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Celebrating Lunar New Year in a time of grief : Code Switch In this week's episode, we dive into the traditions and stories that shape Lunar New Year, and why violence and tragedy in the U.S. on the eve of the holiday cuts deep for celebrants. We also visit Monterey Park, California, and talk to its Asian American residents and neighbors about what the "ethnoburb" means to them beyond the shooting on January 21.

Code Switch

Celebrating Lunar New Year in a time of grief

Celebrating Lunar New Year in a time of grief

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MONTEREY PARK, CA - JANUARY 23: A mourner attends a candlelight vigil for victims of a mass shooting on January 23, 2023 in Monterey Park, California. At least 10 people were killed and another 10 people were injured during a mass shooting that took place at a dance studio in Monterey Park. (Photo by Qian Weizhong/VCG via Getty Images) VCG/VCG via Getty Images hide caption

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VCG/VCG via Getty Images

MONTEREY PARK, CA - JANUARY 23: A mourner attends a candlelight vigil for victims of a mass shooting on January 23, 2023 in Monterey Park, California. At least 10 people were killed and another 10 people were injured during a mass shooting that took place at a dance studio in Monterey Park. (Photo by Qian Weizhong/VCG via Getty Images)

VCG/VCG via Getty Images

This week on Code Switch, producer Jess Kung talks with their mother about the mythos behind Lunar New Year and the symbolism it continues to hold today. Then, KPCC's Josie Huang takes us to Monterey Park, California, where a gunman shot and killed 11 people and injured 9 others at a local ballroom dance studio on the eve of Lunar New Year, cancelling that community's festival. We dive into the history of Monterey Park and the broader San Gabriel Valley, from the election of landmark politicians, to the flourishing of this "ethnoburb" and what it means to Asian Americans growing up in diaspora.

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This episode was produced with help from Diba Mohtasham and Olivia Chilkoti.