A video uploaded by a woman who goes by the name “min” on Twitter records a woman on a New York subway covering her lower face while she looks at her phone. According to min, this woman “immediately covers her mouth with a scarf when she sees me,” which caused the young Asian woman to suspect that racism was involved.
So I get on the train and this white woman immediately covers her mouth with a scarf when she sees me. I thought it would be interesting to fake cough and see how she reacts. The racism is showing Jan! (Too bad we couldn’t hear her mumbling under that racism!) pic.twitter.com/DW4HNdoKwh
— Min (@princessmin_c) March 2, 2020
The video has gone viral since Monday, gaining 4.3 million views in less than two days. This accusation comes on the heels of reports detailing increases in racial discrimination against anyone who might appear to have East Asian roots as the coronavirus spreads across the U.S. and the world. In spite of the fact that there is no reason to think anyone of any race is more likely to be carrying the virus than anyone else, establishments such as Chinese restaurants are losing business and incidents of attacks against people of Asian descent have been on the rise.
In the video, min tests her theory by pretending to cough into her elbow in front of the other woman, who looks up and says something that is muffled by her scarf. When min asks her to speak up, the white woman gets up and moves to the other end of the subway car.
Unfortunately, min is now facing a wave of abuse, as well as plenty of deniers who can’t seem to understand the basic points the young woman is trying to make.
Can’t even believe I have to explain this to a few ignorant people but THE POINT is that she covered her face before I was even fake coughing. If she wanted to move quietly because someone was coughing by her I understand but she discriminated against me once she SAW ME.
— Min (@princessmin_c) March 3, 2020
The video has even spread to 4chan, where trolls have inundated her with hate messages and caused her to consider deleting the video, though she ultimately decided to keep it up because deleting it would be “what they want.”
But the toll this is taking on her has made her understand why other Asian individuals are hesitant to speak out against anti-Asian racism.
https://twitter.com/princessmin_c/status/1235003995615358982?s=20
Thankfully, many others have spoken out in support of min.
@princessmin_c couldnt dm you so thought i’d just @ you tho your mentions are probably a mess. Same thing happened to me yesterday among others.. sending love and light and im sorry you had to experience that as well as deal with racist trolls now. Here for you any time 🙌
— brianna is in 🇬🇧 (@fragileflame13) March 4, 2020
You’re doing amazing Min. Turn those notifications off and protect your peace.
— *blames astrology* (@_lizziesmalls) March 4, 2020
To everyone in the thread: Face masks/face coverings don’t help against Coronavirus so yes, she’s being racist for covering her face because an Asian was in proximity. It’s racist to think that someone has something just because of their race.
— Gender Studies (@Acausal_Paradox) March 3, 2020
So sorry you have to endure such ignorance!!!😢 Hateful acts like that will reflect on their karma once this v serious sickness is resolved. It’s not right nor funny for someone to be so rude and arrogant, The NERVE! Stay strong& blessed lovely we will get thru it together ! 😘
— Yuri C (@waacee_) March 4, 2020
Girl don’t listen to them, you’re beautiful keep exposing these fakes
— e (@esanchez_) March 4, 2020
Dont let people like that affect your day or your life. They are the one living in a sad world. Just get on league and everything will be good
— Steward (@StewardPlays) March 4, 2020
If only there was a vaccine for racism.
