Shastie Conrad
by Shastie Conrad
Northwest Asia Weekly Special Issue
Editor’s Note: Shasti Conrad is responding to our comment titled “Vote Republican” by Frederick Su last week.
In Frederick Su’s op-ed, he paints a broad picture of all Asian Americans by spreading fear and outlandish claims to plead with the community to support Republicans. That’s what Republicans do, and they stymie progress and fuel hatred against communities of color. While I recognize the diversity of our community and know that not everyone will vote the same, I do ask you to look critically at what Sue and the Republicans are selling you.
First, Sue urged Asian Americans to vote Republican based on what he called immigration policy, a “danger” posed by what Biden called an open door policy. However, the Asian American community would not be as diverse and strong as ours had it not been for immigration policy, with overwhelming support from the Democratic Party.
We are the fastest growing immigrant community in America, and most of our community came here through immigration (according to the Pew Research Center). Rep. Judy Chu, a Democrat from California, supports the Family Reunification Act, which reduces family immigration backlogs and promotes more compassionate reunification of immigrant families. It is the Trump administration’s call to end family-based immigration that Trump himself has benefited from.
When it comes to increasing violence against Asian Americans, look no further than Trump and the Republican Party. Much of the current racism and hatred against Asian Americans stems directly from the anti-Asian and xenophobic rhetoric that Trump directly promotes, such as his references to the “Chinese virus” and “Wuhan flu.”
Hatred only breeds hatred.
So far, most Republican strategies to persuade Asian-American voters have been rooted in hatred and rejection of Asian-Americans. Sue claims Republicans love America. Does the January 6 uprising look like love to you? Encouraged by Trump, mostly white men stormed the Capitol, injuring Capitol Police and calling for the murder of elected officials like our own Rep. Pramila Jayapal. I don’t see the love on the faces of men who destroy, steal and abuse. The love situation I thought of that day was like Democratic Rep. Andy Kim cleaning up the dome after the violence.
Sue’s plea for Republican support was largely based on fear and lies.
why do you ask? Simple: Republicans are scared.
In the 2020 election season, Asian-Americans are overwhelmingly in front of Democrats. 2020 saw the biggest spike in voter turnout in our community, helping us win in key states like Washington and Georgia. We’re seeing Asian American democratic leaders win across the country. In Washington, we are fortunate to have the first Indian-American woman in Congress, along with Rep. Jayapal and Rep. Strickland, who is Korean and Black and the first Korean-American women elected to Congress. Locally, we have State Senator Joe Nguyen, Senator Manka Dhingra, Senator Bob Hasegawa, Senator Yasmin Trudeau, Rep. Davina Duerr, Rep. Mia Gregerson, Rep. Cindy Ryu, Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos, Rep. Vandana Slatter, and Rep. My-Linh Thai. All these incredible Asian American leaders are proud Democrats.
This year, we have the opportunity to make history again by electing Steve Hobbs, the first Democrat and Asian American Secretary of State in 56 years, and supporting Leesa Manion as King County Attorney, who will be the first woman and People of color lead that office.
Like all of these leaders, I love our country and our community. I was adopted from India to the US because my biological mother wanted me to have a better life. She knows I can have these in America, and I know I can if we continue to uphold democracy and vote for democratic leaders who see our communities through the lens of love and opportunity, and who will continue to defend our rights in America. Confront Republican fear and hatred.
About Shastie Conrad
Shasti Conrad has extensive experience in mobilizing people and communities for transformative social change. She has staffed three presidential campaigns and one Senate campaign: National Progress for Senator Bernie Sanders in 2016; 2012 for President Obama, First Lady, Vice President and Dr. Biden Obama’s re-election campaign briefing manager; Obama’s field organizer for the U.S. in 2008; and Jim Barksdale’s political director for the U.S. Senate campaign in Georgia in 2016. Most recently, she worked with Nobel Peace Laureates Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi to drive radical change.
For more information and to contact her, please visit shasiconrad.com.
