NBC News Now and NBC Asian America to Air 'The Racism Virus', Hosted by Vicky Nguyen

It’s an alarming side-effect of the pandemic – Asian Americans increasingly becoming targets of hate and discrimination. Marking one year since Covid-19 was declared a global pandemic, NBC News NOW and NBC Asian America present The Racism Virus, a streaming special hosted by NBC News’ Vicky Nguyen and streaming on NBC News NOW tonight at 8 p.m. ET.

The special will feature in-depth conversations with Margaret Cho, comedian, actress and fashion designer; Judy Chu, US Representative, D-CA and CAPAC chair; Dr. Russell Jeung, professor of Asian American Studies at San Francisco State University and co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate; Yul Kwon, First Asian American winner of Survivor; NBA basketball player, Jeremy Lin; Benny Luo, CEO of NEXTSHARK; actress Olivia Munn; Amanda Nguyen, CEO and founder of Rise; Jess Owyoung, founding member of Compassion in Oakland; actor Brian Tee; Eric Toda, global head of social marketing at Facebook; Dr. Jenny Wang, clinical psychologist and founder of the Asians for Mental Health community; and Kimmy Yam, reporter for NBC Asian America. NBC News’ investigative and consumer correspondent, Vicky Nguyen will moderate the special.

Since the start of the pandemic one year ago, Americans have seen a stark rise in anti-Asian discrimination and hate attacks occurring nationwide. According to Stop AAPI Hate, between March and December 2020, more than 2,800 hate incidents towards Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have been reported. This special will cover how the community is coping, the psychological and economic toll this discrimination brings and what can be done to bring a sense of belonging and unity again.

NBC News NOW’s special is part of NBC News’ two-week “COVID One Year Later: Life After Lockdown” series on the pandemic, featuring exclusive and original reporting across “TODAY,” “NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt,” MSNBC, NBCNews.com and NBC News NOW.

To watch, tune in tonight to NBC News NOW, available on Peacock, YouTube, YouTube TV, The Roku Channel, Fubo, Xumo, Pluto, Tubi and NBC News’ OTT apps on Roku, Fire TV and Apple TV at 8 p.m. ET and again at 11 p.m. ET.

For all the latest reporting on the AAPI community, visit NBCNews.com/AsianAmerica.