that is helen zia and amanda nguyen.t there who wants to watch the full, unedited conversation, you can go to our website. that is pbs.org/newshour. ♪ judy: stay with us for a look at an exclusive inteview on the "newshour" tomorrow and what else you can discover online right now. but first, take a moment to hear from your local pbs station. it's a chance to offer your support, which helps keep programs like ours on the air. j" tomorrow, treasury secretary janet yellen joins me for an interview about the latest on the job numbers and wages. president biden's plans to revive the economy. and whether the covid stimulus package he is seeking is what is needed for the months ahead. and right now on the "pbs newshour" online, a few of the important conversations we are having this week. on our website, we hear from business owners of color about the unequal distribution of covid relief to small businesses, and recent changes that may make loans more accessible. we answer your questions on the surge and anti-asian hate crimes

thats helen zia and amanda nguyen. for anyone who want to watch the full unedited conversation can you go to pbs.org/newshour. >> woodruff: stay with us for a look at what you will discover on the newshour tomorrow and online right now. but first, take a moment to hear from your local pbs station. it's a chance to offer your support, which helps keep programs like ours on the air. >> woodruff: the pandemic is forcing new habits, or in some cases, returning to old ones, like reading. jeffrey brown takes a look at the plight of independent bookstores, struggling to stay afloat in this challenging economy. this encore look is part of our arts and culture series, canvas >> brown: another day in the life of an independent bookstore in the time of pandemic: packing orders, customers at the curb-- and on this day, a few allowed in. and constant phone calls. >> sometimes the first question is, "are you open?" and we say, "well, kind of, sort of, maybe-- what can we do for you?" >> brown: in fact, source booksellers in detroit'

. >> reporter: but activist and author helen zia say authorities are missing important context. >> hypersexualization of asian american women is part of the racism toward asian americans. and to say that sexual addiction is an excuse or a reason to go on a mass killing rampage is ridiculous. he will take the word of a mass shooter who happens to be white against the lived experience of the asian american community. >> reporter: zi also said dr. baker's description of the suspect's frame of mind was outrageous. >> he was pretty much fed up. at the end of his rope. yesterday was a bad day for him. this is what he did. >> i couldn't believe that a police captain was recounting the bad day that the killer had without a shred of empathy for the really bad day that the eight victims and their families had. the grief the whole community is going through. whether they are really there for the people that they are supposed to be protecting. >>> captain baker is under fire for an anti-asian facebook post of his from last year. he talked about tee shirts that read covid-19, virus imported from china. no comment

. >> reporter: but activist and author helen zia said authorities are missing important context. >> hyper sexualization of asian american women is part of the racism toward asian americans. and to say that sexual addiction is an excuse or a reason to go on a mass killing rampage is ridiculous. he's going to take the word of a mass shooter who happens to be white against the lived experience of the asian american community. >> reporter: zia also said captain jay baker's description of the suspect's frame of mind was outrageous. >> he was pretty much fed up and kind of at the end of his rope, and yesterday was a really bad day for him, and this is what he did. >> i couldn't believe that a police captain was recounting the bad day that the killer had without a shred of empathy for the really bad day that the eight victims and their families had, the incredible grief that the whole community is going through. and in is the kind of thing -- this is the kind of thing that makes people question law enforcement and whether they are captain baker is also under fire for an anti-asian facebook post