Reps. Chu, Meng, McBath and Williams Introduce Resolution Marking Five Years Since Atlanta Spa Shooting

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), Chair Emerita of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), introduced a resolution commemorating five-years since the Atlanta spa shootings with Reps. Grace Meng (NY-06), Lucy McBath (GA-06), and Nikema Williams (GA-05).

On March 16, 2021, a gunman senselessly murdered eight people, including six Asian women, and injured a ninth person at two spas and a massage parlor in Atlanta, Georgia. These shootings occurred amid an alarming surge in anti-Asian hate crimes and incidents nationwide fueled by the use of anti-Asian rhetoric that scapegoated Asian Americans for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Three days after the shooting, as Chair of CAPAC, Rep. Chu introduced a resolutioncondemning this violent attack, recognizing the lives of the victims and their families, and reaffirming the House of Representative's commitment to combating hate, bigotry, and violence against Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities.

"Five years after the Atlanta spa shootings, we remember the eight lives taken, six of them Asian women, in a heinous act of anti-Asian hate," said Congressmember.Judy Chu, CAPAC Chair Emerita. "Their families and communities continue to carry this profound loss. Their memory reminds us of the painful surge in anti-Asian hate that scarred our nation during the pandemic and the responsibility we all share to confront it. While progress has been made, our work is far from finished. On this anniversary, we recommit ourselves to standing with AANHPI communities, rejecting xenophobia in all its forms, and building a country where no one lives in fear because of who they are."

"It is hard to believe that five years have passed since the horrific Atlanta spa shootings that took eight lives, six of whom were Asian women. For many in the Asian American community, it was our worst nightmare realized and the inevitable result of racist slurs like 'kung flu' that painted a target on our backs. While my COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act that passed into law marked real progress in addressing anti-Asian hate, more must be done to protect our communities," said Rep. Grace Meng, CAPAC Chair. "As CAPAC Chair, I will never stop fighting against anti-Asian hate and for a future where every American can live with safety and dignity. Our caucus extends our deepest condolences to the victims' families and loved ones as we mark this solemn anniversary. May the memories of those we lost forever be a blessing."

"Five years after the Atlanta spa shootings, our city still carries the grief of the eight lives stolen in an act of anti-Asian hate," said Rep. Lucy McBath. "That tragedy shook our community and left lasting pain for the families, loved ones, and neighbors who continue to mourn. As someone who has dedicated my work in Congress to preventing gun violence, I know remembrance must also be matched with action to protect people from the hatred and violence which devastates communities across America. We must reject the hateful and harmful rhetoric that continues to fuel division and put lives at risk. On this anniversary, we honor the memories of those we lost and recommit ourselves to our responsibility to champion solutions that will prevent violence and save lives."

"Five years after the violent Atlanta spa shootings, we remember the eight lives stolen, the families still grieving, and the communities still carrying deep scars. Remembrance must also move us to action. The work to protect Asian American communities and confront anti-Asian hate is as urgent as it was five years ago. Part of the promise of America is freedom from fear or violence because of who you are, and we will keep fighting until that promise is realized. We honor the lives lost by standing shoulder to shoulder with Asian American communities in the ongoing fight for safety for all," said Congresswoman Nikema Williams.

In the five years since this horrific tragedy, Asian American communities have continued to grapple with the grief, trauma, and long-term mental health impacts of anti-Asian hate. The resolution not only marks the five-year remembrance of the Atlanta spa shootings, but also recognizes how anti-Asian hate has evolved-from misplaced blame and vitriol during the COVID-19 pandemic to enduring suspicions of dual loyalty, reflected in discriminatory policies such as alien land laws and initiatives like the so-called China Initiative that have targeted Asian communities.

The latest federal hate crime statistics show that anti-Asian hate crimes are nearly three times higher than pre-pandemic levels, and that anti-Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander hate crimes are at the highest number ever recorded since the Federal Bureau of Investigation began disaggregating this category in 2013. In a 2025 survey, 63 percent of Asian Americans reported feeling unsafe in day-to-day spaces, and 63 percent feared they will be victims of discrimination in the next five years.