John Cho Pens Op-Ed About Asian American Discrimination Amid Covid-19 Crisis

John Cho wrote a powerful essay about discrimination against Asian Americans amid the Coronavirus crisis. The 47-year-old Star Trek actor highlights the verbal and physical abuse being directed at Asian Americans during the pandemic.

Here are some of John‘s thoughts via LA Times:

On the surge of anti-Asian hate crimes: The fact that the coronavirus seems to have originated in China has spawned a slew of anti-Asian hate crimes. Across the country, Asian American parents and children are making versions of the call I made. Friends are sharing first-hand accounts of abuse on text chains and circulating articles on Facebook, always ending with the suddenly ominous “stay safe.”

On how race can be conditional: Asian Americans are experiencing such a moment right now. The pandemic is reminding us that our belonging is conditional. One moment we are Americans, the next we are all foreigners, who “brought” the virus here.

On standing up for your fellow Americans: You can’t stand up for some and not for others. And like the virus, unchecked aggression has the potential to spread wildly. Please don’t minimize the hate or assume it’s somewhere far away. It’s happening close to you. If you see it on the street, say something. If you hear it at work, say something. If you sense it in your family, say something.

Read John Cho‘s full op-ed at LATimes.com!