Asian-Americans launch anti-Trump campaign in Virginia

WASHINGTON: The Asian-American and Pacific Islander community has launched an anti-Trump campaign in the crucial US state of Virginia, alleging that the Republican presidential candidate continues to make fear-mongering comments against the American-Muslim community.

Republican presidential candidate donald Trump. AFP

Washington, August 31

The Asian-American and Pacific Islander community has launched an anti-Donald Trump campaign in the crucial US state of Virginia, alleging that the Republican presidential candidate continues to make fear-mongering comments against the American-Muslim community.

The 70-year-old reality TV star’s platform “is steeped in bigotry” and needs to be countered, the Asian-American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Victory Fund said while kicking of its campaign by releasing its first web ad “Rejecting Hate”, which it said is targeted at the voters in Virginia.

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The State, which has emerged as a swing State, is now heavily leaning towards Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

During the primaries, AAPI Victory Fund had endorsed 69-year-old Clinton.

“Donald Trump has consistently chosen to divide our country with hateful demagoguery that fuels anti-Muslim sentiments across the country,” said Dilawar Syed, AAPI Victory Fund co-founder and vice chair.

“We must fight back against a candidate whose platform is steeped in bigotry and who believes that attacking a diverse and engaged American community will somehow give him the path to the White House. We won’t stand for it, and we won’t let it happen,” he said.

“President Obama won our state by a margin of three per cent in 2012, a state where Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders represent six per cent of the population,” said Shekar Narasimhan, AAPI Victory Fund chair.

“As a Virginia resident and voter, I believe our community can be the margin of victory this November. We can affect this election through outreach and mobilising voters throughout Virginia,” he said.

Launched in January 2016, AAPI Victory Fund is the first super political action committee of its kind. It is now mobilising AAPI voters in key battleground states where growing AAPI populations could be the margin of victory.

With a population of more than 21 million and representing six per cent of the country’s population, AAPIs are the fastest-growing and most diverse minority groups in America. — PTI