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BTS uses White House visit to say ‘devastated’ by anti-Asian hate crimes

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Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="BTS members join White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre during her daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, DC on May 31, 2022. Oliver Contreras pool, EPA-EFE" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/overseas/05/31/20220531-bts.jpg"/><figcaption>BTS members join White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre during her daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, DC on May 31, 2022. <em>Oliver Contreras pool, EPA-EFE</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>South Korean K-pop supergroup BTS used a White House visit Tuesday to call out a growth in anti-Asian hate crimes in the United States.</p><p>The singer Park Ji-min, better known as Jimin, said through a translator ahead of a meeting with President Joe Biden that the group is &quot;devastated by the recent surge of hate crimes.&quot;</p><p>Another member, Suga, appealed for tolerance, saying, &quot;It&#x27;s not wrong to be different. I think equality begins when we open up and embrace all of our differences.&quot;</p><p>All seven members of the K-pop sensation took to the White House briefing room podium, briefly addressing reporters who were assembled for the daily back-and-forth with Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.</p><p>Dressed in matching dark suits and ties, with white shirts, the boy band came to the White House with a serious message.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/04/05/22/man-charged-with-hate-crimes-for-attacking-asian-women">Man charged in New York with hate crimes for attacking Asian women</a></li></ul><p>Biden issued the invitation to &quot;discuss the need to come together in solidarity, Asian inclusion and representation, and addressing anti-Asian hate crimes and discrimination, which have become more prominent issues in recent years,&quot; the White House said.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/17/21/pinay-nurse-attacked-in-ny-subway-shares-ordeal">Pinay nurse attacked in NY subway shares ordeal </a></li></ul><p>Anti-Asian sentiment and violence in the US have grown during the coronavirus pandemic in a trend many blame on fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic.</p><p>Biden&#x27;s Republican predecessor Donald Trump often blamed the pandemic, which originated with an outbreak in Wuhan, China, as &quot;the China virus&quot; and also mocked the deadly virus as &quot;kung flu.&quot;</p><p>The trend stands out within a general rise in violent crime, with the ugliest incident taking place in the Atlanta area, where a man shot dead eight people at massage spas, six of them Asian women.</p><p>The White House praised BTS&#x27; floppy haired, stylish sensations as &quot;youth ambassadors who spread a message of hope and positivity across the world.&quot;</p><p>Band members, all in their 20s and who frequently appear wearing earrings and lipstick, have given a voice to a generation comfortable with gender fluidity.</p><p>They are credited with generating billions for the South Korean economy, and their label enjoyed a surge in profits despite holding fewer concerts during the pandemic.</p><p>Biden, who at 79 is the oldest person to become president, has often reached out to young celebrities and social media influencers to try and inject some glamor into his team&#x27;s messaging on social and health issues.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/08/31/21/hate-crimes-rose-vs-black-asian-americans-in-2020-fbi">Hate crimes rose against Black, Asian Americans in 2020: FBI</a></li></ul><p>These included pop singer Olivia Rodrigo and the Jonas Brothers in campaigns to persuade young Americans to get their COVID-19 vaccines.</p><div><strong>FROM THE ARCHIVES</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1981790" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

The South Korean K-pop supergroup used a White House visit on Tuesday to call out a growth in anti-Asian hate crimes in the United States.