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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS RELEASE Contact: Joon Bang (213) 365-5999 joon@kacla.org On Friday, April 7, 2017, KAC contacted both parties embroiled in the Airbnb host and guest exchange that has since been at the center of a media firestorm highlighting the discriminatory language used by the host. On the following Monday, KAC hosted the Airbnb guest, Dyne Suh and the media to applaud her courage for publicly standing up against discrimination and racism. The Airbnb host, Tami Barker expressed that she would provide a public statement on a later date. KAC applauds Tami Barker for her formal apology to Dyne Suh. After sending her apology to Ms. Suh, Ms. Barker contacted KAC and provided copy of her apology. In the letter, drafted by her attorney, it states, “Ms. Barker is deeply sorry for the comments she made. She asks your forgiveness for grossly stereotyping in a racist way the Asian community, and, specifically, you. Overtired and stressed, Tami made the statements out of heated frustration - but that’s merely a reason, not an excuse, as she explained to me she fully understands. She knows there was no basis for her ad hominem attack.” "It takes courage to admit wrong and seek forgiveness in the face of public scrutiny. Given the climate of race relations in the nation, it’s up to us now to move forward and perhaps be willing to engage one another in tough conversations to bridge gaps between diverse people and communities, said Joon Bang, executive director of KAC. Media Coverage: Korea Daily, Korea Times # # #
Educate | Embrace | Empower Korean American Coalition-Los Angeles (KAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1983 to promote the civic and civil rights interests of the Korean American community. KAC endeavors to achieve these goals through education, community organization, leadership development, and coalition-building with diverse communities. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Joon Bang (213) 365-5999 joon@kacla.org On Monday, April 10, 2017, KAC held a press conference with Airbnb user Dyne Suh to acknowledge and applaud her courage in standing against the discrimination she experienced by an Airbnb host. The exchange between the host and guest occurred in February near Big Bear, California. The screenshots of their conversation has since gone viral. In one thread, the host commented, “I will not allow this country to be told what to do by foreigners. It’s why we have trump.” Following the incident, Airbnb has permanently banned the host from its platform. KAC has reached out to both parties regarding the situation. The host has expressed also that this was unfortunate and will provide a public statement in the near future. “We don’t want to use this opportunity to vilify someone for his/her actions, rather we want to highlight the courage of Ms. Suh for sharing her story and encouraging others to speak up against discrimination,” said Joon Bang, executive director of KAC. KAC informed the press regarding its Alternative Dispute Resolution Center (4.29 Center) as a resource for anyone in need of mediation and dispute resolution. The 4.29 Center was founded in 1997 in response to the ethnic upheaval that devastated parts of Los Angeles during the 1992 Los Angeles Riots. The 4.29 Center places special focus on working with diverse ethnic populations of Los Angeles County to resolve disputes outside of the courtroom. “At the end of the day, we’re all messy people with different views and there is always an opportunity to dialogue and learn from one another,” said Bang. Media coverage: Korea Daily, Korea Times, Koreatown Daily, Radio Korea, LA18 News, MBC America, KBS America, RKTV, SBS Evening News  # # #
Educate | Embrace | Empower Korean American Coalition-Los Angeles (KAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1983 to promote the civic and civil rights interests of the Korean American community. KAC endeavors to achieve these goals through education, community organization, leadership development, and coalition-building with diverse communities. |
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