Asian Pacific American Leaders Launch Web Site Supporting John Edwards for President

Asian Pacific American (APA) leaders today launched an unofficial grassroots Web site -- www.APAforEdwards.com -- supporting Senator John Edwards (D-NC) for president, and encouraged the APA community to learn more about Edwards campaign.

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) December 15, 2003 --Asian Pacific American (APA) leaders today launched an unofficial grassroots Web site -- www.APAforEdwards.com -- supporting Senator John Edwards (D-NC) for president, and encouraged the APA community to learn more about Edwards campaign.

Edwards is now one of only two Democratic presidential candidates whose APA supporters have developed an online presence. The Web site highlights Edwards agenda on civil rights, reasons why APAs should support him, mailing list registration, and a list of more than 20 high-profile endorsements, including that of former Hawaii lieutenant governor Mazie Hirono and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient Fred Korematsu.

Demonstrating his commitment to diversity and the inclusion of all Americans, Edwards appointed Deputy Political Director Courtni Sunjoo Pugh, a Korean American, as his primary liaison to the APA community. Pugh previously served as National Director for Asian Pacific American outreach for the Democratic National Committee during the 2000 election; National Field Director for Rock the Vote in Los Angeles; and Legislative Director for U.S. Congressman Danny K. Davis of Chicago.

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders make up the one of the most diverse and fastest-growing segment of our population," Edwards said in a press release issued by his campaign earlier this year. Im honored to have the support of some of the most accomplished members of this vibrant community and of this nation."

Edwards has proposed repealing parts of the Patriot Act that allow for indefinite detention of people deemed enemy combatants." Earlier this year, Edwards criticized his fellow North Carolinian, Congressman Howard Coble, who said that Japanese Americans were interned for their own safety. Someone who thinks it was okay for the United States to put innocent Americans behind barbed wire fences in 1942 should not make decisions about how to protect Americans in 2003," Edwards said.

Other APAs endorsing Edwards include:

· Gayatri Eassey, Young Democrats of Washington State president
· Tessie Guillermo, former CEO of the Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum
· David Kim, California Asian Pacific Islander American Affairs commissioner and Korean American Coalition board member
· Dan Kuramoto, leader of the acclaimed jazz band, Hiroshima
· Yvonne Lee, former US Civil Rights commissioner
· Ginger Lew, former deputy administrator of the Small Business Administration
· Dale Minami, president of the Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans
· Rose Matsui Ochi, former assistant U.S. attorney general for Community Relations
· Jadine Nielsen, former deputy chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
· Mona Pasquil, former deputy CEO for the 2000 Democratic National Convention
· Mark Pulido, ABC Unified School Board member
· Inbo Sim, vice president, National Korean American Service and Education Consortium
· Victor Sim, Korean American Coalition board member.
· Sumeer Singla, vice president of Kanoon South Asian Bar Association.
· Jill N. Tokuda, former executive director of the Hawaii Democratic Party
· Phil Ting, California Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs commissioner
· Ronald W. Wong, California Community College Board member

Also endorsing Edwards were Michael Bai, Vida Benavides, Charmette Bonpua, Lyle Canceko, Laura Efurd, Bill Hirose, May Lee, Elizabeth Martinez Baldick, Ray Ocampo, Chris Pak, Bill Wong, Charlie Woo, and Hoyt Zia.

For more information on the APAs for Edwards" Web site, email info@apaforedwards.com.

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