Killing Eve star Sandra Oh made a passionate speech during a Stop Asian Hate rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Saturday (20 March).
The rally was organised in the wake of eight people being killed in shootings at a number of Georgia massage parlours last week, a majority of them women of Asian descent.
“For many of us in our community, this is the first time we are even able to voice our fear and our anger, and I really am so grateful to everyone willing to listen,” the actor can be heard saying in a video that has been circulating on social media.
“One thing that I know is that many in our community are very scared, and I understand that. And one way to go through our fear is to reach out to our community.”
She added: “I will challenge everyone here, if you see something, will you help me? If you see one of our sisters and brothers in need, will you help us?”
Shouts of “yes!” could be heard in response from the crowd.
Oh concluded her speech with: “I am proud to be Asian. I belong here.”
Read more:
- Patsy Palmer ‘does a Piers Morgan’ and storms off Good Morning Britain live on air
- Piers Morgan tries to lecture Gayle King on ‘how to do your job as a journalist’ after call with Meghan and Harry
- ‘I’m crying too’: Fans react to David Tennant choking up over Proclaimers song in Comic Relief
- Netflix secret codes: How to access hidden films
The latest shootings follow a recent wave of attacks against Asian-Americans that have coincided with the spread of Covid-19 across the United States.
Around the country, Asian-American leaders say their communities are facing an increase in hate crimes, as coronavirus fuels xenophobia against Asian people.
Former president Donald Trump frequently branded the pandemic the “China virus” and “Kung Flu”, despite warnings from the World Health Organisation not to use geographic locations when naming illnesses.
Lulu Wang, Olivia Munn, Mindy Kaling and Daniel Dae Kim were among the celebrities to speak out on social media in support of the Asian American community following the shootings in Atlanta.
