Biden Aims to Tamp Down on Asian Bias Spike Fueled by Pandemic

The Biden administration’s attempt to curb xenophobia directed at Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders follows a spike in hate crimes and incidents of assault, bullying, and shunning during the Covid-19 pandemic.

President Joe Biden signed a memorandum on Tuesday acknowledging those harms and said his administration will condemn and denounce such discrimination. The action has immediate implications for employers and their workers, who have reported coronavirus-related harassment and discrimination directed at Asians and Pacific Islanders, according to attorneys and academics.

His move stands in contrast to former President Donald Trump and Republican leaders referring to Covid-19 as the “Chinese virus” ...