Northam Condemns Killings In Georgia, Cites 'Xenophobic Rhetoric'

RICHMOND, VA — Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam condemned Tuesday's shootings in the Atlanta area, stating his administration stands in solidarity with members of the Asian American community.

The suspect in the shootings at three Atlanta-area massage parlors that killed eight has been charged with murder and assault. Authorities in Cherokee County say 21-year-old Robert Aaron Long was charged with four counts of murder and one count of assault in the shooting at a massage parlor there. The other victims were killed at two massage parlors in Atlanta.

Officials said they are still investigating whether the Georgia killings were hate crimes amid concerns over a wave of attacks on Asian Americans. Six of the victims were Asian and seven were women.

“We are grieving with the Asian American community and all of the victims of the horrific shootings in Atlanta last night that took eight lives, six of whom were women of Asian descent," Northam said Wednesday in a statement. "This is the latest in a series of heinous attacks against Asian Americans across this nation, but sadly these are not isolated events."

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the nation has seen a "disturbing rise in inflammatory and xenophobic rhetoric, harassment, and violence against Asian American communities," the governor said.

“Hate and bigotry have no place in our Commonwealth or country. We all have a responsibility to condemn these racist acts and make clear that this is not who we are as Virginians, or as Americans," he said. “We will continue to ensure that Virginia is a place where all people are welcome and our diversity is celebrated."

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeffrey McKay said Wednesday that his thoughts are with the families and friends who lost loved ones in the Georgia shootings.

"This attack and the rise in violence against Asian Americans is horrifying, deeply disturbing and unacceptable," McKay said. "I say this all the time, but diversity is our strength in Fairfax County. We must condemn discrimination in any form."

Advocacy groups, including Stop AAPI Hate, have denounced the killings as the latest in a spree of increased violence targeting Asian Americans since the start of the pandemic. In 2021, a 61-year-old Filipino man was slashed across the face in New York City; an 84-year-old Thai immigrant died after he was slammed into the ground in San Francisco; and a 91-year-old man was shoved to the ground in Oakland, California's Chinatown, Axios reported.

A new study based on police department statistics across major U.S. cities found a nearly 150 percent surge in anti-Asian hate crimes in 2020, while overall hate crimes fell by 7 percent.

Along with leaders from both political parties, U.S. military officials have been contributing to anti-Chinese sentiment across the country by ratcheting up their rhetoric against China. For example, U.S. Southern Command commander Navy Adm. Craig Faller said Tuesday that China is one of the most serious threats faced by the United States.

Speaking at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Faller said the "Chinese Communist Party, with its insidious and corrupt influence seeks regional and global economic dominance. ... China is quickly growing its influence here in our hemisphere."

In his statement, though, Northam said his administration stands "in solidarity with members of the Asian American community and those facing discrimination, hate incidents, fear, and intimidation. We must do everything in our power to make their safety a priority and to stand against all forms of injustice.”