Board of Supervisors condemns anti-Asian racism and violence

A participant at an event in Annandale March 22 denouncing violence against Asian-Americans.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution March 23 condemning anti-Asian racism and violence. 

That vote comes a week after six Asian-Americans were murdered in Georgia and the day after a vigil in Annandale to mourn those victims and protest hate crimes against Asian-Americans. 

In offering the resolution, Board Chair Jeffrey McKay noted that close to 20 percent of Fairfax County’s population is of Asian or Pacific Island descent. 

“Any acts of racism against any community, including our Asian-American community, are unacceptable. No matter where you are from, you are welcome in Fairfax,” McKay said.

“Fairfax County condemns all bigotry, harassment, and hate violence directed at Asian Americans in our community,” the resolution states. “Fairfax County commits to expanding awareness of these incidents and protecting Fairfax County’s vulnerable residents.” 

Related story: Annandale vigil honors victims of Atlanta 

There’s been an increase in violence and harassment against Asian Americans nationwide since the start of the pandemic due to “anti-Asian rhetoric related to COVID-19,” McKay said. “It is necessary to say, though unfortunate that I must, that Asians are not more likely to have or spread COVID-19.”

Supervisor James Walkinshaw (Braddock) noted the repeated use of the phrases “Chinese virus” and Wuhan virus” by the former president has fueled the hate and violence. Anyone using those terms “is contributing to racism and is contributing to the violence we’ve seen against our Asian-American friends across the country.” 

Supervisor Pat Herrity (Springfield) said just recently, an Asian woman shopping at a CVS was told to “go back to your country,” and Supervisor John Foust (Dranesville) said, just before walking into the meeting he received an email recounting a bias incident against an Asian-American youth in McLean. 

The board also approved a motion to direct County Executive Bryan Hill to work with the police chief and school superintendent to provide a statistical analysis of these types of incidents and propose recommendations on how to address them.