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Experiencing Coronavirus-Related Racism Or Hate Crimes? This Website Will Take Your Report
A woman and child wearing protective masks are seen crossing the street in Manhattan's Chinatown on March 19, 2020. (Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump has repeatedly referred to COVID-19 as the "Chinese virus," raising concerns among civil rights groups and political leaders about a corresponding increase in discrimination and racist violence against U.S. residents of Asian and Pacific island descent.
Now a new online reporting center has been established to collect and track such incidents, including "hate violence, adult harassment, discrimination, shunning, and child bullying" in California and across the U.S.
The Asian Pacific Planning and Policy Council (A3PCON) says it partnered with Chinese for Affirmative Action and the Asian American Studies Department at San Francisco State University to develop the tool and track reports.
Reports can be filed online in English and traditional and simplified Chinese.
Dr. Russell Jeung, chair and professor of Asian American Studies at SF State, says statements by elected officials such as the president labeling COVID-19 as the "Chinese virus" fuel xenophobia:
“In our research on news articles, we see that following inflammatory comments, there’s an increase of racist incidents against Asian Americans. Clearly, with such political framing, Asians of different ethnicities are being racially profiled as a foreign threat.”
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“We know that many in our Asian American communities are suffering acts of discrimination, hate crimes and microaggressions due to fears of COVID-19. This reporting website will help us create effective policy solutions for long-lasting change with a deeper impact so this doesn't happen again to our communities or any other community."
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Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
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