The Los Angeles Post

Over 50 Media Outlets Cover Press Conference with National Asian Americans Calling on Biden Administration to Address Violence and Discrimination with Concrete Action

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Industry, CA & Bellevue, WA – April 7, 2021 – A national coalition of Asian-American advocacy groups called on the Biden administration to take concrete action to combat anti-Asian racism and violence. The leaders of the coalition held a virtual press conference on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, moderated by nationally acclaimed author and policy expert, Ying Ma, discussing their recommendations.

Over 50 media outlets attended and covered the conference, including Washington Post, New York Times, Fox News National, and Wall Street Journal. Southern California media outlets included KNX, NBC, CBS, KTTV and Spectrum Media. In addition, Washington outlets included KING and KOMO. Ethnic media such as Asian Journal, ABS-CBN Philippines and Chinese in LA attended, as well as niche media like RedState, who asked riveting questions.

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.” First Lady Hogan’s letter can be read in its entirety HERE.

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 in California’s 32nd congressional district
  • California School Choice Foundation
  • Chinese American Citizens Alliance Orange County
  • Chinese American Citizens Alliance Las Vegas
  • 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
  • Ted Bui, VP of Fountain Valley Rotary Club
  • Wanyu Foundation
  • Washington Asians for Equality
  • George Yang, former chair, Menlo Park Sister City Committee