Words Into Action: Steel, Kim Work To End Anti-Asian Hate Crimes

SEAL BEACH, CA — Congresswoman Michelle Steel has launched a new Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Advisory Board with AAPI leaders in the Orange County community, she announced this week. A gathering of business owners, local elected officials, and residents joined Steel to discuss ways to work together on behalf of the AAPI community in Congress.

Steel is meeting the need of her community in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, her office spokesperson said.

Last week, Steel and her new board discussed the importance of AAPI representation, as well as ways to combat the rise in anti-AAPI hate. They estimate more than 6,000 hate crimes or hate incidents against the AAPI community as a whole have been recorded between March 2020 and March 2021.

Both Steel and Rep. Young Kim have worked to address anti-AAPI hate and supporting the AAPI community in Congress.

Kim has been a strong voice for the AAPI community in Congress, testifying before the House Judiciary Committee in March and urging for bipartisan action to address hate crimes targeting the AAPI community in an op-ed for USA Today.

“While hate and bias targeting the Asian American Pacific Islander community is not new, there’s no question it has been on the rise during the COVID-19 pandemic, with nearly 4,000 hate crimes reported nationwide in the past year and many in particular targeting seniors,” Kim wrote. “Hate targeting any American should not be tolerated. I’m proud to join my colleagues in to take a bipartisan stand against these hate crimes targeting many of my constituents and others across the nation. While this is a step in the right direction, there’s still more work to do as a country to come together as Americans. I’ll stand with my AAPI community always.”

As for Steel's accomplishments in her district, she has introduced a bipartisan resolution condemning Anti-Asian hate crimes, voted in support of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, which establishes a Department of Justice position focused specifically on anti-Asian hate crimes and provides resources to enhance reporting of these crimes. She has also testified before the House Judiciary Committee on Asian American discrimination and violence, and after a resident received a piece of hate mail, Steel spoke at anAnti-Asian Hate rally at Leisure World in Seal Beach.

Steel shared the challenges ahead in a statement.

“Our community is home to a vibrant AAPI population, and it is my honor to represent them in Congress,” said Rep. Steel. “I look forward to working with this advisory board to stay up to date on issues impacting our AAPI community and find ways to work together to advance their priorities in Congress.”