Press Release
AALDEF condemns racist and red-baiting rhetoric and imagery perpetuated in Florida judicial race
Credit: Orlando Sentinel.
NEW YORK, NY — The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund released the below statement in response to the anti-Asian messages perpetuated in the judicial race in Orlando, Florida.
“In a classic example of the perpetual foreigner stereotype rearing its ugly head, a political consultant in a Florida judicial election, Xavier Villacis, referred to his client’s opponent Judge Vincent Chiu as a “Chinese judge,” plastering his image alongside images of well-known communist Chinese leaders. Not only is this false to the personal history of Judge Chiu, whose parents came to this country as political refugees, but it also foments the anti-Chinese and anti-Asian hate that has ravaged Asian American communities over the past two years. We condemn this juvenile case of racism and red-baiting. Asian Americans deserve to participate in all facets of American life without having their race used as a punchline,” said Margaret Fung, executive director of the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF).