Coronavirus-Related Anti-Asian Racism Slammed By Senator

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS — Sen. Ann Gillespie, D-Arlington Heights, slammed coronavirus-related discrimination against Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in a statement on Tuesday. She said it falls on everyone to stand up against hate in Chicago-area communities.

"A welcome state is more than just the law, it takes each and every one of us to actively call out discrimination when and where we see it," Gillespie said in a statement. "It takes courage to do this, but we must make it clear that hate is not welcome in our community. I urge anyone who experiences or witnesses harassment of any kind to report it to the Attorney General."

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Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said in a statement on Monday that Asian Americans in the Chicago area have reported experiencing instances of harassment in their neighborhoods, on public transportation and in airports. Raoul specifically mentioned an incident in Naperville last month in which a 60-year-old Chinese American man was attacked by two women who spit at him and told him to "go back to China."

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The Anti-Defamation League reported that "Chinese virus" was spray painted on a jetty on the Northwestern University campus in Evanston. WGN also reported that Mabel Menard, president of the OCA of Greater Chicago said she was harassed at Old Town restaurant several weeks ago when a man asked her, "Do you have the corona?"

“That some individuals would use the new coronavirus pandemic to direct bigotry and hate toward Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders is absolutely unacceptable and must stop,” Raoul said. “Racism has no place in our society, and we must stand together to condemn racist acts when we see them, particularly during this crisis.”

People can report harassment, discrimination or hate-motivated incidents by emailing CivilRights@atg.state.il.us or by calling the Civil Rights Hotline at 877-581-3692. The Anti-Defamation League is also asking citizens to report incidents, as is the OCA.