National Urban League Denounces Anti-Asian Violence and Harrassment

NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE DENOUNCES ANTI-ASIAN VIOLENCE & HARASSMENT, URGES OFFICIALS TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST BIASED RHETORIC & MISINFORMATION

National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial issued the following statement in response to the surge in hate crimes against Asian Americans:

“We in the Urban League Movement are appalled by the recent surge in hate crimes targeting Asian Americans. A web site set up to receive reports has recorded more than 1,000 incidents in the past two weeks, ranging from verbal harassment to attempted murder. Members of our own Urban League family have been targeted.

 “In one of the most serious incidents, the FBI is considering federal hate crime charges against a man who stabbed three people in Midland, Texas.  We urge all law enforcement agencies to prosecute these incidents to the fullest extent of the law.

“Make no mistake: the misinformation, conspiracy theories and hateful rhetoric that have fueled these ugly incidents have trickled down from major media outlets and the highest offices in the land. Efforts to deflect blame for the pandemic onto a particular ethnicity are wreaking havoc on innocent people.

“We stand with our Asian-American brothers and sisters, and call on all Americans to reject bigoted and xenophobic sentiment in every aspect of life. Public officials should take extra care that the information they share is verified and confirmed.

“In this time of crisis, it’s even more important that work together and take care of one another.”