Asian American leaders have expressed concern that the upcoming COVID-19 origin report will trigger another wave of anti-Asian racism.
In a letter addressed to President Biden, almost two dozen Asian American and Pacific Islander organizations called for the government to redouble its efforts to protect the Asian community ahead of of the report.
Biden had ordered Us intelligence agencies to carry out a 90-day investigation on how Coronavirus started, looking into the lab-leak theory.
“In the coming weeks, your Administration is set to report out on its 90-day investigation into the origins of COVID-19,” the letter states.
“The sad but undeniable truth is that the simple existence of that report will put our communities at risk. We recognize your Administration’s legitimate interest in identifying the source of this pandemic for the purpose of preventing future outbreaks. At the same time, perception matters. And when your review was announced, many interpreted it as a validation of the so-called “lab leak” theory.”
The letter asks the Administration to use “precise language in all of your public statements about the investigation and about the pandemic more broadly.”
“When speaking of the actions of the Chinese government, it’s necessary to be specific, rather than simply saying “Chinese” — which can exacerbate racial animus in the United States.”
It then calls for “more statements” and “substantive policy change.”
Further, the letter asks the Administration to:
● Invest in civil rights and human rights initiatives at the state and local levels.
● Increase federal funding for, and coordination with, community partners to deliver in-language, culturally competent mental health services
● Prioritize language justice across the federal government
● Pause the Department of Justice’s China Initiative.
In other news, Detroit Tigers television analyst Jack Morris has been suspended indefinitely after using a racist accent to discuss Los Angeles pitcher Shoehei Ohtani.