WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) spoke out in strong support of House passage of H.Res.908 – A Resolution Condemning All Forms of Anti-Asian Sentiment as Related to COVID-19.

Congresswoman Pressley is an original cosponsor of the resolution, which calls on all public officials to condemn and denounce any and all anti-Asian sentiment; condemns all manifestations of expressions of racism, xenophobia, discrimination, anti-Asian sentiment, scapegoating, and ethnic or religious intolerance; and calls on Federal law enforcement officials, in partnership with state and local officials, to collect data to document the rise of incidences of hate crimes due to COVID–19.  The weaponization of discriminatory language targeting the AAPI community, has caused a sharp increase in hate crimes in Massachusetts and across the nation, including more than 2,500 anti-Asian hate crimes and incidents reported in recent months.  

“Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, anti-Asian rhetoric has led to violent and hostile behavior toward our AAPI neighbors. There is no room for racism or xenophobia in our society, ever,” said Congresswoman Pressley. “While some in positions in power opt to use the COVID-19 crisis to sow division by employing harmful, untrue, and dangerous rhetoric about Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders, this resolution sends a powerful message that this type of rhetoric has no place in our society or our government.

“The passage of this important resolution speaks to the tireless leadership of my sister in service and the resolution’s sponsor, Representative Grace Meng, who has been a steadfast voice for the AAPI community throughout this crisis and long before. I’ll continue to work with Congresswoman Meng and our colleagues at every level of government to affirm the safety, dignity, and freedom of every AAPI person in our country.”

In March, at the onset of the COVID-19 crisis, Congresswoman Pressley spoke about the impact of racist, anti-Asian rhetoric regarding the pandemic in a House Oversight Committee hearing on the federal government’s response to the crisis.

# # #