Biden chastises Trump for lack of leadership in condemning the rising attacks on Asian Americans

Former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democrat Party's apparent challenger to Donald Trump, criticized the present White House occupant for fanning hatred and attacks against Asian Americans.

"Since the outbreak of COVID-19, we’ve heard increasing reports of Asian Americans in communities across our country being targeted with messages of hate," said Biden in a statement released Friday. 

"There are stories of Asian Americans being spit on while walking down the street, enduring verbal and physical assaults, finding their cars vandalized with racist messages — even a suspected acid attack and stabbings," said Biden. 

He continued, "These disgusting and racist acts must stop. They are grounded in an impulse that is as ugly, as it is dangerously ignorant."

Biden related how the attacks against Asian Americans have risen dramatically since the coronavirus began spreading across the US. 

He placed the blame squarely on Trump and senior members of his administration for using the term "Chinese virus" when referring to COVID-19, the coronavirus stoking feelings of "hatred and anger toward AAPIs."

"COVID-19 is a danger to everyone, and we will stop it by coming together, not by targeting people of AAPI heritage," said Biden. "AAPI members of our community are a vital and valued part of the American story. I’ve said from the moment I launched my campaign that we are in a battle for the soul of this nation, and we need our leaders to set the example we all must follow as a nation."

"The casual racism and regular xenophobia that we have seen from Trump and this Administration is a national scourge. Donald Trump only knows how to speak to people’s fears, not their better angels." 

In conclusion, Biden said: "In this moment of national and global crisis, it’s clear that we need a president who demonstrates the leadership to address every aspect of this pandemic — including the spate of racist incidents targeting Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders — with urgency and seriousness. Donald Trump is not that president."

Over the weekend, the Trump reelection campaign began airing an ad linking Biden to China that was anti-China in tone, making it look like former US Ambassador to China Gary Locke, a Chinese American, was a Chinese official.

Locke, the former governor of the state of Washington, said Friday that Trump's China-bashing ad is “fanning hatred” at a time when hate crimes and discrimination against Asian Americans are on the rise. He said in a statement that “the Trump team is making it worse” and that “Asian Americans are Americans. Period.”

Members of both the Senate and House have introduced resolutions condemning the attacks against Asians and Senators Mazie Hirono, Tammy Duckworth and Elizabeth Warren have sent a letter to the US Commission on Civil Rights to issue guidance for federal agencies and administration officials onthe racist attacks.

“There has not been a concerted effort from federal agencies to prevent and address anti-Asian sentiment related to the COVID-19 pandemic,” the senators wrote. “In order to reduce the dangerous and hateful spread of anti-Asian sentiment that is on the rise during this pandemic, we respectfully request that USCCR issue such guidance without delay, and that it take into account language accessibility for Asian Americans with limited English proficiency.”