June 6, 2023
Over 100 organizations serving Asian American and Pacific Islander communities throughout California have signed and sent a letter to Governor Gavin Newsom urging him to fully fund the API Equity Budget ahead of the mid-June finalization of the state budget. This request for increased support was put forth by the AAPI Legislative Caucus.
In 2021, Gov. Newsom helped position California as a national leader by passing the API Equity Budget, which has been instrumental in addressing anti-AAPI hate, racism, and discrimination in the state. But addressing hate against the over six million AAPIs in California — nearly 17% of all people in the state — does not happen overnight: It requires constant effort and investment. While Gov. Newsom has allocated an additional $10 million in funding to the API Equity Budget, fully funding the budget requires a budget allocation of $50 million, which will bolster funding for community organizations to support victim services, violence prevention efforts, and initiatives fostering safety and justice such as community outreach, training and restorative justice.
See below for attributable quotes and the full letter sent to the Office of the Governor.
The following can be attributed to Cynthia Choi and Manjusha Kulkarni, co-founders of Stop AAPI Hate:
“We ask Governor Newsom to continue his bold leadership for AAPIs in California by maintaining the strength of the API Equity Budget. AAPIs face hate and discrimination every day, and the API Equity Budget has been one of the most powerful tools on our communities’ behalf. We need to combat anti-AAPI hate now more than ever, and we urge the governor to increase funding so we can support victims, prevent violence and protect Asian communities.”
The following can be attributed to Assemblymember Evan Low, Chair of the AAPI Legislative Caucus:
“Now is the time for us to step up our support for AAPI communities across the state. Attacks on the safety and civil rights of AAPI communities continue to surge across the country — from hate-fueled mass shootings to xenophobic legislation in over 20 states including Florida, South Carolina, and Texas. California has an opportunity right now to take a stand against hate and discriminatory policies in an impactful way. Increasing the API Equity Budget will help ensure the well-being of our communities in moments of crisis and allow those on the ground to respond more effectively.”
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Stop AAPI Hate is a national coalition addressing anti-Asian racism across the U.S. The coalition was founded by the AAPI Equity Alliance (formerly A3PCON), Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA) and San Francisco State University’s Asian American Studies Department. Visit stopaapihate.org.