Actress and philanthropist Angel Locsin joined the growing number of personalities speaking up against anti-Asian attacks, saying "hate is a virus."
Locsin expressed solidarity with her countrymen abroad and all other people of Asian descent who are experiencing racism.
She shared a photo on Instagram of herself wearing a face mask emblazoned with the words "hate is a virus."
"To my fellow Filipinos and to everyone of Asian descent who are experiencing cowardly attacks and racial slurs, I may not be the one experiencing this, but I stand with you," Locsin said.
Locsin's statement came in light of increasing racial violence in the U.S., which has spawned the hashtags #StopAsianHate and #StopAsianHateCrimes.
Last week, a 65-year-old Filipina was assaulted in New York on her way to church. In February, the family of the late Filipino-American war veteran Angelo Quinto, 30, filed a wrongful death claim against California police whom they accused of kneeling on her neck. The violence was reminiscent of the death of George Floyd, the catalyst for Black Lives Matter.
Locsin encouraged the public to continue speaking up against racist attacks, saying any form of hate "is like a virus that can easily spread anywhere if not stopped."
"So, no matter how frightening, stand and speak up against this pointless hatred—instead of shrugging it off—because this will not go away on its own. Let’s help each other," she said.
"To the many Filipinos living abroad in the hopes of providing a better future for their loved ones, please stay safe. Look out for each other, maybe try to learn self-defense, report to proper authorities. Fighting hate with hate and violence will never stop this vicious cycle," she said.
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