On Saturday, June 20th, President Donald Trump used his rally in Tulsa as a platform to mock COVID-19 using racist language, calling it “the Chinese virus” and “kung flu.”

We are calling upon the elected officials who represent us to repudiate Trump’s racism. We are asking the state legislators, mayors, and county officials representing the west side of Tulsa to make it clear: there is no place for hate here.

Nationally, use of terms like “The Chinese virus” have led to increased incidents of race-based hate crimes targeting Asian Americans.

Members of Trump’s own team of advisors have cited “kung flu” as racist. Kellyanne Conway, an advisor to the president, said that the term is “highly offensive.”

Asian Americans have, historically, been targets for hatred, racism, and violence. Incidents from the Chinese Exclusion Act and the exploitation of immigrant labor to the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II remain a stain on the soul of America.

Therefore, we respectfully ask that our elected officials issue public condemnation of Donald Trump’s racism in clear, direct language.

There can be no equivocating. There is no place for hate in our communities.