Condemning Hate Crimes against Asian Americans

WHEREAS, the Asian American community has been unfairly held responsible for the COVID-19 outbreak by some influential political leaders, AND
WHEREAS, some of the racist rhetoric used to blame the Asian American community for causing COVID-19 includes, “Chinese Virus,” “Wuhan Virus,” “Kung-flu,” AND
WHEREAS, as a direct result of this racist rhetoric the hate crimes against Asian American’s have dramatically increased, AND
WHEREAS, according to the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism there was a 149% increase in anti-Asian hate crimes in 2020, AND
WHEREAS, some examples of anti-Asian violence within the last year includes: an 84-year old Thai immigrant in San Francisco, California was violently shoved to the ground and died; an 89-year old Chinese woman was slapped and set on fire in Brooklyn New York; a 61-year old Filipino American was on the New York subway when a passenger slashed his face with a box cutter; an Asian American Kansas legislator was physically threatened and accused of carrying the coronavirus at a bar, and a person of Vietnamese descent in Portland, Oregon found a note saying, “Kung Flu,” on her doorstep, AND
WHEREAS, the Asian American community has played an integral part in the Nation’s battle with the COVID-19 pandemic.  Asian American’s are on the front lines in health care, law enforcement, first response, transportation, service industries, NOW THEREFORE LET IT BE
RESOLVED, that the Cortland County Legislature officially condemns hate crimes, of any degree, against the Asian American community.  Moreover, the Cortland County Legislature condemns any political rhetoric which encourages such heinous behavior, AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that the Cortland County Legislature recognizes Asian American efforts to assist in the ongoing battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that the Cortland County Legislature urges Cortland County residents to support our local Asian American community in this difficult time and to recognize the Asian American’s who are on the front lines of the pandemic.