Washington, D.C.— Today, Rick Wade, U.S. Chamber Senior Vice President of Strategic Alliances and Outreach, released the following statement on hate and violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders:
"The uptick in violence and racism against the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) population over the last year is deeply problematic. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. asserted, 'Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.' The U.S. Chamber of Commerce denounces hate and violence against AAPIs across our society and encourages all people to treat each other with dignity and respect.
"Like other minority-owned business, AAPI-owned businesses have also been hit hard by the pandemic. The number of AAPI-owned business owners fell by 26% between February and April of last year according to the National Bureau of Economic Research. The U.S. Chamber will continue to work with its partners such as the Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship (National ACE) and the U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce (USPAACC) to speak out against discrimination; help strengthen our country’s AAPI-owned enterprises; and ensure that all persons have an equal opportunity to earn their success, rise on their merit, and live their own American Dream."
###
