Rallies held in Edmonds, Bellevue and across US against hate crimes targeting Asian Americans

There was a massive show of support this weekend for Asian Americans around Puget Sound, drawing hundreds in the North Sound and on the Eastside days after people of Asian descent were targeted in Atlanta.

People gathered and lined the sidewalks along State Route 99 in Edmonds on Sunday, sharing a message of love and support.

“It’s very heartwarming to see the support online and just in real life in general; it’s amazing,” one rallier said.

“For far too long, Asian people have been marginalized,” rally participant Linh Dam said.

Dam told KIRO 7′s Graham Johnson that Asian Americans have been suffering before last week’s shooting in Atlanta and that last year, during the pandemic, has been especially vicious.

“It has been hard with all the rhetoric against Asian people and marginalizing us. This affecting us and labeling of the Chinese virus, and people just embracing, emboldening people to think it’s OK to treat us as less than a human being,” said Dam.

With attacks against Asian and Pacific Islanders on the rise, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Monday will join community members and elected leaders in speaking out.

All weekend, people across the country have rallied against hate.

People gathered in Chicago, Pittsburgh and Atlanta.

On Saturday, there was a rally at the Georgia State Capitol, and an evening vigil was held at one of the shooting scenes.

In Washington state on Saturday, people rallied in Bellevue, calling for an end to violence and discrimination.

“We’ve got to keep this momentum and let people know this situation of the Asian community,” said Ryan Xu, who helped organize the rally, which included Bellevue City Council member Janice Zahn.

Zahn shared this message, “Let’s choose hope, love, respect, unity. And together, we can stop with the hate.”

Monday in Renton, Inslee will be joined by the leader of the Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs and by other political leaders, including members of the state Legislature.

Cox Media Group