The 'Chinese virus' label has led to violence and death. It needs to stop

Around a year ago, Iwrote about the dangers of the term “Chinese virus.

“A termespoused by former President Donald Trumpand repeated ad nauseam on social media as a loaded alternative tocoronavirus.

From March 2020 through 2021, nonprofit Stop AAPI Hate talliedmore than 10,900 incidents of racism against Asian Americans.

“I told you so,” has never been so heartbreaking.

So I’m writing once again to remind people thatwords matter.

It’s the kind of simple grade school concept that shouldn’t be controversial.

Ultimately, this isn’t political.

Those words have let people of all background pin their blame, anger and frustration on the AAPI community.

President Joe Bidenechoed this sentiment in his speechin Atlanta.

“Words have consequences,” he said.

“It’s the coronavirus.

It’s a statement backed up by hard science.

Only a fifth of the tweets that included the #covid19 hashtag showed anti-Asian sentiment.

Linking the coronavirus to Asian Americans has put a bull’s-eye on our backs.

Still think those words don’t matter?

I worry about my friends in New York, where the number of incidents have exploded.

This is not normal.

And it all started with those two little words.

I initially didn’t want to write this commentary.

Frankly, I’m emotionally drained.

I struggled to find the right words.

But this needs to be a movement, and not a flash-in-the-pan moment of outrage that is quickly forgotten.

Because I’m not OK with this.

I’m angry and frustrated.

You should be, too.