Since the start of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic last March, there has been a rise in racist acts and violence against Asian Americans. A study by the center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at Cal State San Bernardino found anti-Asian hate crime increased 149% between 2019 and 2020.
More people are beginning to speak out on these issues, including professional basketball player Jeremy Lin, who revealed he has been the target of hate-fueled comments on the court.
After becoming aware of this, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts felt it was important to address the organization via email on the nationwide attacks of Asian Americans.