FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                        CONTACT: ALICE SIU / 650.799.6899
JANUARY 14, 2008

Local Media and Blogs Recognize the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Community Overlooked in Nevada


LAS VEGAS, NV—Nevada’s local media as well as the blogging world have begun to recognize the lack of attention given to the rapidly growing Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) population in Nevada. AAPIs will make a difference in the Nevada caucus on January 19th. In Nevada, of the 100,000 people who are expected to participate in the Democratic and Republican caucuses, an estimated 10,000 AAPIs are expected to turn out.

In today’s Las Vegas Review-Journal, a news report titled “Asian Immigrants Feel Left Out of Debate” found that the AAPI community was initially left out of tomorrow’s MSNBC Presidential Debate. In response to numerous complaints raised by AAPI leaders, the Nevada Democratic State Party arranged a political rally in Chinatown today with Senator Harry Reid, Congresswoman Shelley Berkley and Congressman Mike Honda.

“AAPIs have electoral impact,” said Daphne Kwok, APIAVote board member. “In Nevada, for the 2004 election, 63 percent of eligible voters registered to vote and 77 percent of registered voters turned out to vote. In Clark County, 35,321 AAPIs registered to vote; 26,464 cast ballots - voter turnout reached 75%.”

“Nevada—as the first caucus in the West and ranking 3rd for highest Pacific Islander population and 6th for highest Asian American population—will have a significant impact in how AAPIs vote,” said Noe Kalipi, APIAVote board member. “AAPIs from across the United States, will be watching, particularly AAPIs in the West headed into Super Tuesday,” said Kalipi.

The Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) is a national non-partisan, nonprofit organization that encourages and promotes civic participation of Asian Pacific Islander Americans in the electoral and public policy processes at the national, state and local levels. To learn more about APIAVote, please visit www.apiavote.org.

###

NEWS ARTICLES
http://www.lvrj.com/news/13762607.html
http://www.lasvegasnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=7620457
http://www.philippinenews.com/article.php?id=1636
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/75927/Pinoys-in-Nevada-urged-to-participate-in-US-polls

BLOGS:
http://www.8asians.com/2008/01/14/nevada-dont-forget-about-asian-americans/
http://feministblogs.org/tag/asian-americans/
http://www.asian-nation.org/headlines/2008/01/asian-american-political-rally-in-las-vegas/
http://asiaxpress.com/Articles/2008/jan/cup_of_joe/2.html
http://www.reappropriate.com/?p=970