D) told CNN.