SABA-NC strongly condemns the xenophobic rhetoric and acts, including terrible acts of violence, against members of the Asian and Asian American community in response to the COVID-19 epidemic. Troubling reports of physical and verbal abuse against members of the public have emerged in New York, California, and other locations across the United States. We encourage local county and state prosecutors to investigate these awful acts not only as crimes of violence and abuse but as hate crimes as well.
We support various local, state and federal government efforts to stem the spread of this pandemic and understand that some of those efforts, like restrictions on foreign travel, may unavoidably have a disproportionate effect on the Asian and Asian American community in America. But, we also understand that this pandemic is color-blind. Racially charged rhetoric referring to COVID-19 as the “Chinese flu” or “Wuhan flu” only serves to inflame prejudice and incite violence that undermines the broader spirit of community and shared sacrifice we need right now to support efforts to contain the virus and help those who have contracted it. History has shown that falsely ascribing diseases to a particular community, like linking the spread of HIV to only the LGBTQ+ community, only serves to worsen the epidemic, delay a cure and stigmatize the innocent.
We stand in solidarity with members of the Asian and Asian American communities unfairly maligned by these xenophobic sentiments and hurt by these ignorant acts of violence. COVID-19 knows no boundaries and affects us all.
To battle COVID-19, please make sure you keep yourself up to date with information at the CDC
www.cdc.gov
and the World Health Organization
www.who.int
. Please check in with your county and state public health department recommendations regarding effective hand washing methods, sanitizing methods, social distancing recommendations, and shelter-in-place requirements.
Finally, please check in with each other. We are a vibrant, diverse, and amazing community. Please make sure to call one another, set up virtual hangouts, and check in with your loved ones and friends. We will get through this as a community. SABA-NC will circle back soon with virtual events that members can participate in. Stay safe!
