ATHENS, Ala. — This rally takes place after eight people were shot and killed in Atlanta, Georgia on March 16th, six out of eight of those people were of Asian descent.
Now community leaders in north Alabama have come together to talk about stopping Asian hate.
"I've heard a lot of people saying this person was an admitted sex addict, having a bad day, and it wasn't racial, do not get that wrong, it was racial," said Vera Vergara, from the Asian American and Pacific Islander Caucus.
"The deaths of these precious people would be enough to bring us together today. What the people are suffering, that they left behind, their friends and their families and their co-workers - that would be enough for us to grieve forever," said, with tears in his eyes, Ken Hines, chairman of the Limestone County Democratic Party.
So, what are some things we can do to stop the hate?
"We must build strong coalitions to fight against the hate that is perpetrated on our communities because what affects one, affects all of us. But most importantly, we must use the most powerful tool in our parcel and that is our vote because your vote is your voice," said Bernard Simelton, president of NAACP Alabama State Conference.
"As Asians, we are taught to be silent, we are taught that we want to blend in with the rest of Americans, we are taught to put our head down and don't make trouble. But what the recent killings, murders in Atlanta have told me, is that I will be silent no more and to my allies - we will be silent no more," said Vergara. She then ends her speech repeating, "enough is enough! Enough is enough!" with her fist in the air and the crowd following along.
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One of the speakers, Reemhulus Bowden of Black Lives Matter - Huntsville, goes up to speak and the first thing he chants is, "when Asian lives are under attack, what do we do? Stand up fight back!"
The crowd of around 40 starts to chime in chanting, "when Asian lives are under attack, what do we do? Stand up fight back! What do we do? Stand up fight back! What do we do? Stand up fight back!"
