A report from the Anti-Defamation League found tweets promoting anti-Asian hate spiked in the immediate hours after President Trump announced he had tested positive for COVID-19.
According to Colorado Boulevard, the ADL found an 85% increase in anti-Asian language and conspiracy theories.
The study also uncovered a 41% rise in conspiracy theories with some taking an antisemitic tone.
“The level of hatred and vitriol that was aimed at Asian Americans and Chinese people on social media is simply staggering,” Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO, said in a statement. “The hate speech and stereotyping are irresponsible and can spillover into real world violence. With the alarming increase in physical attacks and hate crimes against Asian Americans in recent months, it is clear that all leaders, including our president, need to stop blaming others for spreading the virus.”
Analysts used a new tool called the ADL Online Hate Index which uses machine learning to seek out hate speech. The results which KCRW said were based on the examination of 2.7 million tweets, were announced jointly with Rep Judy Chu (D-CA), Rep Grace Meng (D-NY), Brad Schneider (D-IL) and John Yang President and Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice.
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“Asian Americans are just so anxious about this,” said Chu in an interview with KCRW. “They don’t know what a stranger will say to them. And in fact, there are so many that have been the recipient of terrible remarks, insulting remarks sometimes said under the breath, sometimes said openly.”
She pointed to a 16-year old boy who was hospitalized in LA after being bullied. She highlighted the stabbing of three Asian Americans in Texas, including a 2 and 6-year-old. Chu also mentioned an 89-year old grandma in New York who two teenagers set on fire.
“This has sent a chill throughout the Asian American community,” said Chu.
Some of the millions of tweets analyzed between October 2 and October 5 referenced remarks made by President Trump on September 29 in the first presidential debate. He said the pandemic was “China’s fault” and called the pandemic the “China plague” in direct contradiction of guidelines from the World Health Organization.
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