IPINAGMAMALAKI nina Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra at 2019 Southeast Asian Games at Philippine record holder sa pole vault na si Natalie Uy ang pagkakaroon ng dugong-Filipino sa gitna ng anti-Asian violence sa Amerika at iba’t ibang panig ng mundo.
Kamakalawa ay hindi napigilan ni Spoelstra na maglabas ng galit sa patuloy na tumataas na mga kaso ng anti-Asian violence simula nang pumutok ang COVID-19 pandemic.
“Look, I am Asian American. I’m proud to be Asian American. And seeing what’s happening, with another just outright form of racism and hatred, it really is sickening,” sabi ni Spoelstra na ang ina ay isang Pinay. “It breaks my heart. It is despicable.”
Noong Biyernes ay nagpahayag naman ng lungkot at takot ang half-Pinay din na si Uy matapos ang naganap na pamamaril sa kanilang lugar sa Atlanta, Georgia kung saan maraming residenteng Asians.
“Feeling overwhelmed and shaky, knowing that 6 women were killed in the same city as me, for looking the same as me, leaves me speechless and scared,” ayon sa social media post niya.
“No matter what, I will always be proud to be Asian and will not let this taint how amazing it is to be Filipino-American. I feel bad for people who can’t see the beauty in other ethnicities. Must be a hard life living with so much hate in your heart,” sabi ni Uy.
“Asian is beautiful, Latino is beautiful, African-American is beautiful, every race is beautiful. Please take a look inside and see what’s going on inside you – do you have prejudiced thoughts that still have a hold on you? Let them go already. Be kind and love others. It’s not that hard,” giit ni Uy habang nagpapagaling sa wrist injury.
Nakatakda siyang sumabak sa mga Olympic qualifying tournament sa huling tatlong buwan bago ang Tokyo Games sa Hulyo.
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