Asian American Community and Faith Leaders Join to Mourn Lunar New Year Eve's Shooting in Monterey Park
Leaders Call for Commitment to Culturally and Linguistically Competent Mental Health Services
The Missouri Asian American community joins together with faith and elected leaders to mourn the terrible tragedy in Monterey Park this weekend, at the start of the Lunar New Year. The Lunar New Year should be a time of rejoicing and celebrating - a two to four week period of family togetherness and renewal. It is traditionally the biggest holiday of the year for many East Asian cultures. The past three years have been a particular strain on Asian American communities, and we had all hoped to be able to fully celebrate the year of the Rabbit.
We are in shock and mourning for those who passed, and renew calls to keep Asian and Asian American members of our St. Louis community safe, and for resources for mental health equity. This level of shocking tragedy must be met with irrepressible love and concern. The Missouri Asian American Youth Foundation will also be announcing the launch of their mental health circles, funded by the Asian Americans Advancing Justice national office. Online group healing sessions will begin this week in English and Mandarin.
WHO:
BOA President Megan Green
Alderman Bret Narayan
Danielle Spradley, Office of Congresswoman Cori Bush
Representative of the Office of Mayor Tishaura Jones
Representative of the Archdiocese of St. Louis
Maharat Rori Picker Neiss
Taiwanese American community leader
Missouri Asian American Youth Foundation President Caroline Fan
Read remarks from Congresswoman Judy Chu, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and former Mayor of Monterey Park
WHAT: Memorial for victims and survivors of the Monterey Park Lunar New Year shooting and call to renewed resources for mental health equity
WHEN: 12:30pm, Tuesday, Jan 24, 2023
WHERE: St. Louis City Hall Rotunda, 1200 Market St.
