1.1 	A House resolution
1.2 	expressing the sense of the Minnesota House condemning all forms of anti-Asian 
1.3 	sentiment related to COVID-19.
1.4 	WHEREAS, 23 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders account for seven percent of 
1.5 	the Nation's population in the United States; and
1.6 	WHEREAS, over two million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are working on the 
1.7 	frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic response in health care, law enforcement, first responders, 
1.8 	transportation, supermarkets, and other service industries; and
1.9 	WHEREAS, the use of anti-Asian terminology and rhetoric related to COVID-19, such as 
1.10 	the "Chinese Virus," "Wuhan Virus," and "Kung-flu," have perpetuated anti-Asian stigma and since 
1.11 	January 2020, there has been a dramatic increase in reports of hate crimes and incidents against 
1.12 	people of Asian descent; and
1.13 	WHEREAS, the increased use of anti-Asian rhetoric has resulted in Asian Americans being 
1.14 	harassed, assaulted, and scapegoated for the COVID-19 pandemic and Asian-American businesses 
1.15 	being targeted for vandalism; and
1.16 	WHEREAS, the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and 
1.17 	Prevention recognize that naming COVID-19 by its geographic location or linking it to a specific 
1.18 	ethnicity perpetuates stigma; and
1.19 	WHEREAS, the Secretary General of the United Nations called for international solidarity 
1.20 	and an end to any ill-founded discrimination of the pandemic's victims; NOW, THEREFORE,
1.21 	BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the State of Minnesota that it calls 
1.22 	on all public officials to condemn and denounce any and all anti-Asian sentiment in any form; 
1.23 	recognizes that the health and safety of all Americans, no matter their background, must be of 
1.24 	utmost priority; condemns all manifestations of expressions of racism, xenophobia, discrimination, 
2.1 	anti-Asian sentiment, and ethnic or religious intolerance; calls on State and local law enforcement 
2.2 	officials to investigate and document all credible reports of hate crimes and incidents and threats 
2.3 	against the Asian-American community in Minnesota; and encourages the leadership of Minnesota 
2.4 	to build more inclusive, diverse, and tolerant societies and to combat misinformation and 
2.5 	discrimination that puts Asian Americans at risk.