Cleveland Indians infielder Yu Chang revealed on Twitter Tuesday morning that he received several racist messages via social media after the Indians’ loss to the White Sox.
Chang tweeted early Tuesday morning: “Exercise your freedom of speech in a right way, I accept all comments, positive or negative but DEFINITELY NOT RACIST ONES. Thank you all and love you all. #StopAsianHate.”
Exercise your freedom of speech in a right way, I accept all comments, positive or negative but DEFINITELY NOT RACIST ONES.
— Yu Chang 張育成 (@YutheSouljaBoy) April 13, 2021
Thank you all and love you all💪🏽#StopAsianHate pic.twitter.com/xMaWc59wvt
The Indians lost when Sox pinch runner Nick Madrigal scored from second when Chang, attempting to begin a double play, hit Yasmani Grandal’s helmet, giving the Sox a 4-3 victory.
Chang, who was born in Taiwan, has primarily played shortstop with the Indians.
For the win! pic.twitter.com/5mbEQYgjHM
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) April 13, 2021
There has been a rise in anti-Asian hate crimes over the past year as the COVID-19 pandemic has gripped the country, partly fueled by rhetoric from former President Donald Trump. In Illinois, 92 anti-Asian hate incidents were reported from March 19, 2020, through the end of February to the group Stop AAPI Hate, which monitors anti-Asian hate incidents, and 3,795 nationally.
Six Asian women were among eight people killed in shootings at Atlanta-area spas last month.
