APABA Celebrates Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Contact:  Arnold Lee, arnoldlee.apaba@gmail.com

Los Angeles, CA - This month, we celebrate the rich history and achievements of Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs). The AANHPI community embodies the vibrant diversity that is the strength of America. Its myriad contributions and successes are integral to the development of our nation and are deeply rooted in American history. This year, we celebrate historic firsts: the election of California’s Kamala Harris as Vice President of the United States, the first person of South Asian descent to hold the office; and the historic appointment of Rob Bonta as California Attorney General, the first person of Filipino descent to hold the office.

Yet, as we celebrate these successes and achievements, the AANHPI community continues to face significant challenges rooted in anti-Asian sentiment, from the Chinese Exclusion Act, to the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, to the murder of Detroit autoworker Vincent Chin over 35 years ago, to the increase in violence against Sikh Americans following 9/11, to the current appalling rise in hate crimes and incidents against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) in California and across the nation.

APABA commends President Joe Biden's signing of the Memorandum condemning and combating racism against AAPIs in the United States and his commitment in establishing a taskforce to tackle COVID-related xenophobia in his Address to a Joint Session of Congress as major first steps in addressing this issue. We urge President Biden and our leaders to continue to work swiftly to fight discrimination against the AAPI community and further promote inclusion and equity in our communities.

As we commemorate the AANHPI Heritage Month, APABA will continue to advance justice and equity for all.