The California Democratic Party Asian Pacific Islander Caucus urges legislators to take action to restore affirmative action in California. Allowing race and gender to be considered in college admissions, hiring, and government contracting levels the playing field for those who lack personal connections or face discrimination, including API students, employees, and businesses.
After Prop 209 banned affirmative action in 1996, Asian American and Pacific Islander admission rates to the University of California, including Berkeley and UCLA, went down. While the total number of API students has increased, it is at a slower rate than the increase in California’s API population. Other states that continue to use affirmative action have seen faster increases.
We understand that college admissions is a sensitive issue for many immigrant communities. Being new to the country, without the connections to grow businesses, education is seen as the primary path to success. Affirmative action – especially if using disaggregated data (the API population is made up of many ethnicities and communities with very different incomes, histories, and challenges) – gives these communities a boost. It also opens additional doors through government contracting and hiring.
For these reasons, the California Democratic Party’s current platform calls for the following:
Support the re-establishment and implementation of equitable affirmative action in admissions processes at California’s public universities and colleges
Encourage, support, and defend voluntary and mandatory affirmative action measures aimed at enhancing equality in employment, education, and business opportunities
Support review of affirmative action programs and goals that ensures the implementation and results are carefully nuanced and uses disaggregated data, particularly for the large category of Asian American and Pacific Islander (“API”)
Support affirmative action, the rights accorded to women in Title IX, the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the U.S. Constitution
Thank You,
California Democratic Party Asian Pacific Islander Caucus
The Asian and Pacific Islander (API) Democratic Caucus, the Filipino American Caucus, the California Young Democrats Asian and Pacific Islander Caucus, and California Democratic Party Secretary Jenny Bach are launching a statewide Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month campaign that is reflective of our stories and values to feature API activists and leaders throughout the state.
As hate crimes against the API community are on the rise, exacerbated by racist language issued by the federal administration, we must continue to support our community and elevate our collective API voices.
Throughout this month, we will be highlighting individuals to hear an account of their journeys from overcoming barriers to their personal achievements. We hope that these stories serve to inspire and encourage our Democratic communities to join us in celebrating API Heritage Month and to take a stand against hate and backlash toward California’s API communities.
“The California Democratic Party Asian Pacific Islander (API) Caucus is proud to join all Americans in celebrating API Heritage Month and embracing the diversity of our communities. However, we note that this year’s Heritage Month observances come at a time where the fastest growing immigrant population in America is facing the grim reality of increased incidences of hate crimes. We all must work to combat xenophobia in our communities.”
“API Heritage Month typically marks the celebration of the critical contributions APIs have made in weaving the fabric of modern America for more than a century and a half. The rich and complex history of the Asian Pacific Islander community is the story of America.”
“This API Heritage month we call on all people of all backgrounds to stand up against all forms of hate, prejudice, and racism.”
“In celebration of our rich history, we are highlighting the trailblazing leaders in the nation, California, and the Democratic Party that are fighting every day against hate and intolerance. The strength of this community lies in its unique and vibrant diversity. As we continue our achievements and progress, we must embrace our legacy, cherish our diversity, and continue to fight together as we work to strengthen our nation.”
The California Democratic Party Asian Pacific Islander Caucus Executive Board has continued to meet by phone every month to discuss these issues of importance. We praise the work of Asian Pacific Policy & Planning Council, Chinese for Affirmative Action, and San Francisco State University’s Asian American Studies Center for their tremendous work with their STOP AAPI HATE national campaign. We also recognize the tremendous contributions of HollaBack! and Asian Americans Advancing Justice in providing tremendous amounts of bystander intervention training and resources.
If you or anyone you know has experienced a hate crime because of the crisis, please report it at the link above. From this data, we can formulate a plan of action on how to address these crimes and future policies to help us.
Message from the State Chair Dear Fellow Democrats:
I truly hope you are doing well including your loved ones. It is such an unprecedented time and on a daily basis we are saturated with COVID-19 information, hearing of xenophobic crimes affecting our community, and having to deal with the blatant ignorance and stupidity of our President that is directly affecting immigrants and our community. Having to balance the health of ourselves and our loved ones should be our first concern, but this Administration only creates a space filled with anger and the desire to fight back at the polls in November. The CA Democratic Party Asian Pacific Islander Caucus Executive Board has continued to meet by phone every month to discuss issues of importance. We praise the work of Asian Pacific Policy & Planning Council, Chinese for Affirmative Action, and San Francisco State University’s Asian American Studies Center for their tremendous work with their STOP AAPI HATEnational campaign. If you or anyone you know has experienced a hate crime because of the crisis, please report it at the link above. From this data, we can formulate a plan of action how to address these crimes and future policies to help us. Furthermore with our deep roots as Democrats to activate, again we will not tolerate the hate our community is experiencing. We don’t assimilate, WE RISE UP! Call out discrimination when we see it! Asian Americans for Advancing Justice and Hollaback! have joined forces to conduct bystander intervention training when we see these crimes occur. The CDP API Caucus, CDP Secretary Jenny Bach and the CYD API Caucus are all encouraging you to join us for their May 2nd training to learn the correct tools on how to address discrimination and to kick-off Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Register below and also join us on several virtual meet-ups as we regroup, reflect, and take action for the months ahead. Lastly, California is only slightly ahead of the national average in our US Census response rates at almost 54%. Please take the time to take the US Census Survey, inform others and especially those in college. If not listed, write-in your API ethnic group so that you can be accounted for. Our federal programs, funding for our communities and congressional districts depend on the outcome of this survey. Thank you all and be well. Democratically yours,
Melissa Ramoso State Chair, Asian Pacific Islander Caucus California Democratic Party and the Executive Board
Together with the CYD API Caucus, we had successful canvassing days for the Honorable Henry Lo for Monterey Park City Council and Dr. Suely Saro for Long Beach City Council where we were joined by Sentor Lena Gonzalez. The fight is not over, so consider helping them and all our API Democratic candidates out today!
The 2020 Primary Election is just around the corner! Presidential candidates and/or their teams will be in our home state this weekend until Super Tuesday (check out our Presidential Democratic Candidates Corner below). We will be tracking our API endorsed candidates throughout 2020 with a final list to be released after the General Election. Please keep in mind all of the APIs that have stepped up to run and represent their communities whether it is at the federal, state, local and Democratic Central Committee levels. Our representation matters! Soon after the election, the California Democratic Party will be hosting its Executive Board Meeting in Visalia, CA! This will be the first time in the Party’s history that we will be heading to the Central Valley! Check out our agenda here. For our meeting, we are excited to invite our local Hmong Democratic leaders to speak. We will also host an open discussion regarding the 2020 Elections and our current political state. So don’t miss out! Thank you on behalf of the entire Executive Board for your dedicated efforts to Get Out The Vote, be involved or simply be informed. We certainly all want what’s best for our Party and our community!
Democratically yours,
Melissa Ramoso State Chair, Asian Pacific Islander Caucus California Democratic Party and the Executive Board
The City of Mountain View reorganized its city council and now has two APIs of Japanese descent in both the Mayor and Vice Mayor Positions, Margaret Abe-Koga and Ellen Kamei.
The proposed resolution supporting Hong Kong people’s demand for democracy and human rights has been updated based on a statement adopted by the California Young Democrats. The resolution can be reviewed and comments can be sent in via this link.CYD has also endorsed the following bills still pending in Congress: HR 4551 (Hong Kong Policy Reevaluation Act of 2019), HR 4270 (bans import of tear gas and surveillance tech to Hong Kong), and S2758 (Magnitsky Act sanctions on individuals responsible for suppressing freedom of speech and assembly in Hong Kong). Comments can be sent in via this link. Please send your comments by February 16th so recommendations can be sent to the CA Dem Resolutions and Legislation Committees before their February 19th deadline.
We are doing a big API Mobilization for CA Democratic Party endorsed candidates Henry Lo for Monterey Park City Council, Suely Saro for Long Beach City Council and Bobby Bilatout for Congress. Please fill out the following form for which campaigns you would like to join us on the ground or do remote calling for: http://bit.ly/APIMobilizations2020Primary
Henry Lo for Montery Park City Council (co-hosting with CYD API Caucus) Saturday, February 15 at 2:00pm – 4:30pm 417 Mooney Drive, Unit D, Monterey Park, CA 91755 Facebook Event Link
Suely Saro for Long Beach City Council (co-hosting with CYD API Caucus) Saturday, February 15 at 10:00am 1511 E Anaheim Street Ste 5, Long Beach, California 90813
Bobby Bliatout for The Valley (CA-22: Rep. David Nunes Seat) Online Phonebank up until Primary Election Day! Details will be emailed. SIGN UP HERE!
Asian American Pacific Islander Caucus 