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3.18.2020

Because Every Global Pandemic Needs a Scapegoat

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.



Senator says "China is to blame for coronavirus" because "people eat bats"
"China is to blame," Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said Wednesday of the virus, "because the culture where people eat bats and snakes and dogs and things like that." He proceeded to identify the consumption of such animals as the source of the virus, echoing a since debunked myth that the outbreak began with a woman eating bat soup. Glad to know these are the people leading the country.

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"You're Chinese, why did you bring corona to America?"
Emily Chen was riding the subway home in New York when a male passenger started making offensive remarks and another stepped in to defend her. In a video shared on Facebook, a passenger can be heard saying, "You're Chinese, why did you bring corona to America?" A second passenger appears to interrupt the man's tirade, telling him to stop bothering her. The passenger continued to yell expletives at Chen for recording the exchange, while the other rider blocked him from getting closer. Thankfully, nobody got hurt.

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A Message to the Media on Implicit Bias
"In these times of uncertainty, fear can bring out the worst in all of us. Sometimes we might not even be aware of how our implicit biases effect vulnerable communities. But now more than ever, disparate marginalized communities must find support in each other. If you see someone being the target of abuse/harassment step in, speak out. Please. Your silence is your consent to the erasure of my personhood."

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#WashTheHate
To help combat the rising tide of coronavirus-related hatred, Asian American artists, leaders and influencers have teamed up with IW Group, an Asian American communications agency, to launch #WashTheHate, a social media campaign designed to raise awareness about anti-Asian bigotry amid the viral outbreak. The campaign kicked off with a series of videos posted to various social media platforms, featuring participants washing their hands while sharing a personal story about how the coronavirus has impacted their lives.

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Kim’s Convenience Season 4 Gets U.S. Premiere Date
Kim's Convenience fans rejoice! Season 4 of the hit Canadian sitcom will hit Netflix for U.S. viewers on April 1.