The Los Angeles rally is one of many held across the United States since a man in Georgia killed eight people at three Atlanta-area spas, including six Asian women, on March 16.
“It’s a tough time to be Asian. I want to read this (letter),” he said, and recited a litany of racist slurs and stereotypes that ended with “go home.”As Tam Nguyen read the letter, Ted Nguyen (no relation) became angry.
The men co-founded Nailing It For America, an all-volunteer group of Orange County professionals they say provided personal protective equipment worth about $30 million to healthcare professionals across the United States during the pandemic.
Lisa Ling, author and host of her own CNN weekly show, got loud cheers on Saturday when she told the crowd that hate against Asians threatens all Americans.
“We are part of this incredible tapestry with stories and history from every corner of the globe,” Ling said. “And if one thread comes loose, we can all fall apart. So we have to protect each other.”
After Lee and others shared their stories, the thunder of traditional Korean drums erupted on the street.
Young performers pounded out the beat to the smash hit “Dynamite” by the Korean Band BTS and a cross-section of Asian Americans, along with their supporters from other races, clapped along in unity, a theme of the march.
