Mulan star Tzi Ma leads social media campaign to raise awareness about anti-Asian bigotry amid coronavirus outbreak
As the number of confirmed coronavirus cases continues to rise, so have acts of discrimination toward people of Asian descent.
To help quell the disturbing trend, Asian American artists, leaders and influencers are joining #WashTheHate, a social media campaign created to raise awareness of COVID-19-related harassment.
The initiative, created by marketing agency IW Group, has attracted the likes of Tzi Ma (Mulan actor), Celia Au (Wu Assassins actress), Shawn Wasabi (record producer), AJ Rafael (Fil-Am musician), and Carol Lim and Humberto Leon (founders of fashion retailer Opening Ceremony.)
Campaign: Mulan star Tzi Ma is speaking out against racism and urging others to ‘Wash The Hate’ as discrimination toward people of Asian descent continues to rise amid coronavirus the outbreak
Those partnering with the campaign have been sharing videos of themselves washing their hands as they tell their stories of how the pandemic has been impacting their lives and communities.
‘With the increasing rate of hate and biased incidents against Asians as a result of the coronavirus, our organization felt obligated to take action,’ said Telly Wong, Chief Content Officer at IW Group as reported by usa.inquirer.net.
Tsi Ma, who has also starred in such films as The Farewell and Rush Hour, was quick to join-in and share his video on Wednesday.
‘We’re all scared. Now we act out of our fears by wearing masks, hoarding supplies and sadly some of us lash out on Asian American as if Asian American were responsible for this virus just for being of Asian descent. Stop it,’ he said.
Tsi Ma, who has also starred in such films as The Farewell and Rush Hour, was quick to join-in and share his video on Wednesday
Those partnering with the campaign have been sharing videos of themselves washing their hands as they tell their stories of how the pandemic has been impacting their lives and communities
Hateful: Ma had a personal encounter of verbal hate directed towards him when a man yelled, ‘You should be quarantined,’ as he was walking into a Whole Foods in Pasadena, California
In an interview with Variety, Ma shared a personal encounter of verbal hate directed towards him when a man drove up to him as he was walking into a Whole Foods in Pasadena, California.
‘You should be quarantined,’ the man yelled out before driving away. The actor’s first reaction was to stand in shock before yelling back at the verbal assaulter, who had already left the scene.
‘I just went numb. You know how you go cold? You just go cold and numb,’ he added.
‘This is emotional. This affected my psyche.’
‘We’re all scared. Now we act out of our fears by wearing masks, hoarding supplies and sadly some of us lash out on Asian American as if Asian American were responsible for this virus just for being of Asian descent. Stop it,’ Ma said
Chinese American filmmaker and actress Celia Au witnessed similar harassment when she posted a video on social media of a man yelling and spraying air freshener at an Asian man while using the New York City subway system.
‘There are serious concerns in the Asian American community about scapegoating and becoming the targets of misplaced fear and anger,’ Au shared in her #WashTheHate post.
‘Come join me and post a video to #WashTheHate. Let’s not discriminate and we can overcome COVID-19 together.’
As part of the campaign, everyone is encouraged to share their experiences and promote proper handwashing and hygiene, which has been at the cornerstone of the defense against coronavirus.
First-hand accounts: Chinese American filmmaker and actress Celia Au also shared how acts of bigotry has impacted her life
Positivity: ‘Come join me and post a video to #WashTheHate. Let’s not discriminate and we can overcome COVID-19 together,’ Au shared in her video