Xuening "Helen" Gao

People who appear to be Asian have been the target of racial discrimination and hate incidents during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the mainstream media did not address such an issue until the Atlanta shooting happened, raising public awareness of stories and histories related to Asian Americans. Xuening Gao has more on the report.

On April 6, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors set up a working group to address anti-Asian hate and violence. Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C, a coalition of activists called on the Justice Department to step up enforcement efforts.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic started, more than 160,000 businesses closed between April and September last year, but two USC students decided to open their own businesses during this pandemic.

Associated Press reporters Margie Mason and Robin McDowell won the 2021 Selden Ring Award for Investigative Reporting, presented today by USC Annenberg in a virtual ceremony.