National Council of Asian Pacific Americans Responds to President Obama's Final State of the Union Address

The National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) welcomed President Obama’s final State of the Union address, and National Director Christopher Kang issued the following response:

“Tonight, President Obama not only declared that the state of our Union is strong, he emphasized the need to understand what makes us strong—our diversity, our respect for one another, and our standing up for one another. He challenged us to see ourselves as ‘Americans first, bound by a common creed,’ and as we seek to meet this challenge, I hope that Americans will do the same and see Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders—and those of all communities of color, religions, and backgrounds—as Americans first.

With echoes of hope and change, President Obama outlined a number of important issues—criminal justice reform, immigration reform, and economic justice, to name just a few—but even more importantly, he laid out a vision for bolstering our democracy so that all of these priorities might be achievable.”

Earlier today, NCAPA participated in a #StateofRace Twitter Town Hall about significant racial justice issues to address in 2016 with the Advancement Project, Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum, Race Forward, Demos, National Urban League, National Congress of American Indians, and Poverty & Race Research Action Council. During the conversation, we aligned with the President's message of rejecting rhetoric that targets individuals based on their perceived race or religion. We also noted the importance of empowering our communities to vote. 

As we head into the upcoming presidential election, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are growing faster than ever, and it's time for our voices to grow even stronger.

We have high hopes that in the final year of this Administration, Congress and the President will be able to work effectively together on issues concerning our communities for the benefit of all Americans.