Chu Applauds Resolution Denouncing Anti-Asian Discrimination Caused by COVID-19

In response to rising anti-Asian sentiment caused by the uproar of the Coronavirus, Rep. Grace Meng (NY), vice chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), introduced a resolution to denounce anti-Asian sentiment related to COVID-19.

The resolution condemns derogatory language used by the Trump Administration, including the “Chinese Virus,” “Wuhan Virus,” and “Kung-flu.”

According to the release, 23,000,000 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders account for 7 percent of the nation’s population.

More than 2,000,000 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are working on the frontlines of this COVID-19 pandemic in health care, law enforcement, first responders, transportation, supermarkets, and other service industries;

“Unfortunately, this inflammatory rhetoric has led to an unprecedented number of attacks on Asian Americans and Asian-owned businesses all across the country. This is a danger we must speak out against,” said Rep. Judy Chu (D-Pasadena)

CAPAC Chair Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27) and CAPAC First Vice Chair Meng released the following statements:

Anti-Asian violence has risen since the virus broke out. A woman wearing a mask was kicked and punched at a New York City subway station. In Texas, two children and two adults were stabbed at a wholesale grocery store, A couple was assaulted and robbed by a group of attackers in Philadelphia; and a 16-year-old boy was sent to the hospital after being attacked by bullies in Los Angeles.

“Stoking anti-Asian bigotry and xenophobia does nothing to help our nation’s disaster response efforts,” Chu said. “This is the time to come together, and we will not allow Asians and Asian Americans to be used as scapegoats for this global pandemic.”