George Takei commended President Joe Biden for his condemnation of anti-Asian violence, contrasting him with Donal...
George Takei commended President Joe Biden for his condemnation of anti-Asian violence, contrasting him with Donald Trump repeatedly saying things like “China virus” and “kung flu” on the campaign trail.
The iconic actor and activist spoke with Katy Tur Wednesday about anti-Asian violence and hate crimes in the wake of the horrific shootings in three Atlanta area spas this week.
Takei said it was “enraging” to hear what police officials were saying about the suspect, calling out the “sexual addiction” comments as he talked about the history of sexualization of Asian women.
“It’s convenient for that Georgia sheriff to have a simple sex addiction, case because it fits his convenience. It becomes more complicated when it becomes a racial case. But law enforcement has got to face the reality — it is visibly, obviously racial. It is clear. And for him to try to sell it as a sexual addiction case is ignorant and hypocritical,” he said.
Tur asked how Americans can do better and get past stereotypes about Asian-Americans and Asian women in particular.
Takei responded by saying leadership is important. He commended Biden for his comments about anti-Asian hate crimes last week and contrasted him with his predecessor
“President Biden has exhibited that last week when he made that speech. This is racism, and it is intolerable, and it’s got to stop. And it is in dramatic contrast to the has-been, gone president who continued to play to the ignorant and racists in America by continuing to refer to the coronavirus as the ‘China flu’ or ‘kung flu.’ So it happens with leadership. Some are led by the masses. Others truly lead and educate and enlighten, and that’s what President Biden is doing.”
When Tur asked about the impact of what Trump said, Takei described it as a “chill that goes out throughout the country.”
You can watch above, via MSNBC.
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