Ever since the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, violence and the use of racial slurs have drastically increased towards the Asian/Asian-American community. There have been many reports of racism and xenophobia directed towards East Asians showing these violent acts and racial comments being thrown. There have also been comments from President Trump calling it the “Chinese Virus.” A majority of this audience has also persisted in calling COVID-19 the “Chinese Virus”. 

Calling it the “Chinese Virus” creates the vision that all people from China are to blame for the pandemic. By associating viruses with geographical locations, those that are less educated will assume that the specific area is to blame for the virus when viruses can literally infect anyone. In other words, when people begin to blame a specific location for causing a pandemic, it leads those to target all it’s people from that specific area as well. In this case, many blame China for starting COVID-19, and in turn blame Chinese people. Those less educated will begin to target the Asian community as a whole, and many react with racist and xenophobic actions towards Asians. People have even been targeting Asians that are not Chinese or are Asian-American. This is similar to the Ebola outbreak and directing racism and xenophobia towards African-Americans and it is the same with AIDS and directing hatred to Homosexuals. Unfortunately, when a pandemic occurs, racism and xenophobia follow it. 

As an Asian-Interest Greek Organization, the sisters of Sigma Psi Zeta of the Alpha Delta Charter do not condone these actions. Please sign the petition to stand against these violent acts and to raise awareness to make this issue known.