by Ed Diokno
The recent spate of attacks on Asian Americans in New York has prompted the state’s Attorney General to launch a hotline to report hate crimes, incidents of harassment and racial bias.
New York Attorney General Letitia James Tuesday (March 24) said the rise in anti-Asian rhetoric, including the use of the incorrect and racially-charged term “Chinese virus”, has unfairly created a stigma around Asian communities.
“No one should live in fear for their life because of who they are, what they look like, or where they come from,” James said in a statement.
In the last week alone, there have been numerous reports in New York of Asian Americans being harassed or physically assaulted as a result of this pandemic. The last several weeks have also seen a rise in anti-Asian rhetoric through the use of terms such as “Chinese virus,” creating a stigma around Asian communities.
This comes on the heels of a record number of hate crimes over the past several months in New York, demonstrating the urgent need for action. The Attorney General’s Office, in its commitment to combating these heinous acts, implores everyone, from everyday New Yorkers, to individuals at the highest levels of government, to stand united against hate, now more than ever.
“During this public health crisis, people are fighting for their lives – fighting to keep their families safe. Yet these incessant, irresponsible, and atrocious naming of COVID-19 as the ‘Chinese virus’ or ‘Wuhan virus’ is endangering the lives of Asian Americans,” said U.S. Representative Grace Meng. “I thank Attorney General James for setting up this necessary hotline for New Yorkers to report coronavirus-related hate crimes or biased-based incidents.”
“There have been so many reports of Asian Americans being attacked because they were just riding the subway or wearing a face mask. The attacks are hateful, and go out of their way to blame our community. It is important that we stand together and remain educated on the growing emergency,” said State Assembly Member Yuh-Line Niou.
The New York Attorney General urges those experiencing hate crimes and bias incidences to report them by emailing the Attorney General’s Civil Rights Bureau at [email protected], or calling 1-800-771-7755.
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