For Immediate Release
Press Contact:
Charles Jung, California Asian Pacific American Bar Association
Phone: 415-762-3100
Email: press@fighthatred.org
About:
The California Asian Pacific American Bar Association (Cal-APABA) is a statewide bar association that represents the interests of its 23 sister bar affiliate organizations and the over 14,000 APA attorneys statewide to promote justice and equality, advance legal and policy matters that impact the APA community, and enhance the professional development of its members.
Over 25 Legal and Civil Rights Organizations Condemn Racist Comments by Rep. Lance Gooden
[SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Feb. 27, 2023] - The California Asian Pacific American Bar Association (Cal-APABA), its sister bar associations, and Asian American civil rights organizations condemn comments made by Rep. Lance Gooden (R-TX) questioning the loyalty of Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) and suggesting to remove Rep. Chu's security clearance. Such comments are outrageous, racist, and have no place in public discourse.
Political rhetoric against the AAPI community has been used to hurt Asian communities for decades. Research by Stop AAPI Hate released in October 2022 shows that statements by political candidates and elected officials that attempt to scapegoat Asians for public health crises, economic hardships or national security concerns are repeated by perpetrators of hate incidents. As hate incidents against the AAPI community surge across the country, political representatives spewing such hate speech must be held to account.
We call on Rep. Gooden to apologize to Rep. Chu and to the AAPI community for his hateful and inflaming comments. Further, we urge the House GOP leadership to condemn Rep. Gooden's attacks on Rep. Chu and stand with the AAPI community in acknowledging that such rhetoric is hateful, unwarranted, and dangerous.
California Asian Pacific American Bar Association
Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area
Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Los Angeles County
Asian Pacific American Women Lawyers Alliance
Asian/Pacific Bar Association of Sacramento
Chinese American Lawyers of the Bay Area
Filipino-American Lawyers of Orange County
Filipino American Lawyers of San Diego
Filipino American Lawyers of Silicon Valley
Filipino Bar Association of Northern California
Korean American Bar Association of Northern California
Korean American Bar Association of Southern California
Korean Community Lawyers Association
Orange County Asian American Bar Association
Orange County Korean American Bar Association
Pan Asian Lawyers of San Diego
Philippine American Bar Association
South Asian Bar Association - Northern California
South Asian Bar Association - San Diego
South Asian Bar Association of Sacramento
Add your voice:
Share your thoughts with Rep. Lance Gooden:
Call: (202) 225-3484
Email: https://gooden.house.gov/email-me
To add your organization’s name to this statement, email press@fighthatred.org.