Biden Signs Asian Hate Crime Prevention Act Without Mask

[Photo by UPI Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Byunghee Park] U.S. President Joe Biden signed the Asian Hate Crime Prevention Act, which was passed by Congress, on the 20th (local time).

President Biden condemned hate crimes and emphasized the need for a response in a speech at the White House East Room, saying, "Silence is complicity. We cannot be complicit. We must raise our voices."

He referred to the Atlanta shooting incident that left eight victims, including six Asians and four Korean American women, highlighting the fear and anger felt by Asian Americans in their daily lives.

President Biden added, "My message to all those who are hurt is 'We see you,'" and said, "We are committed to stopping hate." He also emphasized in a tweet that day, "There is no place for hate in America."

Vice President Kamala Harris, who was present, gave significance by naming the members of the Senate and House who led the passage of the bill from the podium. Harris is the first South Asian American Vice President of the United States.

She pointed out, "Around this time last year, when I was a senator, I introduced a resolution with my colleagues condemning the rise of anti-Asian sentiment, and at that time, there were about 1,100 hate incidents against Asians," adding, "Now, it has exceeded 6,600."

Earlier, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the Hate Crime Prevention Act, which focuses on responding to violence against Asians. The bill also passed the Senate at the end of last month.

The event was held indoors at the White House without mask-wearing or social distancing. This was in accordance with new guidelines issued on the 13th, stating that those vaccinated do not need to wear masks in most indoor and outdoor settings. Sixty-eight people, including President Biden, attended the event in the White House East Room without masks.

Accordingly, attention is focused on whether President Biden will wear a mask at the Korea-U.S. summit at the White House on the 21st. At the White House meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on the 16th of last month, President Biden wore two masks layered, showing thoroughness in quarantine measures.