Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin Decries Anti-Asian Discrimination, Violence During House Judiciary Committee Hearing
WASHINGTON (WJZ) -- Following the deadly shootings at three Georgia spas, Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin decried the recent wave of anti-Asian violence and discrimination that has even affected members of Gov. Larry Hogan's family.
"Governor Hogan told me that close family friends have been assaulted in a convenience store, screamed at by racists telling them to go back to China and told that they did not want to sit next to them on an airplane because they were Asian and had COVID," Raskin recounted during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Thursday.
On Twitter, Hogan thanked Raskin for addressing the issue, writing "we must unequivocally condemn racism, xenophobia, and hatred in all its forms."
I'd like to thank @RepRaskin for his comments during today's House Judiciary Committee hearing about my family's experiences with discrimination and violence against Asian Americans. We must unequivocally condemn racism, xenophobia, and hatred in all its forms.
— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) March 18, 2021
Raskin responded to the tweet by writing in part that anti-Asian bigotry and violence are "a lethal threat that should be uniting Americans across the lines of political party."
Thanks @GovLarryHogan for speaking out forcefully against anti-Asian bigotry and violence, a lethal threat that should be uniting Americans across the lines of political party.
— Rep. Jamie Raskin (@RepRaskin) March 18, 2021
On Sunday, Hogan appeared on CNN and told Jake Tapper his wife, First Lady Yumi Hogan, who is Korean American, and their daughters have "felt some discrimination personally."
The governor called the attacks "outrageous and unacceptable."
Police in Maryland are also stepping up patrols around Asian American businesses following the deadly spa shootings in Georgia.
Anne Arundel County Police said they are patrolling Asian American business areas more frequently.
State's Attorney Anne Colt Leitess said Anne Arundel County police have seen an uptick in crimes or hate bias incident since Tuesday's spa shootings in Atlanta.
"While the number of offenses in our county is low compared to neighboring jurisdictions our citizens must know that we will not tolerate hate crimes and hate bias incidents," Leitess said. "It is important for citizens to report these incidents to police. I applaud the Anne Arundel County Police policy of responding to all reported hate incidents, even those that may not be chargeable criminal offenses."
In Frederick County, police said they are checking in on businesses.
"We are one community and will not tolerate hate of any kind. Our officers will be conducting extra patrols and checking in with Asian-owned businesses in the City," police tweeted.
In light of Tuesday's shooting spree in Atlanta along with other attacks around the country, the Frederick Police Department realizes there are increasing levels of fear within the Asian community that they are being targeted.
— Frederick Police (@Fred_MD_Police) March 19, 2021
Findings from a new study done at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County show a majority of Asian Americans have experienced racial discrimination because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study found three in four people said they witnessed discrimination on a weekly or monthly basis.
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