'This horrendous surge... is totally unacceptable': Leaders rally against anti-Asian hate

RENTON, Wash. -- State and local leaders joined victims of attacks Monday to call for a collective effort to end anti-Asian hate and violence.

"This horrendous surge, this scourge of harassment, intimidation, and outright violence against Asians and Pacific Islanders in our state is totally unacceptable," Gov. Jay Inslee said.

The new plea comes as the number of hate crimes against Asians and Pacific Islanders grows here locally and across the nation.

One of the speakers was a local high school teacher who bravely spoke out about being attacked in the Chinatown-International District.

Nariko Nasu says a man attacked her with what she believes was a rock put inside a sock, fracturing her nose and cheek, leaving her with broken teeth and a concussion.

"However all of this pain was nothing compared to what came next," Nasu said.

The man accused of attacking her was charged with only two counts of second degree assault -- not first degree assault or with a hate crime. He appeared in court at the same time Nasu was speaking and pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

"Worst case, he could be freed after 12 to 14 months in prison and could come back to Chinatown to attack more people," Nasu said.

This is type of violence that communities are now rallying to stop - coming together to unite their voices against hatred and violence.

"In the last year, Washington ranked third highest in the nation of reporting hate crime, targeting Asian Americans," said State Rep. My-Linh Thai (D-Wash. 41st Leg. District).

Beyond community rallies, there are additional efforts coming online to help.

King County Executive Dow Constantine says the county is now putting $5 million to work against race and bias - creating a new coalition of eight organizations who reach out to community and collet reports and incidents of hate-based violence who shine a light on what is happening in the community.