"You think it’s a joke and that we shouldn’t be so serious about it. But then there are those who latch onto it with hatred and xenophobia and use it to fuel their fear and contempt until it explodes into heinous acts," says Shannon Lee.
The daughter of the legendary Bruce Lee on Wednesday linked the drastic rise in violence against Asian Americans to the language used about the pandemic, specifically by former President Donald Trump and his supporters.
Trump was heavily denounced for repeatedly calling the novel coronavirus the "China virus" and "kung flu" during rallies; critics said such terms could lead to Asian Americans being targeted for hate crimes.
And after eight people were killed, six of them Asian women, during a shooting rampage in Atlanta Tuesday, Shannon Lee said the rhetoric was connected to the increase in violence.
"This is where 'kung flu' leads," Lee began in her Wednesday afternoon message via several tweets. "You think it’s a joke and that we shouldn’t be so serious about it. But then there are those who latch onto it with hatred and xenophobia and use it to fuel their fear and contempt until it explodes into heinous acts."
Lee continued, "This is what happens when we try to break the oneness into separate parts and decide to categorize and rank the parts as good and bad, better or worse, belonging or not belonging. What would it cost you to decide we are all one family? But really? What is lost by transforming contempt to acceptance?"
Lee concluded, "It’s time to look within and ask yourself, do I want to be at peace? Can I operate from love? Will I stand with my human family and embody the end of hate? You’re invited to the family gathering. Please join us. -Shannon Lee #stopthehate #onefamily #stopasianhate"
Attacks on Asians and Asian Americans attacks have risen dramatically during the pandemic. According to Stop AAPI Hate, a coalition that tracks violence and harassment against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the U.S., almost 3,800 instances have been reported over the past year to the organization's reporting center. The actual number of instances could be much greater.
Article by:Ryan Parker for Hollywood Reporter
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