Maryland Governor Larry Hogan and Korean First Lady Yumi Hogan, together with Harvey County Shei Governor Calvin Ball and community leaders, went to the Princess Business Center on Maryland's Korean Way in Ellicott City, Harvey County, on the afternoon of March 22, to visit Asian businesses one by one. And cite the outdoor press conference.
Governor Hogan severely condemned anti-Asian atrocities and discrimination, announced the strengthening of community patrols to protect the Asian community, ordered the State police to pay attention to investigating cases of discrimination against Asian residents, called on citizens to actively report hate crimes, everyone has a responsibility to work to stop continuing harm, promised to report cases will be useful, and pass legislation to improve data collection. In addition, the governor urged the judiciary and prosecutors to conduct more detailed investigations and prosecutions into racial assault and violence in response to the rise in anti-Asian violence and discrimination.
Hogan said our country's motto is "Unite as One" and "E Pluribus Unum." Practicing ideas requires more unity, courage, understanding and mutual trust, and we must all work together to defeat hatred.
The first Asian-American governor's wife, Kim Youmei, said: "We Asian immigrants came to the United States to pursue a beautiful American dream and a better life, we are all Americans, we work very hard, serve the community, raise children, we have made great contributions to this country, our story is the story of the United States." Like many people, this is our home, and no one should hear hateful language like "get back," she said. Stop the hatred, hatred must not be tolerated here.
Former Federal Secretary of Transportation Zhao Xiaolan praised the Hogans for their long-standing support for the AAPI Asia-Pacific ethnic group, and Asian Americans have made great contributions to the country and played an indispensable role in American society. The U.S. federal, state, and local levels need to work together to assist and protect the AAPI community.
At the press conference, Harvey County Governor Bauer affirmed the contribution of Asians to the development of Harvey County, saying that he would actively promote anti-Asian discrimination and assist the police in investigating and handling all cases involved.
At the event, business representatives and community leaders of Ethnic Chinese and Korean descent were invited to participate in the event. Chiling Tong, President of the Asian American Chamber of Commerce (ACE), said in her speech that our Chamber of Commerce conducted a nationwide survey with Asian, African,and Hispanic business leaders and found that one-third of women owners of Asian Pacific American (AAPI) small and medium-sized businesses had been harmed by racial prejudice. We are running a people's movement to speak out for AAPI, Asian-American businesses and nonprofits, standing together to fight fear and fight racial discrimination. Dong Jiling encouraged everyone to support the event #STOPASIANHATE hosted by the ACE Chamber of Commerce on March 26.
Lanlan Xu of harvey county Chinese school said: "The shooting in Atlanta is only the tip of the iceberg, and xenophobia and discrimination against Asian Americans are widespread and systematic. Chinese Americans have lived in the United States for more than 400 years, but they have been repeatedly erased by history books. The history of Chinese Americans is an integral part of American history.
Chairman of the Massachusetts Asia-Pacific Affairs Commission Henry M. Henry S. Kim shouted at the news conference and led everyone to shout "Stop the hate", which was quite touching. Daniel Baeq, senior pastor of the Korean Presbyterian Church from Bethel Korean Presbyterian Church, prayed for world peace.
Last year, the Maryland Legislature passed a law to step up the fight against hate crimes, which went into effect on Oct. 1, 2020. This will help our state attorneys not only effectively prosecute hate crimes, but also stop hate crimes.
In addition to calling 911 in an emergency, Hogan encouraged victims and witnesses to call the hate hotline at 1-866-481-8361.
(Contributed by the National Asian American Chamber of Commerce)