Bar Associations Condemn Racism and Xenophobia Related to COVID-19

More than 1,000 hateful acts of discrimination, including serious violent acts, directed toward Asians and Asian Americans have been reported in the last two weeks of March, with new incidents coming in daily. These hateful acts have been committed against Asians and Asian Americans of all ages, with victims as young as two years old. Numerous bar associations have come out to denounce these hateful acts in the strongest terms, and have urged others to join in calling out this racism, educating the public, holding perpetrators accountable, and working together during these times of immense hardship in America.

Rhetoric such as referring to the coronavirus as the “Chinese Virus,” “Wuhan Virus,” or otherwise “foreign” virus has fanned and been tied to the rise of hateful acts toward Asians and Asian Americans. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have specifically stated that using such terms creates harmful stigma against ethnic and minority groups, and further endangers public health.

Federal, state, and local law enforcement authorities are urged to investigate and prosecute such unlawful acts. We hope they do. Hotlines have been set up in communities for the public to report anti-Asian incidents.