Asian American voters need outreach + Mask makers in Sacramento: Your AAPI newsletter
It is Thursday, May 14, and this is The Sacramento Bee’s AAPI weekly newsletter.
Here’s a recap on the stories I recently covered and issues I’m following:
Asian Americans are the fastest-growing group of the nation’s eligible voters, a study shows. The Asian electorate has more than doubled in the last two decades. Six out of 10 Asians in the U.S. will be able to vote in November’s presidential election. Of those voters, 35 percent live in California.
While there is a potential for the AAPI voter bloc to make a difference in the November presidential election, experts said candidates need to reach out to the communities, especially those with low English proficiency.
Two retired women honed their sewing skills while quarantining at home, making about 350 masks for families, health care workers and community members since March.
“I know we are not gonna have vaccines for a while, so we are gonna wear these masks for a while,” said Ann Tsukamoto, one of the mask-makers. “We should wear masks to protect each other from getting it and spreading it. It is important for people to know that just because you are asymptomatic, you could also give it to other people.
“There is a lot you can do for the community to fight (COVID-19). We are not the front-line health care workers, but one mask at a time is going to make a big difference.”
In other news
As Asian Americans face racist attacks, a PBS series celebrates their unsung history [Los Angeles Times]
Taiwanese Americans use coronavirus as moment to create their own narrative [NBC News]
Fear of deportation heightened for immigrant doctors on H-1B visas amid pandemic [NBC News]
Long Beach resident Rot Mythong being held by ICE at Adelanto Detention Center [Signal Tribune]
President Donald Trump accused of racism after clash with Asian American reporter [The Guardian]
California nail-salon owners worry Newsom’s coronavirus remark could spure anti-Asian backlash [The Mercury News]
How communities are helping homebound Asian American seniors with limited English skills [NBC News]
Jeremy Lin discussed how Asian Americans are facing discrimination during the COVID-19 pandemic [The Boston Globe]
Asian American women’s task force set to host ‘bystander invention’ seminar in Oklahoma [The Oklahoman]
Column: Asian American police officers working to feed, protect Chicago’s Asian communities. ‘We know there’s a stigma. You hear it. You feel it.’ [Chicago Tribune]
Makoto Imai masters Japanese traditonal woodworking and construction in Washington and around the world [The Seattle Times]
Are you working on the front lines in some way to help with the containment of COVID-19, or are contributing to the health and well-being of our community?
Please reach out to me at tyu@sacbee.com. I’d love to do a story on you!
That’s it for this week’s newsletter. Thanks for reading, stay safe and hang in there!
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