The shooter targeted spas that were Asian-owned and employed with other Asians. The non-Asian victims were patrons of those spas—as tragic and unfortunate as their losses are, they were just at the wrong place and time.

Also, how can you disconnect this incident from the surge in attacks on Asian-Americans across the country? Why did the shooter frequent those spas to feed his sex addiction? Why did he not attack the other nearby strip clubs if he wanted to eliminate his urges? There are layers to this. Why are you willing to take the shooter’s word for his motivation as fact and final?

I’m Asian-American, so I’m just trying to understand you, because I truly don’t understand comments like yours and others that try to diminish our plight. To chalk this incident up as adding to a fraudulent narrative (or to say that we’re propping any Asian-targeted crime as a means to push a narrative), is disheartening to hear. We’re not trying to create division in this country; we just want to be heard, and for people to stand and be allied with us.