Culver City Observer -

The American Ideals PAC, a political action committee that champions the Founding principle of equal rights, will host a nationwide discussion on anti-Asian violence, via webinar, on Thursday, February 9, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. PST.

The following speakers will be participating

Michelle Steel, U.S. Representative, 45th congressional district (to offer video message)

Betty Chu, former mayor and city councilmember, Monterey Park, California; and first Chinese-American woman to run and co-found a bank

Robert Woodson, founder and president, Woodson Center, 1776 Unites, and Voices of Black Mothers United

Linda Yang, director, Washington Asians for Equality

Ward Connerly, founder and president, American Civil Rights Institute

Ying Ma, founder and president, American Ideals PAC, and author of Chinese Girl in the Ghetto

The recent mass shootings in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay, California, together resulted in the murder of 15 men and women of Asian descent, as well as the horrific death and injury of other individuals.

Prominent national politicians were quick to characterize the tragedies as violence stemming from anti-Asian bigotry, but the two elderly male suspects in both shootings were Asian themselves.

These killing sprees do, however, provide a poignant reminder that far too much violence is committed against Asians across the country. Often, the horrific attacks are mischaracterized for political purposes, with many afraid even to identify the race of the perpetrators when the race is not white.

Even more often, the crimes receive scant attention. Numerous sickening, vicious attacks against Asian Americans and immigrants, many of whom elderly, have occurred in the past few years, including some just days before and after the recent Lunar New Year shootings. Because the heinous offenses do not fit the prevailing political narrative about systemic racism and white supremacy, the national media and political leadership have barely paid attention.

An honest, national conversation about anti-Asian violence is long overdue. Violence visited upon innocent Americans of any race, ethnicity, or color is unacceptable. The American Ideals PAC will highlight these issues during its February 9 webinar.

The event is open to the public and the media. To sign up, please email info@AmericanIdealsPAC.com.