Biden directive combats racism against Asian Americans amid COVID-19 pandemic

President Joe Biden signed an executive action Tuesday directing federal agencies to combat xenophobia against the Asian American Pacific Islander community, amid a rise in hate crimes and harassment over coronavirus' suspected origins in Wuhan, China.

"I've asked the Department of Justice to strengthen its partnership with the Asian American Pacific Islander community to prevent those hate crimes.

Stop AAPI Hate -- a coalition of advocacy groups that was formed in March 2020 in response to a rise in hate crimes during the pandemic -- applauded the executive action as a "brighter moment for Asian Americans" and called on the administration to expand civil rights protections.

"Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of Asian Americans have reported acts of hate and violence, and the vast majority live in a climate of fear," the coalition said in a statement.

"Such statements have stoked unfounded fears and perpetuated stigma about Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and have contributed to increasing rates of bullying, harassment, and hate crimes against AAPI persons.".

Cynthia Choi, co-director of Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA) -- a civil rights organization that is part of the Stop AAPI Hate coalition -- told ABC News that Asian Americans have faced a "double whammy" amid the pandemic.