Updated Mar 22, 2021 - Politics & Policy

In photos: Protesters rally against anti-Asian hate across the U.S.

Rebecca Falconer

Demonstrators hold signs during an AAPI Rally Against Hate in New York, U.S., on Sunday, March 21 — Demonstrators hold signs during a Rally Against Hate in support of Asian and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities in New York City on March 21. Photo: Amir Hamja/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Protesters have been holding massive demonstrations and vigils across the U.S. over the weekend in response to the fatal spa shootings in the Atlanta metropolitan area in Georgia.

The big picture: Those in attendance rallied to denounce a surge in violence and hate incidents against Asian Americans and honor the eight people who lost their lives in last week's Atlanta attacks, including six women of Asian descent.

Demonstrators take to the streets of Atlanta to show support for Asian and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities on March 20 in Georgia. — Demonstrators rally in Atlanta in a show of support for AAPI communities March 20. A 21-year-old white man was charged with murder last week, but local law enforcement say it's too early to call the shootings a hate crime. Photo: Megan Varner/Getty Images

Khaila Carr, 24, of Columbus, Ohio holds a lit candle with her partner, Tyler, at a vigil for the eight people killed this past Tuesday in a shooting in Atlanta, Georgia — A vigil in Columbus, Ohio, on March 20 for the victims of the spa shootings. Over 183 organizations have joined AAPI groups in calling for $300 million to address anti-Asian violence. Photo: Stephen Zenner/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Demonstrators hold signs during a Stop AAPI Hate Rally outside the State Capitol building in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., on Saturday, March 20 — Protesters at the Stop AAPI Hate Rally outside the Georgia State Capitol building March 20. Asian Americans also face discrimination in sports, with stereotypes depicting Asians as nerds, emasculating Asian men and fetishizing Asian women as submissive, Axios' Shawna Chen and Russell Contreras report. Photo: Nicole Craine/Bloomberg via Getty Images

People attend a "Stop Asian Hate" candlelight vigil in a city park of Alhambra, Los Angeles County, California — A Stop Asian Hate candlelight vigil in a city park of Alhambra, Los Angeles County, California, March 20. Photo: Xinhua via Getty Images

A crowd rallies for Asian and Pacific Islander communities in Atlanta on March 20. — The Atlanta March 20 march In solidarity with the Asian community. Photo: Megan Varner/Getty

Medic Frankie Laguna poses for a picture before demonstrators take to the streets to show support for Asian and Pacific Islander communities on March 20, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. — Medic Frankie Laguna before the Atlanta march. Photo: Megan Varner/Getty Images

Demonstrators take to the streets of Atlanta to show support for Asian and Pacific Islander communities on March 20, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. — Demonstrators at the Atlanta rally on March 20. Photo: Megan Varner/Getty Images

(L-R) Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) address demonstrators showing their support for Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities on March 20, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. — Georgia Sens. Jon Ossoff (L) and Raphael Warnock addressing protesters in Atlanta on March 20. Photo: Megan Varner/Getty Images

Demonstrators take to the streets to show support for Asian and Pacific Islander communities on March 20 — Demonstrators marching in Atlanta March 20. Photo: Megan Varner/Getty Images

Wanqi Dong gets teary while listening to speakers after demonstrators took to the streets of Atlanta to show support for Asian and Pacific Islander communities on March 20, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. — Wanqi Dong gets emotional while listening to speakers after the march in Atlanta on March 20. Photo: Megan Varner/Getty Images

Demonstrators attend a vigil to mourn the Atlanta shooting victims at Union Square in New York, the United States, March 19 — Demonstrators attending a vigil at Union Square in New York City to mourn on March 19 the Atlanta shooting victims. Photo: Michael Nagle/Xinhua via Getty

Go deeper: Biden addresses Asian discrimination: "Our silence is our complicity"

Editor's note: This article has been updated with more images and further details on protests and vigils in U.S. cities.