In the wake of the Atlanta shooting that left eight people dead, I joined several colleagues this week in a press conference to voice support for Pennsylvania’s Asian American community and to announce our support for anti-hate legislation.
 

In a year when loss and grief are all too common, we cannot become desensitized to hate and discrimination.
 

Rep. Patty Kim, PA’s only Asian American legislator, underscored the need for new anti-hate legislation: “This is not a problem that just happened. We have endured a lot, we have kept it to ourselves. Many are born in the United States, like myself, but are treated like permanent outsiders because of the way we look," she explained. “Who's next? Is it my grandmother walking along the street?”
 

That’s why I support a package of legislation to discourage racist or hateful acts of violence, including increased penalties for ethnic intimidation.
 

We cannot turn a blind eye to this tragedy. We must continue to advocate for this community, our communities of color, and all of those who experience increased vulnerability—until every American can feel safe here.

In solidarity and unity,

Melissa Shusterman