BTS visits the White House, talk about hate crime against Asians

Popular Korean band BTS visited the White House on Tuesday and appeared at a White House press briefing. They are in the US to meet with President Joe Biden and discuss Asian inclusion and representation and address anti-Asian hate crimes and disinformation. "While many of you may know BTS as Grammy-nominated international icons they also play an important role as youth ambassadors promoting a message of respect and positivity," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told CNN.Crimes against East Asians have increased dramatically in the US amid the Covid-19 pandemic. "It's not wrong to be different," BTS member Suga told BBC. "Maybe equality begins when we open up and embrace all of our differences".Another member, V, said that "everyone has their own history". The boy band members, all in their 20s have said they would help Biden, 79, tackle the issue. "We were devastated by the recent surge of hate crimes, including Asian American hate crimes. To put a stop to this and support the cause, we'd like to take this opportunity to voice ourselves once again," the group said through a translator.BTS has been vocal about the rise in Asian hate crime in the US. Following a series of hate crimes, the band spoke about the discrimination they faced.