We heard from the California Young Democrats API Caucus, South Asians for America, the Grassroots Dems HQ, State Senator Dr. Pan, and Assemblymembers-Elect Dr. Jasmeet Bains, Stephanie Nguyen, and Senator-Elect Aisha Wahab on the challenges and successes from this year’s election.
We also had a panel caucus discussion on the 2022 Midterms and AAPI Outreach Strategies.
These included sending questionnaires to candidates focusing on our communities’ priorities, mailers to AAPI households, being at events year round, in language messaging that is not just translated but also tailored to the community, inviting ethnic media to events, cultural competency as part of candidate training, and working with other groups such as Young Democrtas and LGTBQ Democratic clubs to challenge racism.
Panelists also talked about building the bench through local Democratic club leadership, AAPI campaign staff, getting the next generation of activists at colleges involved, expanding representation on County Central Committees, and appointments to commissions and other leadership roles.
Thank you to our panelists:
- Facilitator: Emily Ramos, NorCal Vice Chair, California Democratic Party – API Caucus
- Serena Chen, Board Member and past President of Asian Pacific American Democratic Caucus of Alameda County
- Indroneal Banerjee, President, AAPI Democratic Club of San Diego
- Jessica Caloza, President, Pilipino American LA Democrats
- Steve Kang, President, Korean American Democratic Committee in Los Angeles
California Democratic Party passes Resolution Affirming that Members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (“AAPI”) Community Are American
WHEREAS, the AAPI community includes individuals who draw their heritage from the Pacific Islands, East Asia, South Asia, South East Asia, and Central Asia, and is comprised of a diverse community, with no singular language, religion, or history that binds the community; and there are more than 22 million members of the AAPI community nationwide, with California being home to the largest AAPI population, as one out of every six Californians is AAPI; AAPIs are the fastest growing groups in our state and nation, the community has been crucial to achieving Democratic electoral victories; and
WHEREAS, members of the AAPI community are valued members of our society, with a long history of contributions to our American fabric; in 1587, the first documented arrival of Filipinos occurred; the earliest evidence of South Asians arriving in America was 1790, and with Sikhs arriving in America in 1899; approximately 20,000 Chinese laborers built the Transcontinental Railroad; the community has had different pathways and journeys to America; with a segment arriving here as laborers, others arriving due to political conflict, war, and natural disasters, while many have come to America in recent years as a result of the Immigration and Naturalization Act of 1965, AAPIs are also the fastest-growing segment of the undocumented population; and
WHEREAS, AAPI communities were the first group to be targeted by race-based prohibitions on 34 immigration, including under the Page Act of 1875 restricting the entry of Chinese Women, the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 which was extended to prohibit the citizenship of most Asians, including South Asians, under the Supreme Court case of United States v. Bhagat Singh Thind in 1923; members of the Japanese American community were summarily incarcerated during World War II; the continued otherization of this community has led to the present day AAPI Hate, which also includes xenophobic attacks occurring against Muslim, Sikh, Hindu and South Asian communities in the aftermath of September 11; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the California Democratic Party affirms and recognizes that members of the AAPI community are indeed American, and stands against the “forever foreigner” trope that leads AAPI communities to feel continuously otherized; and
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the California Democratic Party affirms and recognizes the contributions of AAPI immigrants, and people of AAPI heritage, to California.
Thank you to our chair Deepa Sharma for authoring and leading this resolution.
California Democratic Party adds the Afghan Adjustment Act to list of 2022 priority legislation
California Democratic Party executive board took a Support position on Senator Amy Klobuchar’s Afghan Adjustment Act as a legislative priority. California is home to many Afghan Americans and the Act will provide stability and support for refugees.
Learn more about the Afghan Adjustment Act at https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2022/8/klobuchar-graham-coons-blunt-blumenthal-and-murkowski-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-allowing-afghans-allies-in-the-united-states-to-apply-for-permanent-legal-status
Interested in being a CADEM Delegate for 2023-2024?
Here is the ADEM schedule
December 9, 2022 – ADEM Candidate Application Closes
December 31, 2022 – ADEM Vote-By-Mail Application Closes
January 7-8, 2023 – ADEM Meetings (weekend 1)
January 21-22, 2023 – ADEM Meetings (weekend 2)
May 26-28, 2023 – California Democratic Party Convention (Los Angeles)
Learn more and apply at www.ademelections.com
Marilyn Cachola Lucey, Treasurer Marilyn is Deputy District Director for an Assemblymember and has been active in community organizing and legislative advocacy with organizations such as ACLU and ACCE, using her training as an OFA Fellow. She strives to ground her professional and community work explicitly in anti-racism, anti-ableism, and cultural humility.
Asian American Pacific Islander Caucus 