e Apocalypse for 8, the Apocalypse for Silence May Gong ‘24

THE APOCALYPSE FOR 8, THE APOCALYPSE FOR SILENCE

May Gong

Remember their names: Soon Chung Park, who was 74 Hyun Jung Grant, who was 51 Suncha Kim, who was 69 Yong Ae Yue, who was 63 Delaina Ashley Yaun, who was 33 Paul Andre Michels, who was 54 Xiaojie Tan, who was 49 Daoyou Feng, who was 44.

eir lives — not extraordinary or glorious, but satisfactorily simple and joyous enough — were brought to an abrupt end, by the cruel and reckless bullet that ripped through their heads, hearts and stomachs and tore them with hate.

Years ago, most of them came to the United States hopefully and gratefully, in search for a better and brighter life. Earning only a handful of dollars, they either washed the dishes until the skin on their hands cracked, or were hung in midair to wipe the windows of skyscrapers bit by bit until it seemed like there was no glass in between. ey could clearly see the inside — the life they didn’t even dare to dream of. So close, but never reachable.

Even so — humble and low as they were — they never relaxed a bit, working for the better lives they hoped for, and for the dollars that would buy their children some bread. Being targeted for their race was what they were eventually rewarded with by this land of their love and hope.