India Post News Service
Garnering support for Prop 16, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders held a virtual rally this past Wednesday, August 12, joined by prominent AAPI leaders from across California. Speakers included Assembly member David Chiu, Assembly member Ash Kalra, and three panelists: Tracy La, Executive Director of VietRise, Shikha Bhatnagar, Executive Director of South Asian Network, and Commissioner Manufou Liaiga-Anoa’i of the County of San Mateo Commission on the Status of Women.
The California Asian and Pacific Islander (API) Caucus of the State Legislature consists of AAPI state legislators and seeks to increase AAPI participation and representation in all levels of government. The API Legislative Caucus actively supports Prop 16 and joins a broad coalition of over 500 API groups, community-based organizations, faith groups, elected officials and opinion leaders throughout California.
Assembly member and API Caucus Chair, David Chiu opened the rally stating “By taking into account race, we will actually achieve a society of equal opportunity for all.” Not only does Assembly member Chiu point out that data has proven this to be true, but he knows it from personal experience. “Speaking for myself,” he says, “I would not have been elected into office or in public policy or politics but for an affirmative action program when I was 19 that encouraged kids of color, students of color, to enter public policy careers.”
Assembly member Ash Kalra echoed this thought and made it personal saying, “I think about this in terms of making sure that all of us have opportunities, that everyone’s children have opportunities.” For him, Prop 16 creates an equitable California and “is about overturning years of holding back our opportunity and our potential.”
The virtual panel consisted of three powerful AAPI women who addressed the positive impact Prop 16 will have on the entire Asian American community.
“This is a time more than ever for unity, for solidarity based on the self determination of our communities,” said Tracy La who acknowledged the falsehood that affirmative action hurts the AAPI community. She claimed, “There is a myth that there is a lack of resources out there that people need to succeed, but that’s not true. There is an abundance of resources out there.”
Shikha Bhatnagar from the South Asian Network agreed saying “The truth of the matter is that we are also discriminated against and are also victims of racism, and Prop 16 will help address that because race does matter.” This sentiment was popular among the panelists who saw the importance of the AAPI community to stand up against the centuries of historic racism we have faced. Manufou Liaiga-Anoa’i from the San Mateo Commission of Women stated “When we look at merit based in a system that has been tainted with systemic racism for many years, we see that we didn’t create the system that we belong to”.
Vincent Pan, co-chair of the Yes on 16 campaign, applauded the leadership of AAPI women leaders, “Hearing the heartening stories and experience from our women leaders reaffirms the urgent need to ensure equality and fair opportunities for all in California. There’s absolutely no reason why women shouldn’t be given the same opportunities we give men to get ahead. All of us, no matter what we look like or where we come from, deserve equal opportunities to thrive. By coming together to support Prop 16, we can provide opportunities for good jobs, good wages, and quality schools for everyone”.
The virtual rally was attended by nearly 200 participants eager to learn how they can create change within the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. Support from AAPI legislators, educators and community leaders opened meaningful discussion on the need of Prop 16’s passage. With less than 80-days away from Election Day, support from across all communities is crucial to ensure equity in California.
Supporters of Prop 16 represents a broad coalition of over 200 AAPI groups, elected leaders and diverse groups, association and community leaders dedicated to equality, equal opportunity and an equitable California.
