Latest news with #AngieWong
Calgary Herald
06-08-2025
- Health
- Calgary Herald
How fear, racism and smallpox fuelled an attack on Calgary's first Chinatown
Article content The narrative that the outbreak of smallpox was the fault of Chinese migrants from Vancouver and Victoria was reported in the Calgary Herald in the weeks before the event. Article content 'If the Chinese now at the quarantine are sent back into town there will be trouble,' said a July 19 editorial. Article content Though initial coverage of the riot in an article titled Hunting Chinamen condemned the violence — commending the town of Calgary's 'orderly, law-respecting spirit' — later comments in the Herald would suggest methods to root out the 'obnoxious element' while respecting their right to personal liberty and safety. Article content 'We may decide among ourselves that these may become nests of disease, and we may abstain from sending washing to them,' an Aug. 5 article said of the Chinese laundries on Stephen Avenue. Article content Article content Tony Wong, the former president of the Chinese Cultural Centre in Calgary, says the riot still exists in the cultural memory of Calgary's Chinese population, though only among historically minded members of the community. Article content Article content 'When the culture centre first opened in 1992, every year we received over 400 school groups, and I often would conduct tours,' he says. Article content But as the education system moved away from Chinese history and culture, he notes that the knowledge of the Calgary Chinese community's history declined. Article content He says that although the outright prejudice against Chinese people has waned, the otherness — or quality of being different — experienced by the Chinese population is alive and well. Article content During the COVID-19 pandemic, subtle discrimination emerged in new ways. Angie Wong says fears about the virus's origin echoed historical stereotypes of Chinese people as disease-carrying — the same narratives that fuelled the smallpox riot in 1892. Article content The Calgary Police Service publicly noted an increase in hate‑motivated incidents during the pandemic directed at Asian Canadians in the city. Unlike in 1892, where city officials largely dismissed violence, local authorities in 2020 and 2021 explicitly monitored and investigated COVID‑related anti‑Asian incidents, including vandalism and verbal harassment. Article content Article content For many in the community, it was a painful reminder: Even a century later, prejudice can resurface, especially in times of fear. Article content Tony Wong says it will take effort to connect Calgarians with the Chinese community, but it can be done. Article content 'I worked in Sun Life Plaza, right across the street from Chinatown, for 20 years, and some of my colleagues have never set foot in Chinatown,' he says. 'It's something they don't understand. So, I'm not saying that these colleagues of mine, they have prejudice, but they have some mental block.'
Al Arabiya
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Gaza's struggle, Syria's future, and US politics recap
In this episode of Global News Today, presented by Tom Burges Watson, we focus on Gaza as hopes continue to hang in the balance over a possible ceasefire. We speak exclusively to Dr. Mohammed Mustafa, a British doctor who shares harrowing insights from working inside a Gaza hospital. We also turn our attention to Syria, speaking with an advisor to the Syrian government about efforts to rebuild the country and revive its battered economy. Plus, we wrap up a dramatic week in US politics with analysis from political commentator Angie Wong. Guests: Dr. Mohammed Mustafa – British-Australian doctor
Int'l Business Times
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Florida Republican Ridiculed for 'Islamophobic' Argument That New Yorkers Would Be Scared 'Living With a Muslim Mayor': 'Disgusting'
A Florida Republican is being ridiculed online for suggesting that New York residents would be scared "living with a Muslim mayor" following the results of the Democratic New York City mayoral primary. Angie Wong, a political commentator and Republican committee member from Miami, suggested that people were "concerned about their safety" if Democratic socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani, who won the Democratic primary on Tuesday, were to win the mayoral race later this year. "I'm hearing from various people here in New York and they're concerned about their safety living here with a Muslim mayor," Wong said during a discussion on CNN Thursday night. Wong's declaration was quickly met with pushback from several of the other panelists. "The idea that because he is Muslim, he is a threat to Jewish New Yorkers — is that really what you're saying?" CNN anchor Abby Phillip asked. "No, it's because of his anti-Israel rhetoric he's been putting out," Wong insisted. "But what does that have to do with him being Muslim?" Phillip pushed. "You can go after his policies but what does that have to do with his faith?" "It's not about his faith, it's because he is perpetuating this anti-Israeli rhetoric and New Yorkers are hearing it and they're scared. That's what I'm hearing back from friends," Wong said. Despite Wong's insistence that the assertion was based on what she had heard from locals, her declaration was met with backlash online, with several users accusing her of being "Islamophobic." "If it doesn't matter he's Muslim why'd you bring up his religion you bigots??" one user questioned . Another wrote , "This is Islamophobic. She said the quiet part out loud." "Not all people who are Muslim engage in criminal behavior. Good grief," one user lamented . One added , "People are just flat out disgusting." Mamdani, who is Muslim and Indian, beat former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who was favored to win, in the primary Tuesday. The Democratic socialist's success was met with heavy backlash from Republicans and MAGA supporters. The 33-year-old will go on to face off against Cuomo again in November, who reportedly plans to continue running as an independent, as well as current Mayor Eric Adams, who is also running as an independent, Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa and independent candidate Jim Walden. Originally published on Latin Times
Al Arabiya
29-05-2025
- Business
- Al Arabiya
Trump tariffs blocked, Musk exits White House, and Israel expands West Bank settlement
In this episode of W News, presented by Leigh-Ann Gerrans, we unpack a major court ruling that has blocked former President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs, with judges declaring he exceeded his authority — a decision now under appeal that's shaken global markets. Shane McGinley reacts to the White House briefing as businesses scramble for clarity, while Gemma White breaks down the market rally that followed. Elon Musk steps down from his White House role but vows to keep pushing his DOGE mission — we hear from Miami GOP Committeewoman Angie Wong. And as Israel greenlights its largest West Bank settlement expansion in decades, sparking global backlash, we speak to experts Asher Fredman and Mohammad Houari about the fallout and potential ceasefire talks in Gaza. Plus, the EU lifts economic sanctions on Syria, and we explore how a Gen Z gender divide could reshape politics in South Korea. Guests:
