Asian Americans Are Dealing With a Wave of Bigotry and Assaults Because of Coronavirus

Synopsis

In March, a new hotline is launched to report the surge in racist and xenophobic attacks against Asians and Asian Americans, with over 1,700 incidents reported. Victims recount experiences of discrimination, including a white couple in their 50s who confronts an Asian individual with derogatory remarks and gestures. Reports indicate that assaults escalate, with incidents of people being pushed onto train tracks in England and acid attacks in Brooklyn. Civil rights organizations note that discrimination related to COVID-19 began surfacing in February, coinciding with inflammatory rhetoric from the White House, including a press conference where the term 'Chinese virus' is repeatedly used. This rhetoric fuels a climate of fear and hostility, leading to an alarming increase in hate crimes against the Asian community.