Biden Invites BTS to White House to Discuss Combating Anti-Asian Hate Crimes (Comprehensive)

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] The world-renowned K-pop group Bangtan Sonyeondan (BTS) will meet U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House.

The White House announced on the 26th (local time) that President Biden will meet BTS on the 31st to discuss 'anti-Asian hate crimes' in honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. It is unusual for a U.S. president to invite a pop music group to the White House.

The White House introduced, "BTS, a global K-pop phenomenon and Grammy nominee from Korea, will join President Biden to discuss Asian inclusion and representation, as well as address anti-Asian hate crimes and discrimination." It also emphasized, "President Biden and BTS will highlight the importance of diversity and inclusion and spread messages of hope and positivity worldwide."

This move is interpreted as a response to the recent increase in racial crimes in the U.S. Since the spread of COVID-19, hate crimes against Asians have surged. According to CNN and the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, over 10,000 hate crimes against Asian and Pacific Islanders have occurred from March 19, 2020, to last year. On the 11th, three Korean women were injured in a shooting at a beauty salon in Dallas Koreatown, Texas, by a Black man.

The White House also stated in its announcement, "President Biden has previously expressed his commitment to combating the rising anti-Asian hate crimes," and explained, "In May last year, he signed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act to provide law enforcement with resources to identify, investigate, and report hate crimes and to improve access to hate crime information."

Local media particularly noted that BTS has consistently spoken out against anti-Asian hate crimes. CNN reported, "This meeting takes place just days after President Biden returned from his visits to Korea and Japan," adding, "Amid widespread anti-Asian hate crimes in the U.S., BTS has shared their own experiences of discrimination."

Following the Atlanta hate crime last year, BTS issued a statement saying, "We have memories of being discriminated against simply for being Asian. We have been verbally abused and had our appearances disparaged for no reason while walking down the street," and added, "Being the target of hate and violence because of racial differences is an indescribable pain." BTS leader RM stated at a press conference in Los Angeles last November regarding anti-Asian hate crimes, "If I can raise my voice, I always want to."

The political media outlet The Hill reported, "K-pop superstars BTS bring 'Dynamite' to Washington to raise awareness about anti-Asian hate crimes with President Biden." One of BTS's representative hits, "Dynamite," is a song that conveys a message of hope to the world during the COVID-19 pandemic.