Asian-American representatives seek an end to anti-Asian rhetoric ahead of US midterm elections

Report by advocacy group Stop AAPI Hate links a rise in inflammatory language to an increase in hate crimes against Asian-Americans

‘We’ve seen how the rhetoric used about our communities … results in the harm and even murder of Asian-Americans,’ says US Representative Judy Chu

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The cover of the Stop AAPI Hate report “The Blame Game” features this photograph of a bus shelter advertisement in New York City, part of efforts by the Asian-American community to raise awareness and discourage hate speech and action. Photo: MK Luff

Published: 6:31am, 13 Oct 2022Updated: 6:50am, 13 Oct 2022

Asian-American leaders and advocates called on politicians and government officials Wednesday to stop anti-Asian rhetoric and scapegoating in the lead-up to the increasingly polarised US midterm elections on November 8.

“Politicians must be careful with what they say,” said Representative Grace Meng, Democrat of New York. “We ask this of politicians from all political parties.”

US Representative Grace Meng, Democrat of New York, speaking at a rally for an Asian-American hate crime bill in 2021, joined by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and other officials. Photo: AP

Meng’s comments came as the activist group Stop AAPI Hate released “The Blame Game”, a report focused on recent inflammatory language by political figures and candidates in the elections. (AAPI refers to Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.)

Voters will choose all 435 members of the House of Representatives and 34 of the Senate’s 100 members, in addition to legions of state and local officials.

According to the report, factors fuelling a rise in hateful words and deeds include the sharp decline in US-China relations, growing concern over Chinese espionage and a tendency to link Asians to the spread of Covid-19.

Even as deaths and illness from the coronavirus wane, the number of reported hate incident cases has doubled to over 11,000 since 2020, including 2,250 in which Asian-Americans were scapegoated for the pandemic.

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