Racism is real in America, we won’t be silent, said First Asian American Vice President, Kamala Harris

Washington: President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris re-assured safety to Asian Americans on Friday, as they visited Atlanta just days after a white gunman killed eight people.  The visit, during a nationwide spike of anti-Asian violence, has added resonance with the presence of Harris, the first person of South Asian descent to hold national office.

Biden supported the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, a bill that would strengthen the government’s reporting and response to hate crimes and provide resources to Asian American communities. 

In the wake of the public shootout; Biden said, “It was heart-wrenching to listen to. Before the duo delivered remarks at Emory University, Asian American state legislators and other community leaders discussed living in fear of violence.  “Racism is real in America. And it has always been. Xenophobia is real in America and always has been. Sexism, too,” said Ms. Harris over the incident. 

The Senate officials had planned their trip before the shooting, as part of a victory lap aimed at selling the benefits of pandemic relief legislation. America has seen a rise in racist attacks lately. 

Nearly 3,800 incidents have been reported to Stop AAPI Hate, a California-based reporting centre for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and its partner advocacy groups, since March 2020.