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Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish issues statement condemning violence against Asian community following Atlanta shootings

The Tuesday evening shootings took the lives of eight people.

CLEVELAND — Editor's note: the video in the player above is from a story published on March 17, 2021.

On Thursday afternoon, Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish released a statement condemning the violent shootings at two Atlanta spas earlier this week. 

"The Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community is being attacked, and staying silent is not O.K," said Budish. "There have been 3,800 anti-Asian racist incidents, mostly against women, across the country in the past year." 

RELATED: 8 dead after separate shootings at 3 Atlanta area spas; suspect in custody

The shootings left eight total dead in the Atlanta-metro area; six of those killed on Tuesday were Asian women. Despite the suspect allegedly telling police that his actions were not racially motivated, many have pointed to his targeting of spas run specifically by members of the AAPI community. 

RELATED: 'It's not safe': Cleveland attorney and Hong Kong native reacts to Atlanta spa shootings and ongoing anti-Asian climate in America

“The surge in hate crimes, most recently with the shootings of Asian American women in Atlanta this week, are frightening, angering and unacceptable. I denounce all forms of hate and reiterate the County’s commitment to combating structural racism in all its forms in our community," wrote Budish on Thursday. 

“I extend my deepest sympathy to all of those affected by the shootings as well as those who have been dealing with hate and discrimination all of their lives. We must support and lift up the AAPI community, denounce white supremacy and continue our fight to create a more equitable and just society.”

RELATED: Biden orders flags be flown at half-staff for victims of Atlanta spa shootings

Editor's note: the video in the player below is from a story published on March 17, 2021.

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