BTS will be at a press conference at the White House after meeting with Biden

(Trends Wide) — The famous K-pop band BTS will meet this Tuesday with the president of the United States, Joe Biden, and will be next to the secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in a press conference, the White House reported. All as part of a visit aimed at discussing Asian inclusion and representation, as well as addressing anti-Asian hate crimes and misinformation.

“Global K-pop phenomenon BTS will join Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre at the start of today’s briefing,” a White House official said.

“The Grammy-nominated musical group will have brief comments,” the source added.

The meeting they will hold with Biden in the Oval Office will be closed to journalists.

BTS’ visit comes days after Biden returned from his first trip to Asia as US president, which included a three-day stopover in Seoul and meetings with newly elected South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol. .

The group has achieved international success with songs like “Butter” and “Dynamite.” In addition, his fans, who call themselves “Army” (“Army”), extend throughout the world.

BTS Talks About Their Experience Facing Discrimination

Last year, amid a spate of hate crimes against Asians in the US, including shootings at three Atlanta-area spas, BTS spoke out about their own experience of discrimination.

“We remember times when, as Asians, we faced discrimination. We have endured insults for no reason and have been mocked for our appearance. We were even asked why Asians spoke English,” the band said in a statement. got over a million retweets.

“We cannot put into words the pain of becoming the object of hatred and violence for this reason,” they added.

The rise in anti-Asian crime and hostility toward Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders is occurring amid the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 10,000 hate incidents against these populations were reported to the advocacy organization Stop AAPI Hate between March 19, 2020 and December 31, 2021.

In a press release announcing the meeting, the White House said Biden “has previously spoken about his commitment to combating the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes.” The president signed a bipartisan law aimed at addressing the rise of hate crimes against the Asian population in May 2021. The measure will create a new position in the Department of Justice to accelerate the review of possible hate crimes and incidents related to the covid-19 reported at the federal level. , state or local.

Biden and BTS “will also discuss the importance of diversity and inclusion and BTS’s platform as youth ambassadors spreading a message of hope and positivity around the world,” the White House added.