CPC CONDEMNS RACIST REMARKS LINKING COVID-19 TO ASIAN AMERICANS AND CALLS FOR SOLIDARITY DURING UNCERTAIN TIME 

***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*** 

Date: March 24th, 2020 

Press Contacts: Carlyn Cowen, Chief Policy and Public Affairs Officer (ccowen@cpc-nyc.org | 919-637-6866) 

New York, NY – The Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC) condemns the racist remarks made over the last week by the President of the United States, referring to COVID-19 as “The Chinese Virus” and “Kung Flu,” as well as the wave of anti-Asian bias, discrimination, and violence that have followed in their wake. CPC criticizes our nation’s leadership for falsely linking Chinese Americans and other Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities to the spread of COVID-19 and encourages our community members to report incidences of discrimination and possible hate crimes. These racist remarks are an unfortunate continuation of a long history of scapegoating immigrants and marginalized communities during public health crises- from blaming newly arrived Irish immigrants for the cholera epidemic in the 19th Century to calling the HIV/AIDS epidemic was named the “gay disease” in the 1980s.

Prior to the Governor’s Executive Order to put New York State on PAUSE, Chinese businesses were struggling, putting the livelihoods of workers and local entrepreneurs under threat. Community members and staff also reported increased incidents of public assaults, harassment, and hate crimes based on their race and ethnicity. Even yesterday's corrective statements by the President cannot undo the heightened stigma and violence that is being inflicted on AAPI communities across the country. 

CPC reminds New Yorkers that this is a public health issue, not a racial, ethnic, or immigrant issue, and that legislators must work together to contain the spread of COVID-19 and make sure all families stay safe and healthy.  AAPIs are serving on the front lines, risking their own health as physicians, nurses, and social services providers alongside Americans of all backgrounds in the effort to slow the spread of COVID-19. They need and deserve our nation's unequivocal support as does every person in our country during this uncertain time.

CPC encourages community members to report any discrimination or hate crimes they may experience or witness as best as possible. In an emergency, call 911. To report a hate crime, call the NYPD Hate Crimes Taskforce at 1-888-440-HATE. To report discrimination, call the City Commission on Human Rights at 718- 722-3131. 

About CPC
The Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC) is the nation's largest Asian American social services organization. Founded in 1965, CPC aims to promote the social and economic empowerment of Chinese American, immigrant, and low-income communities of New York City.

華人策劃協會(華策會)是全美國最大的亞裔美國人及太平洋島民社區服務機構.成立於1965年,華策會專門為紐約市的華裔美國人,移民,和低收入民眾提供金融權力和社區服務.