ATLANTA — Today marked two years since tragedy struck metro Atlanta.
People marched with banners and chanted, promising to always remember the eight people killed on March 16, 2021 when a man opened fire at Asian-owned spas in Atlanta and in Cherokee County.
Channel 2′s Berndt Petersen was near the state capitol where there were rallies both inside and outside the building.
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Robert Peterson says he recently awoke from a dream about his mother, Yong Ae Yue.
“I remember rushing back into my bed and laying down for 2 hours, trying to dream again. I was looking for her to say I’m sorry, and that I love her,” Peterson said.
Peterson joined dozens of others Thursday morning to mourn his mother and seven others who lost their lives in what is known as the Atlanta spa shootings.
During a gathering at the Georgia Freight Depot, they honored all of their lives, while across the street at the Georgia State Capitol, lawmakers vowed to make change.
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“A lot of work still has to be done to ensure we’re free of discrimination of any kind,” State Rep. Sam Park of Lawrenceville said. “We send healing and prayer.”
The theme was “Always with us. Rise against hate.”
Peterson believes his mother would add a few more words of wisdom.
“Rather than being outraged and consumed by rage and sadness and feelings of defeat, she would want us to find happiness again,” Peterson said.
Similar events took place today in Denver, New York City, and San Francisco.
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