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Chinese Americans bravely say no to racial discrimination (concerned by overseas Chinese)
On May 25 local time, African-American Freud encountered violent law enforcement by white police in Apolis, Minnesota, and subsequently died. The death of Freud once again uncovered the old scars of racial discrimination in the United States, triggering uproar at home and abroad. In the past few days, large-scale protests have spread in hundreds of cities in 50 states, including Washington, DC.
In an interview with this reporter, many Chinese in the United States condemned the phenomenon of racial discrimination in American society and called for the protection of the rights and interests of ethnic minorities and the maintenance of social fairness and justice.
"Racism is American cancer"
"The nationwide anti-racial discrimination protests triggered by the Freud case are a major outbreak that has been rooted in the accumulation of racism in American history for many years." Sun Lantao, a partner at Rose Reagan Law Firm in New York, said that the United States is an immigrant "Big melting furnace". After the civil rights movement in the 1960s, although racial discrimination on the bright side is not much, in practice, ethnic minorities still face various "invisible discriminations" in terms of employment and job search.
Unemployment, poverty, and infection with the new crown virus... Freud’s encounters during his lifetime can be said to be a true portrayal of the vulnerable groups in the United States. According to Cai Wenyao, an adviser to the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in the United States, racial discrimination has a long history in the United States. Freud’s death is like an introduction, detonating multiple social conflicts in the epidemic. "The new pneumonia epidemic continues to spread. Many Americans have lost their jobs. The majority of middle- and low-income groups and ethnic minorities have more difficult lives. The people used the Freud case to vent their anger and dissatisfaction. The incident further fermented through social networking platforms. It caused widespread repercussions, which is a huge trauma in American society.
"The economic level has fallen to a new low, and social contradictions have reached a new high." Li Xu, a professor at Portland State University in the United States, pointed out that "the new coronary pneumonia epidemic has caused a great impact on the economic and social development of the United States. The unemployment rate has hit a new high in recent decades. The riots caused by the activities are worsening. American society is facing major challenges."
"In the United States, incidents of discrimination against Chinese Americans also occur from time to time." Liang Champion, president of the East China Association of Chinese Societies, said that after the New Coronary Pneumonia epidemic occurred, discrimination in the United States against Chinese Americans and even Asians occurred in some areas of the United States. Especially in California and New York where Chinese are concentrated. In addition to verbal harassment, there are extreme events such as shoving, physical assault, forbidden entry and even smashing. "Some American politicians put the "Chinese virus" in their mouths, which has played a negative role in fueling the situation."
Li Hao pointed out that Asian and Chinese ethnic groups account for about 3% and 1.5% of the total population of the United States, respectively, and are truly minorities. However, some protection and support policies for minorities in the United States rarely include Asian and Chinese ethnic groups.
"Racism is a cancer of American society, and racial conflicts have not been effectively reconciled over the years." Xu Deqing, the first chairman of the US-China Economic, Trade, Science and Technology Promotion Association.
"Unite to protect yourself"
At present, anti-racial discrimination demonstrations in parts of the United States have evolved into riots, some shops have been set on fire and looted, and the Chinese community has also been affected. Champion Liang said that some street shops in Chinatown, New York were destroyed by rioters and the items in the shop were looted. Li Axe was also concerned that a Chinese restaurant that had recently opened in Portland, Oregon was violently damaged.
Facing difficulties, unity is the best weapon. Recently, the Chinese in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles spontaneously organized and set up patrols to deal with the impact of the riots and set up a safety umbrella for the Chinese community. Since the outbreak, many Chinese societies have taken action, or spontaneously formed groups to help each other, or organized various activities to jointly petition to protest discrimination and stigmatization.
Sun Lantao said, "Unfairness to one person means unfairness to everyone", we must remember this sentence. Fighting against racial discrimination is not a trivial matter for one person or one group, but a major event for the entire ethnic minority group such as Chinese and Asian to fight for living space in the United States.
According to Champion Leung, at present, many Chinese communities in the United States have established the "SOS Mutual Assistance WeChat Group", and everyone is committed to coping with risks. The Chinese in the forest hills of Queens, New York and other places also organized the formation of volunteer patrols, and immediately found the police or intervened to stop illegal activities. "After the crisis, the Chinese will be more united. We are more aware of the importance of votes in our hands and active participation in politics to better protect our rights and interests."
"For a long time, Chinese people have not been united enough, their political consciousness is not strong, their turnout is not high, and their votes are scattered. Their influence in the US society is weak. This situation has improved in recent years. The most obvious performance is that Chinese people in multiple cities have launched demonstrations at the same time, calling for a fair trial of the Chinese police officer Liang Peter case." Li Axe said that the formation of a united political force among the Chinese in the United States is essential.
Xu Deqing pointed out that the Chinese have made great progress in dealing with racial discrimination from the past when they swallowed their arrogance until now. Today, the 6 million Chinese living in the United States need to unite further so that mainstream society can hear the voices and demands of the Chinese.
"Equal to other ethnic groups"
Recently, a proposal issued by the American Chinese Overseas Chinese Association pointed out that Chinese people should not only eliminate ethnic discrimination, but also help vulnerable groups, carry out cultural exchange activities, and build a harmonious community. At the same time, he called on the Chinese in the United States to unite residents of other ethnic groups to jointly cope with the current difficulties and defend their homes.
Xu Deqing was deeply touched by this. Not long ago, the "National Chinese Caring Chinese Food Day" organized by Chinese Americans was held in more than 100 cities in 50 states in the United States. Xu Deqing also participated in donating free food or providing hot meals to American medical personnel and vulnerable people in the community. In addition, he donated masks to the government and police station of Beihaiwen Town where he lived to help the local people fight the epidemic.
"The Chinese must not only protect their own interests, but also protect the fairness and justice of the society, strengthen solidarity with other ethnic groups, and get along with each other on an equal and friendly basis. This is where the fundamental interests of the Chinese are." Xu Deqing said, "In the face of the epidemic, the more More and more people are aware of the need to oppose racial discrimination. Only by transcending race and helping each other can we overcome the difficulties. The Chinese must take root and make a positive contribution to the local economic and social development, and they will definitely receive a fair evaluation from the local people."
Li Axe said that during the epidemic, many Chinese groups donated anti-epidemic materials such as masks to the local public service department, and many Chinese restaurants distributed free lunch boxes to the poor. These charitable acts have played a role in building a good image of the Chinese, and are also Chinese A tangible contribution made by society.
"We must have zero tolerance for racial discrimination." Cai Wenyao pointed out that the Chinese community should understand the history and life of other ethnic minorities, and care about and support their survival and development. "Minorities in the United States should be united and have the courage to speak up and say'no' to racial discrimination."
Li Jiabao