Manjusha Kulkarni said the stigma among Asian Americans surrounding mental health care echoes attitudes felt more broadly across the general population.
It’s been a heavy past few days as more and more details are revealed about the Monterey Park shooting.
"When we are looking at 18 people who have lost their lives, the conversation needs to be about gun violence prevention, because we don't know the motives of the Asian shooters and we may never know them," she told Newsweek.
The vigil took place on the steps of the Capitol and lawmakers from the Asian and Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus spoke about the impact the shooting has had on the communities they represent.
The AAPI Equity Alliance is a trade group of dozens of nonprofits that started coming together Sunday to find mental health resources for the AAPI community.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California created the Monterey Park Lunar New Year Victims Fund in collaboration with several other organizations supporting the Asian American Pacific Islander community.
The mass killing had ripple effects for celebrations across the country, with several events in Southern California canceled and police increasing patrols and other security measures in the District, New York City, Houston, San Francisco and other cities with large Asian American communities.
“After a day of celebration, we are waking up to a nightmare.”
This Sunday is Lunar New Year, when the moon will enter a new phase and usher in the Year of the Rabbit. And for the first time in California’s history, it’s an official state holiday.
The annual list of 200 entrepreneurs, investors, creators, and entertainers includes Manjusha Kulkarni, Ketanji Brown-Jackson, Sophia Chang, and more.