Texas Sen. Ted Cruz lambasted the San Antonio City Council following news that they were set to vote on a resolution labeling terms for the coronavirus’s Chinese origin as “hate speech.”
“Resolution being voted on by San Antonio City Council this morning labels terms 'Chinese Virus' and 'Kung Fu Virus' as hate speech and 'all persons are encouraged to report any such antisemitic, discriminatory or racist incidents to the proper authorities for investigation,'” San Antonio, Texas, investigative reporter Jaie Avila wrote on Twitter Thursday.
Cruz, responding to a tweet from syndicated talk show host Joe "Pags" Pagliarulo, called the move “nuts" and used the Twitter hashtag “#nospeechpolice.”
The measure was passed unanimously by the San Antonio City Council moments after Cruz’s tweet.
“Hate speech is more dangerous than the virus itself,” council member Manny Pelaez said during the voting process, according to Avila.
President Trump and others were widely criticized by the press for referring to the coronavirus as the “Chinese virus” despite the fact scientists have concluded the virus originated there.
“It’s not racist at all. No, not at all. It comes from China, that’s why. It comes from China. I want to be accurate,” Trump told reporters in mid-March.