Here Are the Celebrities Speaking Out Against the Rise in Asian American Hate-Crimes
Despite minimal attention from popular media, these celebrities are raising their voices to bring awareness to the violence facing the Asian-American community.
After multiple reports of attacks against elder Asian-Americans in broad daylight, many are beginning to take notice. Unfortunately, COVID-19’s origins and certain leaders’ phrasings have caused hate crimes to rise in these communities. As the virus was reportedly called, ‘the China virus’ by many important figures, a small few took it seriously as an affront to themselves and began attacking those blamed for the virus.
We join more than 40 other Asian American organizations in the Bay Area in denouncing the violence against our communities and demanding action. Collectively, we are holding a press conference this morning. #StopAAPIHate https://t.co/wJNqEp7XC8
— StopAAPIHate (@StopAAPIHate) February 9, 2021
Despite the numerous naming of the ‘Wuhan virus’ and the ‘China virus,’ those who were attacked come from all different countries like Thailand and the Philippines countries that are ethnically different from China. There has been a noted rise in the verbal assaults that Asian-Americans face in public since the beginning of the pandemic but only recently are these attacks turning into physical violence.
To bring attention to these issues, a handful of celebrities have begun speaking up against this injustice.
Naomi Osaka is one of our favorite tennis players for being vocal on and off the court for political justice. She took to Twitter to point out the lack of attention on this issue.
The amount of hate, racism, and blame for COVID towards the Asian community is disgusting. The fact that this topic is not very widely covered makes me concerned. I only found videos and information because I was scrolling through my IG feed and by some algorithm it appeared.
— NaomiOsaka大坂なおみ (@naomiosaka) February 7, 2021
John Cho wrote an essay to the Los Angeles Times giving an op-ed on how the virus is tied into these attacks.
Los Angeles Times: Op-Ed: John Cho: Coronavirus reminds Asian Americans like me that our belonging is conditional.https://t.co/0V5TJCeoSo
— USCPF (@USCPF) April 24, 2020
Mark Ruffalo has always been a very socially liberal voice in Hollywood and he did not stay silent against certain leaders.
Dear @realdonaldtrump,
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) March 19, 2020
When you blame a virus on an entire race of people, you turn people against them. When you make these unscientific political statements, some of your followers begin to act violently and in exclusionary, xenophobic ways against these people. Do better.
Jeannie Mai, a recent contestant on Dancing With the Stars points out the blatant racism of these attacks in an essay she wrote to People.
Lana Condor posted to her Instagram story her blatant disgust of the ex-President for the use of xenophobic language.
WATCH: Lana Condor, Eugene Lee Yang, Lea Salonga and Margaret Cho discuss racism faced in the Asian American community during the COVID-19 pandemic. https://t.co/q4TylmfnGM
— NBC News (@NBCNews) May 15, 2020
However, the loudest voice who has been leading the discourse on this topic has been prolific actor Daniel Dae Kim who has been using his Twitter to spread the message.
Thank you for this very comprehensive story @MTVNEWS and @YoonjKim. https://t.co/zWRT8sGjP2
— Daniel Dae Kim (@danieldaekim) February 9, 2021
While there has been little progress made in this fight, Kim is doing what he can, including offering money for any information on the perpetrators of these attacks. Hopefully, in the coming weeks, there will be more media attention on this important issue affecting the Asian-American community.
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