West OC Times

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. Michelle Park Steel (R-CA), Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA), Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and 23 additional members in the House of Representatives introduced a bipartisan, bicameral resolution condemning hate crimes committed against Asian-Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, which have been on the rise since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The resolution comes amid the observance of May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Between March 19, 2020 and March 31, 2022, over 11,450 hate incidents were reported against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in all 50 States, territories, and in Washington, D.C. The victims’ race was the primary reason for the violence committed against them.

“The rising trends of violence against the AAPI community goes directly against everything this nation stands for,” said Steel. “As a proud Korean American, I am pleased to work across the aisle and chambers to introduce this important resolution. Enough is enough. We must come alongside our neighbors and friends to stand strong in the face of evil. Only together can we end the discrimination and hatred experienced by Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Southern California and across the country.”

 

“In May, we celebrate the extraordinary contributions of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders—but we must also recognize the ongoing challenges these communities face,” said Porter. “Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, and they have the right to live free from hate and discrimination. I’m proud to help lead this resolution that strongly condemns anti-AANHPI hate.”

“There’s no justification for inflicting cruel behavior on another person because of their ethnic background. America is stronger because of the contributions made by members of the AAPI community, and I’m glad to support this bipartisan resolution,” said Grassley.

Background

This resolution:

 

• Affirms that the United States stands united in condemning and denouncing any and all anti-Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander sentiment in any form

      

• Condemns all manifestations of racism against the AAPI community

      

• Calls on federal law enforcement officials working with state and local officials to expeditiously and vigorously investigate all reports of hate crimes and threats, work to improve reporting of hate crimes, and bring the perpetrators of those crimes, incidents, and threats to justice

Rep. Michelle Park Steel was born in South Korea and raised in Japan. She immigrated with her family to the United States when she was 19-years-old and settled in Southern California.

As Chairwoman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, Rep. Steel introduced a resolution calling for “tolerance and compassion” towards all residents of Orange County. The resolution also condemned the discrimination that had been on the rise against the AAPI community.

The resolution was co-sponsored by Representatives Katie Porter (D-CA), Burgess Owens (R-UT), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Maria Salazar (R-FL), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Lou Correa (D-CA), Young Kim (R-CA), Jeff Jackson (D-NC), Pat Ryan (D-NY), Ashley Hinson (R-IA), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), David Trone (D-MD), Julia Letlow (R-LA), Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY), Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR), Susie Lee (D-NV), Nicholas LaLota (R-NY), Don Bacon (R-NE), Nikema Williams (D-GA), Mike Garcia (D-CA), Mary Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Thomas Kean, Jr. (R-NJ), Colin Allred (D-TX), and Henry Cuellar (D-TX).

This bipartisan resolution is endorsed by Kagro International, Korean American Grassroots Conference, Korean Americans for Political Action, and Faith and Community Empowerment.

"We thank Rep. Michelle Steel and Rep. Katie Porter for this critical bipartisan effort bringing to light the ugly string of anti-Asian hate crimes plaguing our country. This resolution is not only a condemnation of the troubling rise of hate crimes against the Asian American and Pacific Islander community, but more importantly, it is an effort by our government leaders to rectify historical wrongs and uplift our place in American society. The sharp surge of racial violence of today stems from the pattern of prejudice, racism, and discrimination that we as AAPIs have been subject to for far too long. Congress must act with urgency to implement measures that proactively confront manifestations of racism and honor our community's pursuit of justice," said Mr. Wonseok Song, Executive Director of Korean American Grassroots Conference.

“Living in constant vigilance for my own safety but also of family members and even for community gatherings has become a new reality for myself and other fellow Asian Americans as we continue to be barraged by the ongoing Anti-Asian violence. Current measures have not curved the anti-Asian hate incidents and crimes. We strongly support the leadership of Congressmembers Michelle Park Steel and Katie Porter to introduce this resolution as one significant step. We at Faith and Community Empowerment advocate for stronger measures and investments to address not only intervention but also prevention of continued exclusion, erasure and demonization of AAPIs,” said Hyepin Im, President & CEO of Faith and Community Empowerment.

Read the full text of the resolution here.

Original source can be found here.