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Asian Celebs Work to Combat Racist Attacks Amid Pandemic

Associated Press

   NEW YORK - Actress Olivia Cheng was recently volunteering in Vancouver
   when she says she witnessed a man drive up to an elderly Chinese woman,
   roll down his window and yell, "This is your fault!" before throwing
   trash at her.

   The incident enraged Cheng,and alsoserved as another reason why she
   feels it's so important for celebrities of Asian descent to use their
   voices and speak up against anti-Asian attacks, which authorities say
   are increasing during the coronavirus pandemic.

   "I don't think we can pretend that this isn't happening," Cheng, who
   stars in "The Stand" on CBS All Access, said in a recent interview with
   The Associated Press. "For now, it would not be unwise to be a little
   more careful, to maybe have buddy systems when possible to go get your
   groceries if you're not feeling safe."

   The FBI reports there has been an uptick in hate crimes and harassment
   against Asian Americans since the outbreak of COVID-19, which first
   appeared in Wuhan, China, late last year.

   Some people have blamed China and Asians in general for the spread of
   coronavirus; President Donald Trump at times has called it the "Chinese
   virus."

   In New York, state Attorney General Letitia James has set up a hotline
   to report harassment or other targeted crime. Some of those incidents
   have been filmed and posted online.

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