“Stop hate and attack” Hearing on “Asian discrimination” in the US House of Representatives

Amid the growing impact of the Atlanta shootings, a hearing was held in the US House of Representatives on the 18th (local time) focusing on discrimination and violence against Asians. It has been more than 30 years since such a hearing has been held in the US House of Representatives.

According to the U.S. public radio broadcaster NPR, at the hearing on “Discrimination and Violence Against Asian Americans” held by the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Freedom Subcommittee of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, Young Kim and Michelle Park Steele of Korean descent, Judy Chu of Chinese descent, and Tammy Duck of Thai descent A large number of Asian female lawmakers, including Senator Worth, attended.

It was a hearing held amid a sharp increase in discrimination and violence against Asians as a result of the novel coronavirus infection (corona 19 spread).

Congressman Young Kim said, “The Atlanta shootings occurred at a time when violence and attacks against Asian Americans increased,” and urged “Hate, prejudice, and attacks against Asian American society are unacceptable and should be stopped.”

Rep. Michelle Park Steele also emphasized, “Last year, nearly 4,000 reports of verbal and physical harassment and discrimination against Asians (private groups) have been reported,” he said. “The fight against hatred is not a partisan issue.”

Rep. Judy Chu said, “It wasn’t a'(accidental) accident’ that the perpetrators of the Atlanta shootings targeted Asians,” he said. “The Asian-American society is in a crisis that cannot be ignored.”

At the hearing that day, Korean actor Daniel Dae Kim, who appeared in the American dramas’Lost’ and’ER’, also introduced an anecdote when I heard a story from a public opinion poll that “Asians are statistically meaningless.”

“What’s happening now is whether we are important people or not, and whether the country we call home (the United States) will ignore or respect us, will send a message to the future.”

“I want to make it clear to all Asian Americans who are hurt and fearful and wondering who cares in the United States. Congress is looking at you and we are with you and to protect you,” said Democratic Sub-Chairman Steve Cohen. “I will do everything within my authority.”

The recent surge of violence and violence against Asians is focusing on women and the elderly.

According to China’s state media Global Times on the 19th, Chinese-American She Xiao-jeon, who has lived in the United States for 26 years, was attacked by a white man in his 30s while walking near his home in San Francisco, USA on the 17th (local time) and injured. According to local media in the United States, the man assaulted an Asian man in his 80s and then committed this crime in the process of running away from security personnel.

The NPR reported that attacks on Asians in the United States have recently increased nationwide. Both the 27-year-old man who was assaulted in Los Angeles last month and the 83-year-old woman who was attacked in New York State last week were of Asian origin. “Asian American seniors were targeted in California,” NPR said.

According to the human rights organization Stop AAPI Hate, among Asian Americans, women, adolescents, and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to hate crimes. Seventy percent of Asian American attacks reported that women were victims.

AAAJ (Asian-American Justice Association), a non-profit organization, said, “We hope that the hearings will help us understand why what is happening is so shocking and come up with tangible measures to protect Asian American society.”

Protests are spreading in memory of the victims of the Atlanta shootings and against discrimination and hatred against Asians.

According to the Associated Press and the Washington Post (WP), commemorative demonstrations were held in Washington DC, New York City, Phoenix, Arizona, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, respectively, on the afternoon of the 17th (local time) on the second day of the shooting.

In Chinatown, Washington, DC, about 200 people gathered to hold a rally and protest until late at night. The protesters marched through the streets holding pickets with the phrases’Asian Lives Matter’ and’Stop AsianHate’ (#StopAsianHate).

Reporter Seo Yujin [email protected]