CAPAC Members Honor Black History Month on House Floor

WASHINGTON, D.C - Members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) spoke on the House Floor to honor Black History Month and highlight the long history of solidarity between Black Americans and Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.

The Members also addressed attacks on communities of color by the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans to dismantle initiatives that contribute to a more diverse and competitive workforce and cut vital programs that working people rely on, among other harmful policies.

The CAPAC members who spoke on the House Floor include Chair Grace Meng, First Vice Chair Mark Takano, Freshman Representative Suhas Subramanyam, Civil Rights & Voting Rights Task Force Chair Bobby Scott, Marilyn Strickland, and Sydney Kamlager-Dove.

A video compilation of speeches from CAPAC members can be found HERE.

 

“Thank you Mr. Speaker.

“The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus is proud to organize tonight’s special order hour to honor Black History Month and stand with our Congressional Black Caucus colleagues in our shared fight for equality and justice.

“There is a long and storied history of solidarity between the Black community and the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities, dating back to the 19th century, when Frederick Douglass spoke out against the Chinese Exclusion Act — a racist law that banned Chinese immigration to the U.S. 

“He said, ‘There are such things in the world as human rights... It is this great right that I assert for the Chinese and Japanese, and for all other varieties of men equally with yourselves, now and forever… I know of no rights of race superior to the rights of humanity.’

“At a time when anti-Chinese and anti-immigrant sentiment was running rampant, Frederick Douglass courageously used his voice to advocate for Asian immigrants who wanted to build a better life for their families and earn the right to become U.S. citizens.

“During the Civil Rights Movement, prominent Asian American activists joined Black Americans in the fight for fair treatment and equality. Our community owes a great deal to their advocacy, which codified anti-discrimination policies into federal law, protected interracial marriage, expanded voting rights, and opened the door for many immigrant families to come to the United States.

“To this day, AANHPIs and Black Americans continue to show up and stand together, whether it’s calling out attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion or condemning anti-Asian violence. The allyship between our two communities remains critically important in the face of a vicious campaign to erase our stories, our voices, and our contributions to this nation.

“The current Administration is scapegoating people of color for horrific tragedies, prohibiting the recognition of Black History Month and AANHPI Heritage Month which honors the contributions of our communities, and cutting funding for vital programs including Medicaid, food and nutritional programs, public safety initiatives, and small business assistance.

“But make no mistake: We will fight tooth and nail for our communities and stand up to these devastating cuts. We will not let anyone tell us that our history, narratives, and culture are just a diversity initiative. Black history and AANHPI history are American history, and without us, our nation would not be where it is today.

“Let us remember that politics is not a zero-sum game. Our strength lies in our collective power and solidarity.

“Together, we will fight for a future of prosperity, equality, and justice for all.”