IARF-US

US Chapter Deplores Harassment of Asian-Americans

The US Chapter of the IARF is greatly distressed by the harassment of and, worse, attacks on Asian-Americans and other Asians in the US that have arisen in reaction to the Covid-19 pandemic. New diseases arise from time to time, and “blame” is not appropriate. The fact that COVID-19 was first detected in Wuhan, China, has led to Asian-Americans being stereotyped as infected with the virus, and this racist assumption hurts Asian-American communities all over the country. To blame or try to avoid Asian-Americans in the US makes no sense at all. To harm them is appalling. We especially condemn those campaigning for high office by blaming the Chinese for the pandemic.

The US chapter of the IARF is compelled to denounce anti-Asian bias and racial intolerance. We must stop it from becoming normalized. Current attacks against Asian Americans simply stoke inter-community animus and recall the past racially-motivated prejudice that has left a stain in our country's past history and present story. Clearly, the values of the IARF lead us not to speak ill of others, nor act in ways to harm, but rather to offer help to those who are at risk, while maintaining our own safety, and to speak up for respect for all.