Spit On, Yelled At, Attacked: Chinese-Americans Fear for Their Safety

ArmenianJohn · Mar 23, 2020

"As bigots blame them for the coronavirus and President Trump labels it the “Chinese virus,” many Chinese-Americans say they are terrified of what could come next.

WASHINGTON — Yuanyuan Zhu was walking to her gym in San Francisco on March 9, thinking the workout could be her last for a while, when she noticed that a man was shouting at her. He was yelling an expletive about China. Then a bus passed, she recalled, and he screamed after it, “Run them over.”

She tried to keep her distance, but when the light changed, she was stuck waiting with him at the crosswalk. She could feel him staring at her. And then, suddenly, she felt it: his saliva hitting her face and her favorite sweater.

In shock, Ms. Zhu, who is 26 and moved to the United States from China five years ago, hurried the rest of the way to the gym. She found a corner where no one could see her, and she cried quietly."

Spit On, Yelled At, Attacked: Chinese-Americans Fear for Their Safety

I wonder if the president of these Americans will do anything to help them? Oh wait, he's the one promoting this as being the fault of the Chinese... Sorry, Chinese-Americans - it's open season on you by these people! (But "Chinese virus" is in no way racist or a racist dog whistle - even though the dogs are clearly responding to the whistle! SMH).

I wonder what racists will defend this behavior now....

Strathos · Mar 23, 2020

People need to blame someone in time like this. That's why I suggest blaming bats - at least they aren't human, and finding and killing them is rather difficult for an average person. But if everyone was angry at bats they wouldn't be angry at Chinese people, and that would be a step up.

Hammster · Mar 23, 2020

If this had started in London, and Trump called it the England virus, would that be racist?

Michie · Mar 23, 2020

Last I heard, it was called the unseen enemy. But it did originate in China. Spanish flu, etc.

Anyway, Trump is speaking now. Going to listen.

redleghunter · Mar 23, 2020

Spitting at others is horrible. So is the yelling and stalking. All of the above are also against CDC guidelines so even people without God should not be doing this.

Chris V++ · Mar 23, 2020

It was already known as 'Corona Virus' by the time he tried to designate it 'Chinese.' He should have stuck with 'Corona' because of the name affiliation with the Mexicans, because of that brand of beer. Now I" m not quite sure which race to pin this on. :scratch:

Chris V++ · Mar 23, 2020

If you can believe the History Channel, the Spanish Flu may not have originated in Spain anyway.
FYI (many tragically don't know this, but Mexicans are not 'Spanish.' Spain is a country in Europe. Mexicans speak Spanish (and not 'Mexican') because Spain was a colonial power that colonized Mexico. )

https://www.history.com/news/why-was-it-called-the-spanish-flu

exitstageright · Mar 23, 2020

Hammster said:
If this had started in London, and Trump called it the England virus, would that be racist?

Why don't we just call the virus by it's scientific (real ) name? It is the Covid-19 Virus.

Hammster · Mar 23, 2020

exitstageright said:
Why don't we just call the virus by it's scientific (real ) name? It is the Covid-19 Virus.

I agree. But that ignores my point.

Heavenhome · Mar 23, 2020

The whole problem is human stupidity in equating something that may have originated in China as meaning Chinese people, it gives them an excuse to unleash their disgusting views and their black hearts.

Shame on them all, I hope something can be done about it . And that people around them will call them out.
They are usually cowards.

Heavenhome · Mar 23, 2020

I call it Covid19.

faroukfarouk · Mar 23, 2020

Heavenhome said:
The whole problem is human stupidity in equating something that may have originated in China as meaning Chinese people, it gives them an excuse to unleash their disgusting views and their black hearts.

Shame on them all, I hope something can be done about it . And that people around them will call them out.
They are usually cowards.

Same thing happened with some peaceful Moslem women wearing headscarves being annoyed by ignorant people in the street in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 in some places.

faroukfarouk · Mar 23, 2020

Chris V++ said:
If you can believe the History Channel, the Spanish Flu may not have originated in Spain anyway.
FYI (many tragically don't know this, but Mexicans are not 'Spanish.' Spain is a country in Europe. Mexicans speak Spanish (and not 'Mexican') because Spain was a colonial power that colonized Mexico. )

https://www.history.com/news/why-was-it-called-the-spanish-flu

Eamon de Valera was born in Cuba so he was sometimes called Spanish-American. (More accurately Hispanic-American.) Because when he was born, Cuba was still a colony of Spain. At Niagara Falls, ON on the border with NY there is what is called the Spanish Aerocar because the engineers who built it a century ago were led by a man from Spain.

As regards the OP and the account of the behaviour encountered in the street, it's appalling.

Heavenhome · Mar 23, 2020

faroukfarouk said:
Same thing happened with some peaceful Moslem women wearing headscarves being annoyed by ignorant people in the street in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 in some places.

Yes, similar happens here, sadly.
People are the same everywhere

Hazelelponi · Mar 23, 2020

Bad behavior isn't Trumps fault. People knew this virus came out of Wuhan, China long before Trump even mentioned the word China in connection to the illness. People knew that travel to and from China is what spread this virus to our country long before Trump mentioned the word China.

So to blame Trump for the racist behavior of ignorant people is disingenuous at best.

royal priest · Mar 23, 2020

ArmenianJohn said:
"As bigots blame them for the coronavirus and President Trump labels it the “Chinese virus,” many Chinese-Americans say they are terrified of what could come next.

WASHINGTON — Yuanyuan Zhu was walking to her gym in San Francisco on March 9, thinking the workout could be her last for a while, when she noticed that a man was shouting at her. He was yelling an expletive about China. Then a bus passed, she recalled, and he screamed after it, “Run them over.”

She tried to keep her distance, but when the light changed, she was stuck waiting with him at the crosswalk. She could feel him staring at her. And then, suddenly, she felt it: his saliva hitting her face and her favorite sweater.

In shock, Ms. Zhu, who is 26 and moved to the United States from China five years ago, hurried the rest of the way to the gym. She found a corner where no one could see her, and she cried quietly."

Spit On, Yelled At, Attacked: Chinese-Americans Fear for Their Safety

I wonder if the president of these Americans will do anything to help them? Oh wait, he's the one promoting this as being the fault of the Chinese... Sorry, Chinese-Americans - it's open season on you by these people! (But "Chinese virus" is in no way racist or a racist dog whistle - even though the dogs are clearly responding to the whistle! SMH).

I wonder what racists will defend this behavior now....

If China didn't hide what was happening with their virus (human to human transmission), this would likely have been avoided at the outset.

redleghunter · Mar 23, 2020

Hammster said:
If this had started in London, and Trump called it the England virus, would that be racist?

Of course. He would be accused of digging up the War of 1812 again.

redleghunter · Mar 23, 2020

Somebody call Jim Acosta about calling it Wuhan virus.

Robin Mauro · Mar 24, 2020

Strathos said:
People need to blame someone in time like this. That's why I suggest blaming bats - at least they aren't human, and finding and killing them is rather difficult for an average person. But if everyone was angry at bats they wouldn't be angry at Chinese people, and that would be a step up.

I was actually upset when I heard the thing about bats, and am not even sure that it's true. In any case, it is people encroaching on animal habitats that has caused these type of disease transmissions when they do occur...loss of habitat has made people and animals live closer than they should.
I was a bat advocate/educator at Oregon Caves National Monument. Bats are actually extremely beneficial to humans. They keep insect populations under control. When the story of Dracula came out, people foolishly, from fear, went about desroying them...even farmers. It took years before farmers understood bats were, in fact, their allies.
I truly hope this virus did not originate with them...will be doing research on this!

Robin Mauro · Mar 24, 2020

royal priest said:
If China didn't hide what was happening with their virus (human to human transmission), this would likely have been avoided at the outset.

And the exact same thing can be said of Trump. He made light of it, said it was no different than the flu, called it a democratic hoax, then later claimed he knew it was a pandemic all along; refused tried and true testing kits the whole world was using, then rolled out kits that did not work (we still don't have anywhere near enough kits); is still refusing to pass the act that would make manufacurers produce protective equipment, so now hospitals are having to outbid others for necessary equipment and are short of what they need. This is total incompetence and uncaring.

Spit On, Yelled At, Attacked: Chinese-Americans Fear for Their Safety

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