Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

signal status listen live donate
listen live donate signal status
listen live donate signal status
  • News
    • topics
    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • genres
    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic
    • Daily Playlist
  • Programs + Podcasts
    • news
    • Morning Edition
    • All Things Considered
    • Marketplace
    • Insight With Vicki Gonzalez
    • music
    • Acid Jazz
    • At the Opera
    • Classical Music
    • Connections
    • Excellence in Jazz
    • Hey, Listen!
    • K-ZAP on CapRadio
    • Mick Martin's Blues Party
    • Programs A-Z
    • Podcast Directory
  • Schedules
    • News
    • Music
    • ClassicalStream
    • JazzStream
    • Weekly Schedule
    • Daily Playlist
  • Community
    • Events Calendar
    • CapRadio Garden
    • CapRadio Reads
    • Ticket Giveaways
  • Support
    • Evergreen Gift
    • One-Time Gift
    • Corporate Support
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Gift
    • Legacy Gift
    • Endowment Gift
    • Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • e‑Newsletter
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 

Sacramento Asian American Communities Wary Of Potential Coronavirus-Related Xenophobia

Friday, February 28, 2020 | Sacramento, CA
Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento

Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

By Sarah Mizes-Tan

Sacramento has reported its first coronavirus disease case that isn’t travel-related, and now, Asian American advocates are worried that may cause a renewed wave of xenophobia towards the local Asian American and Pacific Islander community. 

According to the Sacramento chapter of OCA, an Asian American advocacy organization, the region has seen a decrease in revenue to Asian American businesses, which they suspect is because people are avoiding them due to fears around the virus. 

“In regards to Asian businesses, restaurants, stores, business has gone down,” said Gregory Jung, President of OCA Sacramento. “We just completed Chinese New Year and usually businesses are bustling with activity, but this year we’re seeing diminished revenue because people are just not going to restaurants and events.” 

He also added they’ve heard of more hate crimes around Asian Americans. Officials in Los Angeles called on the public to refrain from scapegoating Asian American communities.

“We’ve also had incidents of hate crimes at schools, where Asian students are being bullied, the term coronavirus is mentioned, students are told to get away get out of here because you have the coronavirus, so that’s concerning us,” he said. 

Sacramento State professor of Ethnic Studies Timothy Fong added that negative reactions towards Asian Americans during times of heightened fear of disease bring up old and harmful stereotypes. 

“Historically, Asian immigrants have been blamed for all kinds of things, whether it’s venereal disease, kinds of communicable diseases because of old stereotypes of asians being not clean, being dirty, being not civilized, uncouth,” Fong said. 

He cautioned that though the virus originated in China, it doesn’t mean Asian people are the only people who can contract and spread it.

Nancy Xiong, communications director for Hmong advocacy group Hmong Innovating Politics, a, said she had read comments on Facebook that spread misinformation about certain Asian-run businesses. 

“The most recent one I saw was this fear of an employee at Ranch 99 having coronavirus and coming to work,” Xiong said. “But Ranch 99 put out a statement that said that’s false and it never happened, and I feel like there’s a lot of misinformation that’s going out there, especially in these local Facebook groups.” 

To combat rising fears, the Asian Pacific American Advocates Sacramento Chapter is planning an educational forum about the coronavirus Wednesday March 4 at 6 p.m. at the Sacramento State University Ballroom.

This story has been updated with date and time of the coronavirus forum. 


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

    More about Coronavirus

  • NIAID-RML via AP

    Coronavirus In California: Latest Updates And Resources

    The coronavirus has impacted nearly every aspect of life in California and around the world. Here are resources and all our coverage at CapRadio and NPR.

 Coronavirus

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters

More Stories

AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli

Deal pulls California plastic trash measure from ballot

June 30, 2022

CDC via AP

California coronavirus updates: US warily treads forward through another pandemic summer

July 5, 2022

 Massimiliano Finzi/Getty Images

Still testing positive after day 10? How to decide when to end your COVID isolation

July 1, 2022

Most Viewed

One dead, 4 injured in Downtown Sacramento shooting

Northern California wildfires: Where to find updates on air quality, evacuations, and official information

Abortion is still legal in California. Here are answers to questions about access in the state.

California coronavirus updates: US warily treads forward through another pandemic summer

Downtown Sacramento shooting: What we know and latest updates

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

One dead, 4 injured in Downtown Sacramento shooting

Northern California wildfires: Where to find updates on air quality, evacuations, and official information

Abortion is still legal in California. Here are answers to questions about access in the state.

California coronavirus updates: US warily treads forward through another pandemic summer

Downtown Sacramento shooting: What we know and latest updates

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    • (916) 278-8900
    • Toll-free (877) 480-5900
    • Email Us
    • Submit a News Tip
  • Contact Us

  • About Us

    • Contact Us / Feedback
    • Coverage
    • Directions
    • Careers & Internships
    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Press
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile App
    • On Air Schedules
    • Smart Speakers
    • Playlist
    • Podcasts
    • RSS
  • Connect With Us

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2022, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.