Janice Nesamani
Northwest Asia Weekly
Varenicole
The AAPI Victory Alliance was established in 2017 to develop and empower Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities and leaders to take a more active role in state and national politics. Today, the organization educates about progressive issues and advocates for policies to help communities.
At the helm of the organization is Varun Nikore, who recently attended the Asian Charity Conference in Seattle. As the August 2 Washington primary looms, he tells us what his organization thinks will inspire AAPI voters to change the tide this year.
Roe v. Wade reversal
“We are monitoring the national election and the Supreme Court’s repeal of Roe v. Wade in June would have a very negative impact on the AAPI community,” Nikore said.
“This will hurt a lot of AAPI women and families and is one of the most devastating things our community has ever faced.”
If you look at the states affected by the trigger laws, specifically Texas and Florida, Texas has the third largest AAPI population and the worst anti-women, anti-women legislation.
In a place like Texas, where most women don’t earn low incomes, that’s going to be a challenge, Nikore believes.
“Even though they can travel, every barrier you place on women on this issue can seriously impact their health outcomes. It’s not just about abortion, it’s essentially limiting women’s ability to control their bodies and make their own choices. rights,” he said.
The AAPI Victory Coalition is working with allies to determine what they can do next, as this will be an election issue for many AAPIs.
Recalling Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas calling established gay and reproductive rights wrong, Nicole believes LGBT rights are next.
“The next time these cases go to the Supreme Court, they’re going to have at least one judge who’s going to try to crack down on the existing freedoms that Americans have right now. It’s pretty scary,” he said.
gun violence
The reversal in Roe v. Wade comes a day after the Supreme Court came out against New York State’s overt carry restrictions. Even before the Uwald school shooting, the number one issue for the Latino community of the day was gun violence.
The AAPI Victory Alliance is working on a poll to be released in July that will ask the AAPI community the same question. “I can almost guarantee that gun violence will be one of AAPI’s top three issues,” Nikore said.
Gun violence prevention is a signature issue for the organization.
“We will work hard not only to communicate and educate our communities about the importance of further restricting guns, but also to ensure our voters come out this fall by leveraging gun violence prevention messages beyond reproductive rights and freedoms,” Nicole said.
A major turning point in the election
Before the Roe v. Wade leak and the Supreme Court’s actual overturn, the AAPI Victory Coalition assumed that the main areas of concern for the AAPI community would be the economy, inflation, and violence and hatred against the AAPI community.
“Something’s changed now. In addition to the hate and violence in our community, it’s going to be reproductive rights and guns,” Nicole said.
“Republicans have played to their strengths this election cycle — high oil prices and inflation — basically turning them into Tier 3 issues,” he said.
Nikore thinks Democrats now have a stronger base to attract AAPI voters.
While AAPI is concerned about inflation and rising gasoline prices, which have clearly hit President Biden’s approval ratings, Nikore thinks most Asians are very savvy.
“While it affects their wallets, they know it may not be permanent. How do you compare rising prices and inflation to the rights that most AAPI people have lost since they were born or came to this country? I I don’t think it compares in the minds of most AAPIs,” Nikore said.
women’s banner year
Nikore believes this year will be a banner year for female candidates, especially AAPI female candidates.
“We’re on track to lose seats in the House of Representatives, still can’t be sure, but I think we’ll do better than a year when presidential parties traditionally lose seats, and it’s because women are inspired to vote,” Nicholas said. Cole said.
He noted that Republicans and Democrats do need suburban white women to win the House.
“There are a lot of women of color in the Democratic Party, and this battle is going to be fought with white women in the suburbs,” Nicole said.
He argues that this electorate group, who dislikes the Supreme Court’s results, will vote and will remove a lot of people who might have won in a normal year.
Blue states can help the nation
The AAPI Victory Coalition believes that very blue states like Washington, California and Oregon and their large AAPI populations are very helpful to the rest of the country.
Most elections are a foregone conclusion, with some tight races in some places. So one of the things the AAPI Victory Coalition is trying to do is incentivize the progressively leaning AAPIs in the blue states to incorporate some of the other states they may be trying to flip.
“Texas and Florida are two states, and the blue state progressive AAPI can help a little bit,” Nicole said.
Future work of the AAPI Victory Coalition
In December 2022, the AAPI Victory Coalition will organize a policy conference in Washington, D.C., where thought leaders will come together to discuss how we can move forward in the next Congress and the next legislative cycle to come up with policies that are more friendly to the AAPI community.
Janice can be reached by info@nwasianweekly.com.
