Despite the fact that we are U.S. citizens and permanent residents, we continue to be beset with false characterizations and, when circumstances like this incident arise, our loyalty and patriotism are questioned. Another commentator suggested a camp for Chinese. This comment was followed by the phoning of people with Chinese last names and harassing them. This behavior is offensive and ignorant to the Chinese American community. The show has shown insensitivity to fueling the negative climate since the American reconnaissance plane was forced to land on Hainan Island, China.
Xenophobic climates lead to persecution, hate crimes and murder.
We are deeply concerned about the potential negative repercussions this heated rhetoric will have on Chinese Americans and Asian Pacific Americans. Like the 1996 campaign finance controversy and last year's Wen Ho Lee case, when controversial incidents occur involving the U.S. and China, Chinese Americans and Asian Pacific Americans often become the victims of racial profiling and scapegoating. As a national educational and civil rights advocacy group, OCA's purpose is to fight against these misperceptions and promote Chinese Americans and Asian Pacific Americans as equal partners in America and as loyal Americans. If this occurs, the name Villaraigosa would be instantly transformed from a relatively obscure child of California's term-limited legislature into that of a nationally recognized individual, perhaps the most important Latino elected official in American political history. The photograph on the cover of AsianWeek 's April 12 issue was credited incorrectly in our printed edition.