{"id":52771,"date":"2022-09-27T11:56:24","date_gmt":"2022-09-27T18:56:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=52771"},"modified":"2022-09-27T11:56:24","modified_gmt":"2022-09-27T18:56:24","slug":"over-20-state-and-national-aapi-leaders-and-organizations-sign-letter-urging-gov-newsom-to-recognize-lunar-new-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=52771","title":{"rendered":"Over 20 State and National AAPI Leaders and Organizations Sign Letter Urging Gov. Newsom to Recognize Lunar New Year"},"content":{"rendered":"

The letter requests Newsom\u2019s support for Assembly Bill 2596, which would make California the first state in the country to recognize an Asian holiday<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

SAN FRANCISCO<\/strong> \u2013 On Friday, September 23, Stand with Asian Americans (SWAA) and 24 state and national leaders representing Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs) across California called for Governor Gavin Newsom\u2019s signature of Assembly Bill (A.B.) 2596<\/a>, which would establish Lunar New Year as a state holiday. The bill would grant official recognition of a holiday already observed by AANHPI communities in California, home to the nation\u2019s largest AANHPI population expected to further quadruple over the next 15 years. Due to state deadlines, Governor Newsom has until September 30th to sign the bill.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cCalifornia is home to the country\u2019s largest Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander population but has yet to recognize an official holiday that celebrates their culture,\u201d said Justin Zhu, executive director of Stand with Asian Americans, which took part in drafting the letter. \u201cGovernor Newsom\u2019s signing of AB 2596 will be one step in the right direction to recognize the contributions, innovation, and culture that AANHPI\u2019s provide to California and the country.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Beyond tangible benefits, A.B. 2596 would signify a significant social and cultural milestone for California, whose AANHPI population remains severely underrepresented across state government, corporate leadership, and media. They also experienced a 1662% increase in anti-Asian hate speech in 2020 compared to 2019 and a 339% increase in hate crimes since the onset of the pandemic. Yet AANHPIs increased their voter turnout rate faster than any other racial group between the 2016 and 2020 U.S. presidential elections, a tangible expression of their rapidly growing civic engagement and role in civic life.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

According to the letter, \u201cCalifornia has the opportunity to be the leader in addressing hate and fostering AANHPI belonging.\u00a0 Establishing a state holiday to recognize the contributions and history of the AANHPI community would be monumental for millions of AANHPIs.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The signatories include the following activist leaders and organizations:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n