President Barack Obama acknowledged in a proclamation for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month that South Asian Americans continue to be targeted for hate crimes.
“Even today, South Asian Americans, especially those who are Muslim, Hindu, and Sikh, are targets of suspicion and violence,” the President said.
He pointed to the long history of injustice against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, “from the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii and its devastating impact on the history, language, and culture of Native Hawaiians; to opportunity-limiting laws like the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the Immigration Act of 1924; to the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. ”
Despite all that, “generations of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have helped make this country what it is today.
“With courage, grit, and an abiding belief in American ideals, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have challenged our Nation to be better, and my Administration remains committed to doing its part.”
He reiterated his vow to pass comprehensive immigration reform and create a path to citizenship.
You can read his entire proclamation on the White House website.
