Governor decries anti-Asian sentiment

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan told CNN’s Jake Tapper on Sunday morning that anti-Asian harassment during the coronavirus pandemic has been “a serious problem” for his wife, Yumi, an immigrant from South Korea, and for her three adult daughters.

“They have felt some discrimination personally,” the Republican governor told Tapper on “State of the Union,” describing experiences within his own family and among their close friends, who he said have “been treated pretty terribly.”

“We feel it personally with my daughter, who sort of is sometimes afraid to come visit us,” Hogan said, “with people who had best friends that were being harassed at the grocery store, or being called names, and people yelling about the ‘China virus,’ even though they’re from Korea and born in America.”

In 2020, reports of hate crimes were down 7% nationally but increased 150% against people in the Asian community, according to a study released this month by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University at San Bernardino, which examined police records in 16 of the country’s largest cities.

Hogan cited the statistic in the CNN interview, calling it “outrageous” and “unacceptable.”

Former President Donald Trump often used the term “China virus” when referring to the coronavirus, which experts say may have helped stoke anti-Asian sentiment during the pandemic.

On Sunday, Hogan thanked President Joe Biden for condemning anti-Asian discrimination in his first prime-time address Thursday.

“It’s something we have to get under control,” the governor said. “And I wish more people would be speaking out. And I appreciate the president’s remarks.”