The first event to commemorate Yong Yang, a Korean-American man with a mental illness who was shot and killed by an LAPD officer, was held in LA Koreatown.
On May 19, the nonprofit organization Asian Mental Health Project (AMHP) hosted a memorial for Yang on the third floor of the California Market Mall, bringing together community members.
This memorial was part of AMHP’s annual event, the “Honor Your Feelings FEST,” and aimed to mourn Yang, who was shot dead by police on May 2, and to call for the prevention of future police shootings.
Jamie Issuh, Creative Director of AMHP, said, “There are not many spaces where Asians can freely talk about mental health, and they often become victims of unfortunate incidents such as shootings. We organized this memorial to comfort Yang’s family and raise awareness about mental health.”
A memorial table for Yang was set up at the event, where many residents came to pay their tributes. One resident left a message with a potted plant, saying, “I’m sorry. I don’t know what to say. I will pray for you.”
Meanwhile, there has been an outpouring of grief and condemnation online regarding Yang’s tragic death. On the petition site Change.org, a campaign has been launched to limit police use of firearms against individuals with mental illnesses.
The petition, initiated by a friend of Yang’s family, states, “According to Treatment Advocacy Center (TAC) data, individuals with mental illnesses are 16 times more likely to be killed by law enforcement than the general population.
This incident should serve as a catalyst to restrict the use of firearms by law enforcement against individuals with mental illnesses, and there should be clear investigations and accountability for officers who use firearms.”
On the crowdfunding site GoFundMe, Yang’s twin brother, In Yang, is raising funds with a goal of $100,000 to uncover the truth about Yang’s wrongful death and police misconduct. As of 3 p.m. on May 19, $16,703 has been raised. He appeals, “Please help our family uncover the truth about Yong’s murder and bring justice to those responsible for his death.”
BY SUAH JANG [jang.suah@koreadaily.com]
