Statement from Christine Chen, Executive Director of Asian Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) on the attack against former President Donald Trump

APIAVote is the nation’s leading nonpartisan voter engagement organization focused on the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. 

Washington, DC – July 15, 2024 – Last week, APIAVote joined leading Asian American organizations from around the country in Philadelphia to discuss how we can better engage as citizens to strengthen our democratic institutions. The meetings culminated in a Presidential Town Hall on Saturday, just hours before another tragic gun related event in Butler, PA. Like so many others, we are thankful that President Trump was not seriously harmed, and we share our condolences with the family of Corey Comperatore, who was tragically killed.

The Asian American and Pacific Islander community has long-spoken out against language and actions that threaten harm to anyone. It is something we are all too familiar with.

No matter our background, zip code or political party, most of us believe that violence has no place in our political process and weapons of war have no place in our communities. We all deserve to live our lives, move through our communities, and engage in our political process peacefully – no matter whether we are running for office or running through a school hallway.

Many in the Asian American and Pacific Islander community came to the United States to escape political violence and oppression. We must make this a country where no one fears for our lives or our loved ones. During this difficult time for our country, we all need to re-commit ourselves to the politics of the possible, where we come together to discuss how we can improve our country for all Americans. Violence of any kind – physical or verbal – has no place in this conversation.