Ok-pop group BTS went to the White Home on Tuesday, the final day of Asian American and Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Heritage Month, to speak about Asian inclusion and illustration in addition to the rise in anti-Asian hate. The world-famous South Korean boy band made an look on the White Home press briefing and later met with President Joe Biden.
Every member of the Grammy-nominated band spoke to the press in Korean, after which a translator reiterated their message in English. "At present is the final day of AANHPI Heritage Month, we be part of the White Home to face with the AANHPI neighborhood and to have a good time," band member Kim Seok-jin stated by way of a translator.
"We have been devastated by the latest surge of hate crimes, together with Asian-American hate crimes," Park Jimin stated. "To place a cease to this and assist the trigger we might prefer to take this chance to voice ourselves as soon as once more."
In 2021, when crimes towards Asian Individuals spiked throughout the pandemic, BTS launched an announcement concerning the "grief and anger" they felt following lethal assaults on Asian Individuals. The band provided members' "deepest condolences" to individuals who misplaced their lives and opened up concerning the anti-Asian racism they've skilled.
"We're right here right now due to our 'Military' – our followers worldwide – who've completely different nationalities and cultures and use completely different languages, we're really and all the time grateful," J-Hope stated throughout the information briefing, through the translator.
"We're nonetheless shocked that music created by South Korean artists reaches so many individuals all over the world, transcending languages and cultural obstacles. We consider music is all the time an incredible unifier of all issues," Jungkook stated.
"It is not flawed to be completely different, equality begins after we open up and embrace all of our variations," Suga stated.
"Everybody has their very own historical past, we hope right now is one step ahead to respecting and understanding each one as a precious individual," V stated.
The band didn't take any questions, however will be part of the president for additional dialogue on the difficulty of Asian inclusion and anti-Asian hate crimes.
White Home Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated Mr. Biden "led a historic entire authorities strategy to fight racism, xenophobia and intolerance dealing with AANHPI communities when he issued a presidential memorandum, leveraging the facility of the federal authorities to face towards the state."
The president additionally signed the COVID-19 hate crimes act into regulation to handle the rise in hate crimes towards Asian Individuals throughout the coronavirus pandemic. He additionally signed an government order to reestablish the White Home initiative on Asian Individuals, Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders and funded important analysis to forestall and tackle xenophobia towards these communities, Jean-Pierre stated.
Jean-Pierre stated BTS performs an necessary position as youth ambassadors, offering a message of respect and positivity.