Leaders of Denver’s Asian American and Pacific Islanders community Friday, like so many other Americans this week, condemned racism and violence against people of color – but also delivered a specific call to action.

Stop using terms like “China virus” and “Kung flu.”

“Hate crimes against the Asian community in the past year have increased due to the spread of COVID-19 and the rhetoric of elected officials,” said Harry Budisidharta, executive director of the Asian Pacific Development Center in Denver. “Racist people are emboldened when people casually use terms like ‘China virus’ and ‘Kung flu.’ It dehumanizes people and emboldens racists. Words matter. Words have consequences.”

Budisidharta spoke at a Facebook video press conference hosted by Denver City Councilwoman Jamie Torres, District 3. It was one of many community meetings in Denver, and across the nation, calling for solidarity against racism, bigotry and hatred in light of the Tuesday killings of eight people in Atlanta, including six Asian women.

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Budisidharta specifically called out elected officials who continue to use such terms, though not mentioning any names: “There are still elected officials in Colorado using derogatory terms who refuse to change their ways. I ask them to please stand with us, stop using these terms and issue forceful statements condemning hate crimes.”

He was likely referring to U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, representing Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, who tweeted Tuesday – the day of the Atlanta killings: “Though the media doesn’t want to admit it, we’re coming towards the end of the China Virus being a dominant force in our lives. Be happy!”

Boebert’s office did not immediately return an email from a Denver Gazette reporter seeking comment.

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock echoed the sentiment: “We know what’s happening. These terms are a dog whistle. Being an elected official means we recognize that words matter when you target a vulnerable population.”

He urged Denver residents who are a victim of race-related harassment or violence to report it to the Denver Police Department’s “Bias-Motivated Crimes Hotline” at 720-913-6458 or email biascrimesinformation@denvergov.org.

Journalist and AAPI community activist Gil Asakawa reminded attendees of the “Hop Alley/Chinese Riot” of 1880 – Denver’s first recorded race riot. About 3,000 people descended on what is now Lower Downton where a “Chinese ghetto” existed, killing one man and destroying many businesses.

“Despite 150 claims totaling over $30,000, no Chinese were ever paid for property or business losses, nor did this dark day end Denver’s struggles with the underlying issues of racial prejudice,” according to a plaque marking the occasion on a building at 20th and Blake streets.

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“This history of anti-Asian stereotyping and hatred incidents, crimes and violence, is not new – but it’s taken a really ugly turn in the last four years,” Asakawa said.

Joie Ha, vice chair of the Denver Asian American Pacific Islander Commission, said even though Denver police records only show three reported hate crimes against those of Asian descent, the Stop AAPI Hate group reported 37 in the last year in Denver. Out of a recent poll of 200 in the AAPI community, 100 said they’d been victims of verbal harassment “and other actions,” she said.

“The AAPI community is the largest growing population, up to 4 percent here in Denver,” Ha said. “We’ve been here since the 1880s. We built and raised this city. We even stayed after we were interned (at Camp Amache in southeast Colorado during World War II). We continue to be here because we belong here.”