Maryland Governor Larry Hogan instructed the police to intensify patrolling in Asian communities. The state also asks people to report any hate incidents to the state’s hate crime hotline.
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan is launching new measures to stop hatred and violence against Asian Americans.
On Monday, Hogan visited a section of Howard County known as the Korean Way. There are about 60,000 Asians living in the county and more than 160 Asian companies along the US Route 40 area.
Hogan, whose wife Yumi is Korean-American, said this was a personal matter for him.
“Our youngest daughter told us that she was afraid to drive to visit with our granddaughter because her friend’s mother had recently been attacked at a gas station,” said Hogan.
Maryland’s first lady, Yumi Hogan, said her heart was broken for victims of hate crimes.
“Stop the hate. Hate has no home here, ”she said.
On Monday, Governor Larry Hogan visited a section of Howard County known as the “Korean Way” to announce new measures in response to the recent increase in violence against Asian Americans.
WTOP / Kyle Cooper
Maryland’s first lady, Yumi Hogan, joins her husband, who announced new measures to end hatred and violence against Asian Americans.
WTOP / Kyle Cooper
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan joins Howard County businessmen and announces measures to end violence and hatred against the Asian community.
WTOP / Kyle Cooper
Hogan instructed the police to intensify patrolling in Asian communities. In addition, the state is issuing awareness raising bulletins to businesses and urging people to report any such incident to the state’s hate crime hotline at 866-481-8361.
“Please don’t be afraid, and I want to assure you that it will make a difference,” said Hogan.
Frank Lee, owner of two companies that Hogan visited on Monday, said it means a lot that the governor is making this issue a priority.
“It means a lot to the Asian community, with the recent tragedies going on,” he said. “The Asian community really needs to be together and provide support.”
Also present at Monday’s event was the president of the Asia / Pacific Islands Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship, Chiling Tong.
“We are not foreigners,” she said. “We are Americans and are here to stay.”
Tong and Hogan announced that their organization declared Friday, March 26, the Stop Asia Hate Virtual Action Day. They call on all Maryland organizations and companies to publish a statement that day condemning hatred and violence against Asians and the Pacific Islands.
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