Five Years Later: The Continued Fight

Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash‍

By Thu Nguyen

It has been five years since the senseless shootings at the Atlanta-area spas, a tragedy that targeted Asian American women and shook communities across the nation. The resilience of those affected has been undeniable, yet it is frustrating that, time and time again, elected officials have failed to take decisive action to protect their constituents. Survivors and families of the deceased have shouldered the immense burden of advocating for safety and justice, speaking out against the intertwined harms of racism and violence. This responsibility should not rest solely on their shoulders. The nation as a whole must recognize this and act to prevent further loss.

Gun violence continues to devastate communities across the country. The Atlanta shootings remain seared in our collective memory, emblematic both of the specific targeting of Asian American women and of the broader epidemic of mass shootings in the United States. The fear it generated was deeply personal and haunts me to this day. When I heard about the deadly shootings at three spas, I immediately thought of my mother, a Vietnamese refugee and long-time owner of a nail salon in Houston, Texas. “That could’ve been my mom.”

Ever since the surge of anti-Asian hate during the pandemic, families like mine have lived with heightened fear—but this was far deadlier, and its trauma continues to haunt our community every day. Even in the aftermath of such violence, families and employees continue to take extraordinary precautions: locking doors, turning on lights, arriving and leaving together, opening and closing the salon in groups. These are measures no one should have to take to live and work safely in their own communities.

Just this month, mass shootings have continued, including incidents in Austin and Cincinnati. These events remind us that gun violence is not isolated. It is a systemic threat that demands urgent and comprehensive action from Congress. Survivors and communities cannot bear this burden alone. It is time for our leaders to act decisively, to address the root causes of violence, and to deliver safety as a right, not a privilege, for all Americans.