‘Speak out’: Biden, Harris decry racism against Asian Americans on visit to Atlanta

U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris offered solace to Asian Americans and denounced the scourge of racism as they visited Atlanta, just days after a white gunman killed eight people, most of them Asian American women. Addressing the nation after a roughly 80-minute meeting with Asian American state legislators and other leaders March 19, Biden said it was “heart-wrenching” to listen to their stories of the fear among Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders amid what he called a “skyrocketing spike” of harassment and violence against them. He called on all Americans to stand up to bigotry when they see it. “The president and I will not be silent. We will not stand by. We will always speak out against violence, hate crimes and discrimination, wherever and whenever it occurs,” said Harris, the first person of South Asian descent to hold national office. As the fastest-growing racial demographic in the U.S. electorate, Asian Americans are gaining political influence across the country. (AP) This article was provided by The Japan Times Alpha.