US President Joe Biden signed four executive actions Tuesday aimed at addressing systemic racism and enhancing racial equity.
Building on last Wednesday’s executive order, which introduced his administration’s plans to pursue racial equity, Biden first disavowed discrimination against the Asian American and Pacific Islander community over the coronavirus pandemic. “The Federal Government has a responsibility to prevent racism, xenophobia, and intolerance against everyone in America, including Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders,” the order states. According to a UN report released in October, hate crimes against Asian Americans in the US have reached an “alarming” level. The report cites more than 1,800 racist incidents against Asian Americans from March to May 2020.
