Mayor Edwin M. Lee today issued the following statement:

As the son of Chinese immigrants, as well as the Mayor of a city with a thriving Chinese population, I must speak out against the offensive and demeaning video that aired on the O’Reilly Factor.

It is not only an attack on the Chinese community but on all people who have come to the United States in search of freedom, prosperity and a life free of persecution.  At a time when divisiveness and negativity drives the conversation around immigration, we must remember that our country was founded and built by immigrants. The stereotypes depicted in the segment feed into the racist notions that drive our communities apart and diminish the positive impact our immigrant populations have on our country.

We cannot stand by and watch as entire populations are ridiculed and vilified. Working together as Americans is the only way we can defeat this type of racism and bigotry.