By Heart of Illinois ABC
BLOOMINGTON – The only Asian and person of color on the McLean County Board scolded some fellow board members Thursday night for not speaking out against discrimination and increasing violence against Asians.
Sharon Chung of Bloomington was elected as a Democrat on the county board two years ago.
At Thursday evening’s meeting, Chung said the murders last month of six Asian women in Georgia has taken an emotional toll on her.
Making matters worse, Chung said she felt shocked and horrified when she received in her email a social media post showing a current board member and two other men in a photo with an offensive phrase above the picture that she said she’s heard many times before.
The board member, Chung said, was one of five who last year voted against an amendment to the county’s COVID-19 emergency resolution that removed a sentence that said the virus came from China.
According to Chung, those five members have not apologized or expressed remorse for their actions.
“When asked if he would apologize, one board member refused to do so unless I offered cold, hard proof that my family had been negatively impacted by his vote,” she said.
Chung said she and her family have felt an impact.
Each time she’s out in public, Chung said she feels she has to defend herself and her children from possible verbal and physical attacks.
“Even though I’ve lived in this community for over a decade and I feel like I know the people who live here, I now have to walk around wondering if someone would try to do something to me or my young children,” Chung said.
She also criticized McLean County Board Chairman John McIntyre for not signing a statement denouncing violence and supporting Asians in the community.
“The chairman of this very board wouldn’t sign on, and that is the bare minimum one should do as an elected official in our community,” said Chung.
McIntyre asked Chung to contact him so they can discuss the situation.
“We certainly all empathize with you and feel sorry for the impact this personally had upon you,” McIntyre said.
Board member Lea Cline called on the board to ramp up their commitment to stopping discrimination in the community.
“We should use our positions to advocate for a safe, welcoming community for everyone,” said Cline.
“Right now, our Asian neighbors need to hear this commitment especially,” Cline also said.
