Asian Pacific Islander American Voters Election 2020
Megan (37). Project Manager/Community Organizer, Biracial Filipina. Elk Grove, CA
I’m voting because this is one of the most essential ways to demand visibility. And if we, as a community, want more, those of us who can MUST first and foremost show up here.
COVID is ravaging our API community. We are a large percentage of frontline medical workers and caretakers, live in multigenerational households, and have a large undocumented population who are terrified to seek treatment or relief for fear of deportation. When it comes to CARES funding, it’s apparent that very few folks at the funding table recognize these issues. We are also misrepresented in things like curriculum, as our stories are rarely told from our lens, and are often auxiliary side notes or monthly cultural celebrations, rather than what they really are—rich experiences that deeply affected the fabric of this nation. To me, these demonstrate real problems in representation.
I’d love to stop seeing our Black, Brown, and Trans siblings murdered and punished by people and systems rooted in white supremacy. I’d love to see every child stolen by the government reunited with their family and then given support and a clear path to citizenship. I would love to see corporate and special interest money GTFO of politics. I’d love to see equity in representation, education, health, the workforce, etc. I would love to see us prioritize climate justice. I would love to see our children know their stories and feel empowered and protected. And mostly, I’d love if we‘d reimagine systems that strengthened and maintained this vision.
