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Your shift is almost over. Although you were ordered to be on high alert, things seem to have simmered down. You turn on your car to head back to the station when the ground suddenly begins to quake; an earthquake, you think to yourself. Yet, as the anomaly continues, you notice a pulsating rhythm to the vibrations, reminiscent of a massive robot roaming the streets rather than an earthquake. You get out of your car to investigate. As you look down towards Washington Square Park, you find the culprit: not an earthquake nor a massive robot, but a sea of shouting protesters! As they advance, their chants become clearer: “When grandma is attacked, we stand up and fight back!” They have come to call for justice after an 89-year-old Asian grandma was assaulted.

2020 saw a dramatic rise in racially motivated hate crimes, which is defined by the US Department of Justice as a crime motivated by bias. For example, the New York Police department reported that in 2020, hate crimes motivated by anti-Asian sentiment jumped by 1,900%.  Hundreds of people have protested in numerous states like New York and California in response to this concerning trend. Campaigning for racial equity and unity, President Biden took immediate action following his inauguration.

Just two weeks into his presidency, Biden signed 28 executive orders. While many of these reversed the previous administration’s policies, some held symbolic significance, especially regarding social justice. For example, one of the executive orders mandates that the federal government be mindful when discussing Covid-19 to avoid inciting violence towards Asian Americans. Another decrees that all federal agencies and councils advance racial equity and remove unequal access to federal opportunities and benefits. 

Nevertheless, many fear for their liberties when examining the number of executive decrees signed: President Biden has passed more executive orders than three of his predecessors combined over the same period of time. Critics believe that Biden’s initial actions foreshadow a slippery slope leading to unseen control over the American people. Americans need not worry, however, as the majority of the executive orders sponsor efforts to protect the environment, distribute COVID-19 aid, and advance social opportunity.

Only time will tell if Biden’s executive orders remedy the issues they intend to solve. However, one thing is certain: the mandates concerning equity and racial justice set a hopeful precedent for the future. Past precedent has not been acceptable, with political leaders misnaming Covid-19 as the ‘Chinese virus,’ contributing to the xenophobia faced by the Asian American community. Yet, by prioritizing social prejudice on the federal level, more improvements will come that can bring our society closer to fairness. History has proven – through the progressive and civil rights movements – that federal action is necessary to bring appreciable social change.

The increased recognition of racially motivated hate crimes in our nation has sparked a call for further action of racial equity. Though these executive orders are mostly symbolic, they signal a big step forward for Asian Americans. By directly addressing the problems faced by the Asian community, Biden is finally bringing light to our long- existing struggles.