Anti-Asian hate hearing gets underway: 'Congress sees you, we stand with you'

Prominent Asian American lawmakers, scholars and advocates, including actor and producer Daniel Dae Kim, are testifying Thursday on the rise in hate crimes and discrimination against Asian Americans before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.

The hearing follows a string of hate crimes against Asian Americans, as well as three shootings at Atlanta-area spas on Tuesday in which eight people were killed. Six of the victims were Asian women.

The suspect, Robert Aaron Long, told investigators that the shootings were not racially motivated and instead blamed his "addiction to sex," according to a statement from the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office. Long was charged with eight counts of murder on Wednesday.

"This is one of the more violent tragedies in a string of about 3,800 hate incidents and crimes against Asian Americans -- 68% of them women," said Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., at a press conference Wednesday. "It's clear that the individuals were targeted because they are amongst the most vulnerable in our country: immigrant Asian women."

Subcommittee Chair Steve Cohen, D-Tenn. began the hearing with a moment of silence for the people who were killed in Atlanta. Following the moment of silence, he began his opening statement by saying that the shooting on Tuesday felt to many "like the inevitable culmination of a year in which there were nearly 3,800 reported incidents of anti-Asian hate."

"I want to make clear that all Asian Americans who are understandably feeling hurt and afraid right now and wondering whether anyone else in America cares that Congress sees you, we stand with you," he added. "We're gonna do everything in our power to protect you."