Rep. Grace Meng, D-N.Y., on Thursday lamented the effect of the coronavirus pandemic on the Asian community — with both economic and violent consequences.
In an interview Thursday with MSNBC, Meng stressed the "importance of not being scared" of the infection known as COVID-19.
Asian operated "businesses have fallen in so many cases . . . from the fear that's being perpetuated in a very harmful way," she said.
Meng has been particularly critical of House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., referring to the outbreak as the "Chinese coronavirus," also was critical of Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., calling it the "Wuhan virus."
"It's terribly irresponsible for anyone who uses 'Wuhan' or 'Chinese virus,'" she said. "It is having harmful effects," including attacks on Asian-Americans.
"I tried to talk to McCarthy . . . to explain the impact his words . . . are having in our communities . . . the assaults," she added.
In a separate interview with NBC News, Meng charged McCarthy "was not very interested in hearing stories of people being bullied or assaulted."
"He just kept saying to me, 'Well, if The New York Times had done this . . . would you call them out?' And I said, 'Easily, when I've seen it, I have called them out. It's my job, to try to help share and inform people,'" she said.
"And he laughed as he walked away and he said, 'Well, at least you're consistent.'"
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