The world is reeling from a COVID-19 pandemic that has overwhelmed healthcare systems, forced people indoors, and caused economies to crash. Unfortunately, this terrible virus has also prompted an escalation in hate crimes against Asian people, especially against Asian-Americans in the United States.
In isolated instances, key figures in government and political parties, whether knowingly or unknowingly, promoted racism and division through anti-Chinese rhetoric. The result of this has caused negativity toward Asian people everywhere, who are being subjected to racial slurs, and in extreme cases, acts of violence, simply because of their ethnicity.
Around the world, celebrities and influential personalities are speaking up against acts of racism to fortify society’s immunity to what is now being called the virus of hate. They include the stars of Singapore-based martial arts organization, ONE Championship.
ONE Championship is Asia’s largest global sports media property with an expansive roster of elite martial artists, most of whom are Asian or of Asian descent. For years, ONE has called for unity across its home continent and brought together a mix of cultures in the spirit of competition. It has also made its stance on racism clear, galvanizing its martial arts heroes to rise up against racism in the time of COVID-19.
The company continues to spread a message of togetherness with its #WeAreONE catchphrase, urging a regional population of more than 4 billion people to stand up for one another.
“There has been a huge increase in the number of violent, racist acts towards Asians. We need to do something,” says 23-year-old Angela Lee, the reigning ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion. “Now more than ever is the time to come together.”
Lee is the face of women’s mixed martial arts in ONE Championship, and an inspiring figure in Asia, where she enjoys a massive following. The Hawaii resident of Singaporean and Korean descent believes people should stand together as one instead of being divided, especially during these times.
“Don’t make jokes linking Asians to COVID-19,” adds Vietnamese-Australian martial artist athlete Martin Nguyen, the reigning ONE Featherweight World Champion. “This virus does not discriminate, and neither should we.”
It is athletes like Lee and Nguyen who continue to serve as beacons of inspiration for the Asian people.
ONE Championship’s message is clear – racism is simply wrong, no matter the circumstance, and that we as a people, especially now, should fight together against a dangerous pandemic that doesn’t care where you come from.
Other personalities to call for unity include Eugene Lee Yang and Margaret Cho, as well as Filipino actress and international music icon, Lea Salonga, who aired a message via CNBC News to call for unity.
“I just wanted to send a message of support to all Asian-Americans in this time of Covid-19,” she said.
“It is abominable and absolutely imbecilic that anybody would be racist against anybody else. I have friends that have been spat on in the street because they’re Asian.
“I know that this is a time of great fear and anxiety. But this is a time when everyone should be uniting in fighting this disease, rather than keeping people apart and spreading divisiveness and hatred, and fear.”
