Bell of Peace & Harmony, Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, installed in 2011 to commemorate the equality, opportunity, and freedom Koreans once found in the United States. Photo by Susan Laume/The Connection
Acknowledging the large and vibrant Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community in Fairfax County, Chairman Jeff McKay introduced a resolution on March 23, passed unanimously by the Board of Supervisors, condemning violence and discrimination against AAPIs.
The resolution requires that the County and schools intentionally consider equity when making policies or delivering programs and services. The Chairman acknowledged that as Covid-19 spread this past year, reports of anti-Asian discrimination, racism, hate crimes, violence, and scapegoating, sadly, increased nationwide. McKay, speaking to his resolution, said “We hear your concern and anxieties and believe any acts of racism against Asian Americans are unacceptable. In Fairfax County, no matter where you are from, you are welcome in our community.”
Fairfax County counts nearly 20 percent of its population as AAPI, with Korean and Vietnamese as two of its five most spoken languages. Heritage from the Philippines, Korea, Vietnam, India and other AAPI origins add richly to the blended Fairfax County symbolized by the commemoration Korean Bell Garden at Meadowlark Gardens, the Asian American Festival in Fairfax City, and many other cultural events.