Huffington Post reports that a campaign aimed at encouraging people to eat at Chinese restaurants in an effort to combat Coronavirus fears has begun.
The hashtag #IWillEatWithYou was started by Australian community action organisation GetUp! “Can you pledge #IWillEatWithYou & eat at an Asian restaurant to show your support?” The organisation wrote.
Racism and xenophobia towards Asian-Australians has reportedly seen a rise due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
“While other restaurants and public spaces are still buzzing, it is the Chinatown restaurants and Asian grocers that stand empty. Panic around the virus is unfairly impacting Chinese and Asian communities,” the organisation added.
“If we don’t take action – people will lose their jobs, and their livelihoods. Can you take the pledge to defeat baseless fears and support these businesses in their time of need?”
Social media users have since been using the hashtag to urge Australians to support local Chinese businesses.
“All the bonkers racism & hysteria over #coronavirus is putting wonderful people out of business. We haven’t stopped getting our weekly treats because quite frankly this food is too good to miss & we support our friends! #IWillEatWithYou” Tweeted one person.
“I am going to have a nice sweet and sour pork dish from Chinatown in Adelaide. #iwilleatwithyou,” another wrote.
“I don’t eat out that often, but I went to our local Chinese to pick up takeaway last night, without thinking anything of it. Then I got this message from @GetUp saying people aren’t eating at Asian restaurants for fear of coronavirus. That’s silly and appalling #IWillEatWithYou” said another.
“Please keep patronising the Chinese restaurants you love, please visit fire affected rural communities & spend money there, small businesses need customers to survive. #IWillEatWithYou,” wrote one person.
The death toll from the Coronavirus currently stands at over 2200 with over 75,000 confirmed cases globally.
In related news, a racist man hospitalised woman for defending her Chinese female friend in Birmingham after he called her a ‘Coronavirus chink’.
Elsewhere, Ip Man star Donnie Yen will donate HK$1 million to medical staff fighting against the Coronavirus in Wuhan.
Last week our family (Mum, Josie, Mason & granddaughters Poppy & Daniella & me) ate at Harmony(Chinese) restaurant & had…
Posted by Susie Cole on Sunday, 16 February 2020
I don't eat out that often, but I went to our local Chinese to pick up takeaway last night, without thinking anything of it. Then I got this message from @GetUp saying people aren't eating at Asian restaurants for fear of coronavirus. That's silly and appalling #IWillEatWithYou
— JohnQuiggin (@JohnQuiggin) February 17, 2020
Had dinner with 2 other friends in a Chinese restaurant in Chatswood (Sydney) on Valentines Day #EatingAsActivism #IWillEatWithYou https://t.co/vD7QqX8Rd0
— Yeow-Tong Chia (@YeowTong) February 18, 2020
All the bonkers racism & hysteria over #coronavirus is putting wonderful people out of business. We haven’t stopped getting our weekly treats because quite frankly this food is too good to miss & we support our friends! #IWillEatWithYou pic.twitter.com/2Z8g91jyp6
— Aakheperure (@Aakheperure) February 17, 2020
I don’t need much encouragement to eat out at my favourite #Chinese restaurant: Gong de Lin on Swanston St https://t.co/2Fvzlw8wAB. Enjoyed a delayed Valentine’s lunch of #vegetarian treats with @DrSimonEvans on the weekend #IWillEatWithYou pic.twitter.com/RHUZH8H6kX
— Melissa Conley Tyler (@MConleytyler) February 17, 2020
