The vigil will take place in Denver’s former Chinatown before it was destroyed by a racist mob in 1880.
DENVER – Members of the Denver Asian community will meet with local government leaders at two events on Saturday to respond to this week’s shooting in Atlanta.
A press conference and vigil will call for an end to racism and violence, honor the victims of the Atlanta shooting, and highlight the increasing violence against Asian Americans and Pacific islanders.
It began at 11 a.m. at the Denver Vietnam War Memorial with leaders from the Asian community and leaders from the Denver city.
The group paid tribute to the victims of the Atlanta spa shoot. The incident highlights the increase in hate crimes reported in Asian communities across the country. Local leaders fear that more incidents are likely to go unreported, and when they see something, encourage everyone to say something.
Community leader Neal Walia spoke to the crowd in the parking lot on Saturday. He stressed that action is being taken to denounce hatred in Denver.
“Take the time that you need for yourself and your communities on behalf of my AAPI family,” he said. “It will be time that we mobilize, develop solutions and show this country how resilient, how strong and how united we are in this fight for racial justice and equality, and I promise you that we will fight.”
Candlelight starts at 6 p.m. later on Saturday in Denver’s Chinatown, which flourished until 1880 when a violent, racist mob devastated the community and killed a man.
Coloradan Laura Dennison will be one of the speakers at the vigil. She hopes the event will shed some light on some of the issues Asian Americans have been grappling with for years.
“I am relieved that people are finally doing justice to their justice and standing up for the right cause,” she said. “I am very hopeful that we as a society will gradually come to realizations and that one day we will finally not only end racism, but will finally be able to support and love each other as the community should.”
Bring a candle if possible, but some will be on hand, the post said. It will be socially distant and masks will be required.
Due to false allegations about Denver’s Chinatown, many Denver locals refer to the area as the “Hop Valley” and ignore history.
The speakers for the night will mainly consist of Asian women who share their experiences and steps to curb violence in the community.
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