Tony Ding, mayor of San Gabriel, could see the ripple effects of the Jan. 21 Monterey Park mass shooting from the stage of Saturday’s Lunar New Year festival in his city.
Police officers mingled with the crowd of a few thousand residents along Mission Drive. Jose Sanchez, mayor of Monterey Park, where 11 people were shot dead at the Star Dance Studio, was a special guest at the festival.
But Ding said he only had to look around to see that the festival was most of all a celebration, with families picnicking on the sidewalk, babies and dogs in strollers, and elderly couples snacking on roasted chestnuts as they sat in the sun that returned after weeks of rain and cold temperatures. A bride and groom in wedding finery posed outside the old Mission church.
“This is the first year the Lunar New Year is an official state holiday in California,” Ding said as he led a historical walk along the area. “We show family love, community love, to overcome the hate.”
Rep. Judy Chu, D-Pasadena, said the last two weeks have been difficult for everyone, at a time when Lunar New Year celebrants should have been full of joy.
“It was horrific (the victims) were taken from us and we must do all we can to help the victims’ families,” Chu said “We have to ensure we continue our lives and our celebrations. Let’s make sure we have many more Lunar New Years to come.”
State Sen. Susan Rubio, D-Baldwin Park, said the city of San Gabriel, steeped as it is in history, is the perfect place to celebrate culture, family, friends and community.
“This is what the Lunar New Year is all about,” she said. “Community wins today. Showing up makes the difference.”
Assemblyman Mike Fong, D-49th District, thanked everyone for uplifting the city.
“Though we faced the New Year with such tragedy, events like today give us hope and resiliency,” he said.
Councilmember Vinh T. Ngo of Monterey Park wore a shiny blue qipao, a traditional Chinese shirt, to the…
Read the full article here
