A commenter at an Irvine City Council meeting this week questioned the citizenship and patriotism of City Councilwoman Tammy Kim.
The exchange sparked a condemnation of the comments from both Kim and several on the city council.
The Voice of OC reports a veteran who came out in support of a military cemetery in Irvine asked Kim asked how she felt about Americans who died in the Korean War.
“You came from South Korea,” Eugene Kaplan said. “How do you feel about the 36,574 who died trying to save your country for freedom?”
“This is my country, I am an American!” Kim shot back.
“You’re American because you were lucky enough to live to get here.”
Councilman Mike Caroll then interjected his thoughts.
“How dare you sir! Why don’t you come down here and express your citizenship credentials?”
Kim would later issue a statement on social media about what happened.
“I was the target of hostile racist attacks by supporters of one of my council colleagues who questioned my citizenship, my patriotism, and my right to be on the dias. As a Korean American, Asian American and a proud Irvine resident, I condemn all forms of racism and will speak out against anti-Asian hate and those who attack our immigrant communities.”
“When she said ‘I am an American,’ I wanted to cry,” Irvine resident Mary Ann Foo said, “because how many times have I felt that or said that?”
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