APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Asian American organizations in Northeast Wisconsin are shaken up by the mass shooting in California.
The Northeast Wisconsin Chinese Association celebrated Lunar New Year in Grand Chute on Saturday.
Later that night, members of the association were saddened to hear about a fatal mass shooting after a similar celebration in California.
“I just feel really sad because I feel like this happens a lot, like often lately,” says Public Relations Coordinator for the organization, Lindsay Roake.
Roake sat down with FOX 11 at Uni Uni Bubble Tea in Appleton to share her feelings.
“We’re here for all the families that suffered this tragic event, and we are also here to help if there is anything we can do,” says Roake.
Roake says tragedies like these cause mental health issues within the Asian Culture.
“Especially in Asian Culture, it is that we are so kept to ourselves, like ‘okay we can do this,’ we have to do this on our own even though we are struggling.”
Roake says the shooting also makes her worried.
“It definitely created fear, because holidays are about celebrating, its about being happy and be happy with your family and friends its not about the things that happened last night.”
Roake also shared why she feels this holiday is so important.
“It’s the biggest holiday celebrated across all Asia, kind of like Christmas in the West, it’s the biggest deal. All year they look forward to it,” says Roake.
This year, is the Year of the Rabbit.
“We try to follow the spirit of the animal and have the coordinate with the holiday,” says Roake.
She hopes her organization will spread awareness.
“It makes us feel like we have more work to do…to create hope, and to create love, and create more connection between Asian Communities and all communities across the country.”
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