Good morning everyone. My name is Joey Yu. I am the chief supervisor representing Chinese American Federation. First of all, my sincere thoughts and prayer to the family members from the recent tragedy in Atlanta and all the victims from the hate crime since the pandemic last year.
The hate crimes are skyrocketing toward Asian Americans cross the nation. It has raised 150% while the total hate crime has reduced 7% since last year. The Asian Racism is getting out of control. People are injured physically and mentally. In some cases, people are murdered like the incident we saw in Atlanta.
Many years ago, I have attended a business event and the keynote speaker was an Executive from one of the Fortune 500 companies. He is Asian American and he has shared a story during his speech that one time he was at a business conference where many Executives get together from different large corporation. During the social hour, an Executive from another company came up to him and asked him bluntly that where did he learn to speak English so well? This Asian American Executive didn’t know how to respond to that question. After further conversation between the two, they have learned that the Asian American Executive actually is the fourth generation immigrant and the other Executive is only the second generation in this country. But yet, because of the color of the skin, and the Asian appearance, we are often treated as non-American. This kind of stereo type is still exist in today’s society! Many of us speak English as native tongue! We are American and proud to be an American! But yet, we are constantly being mistreated with misconception. Our ancestors and our parents brought us to this nation for better opportunities. United States is built on immigrants but often people overlook the contribution that we have made to this country and rather judge us based on stereo type.
To treat people with respect and to teach our children that all people are equal, it comes from parenthood, it comes from school classroom and yes it must come from the leaders of this nation!! Labeling us with racism terms such as Coronavirus, China Virus, or Kung Flu, you are hurting the people, harming the Asian American communities, and dividing the nation!
I will be lying if I say I am not worry about my 78 year old mother and 83 year old father and my kids, my wife that they may be attack by some evil racism person. No one should be living under fear! Racial hatred must be stopped! Stop the prejudice against any gender! Stop Asian hate! We are in this together and must unite as one nation one country!