LOS ANGELES - California Democratic Party Asian Pacific Islander Caucus Chair Clark Lee released the following statement on the xenophobic and racist ad by Michigan Senatorial candidate Pete Hoekstra aired during the 2012 Super Bowl:

“The California Democratic Party Asian Pacific Islander Caucus strongly condemns Michigan Senatorial candidate Pete Hoekstra’s racially insensitive and xenophobic ad that shocked Michigan during the Super Bowl. This attempt to frighten Michigan voters with racially insensitive images and scare tactics is unwarranted and despicable. The use of discriminatory depictions and language has no place in this campaign and no place in America. No candidate should ever use racist tactics to score political points.

“Mr. Hoekstra’s ad begins with the sound of a gong. It features an Asian woman with a bicycle on a pathway in rice paddies, speaking English with an accent, proclaiming, ‘Thank you, Michigan Senator Debbie Spenditnow. Debbie spends so much American money. You borrow more and more from us. Your economy get very weak. Ours get very good. We take your jobs. Thank you, Debbie Spenditnow.’

“Anti-Chinese and anti-Asian sentiments in America have had devastating consequences throughout U.S. history, such as the Chinese Exclusion Act, the Japanese American internment in World War II, the senseless murder of Detroit autoworker Vincent Chin during the U.S. auto crisis nearly 30 years ago, and the recent hazing of Asian American soldiers in the U.S. military that resulted in fatal tragedies. We do not need another inflammatory ad like Mr. Hoekstra’s to perpetuate xenophobia, discrimination, and racism against Asian Americans.

“The truth is: this is not the first time that a Republican candidate running for federal legislative office has invoked such despicable and offensive scare tactic. Just last year, GOP Congressional candidate Mark Amodei of Nevada released an ad featuring a fictional Chinese newscast depicting the Chinese army marching through Washington with a Chinese flag flying over the U.S. Capitol. We urge the Republican National Committee to investigate these discriminatory behaviors by its own candidates and to make sure that this type of campaign tactic does not repeat again – not now, not ever.

“The California Democratic Party Asian Pacific Islander Caucus demands that Pete Hoekstra immediately remove this ad from his website and from circulation. We urge the Republican National Committee and the National Republican Senatorial Committee to join us and denounce this ad. Most importantly, we demand Mr. Hoekstra issue an apology to the people of Michigan and the Asian American community.”

###

Join the California Democratic Party Asian Pacific Islander Caucus (CDP API Caucus) at the 2012 California Democrats State Convention in San Diego as California Democrats kick off the 2012 election cycle that will see us take back the House, protect our U.S. Senate seat and return President Obama to the White House.

2012 California Democrats State Convention
Friday – Sunday, February 10 – 12, 2012
San Diego Convention Center
Click here to visit the official California Democratic Party Convention website.

Party endorsements for statewide, State Assembly, State Senate and Congressional candidates will take place along with the adoption of the Party platform.

Caucus Meeting at the Convention
The CDP API Caucus Meeting at the Convention will be held on Friday, February 10, 2012, from 4:00 PM to 5:45 PM at the San Diego Convention Center. Click here to download the CDP API Caucus Meeting Agenda (revised with updated reception information). If you would like to join the CDP API Caucus or to renew your Caucus membership prior to the Convention, please click here to visit the Caucus Membership page.

Caucus Reception at the Convention (Note: Location Change)
Additionally, please join our Caucus for a Convention Reception on Friday, February 10, 2012, from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM at the Hotel Solamar, Luna Loft (435 6th Ave., San Diego, CA 92101).

“On behalf of the California Democratic Party Asian Pacific Islander Caucus, we honor the legacy of Fred Korematsu in commemorating the 2012 Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution in California, the first day in U.S. history named after an Asian American.

“Facing blatant racial prejudice during World War II, Korematsu challenged the executive order authorizing Japanese internments and refused to submit to legalized discrimination. In his dissent opinion of Korematsu v. U.S. ahead of the Civil Rights Movement, Justice Frank Murphy wrote, ‘Racial discrimination in any form and in any degree has no justifiable part whatever in our democratic way of life.’

“Today, as we celebrate our vibrant diversity and civil rights advancements in our resilient democracy, we must not forget those ordinary men and women, like Mr. Korematsu, who stood up against the status quo in furthering justice and equality for all.”

###

“On behalf of the California Democratic Party Asian Pacific Islander Caucus, best wishes to everyone celebrating the Lunar New Year.

“California is the most diverse state of the Union and is home to the largest Asian American and Pacific Islander population in the United States. As AAPI communities welcome the Year of the Dragon, we celebrate the strength of our diversity and cultural heritage.

“In this critical election year, we look forward to electing more AAPI Democrats to public offices and making sure that our elected officials reflect the diverse population that they serve. Most importantly, we look forward to working with AAPI leaders and activists in re-electing President Barack Obama.”

“On behalf of the California Democratic Party Asian Pacific Islander Caucus, we celebrate the 2012 Korean American Day and commemorate more than one century of Korean American successes and contributions to the United States.

“Korean American history and culture are an inseparable part of the American fabric. As the most diverse state of the Union, California is home to the largest concentration of ethnic Koreans outside of Korea, where the story of every Korean American is a story of the American Dream.

“The accomplishments and the successes of the Korean American community in California and across the United States are a testament of the vibrancy and the resilience of the immigrant communities that have been the backbone of America.”

Join Us:

California Democratic Party Asian Pacific Islander Caucus, Filipino American Democratic Caucus (FADC), Korean American Democratic Committee (KADC), Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA-LA), and Pilipino American Los Angeles Democrats (PALAD)

for

Asian Pacific Islander Volunteer Mobilization Day

Warren Furutani for City Council
Saturday, January 7, 2012
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Pile Drivers Bridge Dock and Wharf Builders Local Union 2375
728 Lagoon Ave
Wilmington, CA 90744

Lunch Provided!

Contact and RSVP: Melissa Ramoso, CDP API Caucus Southern Outreach Chair – mramoso@gmail.com / 562.353.7075.

If you are not in Los Angeles area but would like to help, you can click here to phone bank online!

If you would like to help Warren directly, click here to sign up with the Warren Furutani for City Council campaign.

Tuesday, January 17, 2011, is Election Day for the Los Angeles City Council District 15 Special Runoff Election. Warren Furutani is the officially endorsed candidate of the Democratic Party in this election.

Warren has been a fighter for Angelenos and Californians as a longtime grassroots activist, Los Angeles Unified School District Board Member, Los Angeles Community College Trustee, and as Assembly Member. He will bring his wealth of experience and a strong voice to fight for this district on the Los Angeles City Council.

VOLUNTEER FOR WARREN: WARREN NEEDS YOUR HELP TODAY!!

TWO CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS TO CHOOSE FROM:

SAN PEDRO

395 W. 7TH Street, San Pedro, CA

WATTS

11311 S. Central Ave, Los Angeles, CA

Contact / Sign-Up:
Click here to sign up to help elect Warren! / (424) 204-2423

Visit www.warrenfurutani.com

Click here to download flyer

Please RSVP to Melissa Ramoso – mramoso@gmail.com / (562) 353-7075.

Click Here to Download Flyer

Sign Up to Volunteer Today and Help Register Democrats and Sign Up Democrats to Vote By Mail – Join us on Saturday, September 17 and Saturday, September 24 for Days of Action

Please sign up and RSVP today by emailing: cademparty.apicaucus@gmail.com

Saturday, September 17

California Democratic Party API Caucus
“Operation Game Changer” Day of Action – Los Angeles Mobilization

Join the CDP, CDP API Caucus, and the Los Angeles County Democratic Party: Mobilize Democratic voters on Sept. 17th in Los Angeles for the pivotal 2012 elections by helping the California Democratic Party(CDP) turn registered Democrats who occasionally vote into Permanent Vote-by-Mail voters in order to increase Democratic voter turnout!

Saturday, September 17, 2011. 9:00 AM -2:00 PM
CDP “Operation Game Changer” Office
10138 Garvey Ave. #F-2, El Monte, CA 91733
Click Here to Visit the California Democratic Party “Operation Game Changer” Page

Saturday, September 24

California Democratic Party API Caucus
“It Gets Bluer” Day of Action – Inland Empire Mobilization

Join the CDP, CDP API Caucus, Los Angeles County Democratic Party, and the San Bernardino County Democratic Party and “invade” the Inland Empire to increase Democratic voter registration and turn the Inland Empire bluer!

Saturday, September 24, 2011. 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM (Followed by BBQ)
Citrus Park in City of Upland
8th St. between Mountain Ave. and San Antonio Ave.
Click Here to Visit the California Democratic Party “It Gets Bluer” Project Page