Sandra Oh makes impassioned speech at Stop Asian Hate rally in Pittsburgh

‘I am proud to be Asian. I belong here,’ said Killing Eve star

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.”

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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.