アジア系の米五輪選手、人種差別の経験明かす

【ロサンゼルスＡＦＰ＝時事】東京五輪を目指すアジア系米国人アスリートが7日、自らが経験した人種差別被害を告白し、自分たちの持つプラットフォームを生かしてアジア系差別への関心を高めたいと話した。（写真は空手女子のサクラ・コクマイ）
　ここ１年、米国ではアジア系を標的とするヘイトクライム（憎悪犯罪）が急増しており、活動家らはドナルド・トランプ前大統領が新型コロナウイルスを「中国ウイルス」と繰り返し呼んだことが、その一因だと指摘している。
　数日前には２０１８年平昌冬季五輪のスノーボードで金メダルを獲得したクロエ・キムが、毎日のようにソーシャルメディアで人種差別的な嫌がらせを受けていると告白した中で、この日は米代表チームのメディアイベントに臨んだ体操男子のユル・モルダウアーと空手女子のサクラ・コクマイが、最近経験したアジア系差別を打ち明けた。
　日本にルーツを持つコクマイは、先週公園でトレーニングをしていた際に男性から言葉による嫌がらせを受けたと明かし、「ショックを受けた。そのときは状況をのみ込もうとして、事態をエスカレートしても仕方がないから笑い飛ばした」と声をつまらせながら話した。「最後に人種差別的な暴言を受けた。そのことに関しては今でもまだ少し感情的になる」
　また、自身の経験と全米で話題になっているアジア系への暴力行為は比較にならないとしつつ、「人々は殴られ、切りつけられ、殺されている」とした上で、「私たちはターゲットで、暴力や嫌がらせは現実」と述べた。
　「誰にでも起こり得るということを広めたい。お互いのために存在し、お互いを守らなければならない」
　韓国生まれのモルダウアーも、自身の知名度を生かして米国における反アジア系暴力への関心を集めたいとしている。「絶対に自分の立場を使うつもりだ。それが自分だし、なりたい自分」というモルダウアーは、「誰かの謝罪や同情を得ようとしているのではない。とにかく認識を広めたい」と語った。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2021/04/09-12:25）

Asian-American athletes hoping to represent the United States at this year's Olympics shared personal stories of racist abuse on Wednesday, vowing to use their platforms to raise awareness in the fight against discrimination.
The United States has seen a surge in anti-Asian violence in the past year, which activists have attributed to the rhetoric of former President Donald Trump, who repeatedly characterised Covid-19 as the China virus.
Speaking at a Team USA media event, South Korea-born gymnast Yul Moldauer and Sakura Kokumai, a female karate exponent who is of Japanese heritage, both detailed recent experiences of anti-Asian racism.
Moldauer, who was adopted by a family in Colorado as a one-year-old, said he had dealt with racist jokes and stereotypes throughout his life, usually opting to just push it away.
The 24-year-old said he his recent experience of racism occurred while out driving his car. Last month I was driving and a lady cut me off, he said. And at the lights she pulled up and yelled at me 'Go back to China'.
When I heard those words I laughed and shrugged at it, Moldauer added. Because at the end of the day my job is to represent this country no matter what.
If an individual feels like they need to harass me or say something, I'm just going to push it away. Because there are so many other great Americans that I get to represent.
The 28-year-old Kokumai, who will be competing in an Olympics for the first time as karate makes its Olympic debut, meanwhile choked up as she described being racially abused last week.
I was training at the park and a man started to verbally harass me, Kokumai said. I was kind of shocked by it. I was still processing it at the time and laughed it off as there was no point escalating the situation.
There were racial slurs at the end of the incident. I'm still a little bit emotional about it.
Kokumai and Moldauer's remarks come just days after US Olympic snowboard champion Chloe Kim revealed last week she receives racist abuse via social media on a daily basis.
Moldauer meanwhile said he planned to use his profile to draw attention to anti-Asian violence in the United States.
With the platform I have I'm definitely going to use it, he said. It's who I am and who I want to be. I'm not trying to get anyone to say sorry or pity me, I'm just trying to raise awareness.
Kokumai said her experience did not compare to violent assaults against Asians which have recently made national headlines in the US.
People are getting hit, people are getting slashed and people are getting killed, Kokumai said.
We are being targeted and the violence and the harassment is real.
I want to raise awareness that this can happen to anybody. We need to be there for each other and protect each other.