By Gabriela Baron
South Korean pop band BTS met with United States President Joe Biden on Wednesday, June 1, to discuss issues of anti-Asian hate crimes.
The meeting came as the US celebrated the Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander month in May.
“This is an important month here in America. A lot of our American Asian friends have been subject to real discrimination. Hate only hides. When good people talk about it, and say how bad it is, it goes down,” Biden said.
It was great to meet with you, @bts_bighit. Thanks for all you’re doing to raise awareness around the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes and discrimination.
I look forward to sharing more of our conversation soon. pic.twitter.com/LnczTpT2aL
— President Biden (@POTUS) June 1, 2022
In an analysis released by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University in 2021, anti-Asian hate crimes rose by nearly 150% in 2020, mostly in New York and Los Angeles.
In January, a 67-year-old Filipina sustained serious injuries to the head and face after she was brutally assaulted in an apparent anti-Asian hate incident in New York.
Similarly, a 52-year-old Filipino was repeatedly punched in the face at a subway station in Manhattan, New York last year as the suspect yelled “go back to where you came from.”
BTS’ RM thanked the White House and Biden for giving the band the opportunity to speak “on the important issues of anti-Asian hate crimes, Asian inclusion, and diversity.”
“We just want to be a little help and we truly appreciate the White House and the government’s trying to find solutions,” RM said.
Thanks for having us at the White House! It was a huge honor to discuss important issues with @POTUS today. We're very grateful for #BTSARMY who made it all possible.🫰💜
#BTS #방탄소년단 #BTSatTheWhiteHouse pic.twitter.com/PZd8Ox2Kea— BTS_official (@bts_bighit) June 1, 2022
“People care a lot about what you say and what you’re doing is good for all people. It’s not just your great talent, it’s the message you’re communicating. It matters,” Biden added. – ag
