Photos and History 4/172021 + 4/18/2021: Local API Protesters at the Brooklyn Center Police + Black and Yellow Rally in Minneapolis at George Floyd Square

Thursday, April 22, 2021

 

Pictures of the local MN AAPI community coming out in support of Black+Asian Unity, as well as Asian American protesters at the Brooklyn Center Police department. Click on an image to view the photo in full. Images are from April 17 and 18th 2021.








































THE HOTEL LOBBY - Tonight #StopAsianHate With Lisa Ling, Simu Liu, Dante Basco, Kelly Hu + More

Wednesday, April 07, 2021


From the YouTube video:

Ban together in solidarity and show them our community regardless of race. Official Links: https://linktr.ee/thehotellobby/ Directed & Edited by Johnny Lee Produced by Jessica del Mundo, Gilbert Le, David Christopher Lee Featuring Lisa Ling, Simu Liu, Dante Basco, Kelly Hu, Hayden Szeto, Michael Campion, Christian Isaiah, Cade Michael, Henry Fong, KLAXX, Kaleena Zanders, Mighty Shock LA, Kevin Krieder, Kelly Mi Li & Kane Lin 

In response to the staggering increase of anti-Asian sentiment and violence in the last year, Lee hopes all people will speak out. The music video shares community resources and ends with a call-to-action to report all hate crimes or incidents. 

Tai from THE HOTEL LOBBY says "We didn't meet this moment, this moment hit us dead on. We were JUST protesting for ME and my family to be recognized as a human...less than a year later, we gotta remind people HE and his family are humans too." “What began as an anthem to support #BlackLivesMatter has evolved into uplifting the AAPI community and the LGBTQIA+ community – really, empowerment for all people,” said Lee, who wrote, recorded, and performed “Tonight” as one half of the DJ/EDM duo THE HOTEL LOBBY. In the last year, the discrimination, oppression, and violence against minorities in this country have been magnified and brought to light on a scale never before seen. While these reprehensible acts of racism have been on display worldwide, it is still not over. We must do our part to unite all people and end racism once and for all. 

The song "Tonight" was not only a way for us to express our anger and anguish during this time of crisis, but we wanted to show our support for all our brothers and sisters of every ethnicity, race and sexual orientation. We must do our part. We must speak out. We must unite. Join us in spreading a message of love and solidarity to all those still fighting for their equality and humanity. Music Written and Performed by THE HOTEL LOBBY Director of Photography: Matthew Hunt Additional Footage: Andy Vu Publicity & Marketing: 10storyhouse 

Special Thanks to: Dante Basco, Michael Campion, Elijah Estrella, Sydney Mae Estrella, Henry Fong, Jaxon Fournier, Noah Fournier, William Lex Ham, Christian Isaiah, Cade Michael Izuno, KLAXX, Kevin Kreider, Kelly Mi Li, Kane Lim, Lisa Ling, Simu Liu, Stella Martinez, Hayden Szeto, and Kaleena Zanders. #StopAsianHate #StopAsianHateRally #LisaLing #SimuLiu #DanteBasco #KellyHu #HaydenSzeto #MichaelCampion #ChristianIsaiah #CadeMichael #HenryFong #KLAXX #KaleenaZanders #MightyShockLA #KevinKrieder #KellyMiLi #KaneLin #BlingEmpire #AsianHateCrimes #StopAsianHateCrimes

From Atlanta: Voices From The Community

Wednesday, April 07, 2021


Here's an excerpt from a story I did for AsAmNews while down in Atlanta.

The next day I travel up north towards Acworth, where Young’s Asian Massage is located. 

I get this feeling in my stomach the farther we drive out of the city. 

Even though I understand where I am on the map, how many miles away it is from Atlanta, it feels so far away and I can’t help but think to myself that there was so much time to turn around.

There was time to re-think. 

To not take more lives. 

While I try to re-route that feeling, talking with the driver, a young White man about our shared experience from the Midwest–him originally from Chicago, myself originally from Milwaukee–I still have this sinking feeling. 

We talk about the shootings. He tells me how sad he is about them and that it’s good people are coming down here to report on it. 

I ask him if he thinks it should be classified as a hate crime.

He says yes without hesitation.

Reaching Young’s Asian Massage, my stomach sinks even more, and even though I’ve asked the driver if it’s easy to get a ride back at least two or three times and he’s said yes, I don’t want to be here without a known way back. We talk and I make a change on the destination to head back into Atlanta, and he agrees to wait for me.

The story has a documentation of photographs from each of the 3 memorials as well as 4 interviews with different people I interviewed while down there. I have a lot more thoughts on Atlanta and everything else going on. 

Here's the link: https://asamnews.com/2021/04/01/a-community-pauses-and-reflects-after-the-atlanta-spa-shooting/