Biden Announces Additional Measures to Eradicate Anti-Asian Hate Crimes: "Un-American and Wrong"

$49.5 Million Support for Assaulted Asian Victim
White House Likely to Assign Position to Senior Asian Official

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] U.S. President Joe Biden has announced additional measures to eradicate violence and hate crimes against Asian American residents in the United States. Along with expanding direct financial support for Asian Pacific Islander (APPI) residents exposed to hate crimes, various legal measures will be strengthened, and new organizations such as task forces (TF) will be established within the White House and related departments. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, hate crimes targeting APPI residents have surged in the U.S., with victims experiencing hate crimes at more than twice the rate of the overall American average.

According to foreign media including CNN, on the 30th (local time), the White House announced additional measures to respond to the sharp increase in hate crimes and violence against Asians in the U.S. This move is known to be a follow-up to the memorandum signed by President Biden shortly after his inauguration in January to combat racism and xenophobia against AAPI residents. President Biden emphasized on Twitter that "these attacks are wrong, un-American, and must stop," adding, "It is time to act, not remain silent."

The additional measures include six key points: ▲ Reactivating the White House initiative to end anti-Asian violence ▲ Providing $49.5 million (approximately 56.2 billion KRW) in financial support for APPI residents exposed to violence ▲ Establishing a subcommittee under the Department of Health and Human Services to prevent COVID-19-related anti-Asian hate ▲ Publishing data on anti-Asian hate crimes online ▲ Supporting research through the National Science Foundation to prevent hate crimes ($33 million) ▲ Establishing a Department of Justice initiative to prevent anti-Asian hate crimes.

Additionally, senior officials from the APPI community will be appointed to positions within the White House. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki stated at a press briefing that "senior APPI officials will be given roles within the White House to carry out policies and outreach activities related to anti-Asian hate crimes," adding, "specific job titles have not yet been decided."

Since the shooting incident on the 16th in Atlanta, which resulted in the deaths of six Asian Americans including four Korean Americans, various sectors in the U.S. have expressed concern over the seriousness of anti-Asian hate crimes. In particular, violence against Asians has sharply increased since the COVID-19 pandemic, with victims suffering hate crimes at rates higher than the overall American average. A survey released by APPI Data, a nonprofit organization researching anti-Asian hate crimes, showed that 10% of Asian and Hawaiian residents in the U.S. have experienced hate crimes, more than twice the 4% average among all Americans.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.