Immediately Rep. Michelle Metal (CA-48) spoke on the Home Flooring concerning the rise in Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) hate, and her bipartisan decision launched earlier this 12 months to sentence the hate crimes and hate incidents many within the AAPI group have confronted.
“It’s heartbreaking to learn the information tales of those crimes, and my coronary heart goes out to all those that have been victims of this violence. I’ve skilled this sort of discrimination and racism firsthand. I’ve been referred to as racist slurs and been handled in another way as a result of I’m Asian American. As a proud American, and somebody who loves this nation dearly, I take this rise in violence in opposition to our group very severely,” Rep. Metal mentioned.
In February, Rep. Metal launched a decision with Rep. Katie Porter (CA-45) condemning hate crimes dedicated in opposition to the AAPI group, which have been on the rise because the begin of the COVID-19 pandemic final 12 months. This bipartisan decision at the moment has 19 cosponsors and is the one bipartisan laws of its variety within the Home.
“I’m proud to be standing right here immediately to sentence these violent acts and help my group. Whereas I disagree with my democratic colleagues on many issues, that is one space the place we are able to discover frequent floor. That’s what bipartisanship is – disagreeing with somebody however discovering points the place there is a chance to work collectively for the great of the nation. I’ll proceed to work on behalf of our AAPI group in Congress and condemn hate in all varieties, as a result of this isn’t a partisan problem,” Rep. Metal mentioned.
The U.S. Home of Representatives is contemplating two payments this week to sentence the rise in hate crimes and the lethal shootings in Atlanta that killed eight individuals, seven of whom have been Asian-American. You’ll be able to study extra about these payments here and here. Rep. Metal immediately voted in favor of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act (here).
As Chairwoman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, in 2020 Rep. Metal launched a decision calling for “tolerance and compassion” in direction of all residents of Orange County. The decision additionally condemned the discrimination that had been on the rise in opposition to the AAPI group.
The Korean American Grassroots Convention (KAGC), the Federation of Korean Associations USA, Religion and Group Empowerment (FACE), Nationwide Asian American PAC (NAAPAC), Korean American Presidency Coalition, and the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs (APAPA) have endorsed her bipartisan decision.