Donald Trump sued for using the term “China Virus” to refer to Covid-19

A civil rights group is suing former US president Donald Trump for coining the term, “China Virus” to refer to Covid-19. The Chinese Americans Civil Rights Coalition have filed a complaint in a federal court in New York, alleging that Trump’s terminology had no substance to back it up and was a source of distress to Chinese Americans. The former president used the term frequently, along with the words, “Kung Flu” when discussing the pandemic in public.

In its complaint, the CACRC alleges that Trump’s words were used without any consideration being given to the resulting impact on Chinese Americans. The US has seen a surge in violent attacks against Asian Americans, with a significant number being of Chinese descent, a development being attributed to the influence of Trump’s speeches.

The lawsuit goes on to claim that the former president persisted with his negative terminology even as debate over the origins of Covid-19 continued.

“The truth matters, words have consequences, especially from those in powerful and influential positions. Trump intentionally repeated those defamatory words to serve his own personal and political interest with an astonishing level of actual malice and negligence, hence severely injuring the Chinese/Asian American communities in the process.”

The CACRC is calling for an apology that includes US$1 being paid to each Asian American and Pacific Islander residing in the US, or US$22.9 million in total. The group says the money would be used to found a museum highlighting the history of both communities and the contribution Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have made to the US.

SOURCE: Nation Thailand