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Native Hawaiians are part of a coalition that Democrats are urging to get behind Democratic Party presidential nominee Kamala Harris.
Acting U.S. Labor Secretary Julie Su – in an un-official capacity – is leading the effort.
Chuck Quirmbach of station WUWM reports.
Julie Su was born in Wisconsin to parents who came from China and Taiwan.
Democrats have asked Su to speak to groups of voters around the U.S. made up of people of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander descent who are backing Vice President Harris’ bid for the Oval Office.
At a gathering of an AANHPI Coalition for Harris in Milwaukee, Su spoke of conservative attacks that claim Harris is a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) candidate.
“That idea is a horribly, cynical, mean, and frankly, it’s an attempt to undermine people for what they have actually done.”
Su is being identified at the organizing events as The Honorable Julie Su, and is not talking about policies of the U.S. Labor Department, to try to avoid laws banning federal employees from engaging in political campaigns.
But Su told a reporter about the importance of collecting federal data that is correct for Native people, including Native Hawaiians.
“When we collect data about Asian-Americans, we can’t just collect in the aggregate, because the aggregate data tends to obscure what’s really happening in specific communities. And for Native Hawaiians, that has long been an issue. So, under this administration, we have dis-aggragated data, in ways that it has never been done before.”
Su says separating the data for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders often shows much higher unemployment rates for those groups.
Holding on to AANHPI support may be crucial to Harris winning against Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.
Polls released a few months ago showed most of that coalition still favors Democrats, but Republicans have been making gains over the last eight years.
Courtesy Wyoming Public Radio
The Northern Arapaho Tribe is using over $500.000 in federal funds to create a tribal re-entry program for previously incarcerated citizens.
Wyoming Public Radio’s Chris Clements reports the program is meant to help tribal members coming from correctional facilities readjust to life on the Wind River Reservation.
Native American culture and history are being shared at the California State Capitol Monday, during the Fifth Annual California Indian Cultural Event.
The day includes the California Native American Legislative Caucus introducing its inaugural class of Native American Day Honorees.
The honorees include advocates, tribal leaders and educators.
They’re being honored on the Assembly Floor for making a positive impact and change for Native American communities throughout the state.
The day will conclude with cultural performances and a reception with the honorees.
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