Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

listen live donate
listen live donate
listen live
donate
  • News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
    News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
    Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
  • Podcasts & Shows
  • Schedules
  • Events
  • Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
    Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About
  • 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

Stephanie Hughes

Garbology is the study of trash. This is why students love it

March 24, 2023

Gregory Bull / AP Photo

CSU faculty salary study shows wide dissatisfaction despite pay being at national averages

March 25, 2023

AP Photo/José Luis Villegas

Kings can clinch first NBA playoff appearance in 16 years on Wednesday

March 27, 2023

Most Viewed

California coronavirus updates: Americans' life expectancy has dropped to 76 years, second time in a row since pandemic

State may scale down its new home loan program designed to assist first-time homebuyers

Another atmospheric river brings more rain, wind and snow to Northern California

Cooking with gas — or electricity? Californians wonder how electrification might impact the food we eat

Assembly approves oil profit penalty bill, sending it to Newsom

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

California coronavirus updates: Americans' life expectancy has dropped to 76 years, second time in a row since pandemic

State may scale down its new home loan program designed to assist first-time homebuyers

Another atmospheric river brings more rain, wind and snow to Northern California

Cooking with gas — or electricity? Californians wonder how electrification might impact the food we eat

Assembly approves oil profit penalty bill, sending it to Newsom

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    •  
      (916) 278-8900
    •  
      (877) 480-5900
    •  Contact / Feedback
    •  Submit a Tip / Story Idea
  • About

    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Stations & Coverage Map
    • Careers & Internships
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
    • Press
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile Apps
    • Smart Speakers
    • Podcasts & Shows
    • On-Air Schedules
    • Daily Playlist
    • Signal Status
  • Connect

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen Live

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2023, 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.