Press Release
AALDEF applauds Biden memorandum condemning anti-Asian racism and xenophobia
Today, President Joe Biden issued a Memorandum Condemning and Combating Racism, Xenophobia, and Intolerance against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States.
AALDEF issued the following statement:
With more than 2,800 reported anti-Asian hate incidents since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, AALDEF applauds President Biden’s executive action today that begins to address racism against Asian Americans. The sharp rise in anti-Asian violence and harassment followed the former president’s repeated use of racist, inflammatory terms, such as “China Virus” and “Kung Flu.” President Biden’s guidance, which shines a light on harmful stereotypes of Asian Americans as a model minority and perpetual outsider, begins the long journey toward racial equity promised by the new administration. AALDEF welcomes this important start in the process of dismantling systemic racism against Asian Americans and other communities of color.
For more information, contact:
Margaret Fung, Executive Director
mfung@aaldef.org