Philadelphia, PA – July 10, 2024 – U.S. Secretary of Labor Julie Su, Philadelphia At-Large City Councilmember Nina Ahmad, and Pennsylvania Biden-Harris Campaign Manager Nikki Lu officially launched the “AAPI for Biden” event at The Breakfast Den restaurant in Philadelphia. The event underscored the critical role of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community in the upcoming election.
In her address to a diverse AAPI audience, Secretary Su emphasized the importance of the AAPI community in shaping the electoral landscape: “We are here today to ensure that Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the entire nation understand that the AAPI community plays a crucial role in our electoral landscape.”
Philadelphia At-Large City Councilmember Nina Ahmad provided key statistics about the city’s AAPI community, noting that it makes up about 8% of the city’s population and 10.6% of eligible voters: “If all of us vote, participate, and feel the importance of being seen, it will make a significant impact in the election.”
The event also served as a platform to discuss the achievements of the Biden-Harris administration within the AAPI community. Councilmember Ahmad praised the administration’s support for AAPI small businesses during the pandemic and efforts to combat anti-Asian hate crimes: “We have a Vice President who is both Asian and Black. What more could you ask for? We have what it takes to achieve our goals.”
Montgomery County Commissioner Neil Makhija, Vice Chair echoed this sentiment, highlighting the increase in political representation for the AAPI community in Pennsylvania: “In the past six years, our community had no representation. Now we have six elected officials representing nearly 3 million people in Pennsylvania.”
Pennsylvania Biden-Harris Campaign Manager Nikki Lu stressed the importance of the upcoming election: “This election is crucial for this country and our community, especially for the AAPI community.”
The event concluded with a call to action from Acting Secretary Su, urging the AAPI community to be the decisive factor in the election: “You in Pennsylvania are the key to this election victory. The victory in the last election and this one depends on how our community votes, how we communicate with our families, friends, and neighbors. They need to get out and vote.”
The launch of the “AAPI for Biden” event in Philadelphia marks the increasing political influence and significant contribution of the AAPI community to the democratic process.
Key Points from Acting Secretary Julie Su
Acting Secretary Su highlighted the stark differences between the two presidential candidates, urging the AAPI community to recognize the importance of their vote. She remarked: “We have seen what happens when a leader incites anti-Asian and anti-Chinese sentiment during a pandemic. We should not return to that environment. We should continue the progress made under President Biden’s leadership.”
Q&A on Election Impact
At the event, CUS Outlet, representing the Chinese American community, asked about the election’s impact on the Chinese community.
Secretary Su responded: “I am here today as an individual to emphasize the significance of this election. I believe that sometimes the Chinese community thinks politics is something we should stay away from. The fact is, politics affects everything, right? It affects how easy it is to run a business, the prices we pay, healthcare, childcare, and the quality of jobs. I am here today to meet with the community because I know they are fighting hard, understanding the stakes of this election.”
CUS Outlet’s Role
ChineseinUS, representing the Chinese American community, highlighted its significant influence in previous Pennsylvania elections. The presence of two elected AAPI officials from Pennsylvania—Philadelphia At-Large City Councilmember Nina Ahmad and Montgomery County Commissioner Neil Makhija Vice Chair—underscored the active participation and crucial contributions of CUS ChineseinUS and the Chinese community in ensuring fair elections for AAPI candidates.
