The Oklahoma House on Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution condemning hate crimes, hateful rhetoric and violence against the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.
House Resolution 1015 was authored by Asian American Rep. Cyndi Munson, an Oklahoma City Democrat.
"Our words matter. The tongue has the power of life and of death. I distinctly remember the first time I was called a 'chink.' I was in kindergarten. I was five years old. I remember telling my parents that I did not want to be Asian anymore," Munson said, introducing her resolution on the House floor.
Munson said the last year has been particularly difficult in terms of the volume of anti-AAPI sentiment, from the proliferation of racist terms to refer to the coronavirus to the mass shooting targeting Asian women in Atlanta earlier this month.
"To the Asian American community -- my community -- I know the fear, the pain and the vulnerability you are experiencing," Munson said. "Please know this, especially to our Asian American children: You are seen, you are valued, you are loved and you are cherished. There is no greater act of bravery and courage than fully loving and embracing ourselves and showing up in the face of hate and fear."
The resolution was coauthored by Reps. Andy Fugate (D-Del City) and Daniel Pae (R-Lawton), Munson's fellow Asian American House members.
