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Rally in Downtown Detroit calls for an end to hate against Asian Americans

Michigan lawmakers joined more than 100 people at rally

DETROIT – A large group marched through the streets of Detroit, calling for an end to violence against the Asian American community Sunday.

It comes in the wake of the shootings around Atlanta that left eight people dead. Six of those killed were Asian women.

READ: Spa shootings could be first test of Georgia hate crimes law

“We’ve been talking all year and it took a mass shooting for America to wake up,” said Michigan Sen. Stephanie Chang.

Chang is the first Asian American woman to be elected to the Michigan Legislature. She said the warning signs have been there.

“We knew that rhetoric -- ‘Kung flu, China virus, Chinese flu’ -- we knew this rhetoric would hurt our communities,” Chang said.

READ: As virus-era attacks on Asians rise, past victims look back

During the pandemic, hate crimes against Asian Americans jumped nearly 150% with about 3,800 incidents reported. Most of the victims were women.

Police said 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long was taken into custody in southwest Georgia hours later after a manhunt.

READ: Asian women say shootings point to relentless, racist tropes

“We know that Asian elders have been attacked, shoved, hospitalized across our country,” Chang said. “As Asian American women, we wonder what are the places that are safe for us?”

More than a hundred people showed up for the Stop Asian Hate vigil in Downtown Detroit.

Chang and state Rep Ranjeev Puri introduced resolutions condemning violence against Asian Americans ..both were adopted in Lansing.

“I am so sick and so tired of having this conversation,” Puri said. “This has been going on for generations without check and we are here to say enough is enough.”

Sen. Chang urged anyone who witnesses a hate crime to report it to the Michigan Attorney General’s Hate Crimes Unit. You can reach out by email or call the Hate Crimes Unit at 313-456-0200.

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Priya joined WDIV-Local 4 in 2013 as a reporter and fill-in anchor. Education: B.A. in Communications/Post Grad in Advanced Journalism

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Dane is a producer and media enthusiast. He previously worked freelance video production and writing jobs in Michigan, Georgia and Massachusetts. Dane graduated from the Specs Howard School of Media Arts.

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