A lifetime of anti-Asian discrimination pushed a West Chester official into a powerful moment last week.
Lee Wong, chairman of the West Chester Township Board of Trustees, removed his shirt during a March 23 meeting to repudiate the anti-Asian sentiment and violence that’s been rising nationwide.
“I’m 69 years old, and I’m going to show you what patriotism — the questions about patriotism — looks like,” Wong said in a viral clip shared by Associated Press reporter James LaPorta.
Wong unbuttoned his white dress shirt and lifted his undershirt to show the long scars he’d acquired during his 20 years of service in the U.S. Army.
“Here is my proof,” Wong said. “Is this patriot enough?”
Wong, who immigrated to the United States from Borneo in the 1970s, described incidents of violence and harassment that he’d experienced over the years, including being beaten up for being Asian.
“I’m not ashamed to walk around anymore,” Wong said. “Before, I was fairly inhibited. People looked at me strange and they’d question my loyalty to this country. I don’t look ‘American enough.’”
Wong’s demonstration came as a wave of violence toward people of Asian descent has been increasing during the coronavirus pandemic, on top of the legacy of racism the nation has perpetuated for centuries.
Many attribute the spike in anti-Asian violence to racist rhetoric like that which former U.S. President Donald Trump used during his tenure. Trump frequently referred to the coronavirus as “the China virus," “the Chinese virus” and even the "Kung Flu" because it had originated in Wuhan, China. Trump has continued to use the racist phrases.
A high-profile local Asian American discrimination incident occurred in Cincinnati last September when a University of Cincinnati student shared a screenshot of an email from engineering professor John Ucker that said, "For students testing positive for the Chinese virus, I will give no grade." Ucker was placed on administrative leave without pay, and the university recently announced that it would not renew his contract.
As CityBeat reported earlier this month, employees at Fort Mitchell restaurant Oriental Wok have endured repeated threats and harassment and have feared for their safety. Oriental Wok has locations in both Kentucky and Ohio.
In 2018, Cincinnati had the highest rate per capita of reported hate crimes in Ohio. However, the U.S. Department of Justice says a majority of hate crimes go unreported, so Cincinnatians can certainly assume more are occurring.
On March 26, governors from 26 states and Guam composed a joint letter condemning anti-Asian racism and pledging to support members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. The letter coincided with the Stop AAPI Hate virtual day of action.
“What is happening to Asian Americans is simply un-American," the letter says, in part. "We condemn racism, violence, and hatred against our AAPI communities, and we must do more to protect, lift up, and support the Asian American community.”
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear signed the letter. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine did not.
