Former NBA guard Jeremy Lin is speaking out with respect to rising hate crimes perpetrated against Asian Americans and Asians in general.

Lin issued a statement on his Facebook page Thursday afternoon, revealing he himself has dealt with racial epithets. Lin said he has been called “coronavirus” on the court, adding racism against the Asian American community deserves more awareness:

“Something is changing in this generation of Asian Americans,” Jeremy Lin said. “We are tired of being told that we don't experience racism, we are tired of being told to keep our heads down and not make trouble. We are tired of Asian American kids growing up and being asked where they're REALLY from, of having our eyes mocked, of being objectified as exotic or being told we're inherently unattractive. We are tired of the stereotypes in Hollywood affecting our psyche and limiting who we think we can be. We are tired of being invisible, of being mistaken for our colleague or told our struggles aren't as real.”

Jeremy Lin previously spoke to NBC Sports Bay Area about racial issues in America. The Palo Alto native explained the need for cross-cultural unity among minorities in standing against racism, also saying he hopes to find ways to “educate” people and manifest change. Last year, he called out Donald Trump for referring to COVID-19 as the “Chinese virus.”

There has been a rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans in the past year, including in the Bay Area. The president of Oakland's Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, Carl Chan, reported there were over 20 robberies and attacks in the area in January of 2021. CBS News reported an 867 percent in hate crimes against Asian Americans in New York City.

Jeremy Lin clarified his status as a professional basketball player has not made him exempt from such vitriol. He wants to be part of a wave of change in America. But the first step is the U.S. acknowledging its poor treatment of Asian American communities.