Racist Political Rhetoric

Credit: Jason Leung

From Anti-Asian Rhetoric to Acts of Hate

National security is no excuse to spread racism and xenophobia, but that hasn’t stopped some U.S. politicians from casting Asians in America as an existential threat to U.S. democracy.

Our communities are well aware of the impact that political discourse can have on our civil rights and welfare. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Trump’s racist rhetoric (e.g., “Kung Flu” or “China Virus”) precipitated a dramatic rise in anti-Asian hate.

More recently, the rise of anti-Palestinian political rhetoric has incited widespread violence against Palestinian Americans as well as Arab, Middle Eastern, and South Asian Americans.

It’s because anti-Asian political rhetoric is so dangerous we continue to call out the political leaders who entertain racism and xenophobia in pursuit of political gain — and hold them accountable for the harm they inflict.

What We're Doing

Correcting racist misinformation: We recognize the power of politicians and political media to incite anti-Asian hate. It’s for this very reason that we call out misinformation and conduct real-time fact checks wherever and whenever it presents harm to Asian or immigrant communities.

Holding politicians accountable: Political leaders must recognize that anti-Asian scapegoating is not a winning political tactic. We are proactive about calling out anti-Asian rhetoric in social media, stump speeches, and political ads to hold politicians accountable for reinforcing racist stereotypes and putting innocent people into harm’s way.

Credit: Jason Leung

Take Action

Report Hate

Anti-Asian political rhetoric is a form of anti-Asian hate. If you see it, hear it, or experience it first-hand, submit an incident report to the Stop AAPI Hate Reporting Center.

REPORT NOW

Resources

Report: The Blame Game

This report from Stop AAPI Hate includes a brief history of anti-Asian scapegoating and offers recommendations for politicians and advocates who want to address it.

LEARN MORE

Toolkit: Combating Anti-China Rhetoric

This toolkit from the National AAPI Power Fund offers messaging guides to counter the rising tide of anti-China rhetoric in the U.S. political landscape.