| Asian Americans Call on Biden Administration to Address Violence and Racism with Concrete Action Maryland First Lady Yumi Hogan Expresses Support |
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE APRIL 5, 2021 Asian Americans Call on Biden Administration to Address Violence and Racism with Concrete Action; Maryland First Lady Yumi Hogan Expresses Support Bellevue, WA, and Industry, CA —April 5, 2021—A national coalition of Asian-American advocacy groups recently called on the Biden administration to take concrete action to combat anti-Asian racism and violence. Yumi Hogan, Maryland’s First Lady and the country’s first Korean-American first lady, today offered support for this significant undertaking. The leaders of the coalition will hold a virtual press conference on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at 11:00 a.m. PDT / 2:00 p.m. EDT to discuss their recommendations. Though President Joe Biden has repeatedly condemned anti-Asian hate and has proposed measures to address the problem, thus far his administration has failed to fully identify and properly address crucial issues of longstanding violence and racism against Asian Americans. Spearheaded by Asian Industry B2B (in California) and Washington Asians for Equality (in Washington State), this national coalition urges President Biden to take the following steps: 1) Reinstate the U.S. Justice Department’s lawsuit against Yale University on grounds of discrimination against Asian-American applicants in undergraduate admissions, and denounce racial preferences and other racist practices commonly used to reduce the number of Asian-American students at educational institutions. 2) State forcefully that any perpetrator of a violent attack against an Asian American will be publicly condemned and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law—regardless of the perpetrator’s race. Far from beginning during the coronavirus pandemic, racist acts against Asians have occurred in America for decades. On too many occasions, for too many years, we as a country and a society have failed to fight these ongoing offenses with adequate vigor, commitment, and candor. 3) Appoint Vice President Kamala Harris, who is the former Attorney General of California, to work with local and state law enforcement, especially in urban areas, to strengthen police protection for Asian Americans in their communities. “Stopping racism and violence against Asian Americans will require courage and moral clarity,” said Linda Yang, director of Washington Asians for Equality. “We hope the Biden administration will rise to the occasion by not only speaking honestly about anti-Asian hate crimes, even when it might be uncomfortable, but also taking real action to tackle problems that contribute to anti-Asian discrimination, whether in America’s higher education or on the streets in our local communities.” “In recent months, far too many horrific, wanton attacks against Asian Americans have occurred in this country. They are grotesque and they must end,” said Marc Ang, president of Asian Industry B2B. “It is unconscionable that in multiple cities, the elderly rightfully feel they cannot walk down the street safely in broad daylight and ordinary people cannot ride the subway without being viciously beaten and left for dead. Law and order must be upheld to prevent further attacks on the most vulnerable and the law abiding, and we call on the Biden administration to defend law and order and help to protect Asian Americans.” “I want to extend my gratitude to you all for establishing this influential and powerful coalition of Asian American advocacy groups to defeat hate crimes and discrimination against our community,” said First Lady Hogan in a letter to the coalition of Asian Americans. “Actions of hate, discrimination, and bigotry should have no home anywhere. I appreciate your courageousness, and am proud to see your organization coming together to stand against injustice and violence,” Mrs. Hogan continued. Her letter can be read in its entirety here: https://waasians4equality.org/2021/04/05/letter-from-yumi-hogan-first-lady-of-maryland/ The national coalition of Asian-American individuals and organizations include: ACE Foundation American Recovery Center of Hope Asian Industry B2B Association for Fair Education Better Communities Foundation Betty Chu, former mayor and city council member of Monterey Park, California, and former candidate for U.S. Representative from California’s 32nd congressional district California School Choice Foundation Chinese American Citizens Alliance Las Vegas Chinese American Citizens Alliance Orange County Chinese American Citizens Alliance San Gabriel Valley Lodge Chinese American Equalization Association Chinese American Parent Association of Howard County Chinese American Parent Association of Loudoun County Chinese American Parents Association of Montgomery County Chinese American Parents Association of Northern Virginia Chinese-American Volunteers Association Equal Rights for All PAC Federation of Philippine American Chambers of Commerce Southern California Chapter Filipino American Chamber of Commerce Tri-County George Li, former president, The Orange Club PAC Maryland Chinese American Network National Federation of Filipino American Associations Greater Los Angeles Region National Federation of Filipino American Associations Northern California People Encouraging People Wanyu Foundation Washington Asians for Equality George Yang, former chair, Menlo Park Sister City Committee To attend the virtual press conference on Tuesday, April 6, at 11:00 a.m. PDT / 2:00 p.m. EDT, please RSVP by emailing defendingequal@gmail.com. Details for joining the event are below. When: Apr 6, 2021 11:00 AM Pacific Time/2:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Topic: Press Conference–Asian Americans Call for Concrete Action from Biden Administration Please click the link below to join the webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88448708544?pwd=WG5JQVpEQWJDTENQWUxjS1VyMkwvUT09Passcode: 841492 Or One tap mobile : US: +16699009128,,88448708544#,,,,*841492# or +12532158782,,88448708544#,,,,*841492# Or Telephone: Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1 669 900 9128 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799 or +1 646 558 8656 Webinar ID: 884 4870 8544 Passcode: 841492 International numbers available: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kwWCCjEz9 About Asian Industry B2B Asian Industry B2B (AIB2B) is a southern California community organization bringing together business professionals for charitable and civic causes to improve local communities. AIB2B’s causes include fighting human trafficking, preserving the environment (beach cleanup), alleviating poverty, promoting quality education through school choice, saving animals, and supporting veterans and the military. These efforts are supported by strong partnerships with municipal governments and law enforcement. More information is available at http://aib2b.org/. About Washington Asians for Equality Washington Asians for Equality (WAFE) was founded in 2018 after a group of concerned Asian-American parents organized to stop the state legislature from repealing Washington State’s ban on racial preferences. Since then, WAFE has been active in advocating for Asian Americans’ equal rights in Washington State. For more information, please visit https://waasians4equality.org/. Contact: Ying Ma defendingequal@gmail.com (703) 436-4539 |