Members of the KTS pop group BTS appeared in the White House briefing on Tuesday ahead of a private meeting with President Joe Biden to discuss hate crimes against Asia.
“We are BTS and it is a great honor to be invited to the White House tonight to discuss important issues of hate crimes against Asians, Asian inclusion and diversity,” RM said, addressing the room in English, while the other six members the group spoke Korean.
Spokeswoman Carin Jean-Pierre accompanied the seven pop stars to the podium, but did not allow them to answer questions.
RM (center), a member of the KTS pop group BTS, addressed reporters Tuesday in the White House briefing hall marking the last day of Asian American Heritage Month in Hawaii and the Pacific.
White House spokeswoman Karin Jean-Pierre welcomed KTS pop group BTS to the White House briefing on Tuesday before the group met privately with President Joe Biden.
Karin Jean-Pierre, White House spokeswoman, welcomed BTS to the White House briefing on Tuesday ahead of a private meeting with President Joe Biden
Seven members of K-pop supergroup BTS line up behind White House spokeswoman Karin Jean-Pierre on Tuesday
A doll resembling BTS member Jungkook was shown to the White House on Tuesday
BTS fans reach through the fence in front of the White House on Tuesday. K-pop stars addressed the White House briefing room, and then will have a private meeting with the president after that
They are due to hold a private meeting with the president, a self-acknowledged fan, later Tuesday afternoon.
Fans of the supergroup were spotted in front of the White House before the appearance of BTS.
Inside the briefing room was crowded.
Tuesday marked the last day of the Asian American Heritage Month in Hawaii and the Pacific.
“We have joined the White House to stand with the AANHPI community and celebrate,” said Gene, a BTS member.
“We have been devastated by the recent influx of hate crimes, including Asian-American hate crimes. To put an end to this and support the cause, we would like to use this opportunity to express ourselves once again, “Jimin added.
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, hate crimes against Asians have increased.
“We are here today thanks to our army, our fans around the world who have different nationalities and cultures and use different languages. We are really and always grateful, “said Jay-Hope.
“We are still surprised that music created by South Korean artists reaches so many people around the world, transcending languages and cultural barriers,” Jungkuk added. “We believe that music is always an amazing and wonderful unifier of all things.”
Then Shuga stepped forward and said, “It’s not bad to be different.”
“Equality begins when we open up and accept all our differences,” he said.
And then V got on the podium.
“Everyone has their own story,” he said. “We hope that today is a step forward in respecting and understanding everyone as a valuable person.”
RM then finished the show, speaking English again.
“Finally, we thank President Biden and the White House for giving us this important opportunity to talk about important causes, to remember what we can do as artists,” he said. Thank you very much once again.
Several reporters called questions to the pop group, but Jean-Pierre brought them out.
Members of K-pop group BTS arrive to join White House spokeswoman Karin Jean-Pierre at Tuesday’s briefing
K-pop group BTS drew crowds of journalists to the briefing on Tuesday
BTS fans hold a blanket decorated with animated versions of the seven singers in front of the White House on Tuesday
Since the first months of his rule, Biden has spoken out against the hatred of Asian Americans.
He criticized former President Donald Trump for using terms such as “Chinese virus” to refer to COVID.
“This is the coronavirus. Point, “Biden said in March 2021 after a shooter targeted Asian victims at a mineral spring outside of Atlanta.
Most recently, a shooting at a Taiwanese church in Southern California that killed one and wounded five is now being investigated as a hate crime, as well as a shooting at a salon in Dallas that injured three Asian women.
Both incidents occurred this month.
The Stop AAPI Hate group tracked more than 10,000 incidents of hatred against Americans of Asian descent and Pacific Islanders since March 2020, when the COVID blockade began, and late last year.
Former White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki has previously linked Trump’s rhetoric to the rise of hate crimes.
“I think there is no doubt that some of the damaging rhetoric we saw during the previous administration’s accusations – calling COVID the Wuhan virus or other things – has led to perceptions of the Asian-American community that are inaccurate, unfair,” he said. “threats, increased threats against Americans of Asian descent, and we see that all over the country,” Psaki said.
Earlier, Biden took steps to end the term by signing an executive order entitled “Memorandum Condemning and Combating Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States” on Day 6 of his presidency.
“The federal government must recognize that it has played a role in promoting these xenophobic sentiments through the actions of political leaders, including references to the COVID-19 pandemic according to its geographical location,” the order said.
“Such statements have fueled unfounded fears and perpetuated the stigma against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and contributed to the growing rate of harassment, harassment and hate crimes against AAPI individuals,” it said.
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