A clear answer may never emerge. But as mass shootings grow increasingly common, data show that an overwhelming majority have a connection to domestic violence.
The suspects in both shootings were later revealed to be Asian men, diminishing fears that the attacks were hate crimes, but advocates say the violence adds to the dread that Asian Americans have experienced the past several years.
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.”
