BTS to address anti-Asian hate crimes at White House next week

Superstar group will meet with President Joe Biden

BTS arrives at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, April 3, 2022, in Las Vegas. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) (Jordan Strauss, All contents © copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved)

As Asian American Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month comes to an end, Grammy-nominated group BTS will return to the U.S. and meet with President Joe Biden next week to address anti-Asian hate crimes and discuss Asian inclusion.

The superstar Korean group made up of seven members — RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook — will join the president Tuesday at the White House.

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“President Biden has previously spoken about his commitment to combating the surge of anti-Asian hate crimes and signed into law the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act in May 2021 to provide law enforcement with resources to identify, investigate, and report hate crimes and ensure that hate crimes information is more accessible to AA and NHPI communities,” a release from the White House said.

Last year, the group delivered a United Nations speech to help promote U.N. goals for 2030, including ending extreme poverty, preserving the planet and achieving gender equality. And earlier this year, BTS performed their hit song “Butter” at the Grammy Awards in Las Vegas.

Former South Korean President Moon Jae-in introduced the members as special presidential envoys and an “exceptionally outstanding group of young men who are connecting with the youth across the world.”

Since its debut in 2013, BTS has garnered global recognition for its self-produced music and activism, which also includes publicly calling out anti-Asian racism.

The White House said the group and Biden will discuss the “importance of diversity and inclusion” when they meet next week.

This comes after Biden recently visited South Korea for a three-day trip.


About the Author:

Brenda Argueta is a digital journalist who joined ClickOrlando.com in March 2021. She is the author of the Central Florida Happenings newsletter that goes out every Thursday.

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