Senator Hassan Recognizes Emily Kim Ae Sun Hunter of Chester as April’s Granite Stater of the Month

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan recognized Emily Kim Ae Sun Hunter of Chester today as April’s Granite Stater of the Month for organizing a peaceful gathering in downtown Portsmouth to demonstrate support for New Hampshire’s Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Emily’s efforts are in response to a surge in hate crimes against members of the AAPI community. Senator Hassan recently voted to pass legislation to help combat the surge in hate crimes targeting Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders across the country.

Emily and her twin sister were born in Seoul, South Korea and moved to the Granite State when they were five months old after they were adopted by a couple in New Hampshire. Growing up in a predominately white community left a lasting impression on Emily and her sister. The sisters quickly learned what it was like to be the only people of color in a room and were also the target of hate.

Inspired by her past experiences, Emily has dedicated herself to uplifting members of the AAPI community and encourages others to do the same. Currently, Emily serves as a mentor for Asian American women at her company and is a strong voice in the AAPI community. In response to the horrifying mass shootings in Atlanta, Georgia that left eight people dead, including six women of Asian descent, Emily is organizing a peaceful gathering to show support for the AAPI community and share resources to combat discrimination. She has also raised more than $6,500 for AAPI organizations across the country.

Senator Hassan launched the “Granite Stater of the Month” initiative in 2017 to recognize outstanding New Hampshire citizens who go above and beyond to help their neighbors and make their communities stronger. To nominate a New Hampshire citizen to be a “Granite Stater of the Month,” constituents can complete the nomination form here.

See below or click here for Senator Hassan’s statement to the Congressional Record honoring Emily Kim Ae Sun Hunter as April’s Granite Stater of the Month.

Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, I am proud to recognize Emily Kim Ae Sun Hunter of Chester as April’s Granite Stater of the Month. In response to the surge in hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI), Emily is organizing a peaceful gathering in downtown Portsmouth to demonstrate support for New Hampshire’s AAPI community.

Emily was born in Seoul, South Korea. When she and twin sister were five months old, they were adopted by a couple in New Hampshire. Growing up in a predominantly white community, Emily and her sister quickly learned what it was like to be the only people of color in a room. The sisters were also the target of hate, which left a lasting impression on both of the girls.

Emily – now a mentor for Asian American women at her company and a strong voice in the AAPI community – was shocked and horrified, as so many Americans were, by the mass shooting in Atlanta, Georgia that left eight people dead, including six women of Asian descent.

In response, Emily decided to take action by organizing a peaceful gathering to show support for the AAPI community and help share resources to combat discrimination. Emily, who has never organized an event like this before, has also taken to social media and raised more than $6,500 for AAPI organizations across the country.

Emily’s dedication to uplifting members of the AAPI community and encouraging others to do the same embodies the best of the Granite State. Amid a challenging time for the AAPI community, Emily has shown true strength by elevating her message of inclusivity and acceptance. I am honored to name her as a Granite Stater of the Month as we join together to stand with the AAPI community and condemn the un-American attacks that we have seen. 

###