Emily in Paris star Ashley Park has shared an important and powerful message about the need to stop hate crimes against the Asian community by addressing even the smallest acts of racism.
In a video posted to Instagram after the horrific murders of eight people at Asian-owned spas in Atlanta, and thousands of acts of violence against Asian-Americans over the past year, Ashley tearfully says “enough is enough.”
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She begins by quoting author Min Jin Lee who tweeted: “In less than 48 hours, we had a historic Asian Oscar moment with multiple firsts in 93 years – then a mass shooting targeting 3 Asian-owned businesses. This is how terrorism works – you’re not allowed to feel safe, accepted or valued. We can resist. Take up space. Make noise.”
Ashley continues by pleading with her fans to find a way “to move forward in a country run by white supremacy.”
“I have a lot of hope, I do, for this younger generation. I guess that’s what every generation thinks, right? That they are making a better world for the younger generation. I guess that’s the whole point. So, I do hope that this younger generation lives in a world where they don’t have to deal with this, or they at least have the tools and allies to deal with it better than I am dealing with it right now.”
She describes how hate crimes stem from racism that starts at the smallest level – the every day acts which are so often dismissed.
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“It starts when you call a virus that shuts down the whole world the ‘Kung Flu virus’. It also starts when you roll your eyes or make fun of waiters or Chinese food delivery people and the nail artist. I’m guilty of that, too” she says with tears in her eyes.
“The amount of times I’ve been asked where I’m from before what my name is…you don’t understand..what undervaluing that does. Starting with children when every Asian should be able to be good at math and play a classical instrument and not be bullied and shunned and told you are only good at that because you are Asian. That makes literally no sense,” she continues.
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“It starts with the stupid little jokes, even with your close friend. It starts with saying ‘Oh this is a good time for you to be in that industry because ethnic is really in right now.'”
Ashley ends by pointing out how the 21-year-old man who committed the horrific acts “came from somewhere and at some point someone could have told him what he was feeling and thinking, and that hate was wrong.”
According to a UN report, there were 1,800 racist incidents against Asian Americans reported in the United States in 2020 – and that was just between the months of March and May.
You can watch Ashley’s full message below:
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(Feature Image Credit: Ovidiu Hrubaru/Shutterstock.com)