WASHINGTON – On the evening of Saturday, April 25, an armed individual attempted to attack a dinner event hosted by the White House Correspondents’ Association in Washington, DC. The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) unequivocally condemns this act of violence.  We are grateful for the bravery, professionalism, and swift action of law enforcement, including the officer who was shot, and that the President and all those who attended the event are safe.

An investigation of the shooting remains pending.  The U.S. Attorney announced that the perpetrator will face federal criminal charges, and the Acting U.S. Attorney General—at this preliminary stage—advised that the perpetrator likely targeted members of the administration, including the President.

The event was intended to celebrate the First Amendment.  Though an investigation behind the motivations of this shooting is ongoing, our constitutional democracy and the rule of law depend on the peaceful resolution of our differences, whether through robust and vigorous debate, our institutions like the judiciary, or the ballot box.  Violence, whether motivated by political animus, hate, or otherwise, is antithetical to our core values as a community and as a Nation.