Sandra Oh Gave a Passionate Speech at a ‘Stop Asian Hate’ Rally: ‘I Am Proud to Be Asian’

Sandra Oh gave a moving speech at a “Stop Asian Hate” rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on March 20.

Days following the horrific Atlanta shootings, Oh led the Pittsburgh crowd in a chant saying, “I am proud to be Asian.”

“Pittsburgh, I am so happy and proud to be here with you, and thank you to all the organizers for organizing this just to give us an opportunity to be together and to stand together and to feel each other,” Oh said, according to CBS Pittsburgh. “For many of us in our community, this is the first time we are even able to voice our fear and our anger, and I really am so grateful to everyone willing to listen.”

“I know many of us in our community are very scared and I understand that,” the Grey’s Anatomy actor continued. “And one way to get through our fear is to reach out to our communities. I will challenge everyone here, if you see something will you help me?”

You can watch Oh’s full speech, here.

On March 16, a 21-year-old white man targeted three massage parlors near Atlanta, Georgia. Among the eight people killed, six were Asian women. Victims include Soon Chung Park, Hyun Jung Grant, Suncha Kim, Yong Ae Yue, Delaina Ashley Yuan, Paul Andre Michels, Xiaojie Yan, and Daoyou Feng.

Since the attack, many celebrities have spoken out about the increased number of crimes against Asian Americans amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Sandra Oh shared a message to the families of the victims on Instagram on March 18, along with links for ways to donate and spread awareness. “I send loving kindness and support to the families of the eight souls murdered in Georgia on March 16,” she wrote. “And to all the victims of racist violence. I am devastated and profoundly angry. I know many of you are scared but let us not be afraid. Remember #itsanhonorjusttobeasian.”