Statement from the Office of Mayor Sherman P. Lea, Sr. Wednesday, March 17, 2021

This morning I learned of a situation that occurred overnight in the Atlanta, Georgia: A series of shootings killing eight people, some of whom were of Asian descent. These deaths are tragic and, as Mayor of the City of Roanoke, I want to affirm that we do not condone these attacks. As a Welcoming City and a Compassionate City, Roanoke is home to many Asian residents who have come to us from places like China, South Korea, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, and Vietnam.
I want to reassure our citizens that Roanoke values and supports its Asian community, and recognizes their value to our City. We are proud of our relationship with our Asian residents, and are committed to working with them to add strength and vitality to Roanoke’s quality of life.
Mayor Sherman P. Lea, Sr.