Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has ordered police to step up patrols in Asian communities. The state also appeals to people to report any hate incident to the state’s hate crime hotline.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan launches new measures to stop hatred and violence against Asian Americans.
Hogan visited a portion of Howard County, called Korea, on Monday. There are about 60,000 Asians living in the country and more than 160 Asian businesses along the U.S. Route 40 area.
Hogan, whose wife Yumi is Korean-American, said this issue is personal to him.
“Our youngest daughter told us she was afraid to visit us with our granddaughter because her friend’s mother was recently attacked at a gas station,” Hogan said.
Maryland’s first lady, Yumi Hogan, said her heart was broken for victims of hate crimes.
Stop the hatred. “Hate has no home here,” she said.
Government Larry Hogan on Monday visited a section of Howard County known as the “Korean Way” to announce new measures in response to a recent increase in violence against Asian Americans.
WTOP / Kyle Cooper
Maryland’s first lady, Yumi Hogan, joins her husband in announcing new measures to stop hatred and violence against Asian Americans.
WTOP / Kyle Cooper
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan joins Howard County business owners and announces measures to stop violence and hatred against the Asian community.
WTOP / Kyle Cooper
Hogan has instructed police to step up patrols in Asian communities. In addition, the state issues awareness bulletins to businesses and appeals to people to report such incident to the state’s hate crime hotline at 866-481-8361.
“Please do not be afraid, and I want to assure you that it will make a difference,” Hogan said.
Frank Lee, who owns two businesses that toured Hogan 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,” he said. “The Asian community really needs to be together and supportive.”
The president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship, Chiling Tong, was also available for the event Monday.
“We are not foreigners,” she said. “We are Americans and we are here to stay.”
Tong and Hogan announced that their organization declared Friday, March 26, as the Stop Asian Hate Virtual Action Day. They are asking all organizations and businesses in Maryland to post a statement that day condemning hatred and violence against Asians and Pacific Islands.
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