Ashley Park Speaks Out On Her Experience After Atlanta Killings Of Asian Women

Emily in Paris star Ashley Park shared an emotional message on Wednesday morning after eight Asian Americans were killed at three Atlanta-area massage parlors the night before.

While the incident is still being investigated, it is unknown if the crime was motivated by race at this time. Even before it, hate crimes against Asian Americans have risen since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Park shared her response to the to the shootings in a lengthy Instagram video, captioning it, “3 deadly shootings against Asian Women in Atlanta yesterday. I couldn’t sleep. Some of these 5am ramblings are very personal but I decided to share because ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. I hope this helps someone feels not so alone in all this muck. Allies, thank you and please watch til end, this is societal programming that we can change.”

“I’m so tired of people not knowing what’s going on and also tired of people not understanding where these acts of hate and violence towards Asians is coming from,” Park began before quoting a tweet from Pachinko author Min Jin Lee.

“In less than 48, we had a historic Asian Oscar moment with multiple firsts in 93 years – then a mass shooting targeting 3 Asian-owned businesses,” Lee tweeted. “This is how terrorism works – you’re not allowed to feel safe, accepted or valued. We can resist. Take up space. Make noise.”

“I have a lot of hope for this younger generation,” Park said. “I guess that’s what every generation thinks, right? That they are making a better world for the younger generation. I guess that’s the whole point. So, I do hope that this younger generation lives in a world where they don’t have to deal with this or they at least have the tools and allies to deal with it better than I am dealing with it now.”

“This racism starts at a very small level. It starts with things that you say. It starts when someone calls a virus that shut down the whole world the ‘Kung Fu virus.’ It also starts when you roll your eyes or make fun of Asian waiters or Chinese food delivery people and the nail artist. I’m guilty of that too,” Park continued.

She then referenced her own experiences and others that she has seen.

“The amount of times in my life that I’ve been asked where I’m from before what my name is… I’m ok but you don’t understand – or you do understand – the undervaluing that does,” she said. “Starting with children, when every Asian kid should be able to be good at math and play a classical instrument and not be bullied and shunned and told you are only good at that because you are Asian. That makes literally no sense.”

“I could go on and on and this is not about that,” Park added. “It’s just this 21-year-old with a gun last night, he came from somewhere and at some point someone could have told him what he was feeling and thinking and that hate was wrong. It starts at a really small level and I think we can do it.”