Today, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, an increase of Asian-American discrimination cases are being recorded in the U.S.

At a White House news conference, President Trump stated nationally that COVID-19 was a “Chinese Virus,” due to the fact that the virus originated in Wuhan, China. 

According to a Los Angeles Times article, an online forum called Stop AAPI Hate has recorded more than 1,000 direct reports of discrimination against Asian Americans from 32 different states since March 19th. An article from ABC News stated that the FBI has warned that crimes against Asian-American have risen in number since the pandemic, according to their analysis.

In an NBC News article, there were reports that claim people are being coughed at or spit on and being told to leave stores. Some have been refused service by Ubers or Lyfts. In addition, many cases of verbal and online harassment and physical assault have been reported, according to the Stop AAPI Hate website which was launched by the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council (A3PCON) and Chinese for Affirmation Action.

Andrew Yang, founder of Humanity Forward and former Democratic candidate, spoke about his personal experience with discrimination as an Asian-American amid the coronavirus pandemic.  

Yang published the article in the Washington Post explaining his discrimination encounter with his wife while grocery shopping. Andrew Yang admits he felt self-conscious, and even shame.  

In interviews in the New York Times, a dozen Asian-American politicians, academics and leaders of non-profit groups rejected the racial stigma attached to the President’s controversial comments associating Asians and Asian-Americans with the virus.  

Race, religion, sexual orientation and gender are in the top ten known discrimination categories according to the U.S Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Several leaders, such as Representative Grace Meng, spoke out on the issues to provide information concerning Asian-American discrimination during such a difficult time.