Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has said that he is appalled by the ongoing acts of hate against Asian Americans.
He and many other US lawmakers condemned hate, racial discrimination and violence in all forms.
According to Asian American advocacy groups, more than 3,000 incidents of abuse against Asian Americans were reported between March and December 2020.
There were only 216 reported cases in 2019, according to FBI statistics.
Satya Nadella said in a Tweet:
“I am appalled by the ongoing acts of hate against Asian Americans and the Asian community globally. Racism, hate and violence have no place in our society. I am united with the Asian and Asian American community in standing against this injustice.”
In a statement, Microsoft said that it condemns hate, racial discrimination, and violence in all forms.
Meanwhile, prominent lawmakers have joined hands to introduce a legislation to address the rise of hate crimes and violence during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Congressman Donald M. Payne, expressed concern over an increase in such racist attacks.
“I want to condemn the abuse and assault that has happened to Asian Americans during his pandemic in the strongest words possible. Hate and violence have no place in America at all. These attacks must stop because they are cowardly attempts to scapegoat and blame Americans for a pandemic that started thousands of miles away.”
The COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act would direct the US Attorney General to designate an official whose sole responsibility will be to expedite review of COVID-19 hate crimes from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
Acting US Attorney Tessa M Gorman said:
“These crimes, and other acts of hate and bias, have no place in our community. I urge members of our community to report hate-based crimes to either local or federal law enforcement and to contact our office’s civil rights line with information about discrimination in areas like housing, employment, education, or public accommodations.”
President Joe Biden in his first prime-time address to the nation since assuming office in January has denounced “violent” attacks on the Asian Americans.
