CNN "Newsroom" - Transcript Interview with Judy Chu

Interview

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BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN HOST: Back to our big story, the murder spree in Atlanta overtight that left eight dead, the majority of those victims being Asian women. Police say the man arrested for the rampage has admitted to the shootings but still unclear if anti-Asian hate and racism was the specific motivation.

With me California Congresswoman Judy Chu. Congresswoman Chu, a pleasure. Welcome.

REP. JUDY CHU (D-CA): Thank you so much.

BALDWIN: It is my understanding you think there is one person responsible for anti-Asian hate and that is Donald Trump. Explain.

CHU: Since the start of the pandemic, he's been calling this the China virus, Wuhan virus and even kung-flu. Despite the fact the CDC and the World Health Organization have said not to use such a name that deals with geography or ethnicity because of the stigma that causes and tends to use the neutral term COVID-19.

But he doubled down on that usage and has insisted on it even as of a few days ago and so have his Republican followers. So, now, we have had a spike in anti-Asian hate crimes and incidents. As of now, 3,800 anti-Asian hate crimes and incidents have occurred. And 68 percent of them have been against women, hence, we are not surprised by what happened yesterday. It is the aftermath of all of this.

BALDWIN: Do you think, Congresswoman, because we're talking about this, also because of what happened in Atlanta, and again, police aren't connecting the dots, but are you? Do you think that happened because of Donald Trump?

CHU: Look, I am connecting the dots. All three of these businesses were Asian spas. The first place that the shooter went to was called Young Asian Massage. And six of the victims were Asian immigrant women. Now, we have been concerned because most recently, these anti-Asian

hate crimes and incidents have been against the elderly and the vulnerable. And so who can be more vulnerable than immigrant Asian women which these women were.

So, yes, I am connecting the dots here. And saying that this kind of anti-Asian hate has to stop. We all have to stand against it.

BALDWIN: I hear your perspective, again, just these investigators, they're not directly linking race to these crimes at least as of yet. The suspect told investigators that he had issues potentially, sexual addiction and may have frequented some of these massage parlors, these spas in the past.

Obviously, we know members of the Asian-American community right now are furious and are fearful. Would it give you any peace of mind to learn from investigators that this was not racially motivated?

CHU: Well, there is what he will admit to versus what may be the truth. And in fact, a person may have multiple reasons for committing a crime, but only talk about one of them.

I just have to think that there is something having to do with ethnicity here, because of the venues that he chose to target.

Nonetheless, what I really want is for a whole of community response. I want law enforcement to prosecute the person who was responsible. But I also want the community to protect the neighborhood and the victims and for the families of these victims to make sure that they have all the resources that they need.

And most importantly, we all have to stand together in speaking out against this anti-Asian hate that is increasing around the nation.

BALDWIN: I so appreciate your words. And of course, the call to action, Congresswoman Judy Chu. Thank you.

CHU: Thank you.

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