Sunday marked the Lunar New Year- a time that should be a joyous celebration in our community. This is a time when all members of our community should feel safe, secure and welcome. Yet our nation has just experienced 39 mass shootings so far in 2023, including the ones Saturday in Monterey Park and Monday in Half Moon Bay, California.
The events in Monterey Park, home to one of the largest AAPI communities in the US, can cause fear, anxiety, and a range of other emotions. We stand with our AAPI community in condemning the violence and rejecting any identity-based animosity or harassment toward individuals in and around our community.
In Half Moon Bay, where children were present at the scene of the mass shooting, we are reminded of our communal responsibility to safeguard our Town against violence and intolerance.
We have said it before, and we will continue to say that hate has no home in Hingham. Hate will not divide us, and it will not conquer us. Violence will not be tolerated. Please see below resources that may be helpful in the wake of this tragedy.
Mental Health Resources
Mass.gov - Finding Mental Health Support in Massachusetts
National Alliance on Mental Illness
The Asian American & Pacific Islanders Commission of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Asian Mental Health Collective
Resources from HPS
Talking to Children about Violence (Google Doc)
NASP: Talking to your Children about Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers
Learning For Justice Magazine - When Bad Things are Happening
Common Sense Media - How to Talk to Kids About Difficult Subjects