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SCREEN CAPTURE / MSNBC
Rep. Judy Chu won the support of black, Hispanic and Native American congressional leaders.to condemn anti-Asian attacks linked to the coronavirus. |
The leaders of the Hispanic and Black congressional caucuses joined Asian American leaders, in condemning the surge of attacks against Asians and Asian Americans, who are being scapegoated for the coronavirus.
In a virtual press conference Monday, Rep. Judy Chu, chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), said at least 1,000 hate incidents -- or about 100 a day -- have been reported since the beginning of the pandemic across three separate reporting forums: Stop AAPI Hate, a separate site led by OCA — Asian Pacific American Advocates and a third site by Asian Americans Advancing Justice.
Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, reminded listeners that the US has a history of discrimination toward Asian Americans, starting with the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII.
Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif., chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, said: "These attacks are nothing new, unfortunately, in the history of our country at different points in time. White supremacy rears its head, and there have been attacks on one of our communities."
The three leaders also expressed their support for a resolution introduced by Rep. Grace Meng, D-NY, calling for public officials to denounce the growing number of hate incidents directed at Asians and Asian Americans.
"I'm so thankful for the fact that it's not only Asian American leaders that are condemning these attacks but leaders from all around the country, from different backgrounds," said Meng, CAPAC vice chair. "The AAPI community has benefited so much from the struggles and the achievements of the black, Latino and Native American communities."
Later in the day, in an interview with MSNBC, Chu cited examples of the anti-Asian hate assaults including the stabbing of three Chinese Americans in Texas, an Asian man in San Francisco attacked while collecting cans, and a 16-year-old Asian American sent to the hospital after school bullies accused him of having the virus.
“These are very, very alarming and are not helped by President Trump who calls this the ‘Chinese virus,’ ” Chu said in the interview, according to The Hill.
Healthcare experts from the Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization have warned against labeling the virus the “Chinese virus” or the “Wuhan virus.” They say the labels reinforce xenophobia and racism against Asian Americans.
At first, Trump defended his use of the term. He claimed that calling COVID-19 the “Chinese virus” was “not racist” because the virus originated in China. The term, therefore, was accurate.
Last week, however, Trump’s tone shifted when he tweeted that it was “very important that we totally protect our Asian American community in the United States, and all around the world.”
Chu, however, told MSNBC that the Trump’s tone shift was “too little, too late.”
Healthcare experts from the Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization have warned against labeling the virus the “Chinese virus” or the “Wuhan virus.” They say the labels reinforce xenophobia and racism against Asian Americans.
At first, Trump defended his use of the term. He claimed that calling COVID-19 the “Chinese virus” was “not racist” because the virus originated in China. The term, therefore, was accurate.
Last week, however, Trump’s tone shifted when he tweeted that it was “very important that we totally protect our Asian American community in the United States, and all around the world.”
Chu, however, told MSNBC that the Trump’s tone shift was “too little, too late.”
uring the press conference, Chu said, Trump "continues to double down on that term, and his followers continue to double down on that term. What he should do is send a strong message to his followers to not say that. He should start with his task force," headed by Vice President Pence.
"Of course, there are the other people in his party that are in Congress that have continued to use that term, including our minority leader, Kevin McCarthy," she said. "So he should send the message directly to them if he really means what he said when he said 'Asian Americans should not be blamed for the coronavirus.'"
Before responding to reporters' questions, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, chairman of the Democratic Caucus, said: "In times of crisis, it's important for us all to stand together. It's particularly important for leaders of every race, every religion, every background to raise your voices as we are doing today to make it clear we will not tolerate anti-Asian rhetoric or violence against the community.
"Of course, there are the other people in his party that are in Congress that have continued to use that term, including our minority leader, Kevin McCarthy," she said. "So he should send the message directly to them if he really means what he said when he said 'Asian Americans should not be blamed for the coronavirus.'"
Before responding to reporters' questions, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, chairman of the Democratic Caucus, said: "In times of crisis, it's important for us all to stand together. It's particularly important for leaders of every race, every religion, every background to raise your voices as we are doing today to make it clear we will not tolerate anti-Asian rhetoric or violence against the community.
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