Listen: Acts Of Violence Against Asian Americans Spark Outcry In D.C. Region

A vigil and march by Asian American activist groups in the wake of the killing of six Asian American women in Atlanta by a gunman who killed eight people in total. The demonstration started in Chinatown and ended at Mount Vernon Square. At the end, people lit candles for the those killed.Tyrone Turner / WAMU

A vigil and march by Asian American activist groups in the wake of the killing of six Asian American women in Atlanta by a gunman who killed eight people in total. The demonstration started in Chinatown and ended at Mount Vernon Square. At the end, people lit candles for the those killed.

Tyrone Turner / WAMU

The shootings in Georgia this week that left eight people dead, including six women of Asian descent, came amid a surge in racist violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

The group Stop AAPI Hate reported new data revealing more than 3,700 acts of violence against Asian people nationwide since last March. The organization recorded 140 instances across D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

Virginia Democratic Del. Kathy Tran says the number of cases reported in the region could likely be higher because these cases are often under-reported. She spoke with WAMU’s Morning Edition host Esther Ciammachilli about stopping crimes motivated by racism and hate.