Smithsonian accepts “Fight the Virus, NOT the People” COVID-19 banner as historical artifact
The Smithsonian Institution has just announced that the National Museum of American History will officially accept a 20-by-4-foot red vinyl banner with the words, “Fight the Virus, NOT the People” from the San Francisco Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA) in a May 10 ceremony. This banner is the most recent artifact added to the nation’s COVID-19 collections documenting the effects, experiences, and enormity of the pandemic.
“This one artifact shows how members of the oldest Chinatown in North America challenged scapegoating during a public health crisis, a story that traces the ongoing discrimination and violence faced by people of Asian American descent and illuminates their resiliency,” said Anthea M. Hartig, the museum’s Elizabeth MacMillan Director. “It is a humbling honor to accept this banner on behalf of the nation’s flagship history museum.”
“The CCBA is grateful that the Smithsonian acknowledges what happened to Chinese and Asian Americans during the 2020–2022 pandemic,” said Walter Wong, CCBA president. “Through this banner, we hope our community’s struggle for justice and freedom from racism and discrimination will be made known to Americans and museum visitors. We hope this is just the beginning of our community’s continuing relationship with the Smithsonian.”
Currently, there are no immediate plans for the banner to be displayed but the museum is working on a digital program. Perhaps the banner will be on display in the forthcoming National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture, if/when approved.
