hankyoreh

(provided by Korean Broadcasting System)

As hashtags calling for the end of hatred of Asians spread on social media networks, South Korean pop group BTS has also spoken up against racial discrimination.

On Tuesday, BTS added a post to its official Twitter account labeled with the hashtags #StopAsianHate and #StopAAPIHate.

“We stand against racial discrimination. We condemn violence,” BTS said in a statement attached to the tweet. The group posted Korean and English versions of the statement.

“We send our deepest condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. We feel grief and anger.”

People began sharing hashtags opposing racial discrimination and acknowledging the discrimination faced by people of Asian descent in Western society after eight people — six of them Asian women — were killed in several shootings around Atlanta, Georgia, on March 16.

BTS added a post to its official Twitter account labeled with the hashtags #StopAsianHate and #StopAAPIHate on Tuesday. (Twitter screenshot)

The BTS members also shared their own experiences of discrimination as people of Asian descent. “We have endured expletives without reason and were mocked for the way we look. We were even asked why Asians spoke in English,” they said.

“Our own experiences are inconsequential compared to the events that have occurred over the past few weeks. But these experiences were enough to make us feel powerless and chip away our self-esteem.”

“We cannot put into words the pain of becoming the subject of hatred and violence for such a reason,” they added.

“It required considerable time for us to discuss this carefully, and we contemplated deeply on how we should voice our message. But what our voice must convey is clear.”

The statement ended with a direct condemnation of racial discrimination and violence.

In June 2020, BTS donated US$1 million to the Black Lives Matter movement against racism and police brutality.

“We stand against racial discrimination. We condemn violence. You, I and we all have the right to be respected. We will stand together,” the group said in a tweet on its official account.

The tweet had been retweeted more than 600,000 times and liked more than 1.15 million times just three hours after being posted.

By Kim Hyo-sil, staff reporter

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