My name is Kevin Tien and I am the chef of Moon Rabbit and co-founder Chefs Stopping AAPI Hate, a national organization based in Washington DC with the mission to spread awareness about anti-AAPI violence and AAPI racism, and raise funds in support of AAPI victims, AAPI organizations and other social justice issues that support the AAPI community. Along with my colleague Erik Bruner-Yang, the chef of Maketto and founder of Power of 10 Initiative, we are creating this petition. 

Edens, developer and landlord of Union Market sent an email newsletter on July,13 2022 with the title “ love you oolong time” to promote the company’s Union Market District in Washington, DC.  While the intent of the message may have been different, the effect of those words on the AAPI community are harmful and seeped in a long history of colonialism and anti-AAPI racism.  It's used to dehumanize Asian and Asian-American women to sex objects.

For those in the AAPI community, especially AAPI women, hearing those words can be especially de-valuing. In her Esquire article, “Those 5 words”, Thuc Nguyen wrote:

To many Asian-American women, hearing the phrase “Me love you long time” can be completely de-humanizing and traumatic…. It’s a weaponized phrase deployed to put down Asian diaspora women, to make us the joke. It's used to reduce Asian and Asian-American women to sex objects. Asian hate crimes have disproportionately been an Asian women’s issue. Sixty-one percent of reported incidents happened to Asian and Asian diaspora women, largely due to the hypersexualization of them.

We strongly believe that every mistake is an opportunity to learn something new. The AAPI community leaders would like to offer Edens the opportunity to learn more about anti-Asian hate and AAPI issues and partner in efforts that foster a greater understanding of these issues, and work to prevent future incidents.

Therefore we ask the following of Eden’s

A public apology acknowledging the harmful effects of “Those 5 words” and its meaning of being sexist, racist, and violent.

The CEO of Edens, Jodi W. Mclean to hold a community meeting with all DC based AAPI tenants, along with other  local leaders, to form a better relationship and understanding of EDENS impact within the AAPI community. 
 

To create an AAPI Employee resource center  that is staff driven dedicated to supporting and advocating on behalf of all Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander employees within Edens.
 

I've created this petition along with other community leaders to not only raise awareness, but to provide an understanding of why phrases such as “Me love you long time” are not acceptable.