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Coalition Decries Xenophobia, Stereotyping in 2010 Midterm Elections
Asian American and Pacific Islander Organizations Express Concern
Regarding Xenophobic Rhetoric in 2010 Election Campaigns
Coalition Release
Immigrant and civil rights organizations within the Asian American
and Pacific Islander community express concern regarding the use of
xenophobic rhetoric and imagery being used in this year’s election
races. Statements and electoral campaign tactics from public officials
and political candidates that malign Asian Americans and Pacific
Islanders as well as other communities of color have emerged and
continue in the months leading up to the elections. Such messaging has
harmfully impacted our communities and the undersigned organizations
urge all candidates, political parties, and those who attain office to
ensure that civility and inclusion return to the national political
discourse.
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have experienced an extended
history of treatment as “perpetual foreigners.” This stereotype has
unfortunately manifested itself in the political realm where the
community has repeatedly been portrayed as disloyal and threatening,
particularly in the years following 9/11; often cast as outsiders
seeking to “steal American jobs”; looked at with suspicion and fear; and
painted as aliens within a country we have long called home. This
election year, candidates of Asian American or Pacific Islander descent
have been called racial epithets and accused of being unable to relate
to voters because of accents or “foreign” last names. Other remarks have
alluded to fears of immigrant, including Muslim, “invasions.” Concerns
about the economy have also exacerbated the scapegoating of minorities.
For example, in numerous political advertisements blaming trade and
outsourcing to China as a reason for the country’s current economic
distress, the faces of Asian Americans are conflated with the idea of
threatening foreign powers.
Inserting xenophobic rhetoric and imagery within political discourse
has wide-ranging consequences affecting how members of certain groups
are viewed by the public and treated by the government. The combined
impact of xenophobic rhetoric used by politicians and candidates has
already reached a critical stage, most recently in the aftermath of
statements made by candidates against the Park51 Islamic cultural center
in Lower Manhattan. Ahmed Sharif, a Bangladeshi-American cab driver who
has lived in the United States for 25 years was brutally stabbed by a
passenger who asked if he was Muslim, and a turbaned Sikh convenience
store clerk in Seattle was punched in the head after being called
“Al-Qaeda.” Such hate crimes show that the use of racist and xenophobic
rhetoric has real-life consequences.
As Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders become more involved in
civic life, we call upon political parties to promote an environment
that welcomes the inclusion of diverse perspectives and experiences. In
the final day before this year’s elections, we urge political candidates
to refrain from using xenophobic language and imagery. We also urge
those elected into office to support policies that address the
discrimination and bias that our community members continue to face.
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Disclaimer: The signatory organizations are non-profit,
non-partisan organizations and neither support nor oppose any political
party or candidate running for public office.
Endorsing Organizations
- Asian American Justice Center (AAJC)
- Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS)
- Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA)
- Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO)
- Japanese American Citizens League (JACL)
- Laotian American National Alliance (LANA)
- National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health
Association
- National Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NAKASEC)
- OCA – Embracing the Hopes and Aspirations of Asian Pacific
Americans
- Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF)
- South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT)
- Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC)
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