Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, in Wilmington, Delaware.
Leah Millis | Reuters
Vice President Kamala Harris responded on Friday to a recent rise in violent attacks on Asian Americans.
“We must continue to commit to fighting racism and discrimination,” Harris said on Twitter.
Videos of recent attacks on older Asian Americans in the Bay of California were released last week.
A video showed a 91-year-old man being pushed from behind and landing down the street in the Chinatown of Oakland, Harris’ hometown.
Another video showed 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee pushing herself violently to the ground in San Francisco. He later died, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
Harris ’comments come in the lunar new year, as the coveted pandemic and fears of violence dampened the holiday festivities.
Other politicians have taken note of the issue.
“Especially in the days leading up to the Lunar New Year, a time of cultural pride and celebration for millions of Asian Americans, the increase in attacks on Chinatowns in particular has had a gruesome effect on our community.” , said Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., President of the Asian Pacific American Congress, said in a statement Thursday.
Incidents of hatred and violence against Asian Americans have increased during the covid pandemic. Proponents say anti-Asian sentiments have been sparked by the actions of leaders such as former President Donald Trump, who continually referred to the coronavirus in terms such as “Chinese virus” and “Kung flu.”
“Across the country, there were more than 2,500 reports of anti-Asian hate incidents related to COVID-19 between March and September 2020,” a recent study by the American Association of Asian Lawyers in New York and Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton and Garrison LLP meeting.
“And that number underestimates the actual number of anti-Asian hate incidents because most incidents are not reported,” the study said.
When asked Monday at a White House briefing about President Joe Biden’s response to recent violent attacks on Asian Americans, press secretary Jen Psaki said the president condemns discrimination against Asian Americans .
“He has been frank and has made it clear that attacks (verbal attacks, attacks of any kind) are unacceptable and we need to work together to address them,” Psaki said.
Biden signed an executive order on Jan. 26 to direct xenophobia against Asian Americans.
“We appreciate President Biden ‘s executive order calling for greater protections for the [Asian and Pacific Islander] community as a result of pandemic-related racism and xenophobia, and we thank those who stand in solidarity with the API community, “the Asian Legislative Caucus of the Asian Pacific Islands of California said Thursday.
“But it is not enough to simply disallow racism, xenophobia and violence. We need to draw attention to these injustices and protect each other,” the group said.