Members of the BTS K-pop gang made an appearance Tuesday in the White House newsroom ahead of their private meeting with President Joe Biden to discuss anti-Asian hate crimes.
“We are BTS and it is a great honor to be invited to the White House tonight to discuss important issues of anti-Asian hate crimes, Asian inclusion and diversity,” RM said, addressing the room in English. the other six members. of the group spoke in Korean.
Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre accompanied the seven pop stars to the podium, but did not allow them to answer questions.
RM (center), a member of the K-pop group BTS, addresses reporters Tuesday in the White House newsroom, marking the last day of the month for the legacy of Native Hawaiian Native Americans and Pacific Islands.
K-pop band BTS drew journalists’ orchards to the newsroom for Tuesday’s appearance
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre welcomes K-pop group BTS to the White House Newsroom on Tuesday before the band goes to a private meeting with President Joe Biden .
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre welcomes BTS to the White House Information Room Tuesday ahead of a private meeting with President Joe Biden
The seven members of the BTS K-pop supergroup line up behind White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Tuesday.
A BTS member Jungkook-like doll is shown in front of the White House on Tuesday
BTS fans arrive via fencing in front of the White House on Tuesday. K-pop stars headed to the White House information room and will then have a private meeting with the president
A BTS fan holds a poster of the boys’ band in front of the White House on Tuesday, when the seven members were due to meet with President Joe Biden
They are scheduled to hold a private meeting with the president, a confessed fan, later Tuesday afternoon.
Supergroup fans were seen outside the White House before the appearance of BTS.
Inside, the conference room was full.
Tuesday marked the last day of Native American and Pacific Island Heritage Month.
“We joined the White House to stand by the AANHPI community and to celebrate it,” said BTS member Jin.
“We were devastated by the recent rise in hate crimes, including Asian-American hate crimes. To end this and support the cause, we would like to take this opportunity to express ourselves once again.” Jimin added.
Since the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, hate crimes against Asians have been on the rise.
“Today we are here thanks to our army, our fans around the world, who have different nationalities and cultures and use different languages. We are truly and always grateful,” J-Hope said.
“We are still amazed that the music created by South Korean artists reaches so many people around the world transcending languages and cultural barriers,” Jungkook added. “We believe that music is always an amazing and wonderful unifier of all things.”
Then Suga stepped forward and said, “It’s okay to be different.”
“Equality starts when we open up and accept all our differences,” he said.
And then V got on the podium.
“Each person has their own story,” he said. “We hope that today will be a step forward for respecting and understanding everyone as a valuable person.”
RM then concluded the appearance, speaking again in English.
“Finally, we thank President Biden and the White House for giving us this important opportunity to talk about important causes, to remind us what we can do as artists,” he said. ‘Once again, thank you very much.’
Several journalists asked the pop group questions, but Jean-Pierre asked them questions.
Members of the K-pop group BTS arrive to join White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre for Tuesday’s briefing.
BTS fans lift a blanket decorated with cartoon versions of the seven singers in front of the White House on Tuesday
From the first months of his administration, Biden has spoken out against Asian-American hatred.
He criticized former President Donald Trump for using terms such as “China virus” to refer to COVID.
‘It’s the coronavirus. Point, ”Biden said in March 2021 after a shooter targeted Asians, and in particular Asian women, at spas outside of Atlanta.
More recently, a shooting at a Southern California church in Taiwan that killed one and injured five is now being investigated as a hate crime, as well as a shooting at a Dallas salon that injured three women. Asian ancestry.
Both events have happened this month.
The Stop AAPI Hate group has been tracking more than 10,000 hate incidents against Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders since March 2020, when COVID blockades began, and late last year.
Former White House press secretary Jen Psaki previously linked Trump’s rhetoric to rising hate crimes.
“I think there is no doubt that some of the harmful rhetoric we saw during the previous administration blaming – calling COVID the Wuhan virus or something else, provoked perceptions of the Asian-American community that are inaccurate, unfair, have generated threats, has high threats against Asian-Americans and we are seeing this across the country, “Psaki said.
Biden previously made moves to stop the use of the term by signing an executive order entitled “Memorandum of Condemnation and Fight Against Racism, Xenophobia, and Intolerance Against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States” on Day 6 of his presidency.
“The federal government must recognize that it has played a role in promoting these xenophobic sentiments through the actions of political leaders, including references to the COVID-19 pandemic because of its geographical location,” he said. ‘order.
“These statements have fueled unfounded fears and perpetuated stigma against Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders and have contributed to rising rates of harassment, harassment and hate crimes against AAPI people,” he continued. .
Biden returned a week ago from his first trip to Asia as president, where he met with new South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul, before traveling to Tokyo to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and leaders of the Quad nations.
As part of Biden’s tour coverage, Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight Show released a dubbed clip of Biden singing BTS hit song Butter.