BTS, a seven-member South Korean pop group with one of the most die-hard fans in the world, visited the White House on Tuesday to address growing hate crimes and other acts of discrimination against Asian Americans.
The group, also known as the Bangtan Boys, attended a press conference before meeting with White House spokesperson Carine Jean-Pierre and President Joe Biden.
“We have been devastated by the recent rise in hate crime, including Asian-American hate crime,” BTS lead singer Jimin said from the podium as a translator. “To take a firm stand here and support the goal, we want to take this opportunity to re -express ourselves and say that we are here today thanks to our army – thanks to our fans around the world – with others’ different nationalities and cultures and customs. other languages. We are truly and always grateful. “
Hate crimes against Asian Americans rose during the COVID-19 pandemic, which former President Donald Trump repeatedly referred to as “China’s virus,” “If Flu,” and other racist names. in Asia of his ancestors. A report published by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism earlier this year showed that anti-Asian hate crimes rose 339% in 2021 from the previous year.
“We hope that today is a step forward for the respect and understanding of each of us as a person of value,” said the BTS V singer through an interpreter.
Hundreds of K-pop fans gathered at the White House gate for a press conference and the band’s name was mentioned. More than a A quarter of a million people He allegedly watched the streaming of the White House event on YouTube.
White House National Economic Council director Brian Dizz observed BTS at a press conference on Tuesday and jokingly boasted, “Good. So I had to go home and tell my kids that BTS had opened up for me. I did not expect to wake up in the morning ”.
Although the BTS leadership maintains strict control over the group’s public image, statements and policies, the group violated the 2020 convention by supporting the Black Lives Matter movement and donating $ 1 million for the cause.
“We are against racial discrimination. We condemn violence. You, me and all of us have a right to be respected. “Let’s stick together,” BTS tweeted after the murder of George Floyd by a cop in Minneapolis.
BTS fans are also aggressive in their fight against racist movements in the United States, regularly implementing strategies to outwit hashtags promoting white supremacy and QAnon conspiracy theories.
“They beat Korean pop fans for their game,” said Mike Rothschild, a conspiracy theorist. Bloomberg On the wonders of 2020. “I’ve never seen anything like this before.”
Source: Huffpost
