Rep. Bowen Condemns Anti-Asian Hate, Calls for Common Sense Gun Reform

MILWAUKEE – In reaction to the rising tide of anti-Asian rhetoric and violence over the past year, culminating in the horrific shootings in Atlanta earlier this month, State Rep. David Bowen (D-Milwaukee) released the following statement:

“The anti-Asian hatred we have seen proliferate over the past year is horrendous, and has no place within our society. Our Asian communities have been subjected to vile, xenophobic, and racist abuse, as well as horrific acts of physical violence. From attacks on elderly community members, to the deadly violence we watched unfold in Atlanta earlier this month, we have seen that words can and do have real-life consequences.

To be clear, the scapegoating and racially-biased language used by our former president and some of his supporters has directly contributed to this uptick in violence, and we cannot and will not let these sentiments fully take root in our communities. Now is the time for everyone to speak up and speak out, and to take meaningful steps to show our Asian-American community members that they are welcome, they belong, and they have just as much a right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in this country as anyone else.

Now is also the time to take meaningful action on passing common-sense gun safety reform legislation. The fact that the Atlanta shooter was able to purchase the firearms he used to murder eight people the same day he committed his crimes is unacceptable. The fact that another mass shooting happened across the country in Boulder, CO less than a week later shows that, no matter what motivates these killings, it is altogether too easy for people with ill intentions to get their hands on high-powered military grade guns that were designed as weapons of war.

Now is the time for change, now is the time for action. For our constituents, for our communities, for our country – we must act. I call on my Republican colleagues to actually listen to our communities who are hurting, allow for meaningful debate on reform measures (not just gavel in and gavel out), and get legislation passed that will save lives.”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.