"Every Asian American I know knows someone who has been targeted during this time"
Former NBA Champion Jeremy Lin is pledging up to $1 million to fund Coronavirus relief.
In an article for The Players’ Tribune, Lin revealed that he will donate “$500,000 to Direct Relief and Feeding America and matching all donations up to an additional $500,000.”
“Each act of goodness matters. Each positive choice will add up,” he wrote. “In adversity, we will persevere. In challenges, we will overcome. In fear, we will have faith. And in darkness, we will be Light.”
Lin went on to highlight the plight of Asian Americans against racism.
“I’ve been treated a certain way because I’m Asian,” the Taiwanese-American wrote. “I’ve been called a chink, orch dork and chicken lo mein more than enough times. I’ve even been asked if I can see. I’ve been told to go back to where I came from.”
“During the height of “Linsanity,” I was still the butt of many Asian jokes.”
As Coronavirus is believed to have started in Wuhan, China, many have turned their blame on Asian Americans.
Rep Judy Chu recently revealed there are 100 incidents of targeted racial hate a day towards Asian Americans as a consequence of Coronavirus racism.
Lin himself criticised President Trump for repeatedly calling Covid-19 the “Chinese Virus.”
In his Players’ Tribune piece, the 31-year-old expressed his frustration about how Asian Americans are being racially harassed during the pandemic.
“It’s not just trash talking or trolling or hateful speech,” he said. “Asian Americans are being spit on, yelled at, and physically attacked in their own country.”
Most recently, New York restaurant Jeju Noodle Bar was graffitied with “stop eating dogs”.
“Every Asian American I know knows someone who has been targeted during this time,” Lin continued. “In fact, anti-Asian racism is rapidly increasing all over the world. It’s so crazy and sad.”
In Melbourne, an Australian mother was seen unleashing a Coronavirus-related racist tirade at a group of Asians.
“This is deeply personal for me,” Lin stated. “People who I love very much, my own friends and family in America, are genuinely scared to leave their homes.”
In related news a Vietnamese-owned nail salons in Alabama are donating protective equipment in thousands to hospitals.