Statement Against Anti-Asian Violence

I write today as a proud Asian American. While there is a long history of violence against Asians in this country, the events of the last year, culminating in the mass murder of Asian American women in Atlanta, have been particularly troubling. They call to me for a response. It has been quite a year. Not only has it been marked by anti-Asian statements from President Trump and other Republicans, but also by the murder of George Floyd, which also involved a Hmong officer. It is a moment that calls for reflection on the Asian American experience in this country.

As a Korean American, I was brought up with stories about my father’s experience during the Korean War, which was his first real encounter with Americans. I remember most his admiration and gratitude for the United States Marine Corp. These men, he would say, knew what honor means. It’s not just a word, it’s a way of life. They died on the cliffs of Inchon to make Korea free, I would not be alive today if they had not. And I am forever in their debt and will always respect their valor, as with so many men and women in every branch of the military.

It is their memory and my profound respect for this nation’s commitment to justice and liberty that shapes my thoughts tonight. America does not persecute the vulnerable. Those men did not die on those cliffs so that Asians can be the butt of a joke or a victim of a hate crime. I am deeply saddened tonight because so many people seem to have forgotten this. And in doing so, they dishonor the service of men and women who…