Acton Denounces Georgia Killings, Stands With Asian Community

ACTON, MA — Acton's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commission issued a statement on Monday about the killing of eight people in several massage parlors in Atlanta, GA, six of the victims were Asian women.

The statement reads:

"Acton's DEI Commission and the people of the Town of Acton stand with all Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders, especially women and the elderly, in light of the horror and trauma of the killings of 8 people in Atlanta. The murder victims, including 6 Asian-American women, are Daoyou Feng, Delaina Ashley Yaun, Hyun J. Grant, Paul Andre Michels, Soon C. Park, Suncha Kim, Xiaojie Tan, and Yong A. Yue. In addition Elcias Hernandez-Ortiz was shot.

This tragic incident highlights an escalating pattern of COVID-19-related Anti-Asian hate crimes that we have seen over the past year. We deplore the sexualized violence against women and the heightened xenophobia rooted in white supremacy. Acton will continue to work toward creating an inclusive and safe community."

Police arrested the suspect in the shooting, 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long and charged him in connection with the shooting at Young's Asian Massage in Acworth, and at the Aroma Therapy Spa and the Gold Spa in Atlanta on Tuesday afternoon. Long admitted to the killings and blamed the massage parlors for fueling his sex addiction.