Andrew Yang
(Picture: Twitter)A New York mayoral candidate has been slammed for his comments about mental health, that people have said are ‘alarming’.
Speaking during a mayoral debate against other candidates, Andrew Yang garnered criticism after he implied that mentally ill people were dangerous and should be kept of the streets.
He said:
Andrew Yang: "Yes, mentally ill people have rights, but you know who else has rights? We do!" pic.twitter.com/l6AJ4xpqWV
— KnowNothing (@KnowNothingTV) June 17, 2021
“Yes mentally ill people have rights but do you know who else have rights? We do, the people and families of the city. We have the right to walk the street and not fear for our safety because a mentally ill person is going to lash out at us.”
Yang was talking about the rise in hate crimes perpetrated against Asian Americans and claimed that mentally ill people are more likely to commit these crimes. While he said mentally ill people should be supported, and pledged to make more beds in psychiatric wards available if elected as mayor, many found his language distasteful.
Here’s a taste of the backlash:
I am an Asian person living in NYC who cannot vote in the municipal election. I also have anxiety. Andrew Yang's comments about people with mental illness are alarming.
— Karen K. Ho (@karenkho) June 17, 2021
Mentally ill people are 2.5 times more likely to be the VICTIM of violent crime than the general public.
— Kendall Youens (@kendallybrown) June 17, 2021
But rather than protect a marginalized community, Andrew Yang is making attacking disabled ppl a cornerstone of his entire campaign. #CripTheVote https://t.co/slq0be4xoq
Mentally ill people deserve rights, healthcare, and respect. Andrew Yang talking about getting mentally ill people off the streets so that other people don’t have to *deal* with us is truly appalling and is setting a lot of progress we’ve made back.
— Coll hates golf 🐬🎃🕸👻💀 (@BookSyrup) June 17, 2021
If for some reason you don't immediately see how disgusting this is, just replace "mentally ill" with any other group.
— KnowNothing (@KnowNothingTV) June 17, 2021
Rights are not conditional, and it is horrible and divisive to talk as if mentally ill people's (or any group's) rights come at the cost of others.
Yang is a businessman who briefly ran in the 2020 presidential election. He is a Democrat and believes in a universal basic income policy to support people. He has said he wants to be an ‘anti-poverty’ mayor.
And responding to the criticism, after the clip of his poor taste of words went viral, Yang attempted to justify himself:
Agree. Have been an advocate for mental health and will continue. Went to counseling as a young person. Full context here was mental illness is behind half of anti-Asian hate crimes. We need to get them compassionate comprehensive care - and not let them languish on our streets. https://t.co/vYAIwKcpM1
— Andrew Yang🧢🗽🇺🇸 (@AndrewYang) June 17, 2021
Regardless of his intentions, he really appears to have put his foot in it.
