CA-45: National Chinese American Group Condemns Steel for Dangerous Attack

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, October 25, 2022
CONTACT: press@chenforcongress.com, (714) 696-6048

GARDEN GROVE, CA – The Committee of 100, a group of influential Chinese American leaders has called on Rep. Michelle Steel to remove her false and hateful attack ads meant to deceive voters about the record and patriotism of her congressional opponent, Taiwanese American veteran Jay Chen.

Read the full release here. 

“A Congressional race between two candidates of Asian descent should be an opportunity to highlight the diversity and achievement of the Asian American community. Instead, one candidate is using racist attacks and advertisements to question the patriotism and loyalty of an American military veteran,” said Zhengyu Huang, President, Committee of 100. “These racist attacks perpetuate the harmful and inaccurate stereotypes that foment the anti-Asian hate and violence plaguing our country. It is especially harmful when these unfounded attacks come from members of our own community. We will not allow this behavior to divide the Asian American community. We call on Congresswoman Steel to remove these negative ads and focus on the issues.”

“The AAPI community has had enough of Steel, who callously incites fear and hate through false attacks with zero concern for the impact on the community’s safety and well being,” said Lt. Commander Jay Chen (res). “Instead of combating anti-Asian hate, she adds fuel to the fire, and she’s doing it because she has no record to run on. I will always place the constituents of CA-45 first by focusing on the issues they care about; improving our local economy, making our communities safer, and fighting for the right for women to make their own healthcare decisions.

National AAPI groups and leaders have been united in condemning Michelle Steel’s racist campaign tactics: 

• U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono’s statement condemning Michelle Steel’s shameless attacks
• Following Steel’s release of a xenophobic ad attacking Lt. Commander Jay Chen, Asian Americans for Good Government PAC issued a statement denouncing the racist attacks and rescinded their endorsement of her campaign.
• The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Leadership PAC denounced Steel’s dangerous campaign tactics last week.
• In-language AAPI outlets have condemned Steel’s willingness to weaponize disinformation and harmful stereotypes.
• An article in the LA Times details the disgusting and false attacks Michelle Steel has used to try and smear her opponent Lt. Commander Jay Chen – specifically targeting immigrant communities.
• The Orange County community has expressed outrage at Steel’s desperate tactics. In a press conference this month, local veterans joined Lt. Commander Jay Chen alongside House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (CA-41) and Marine Corps Veteran and Congressman Ruben Gallego (AZ-07) to publicly denounce Michelle Steel’s attempt to question the patriotism of a service member.
• A recent Letter to the Editor published in the LA Times slammed Congresswoman Steel’s tactics, arguing that her shameful tactics are sadly in line with the extremist Republican party and that Steel “aligns herself with a party that wants to turn our democracy into something that resembles a dictatorship.”

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