OCA Greater Seattle President Connie So speaks on Lunar New Year’s Day violence in California

OCA Greater Seattle president Connie So spoke with KIRO7 news on January 23, 2023 about the deadly shooting in Monterey Park, California during Lunar New Year’s day. She talked about how the day of reflection and honoring our ancestors has been tainted by violence.

“To me it’s an alarm, we have to do something about the mental illness that people have,” So said. “No matter who it is, there’s a lot of mental illness. There’s a lot of hate, but some of that hate also comes out of mental illness. It’s a wake up call.”

To view the KIRO News segment, click here.

On January 20, 2023, So had spoken with the Seattle Times about how Asian Americans in Seattle use Lunar New Year traditions as a connection to their heritage and family.

“It’s continuing something that our ancestors have done for a very long time,” So said. “It’s showing concern for your ancestors, your parents, coming together with family and just being happy that you’ve made it so far this year.”

To read the article at the Seattle Times, click here.

On January 31, 2023, the International Examiner spoke with So about how the community is reflecting on mental wellness in the aftermath of the shootings.

“Over New Year’s Eve into New Year’s Day, you try to only think about happy things,” said Connie So, president of OCA Greater Seattle and professor of American Ethnic Studies at the University of Washington. “You want the very first thing you see to be happy when you’re passing [over] the year. In Chinese, we call it ‘guo nian.’”

To read the article at the International Examiner, click here.