OCA URGES END TO HARMFUL STEREOTYPING SURROUNDING CORONAVIRUS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

3 February 2020

Contact: Maddie Schumacher | Policy Associate
202.223.5500 | maddie.schumacher@ocanational.org

Washington, DC - OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates released the following statement today in response to overwhelming anti-Asian and anti-Chinese sentiments due to the coronavirus:

OCA condemns unwarranted discrimination towards ethnic Chinese and other Asian Americans due to harmful stereotyping and misinformation about coronavirus. For people outside of China, the risk of exposure to coronavirus is currently very low, while the seasonal flu poses more immediate threats and a higher mortality rate. The notion that Chinese and other immigrants are contagious is racist and extremely harmful, resulting in discrimination against Asian American-owned businesses and Asian Americans in all aspects of life. Asian Americans are once again being targeted as aliens, deemed perpetual foreigners, and wrongly accused as public health threats. 

“It has been confirmed that the general public’s risk of exposure to coronavirus is low,” said Rita Pin Ahrens, OCA National Executive Director. “We must also correct the language and imagery surrounding this virus to prevent the Yellow Peril narrative from continuing. There are many Asian Americans who have never seen Asia, let alone been to the regions near the outbreaks. Unless public health officials call for specific actions and precautions to be taken around public gatherings or eating certain types of food, people need to stop spreading fake news and misinformation about coronavirus. Negative stereotypes and overblown fear will only do more harm than good.”