Hate crimes and violence against people of Asian descent have increased in recent times, according to statistics from several countries.
The slogan and hashtag "Stop Asian Hate" spread with renewed vigor after the mass shooting in Atlanta in mid-March when eight people were killed, six of whom were women with Asian backgrounds, and protests have been held in several places in the United States.
The pandemic gave the hatred momentum
It is in the wake of the corona pandemic that discrimination against, above all, East Asians has worsened, and according to Uppsala resident Linn, who is actually called something else, people dare to express themselves more strongly now than before the pandemic.
- It may be that people walk away when you walk on the same sidewalk and prefer to go into someone else, she says.
Boss wanted to "avoid Asians"
SVT has been in contact with several people of Asian origin in Uppsala who recognize that hostility towards them has increased in the past year.
- When the coronavirus reached Sweden, I heard my then boss say that "it is best to avoid all Asians" on two different occasions.
One of the times he said that during a company meeting when I was present in the room.
Recently, high school students fake hosted and sneered at me.
Each time, I have pretended not to notice because I am not a confrontational person.
I'm worried that what's happening in the US will happen here as well, says Maya, who is called something else.
- A friend was called a "fucking Chinese" and we have heard "go back to your country, where you have a lot of corona".
I think it's awful, says another.
Hear more about racism against Asians in the clip above.