ATLANTA, GA – Attorney General Chris Carr today issued the following statement on violence against Georgia’s Asian-American community:

Georgia’s Asian-American community deserves to live free from fear. Every human life has dignity, value and worth, and justice must be done for the unconscionable taking of the innocent lives of Delaina Ashley Yaun, Paul Andre Michels, Daoyou Feng, Xiaojie Tan, Soon C Park, Hyun J Grant, Suncha Kim, and Yong A Yue. My heart continues to go out to their families, friends and loved ones as they mourn these tragic losses.

As the investigation by law enforcement continues, one thing we know for certain is that prejudice and violence against our Asian-American neighbors is not new. It has sadly been occurring since the early days of American history. As leaders in this state, we must better listen to, learn from and build trust with Georgia’s Asian-American community. To be clear, any violence targeted against this community is abhorrent and must not be allowed to stand.

Georgia is fortunate to have such a vibrant Asian-American community in our state, and I will continue to commit the resources of the Department of Law to ensure the safety and security of its members.