AAPI Vote 2018: Racist flyers pop up against Asian American in New Jersey congressional race

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Congressional candidate Andy Kim, a former Obama White House staffer, on the campaign trail in New Jersey.

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A POLITICAL MAILER in New Jersey which uses the chop suey font when referencing an Asian American opponent and uses imagery of fish markets common in Chinatown is being blasted as racist, reports Think Progress.

Democrat Andy Kim is in a tight race against incumbent Republican Tom MacArthur in New Jersey’s 3rd District. Kim is currently two points ahead of MacArthur in the latest polls.

The mailer is captioned “something is real fishy about Andy Kim. It is put out by the New Jersey Republican State Committee.

The New Jersey Globe broke down the ad and said there’s nothing racist about imagery of fish, but concluded the use of the chop suey font is an attempt to connote “orientalness” and resurrect a font that dates back to the yellow peril days of U.S. history.

“Congressional Republicans like Tom MacArthur can’t run on their record, because their only legislative accomplishment is a tax cut for billionaires and big corporations that screwed middle class taxpayers in New Jersey,” Currie said to the Globe. “So they’re left with the kind of racist, dog whistle politics that this mailer demonstrates, trying to make a distinguished public servant like Andy Kim into an ‘other.’”

Republicans charge the attack by Democrats is an attempt to move the conversation away from news stories about Kim lying about his resume.

“False cries of racism are a sign that the Kim campaign is coming unhinged down the stretch. Let’s not forget that Tom MacArthur has two Korean children.”

Racist mailers are nothing new to New Jersey politics. The word “deport” were stamped across photos of school board candidates Jerry Shi & Falguni Patel in Edison, NJ. Both ended up winning.

Anti-Ravi Bhalla mailers in Hoboken included the words “Don’t let TERRORISM” take over our town. Bhalla went on to win the mayoral race.

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Another racist flyer pops up in New Jersey elections

ASIAN AMERICAN voters could play a pivotal role in New Jersey's elections Tuesday, Nov. 7.

The growth of the Asian/American population in New Jersey has done two things: 1. The New York Times published an article about the mounting influence of the South Asian electorate; and, 2. Caused racists to come out of hiding.

Another racist flyer has popped up in the last minute linking a Sikh/American candidate to terrorism. 

The flyers, which were placed on car windshields, depict candidate Ravi Bhalla, who is running for mayor of Hoboken, wearing the traditional turban of his Sikh faith. Beside his photo, in bold red letters, the fliers read, “Don’t let TERRORISM take over our town!”

Bhalla responded on his Facebook account Saturday (Oct.4).

"We won't let hate win in Hoboken," he wrote. "I want people to know that Hoboken is a welcoming community where my wife and I are proud to raise our two young children. No matter your religion, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation, you are welcome here in our City. And as Mayor, I will work hard to make sure we keep it that way.

"I want to use this incident as an opportunity to affirm to each other and our children the value of living in a diverse community where we are judged by the content of our character - not by the color of our skin or how we worship. At this time in our nation’s history when we have a President who seeks to divide us, it is critical that we come together as a community and stand up for American values."

Hoboken Police Chief Ken Ferrante tweeted that police are investigating this as a potential “bias crime.”

The flyer makes accusations similar to flyers released by one of Bhalla's opponent Michael DeFusco . DeFusco claimed that the flyers were designed to look like it came from him. He condemned the fliers and said they did not come from his campaign.

The Hoboken flyers came just two days after a racist postcard was mailed to voters in Edison, NJ targeting Asian School Board candidates with the slogan “Make Edison Great Again.”

“The repugnant racist tactics represented in these campaign materials do a disservice to the welcoming community that New Jersey truly is," said James Sues, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations -NJ. "This is just a painful reminder of the extreme divisiveness that characterizes current political climate at the national level.”

The New York Times noted that Democratic gubernatorial candidate Daniel Murphy visited a construction site for a Hindu temple. “It was a recognition that the South Asian community in New Jersey is a force — a force that cannot be lumped in with Asians in general,” said Rajiv Parikh, the lawyer for the New Jersey Democratic State Committee.

“I think there has been an awakening and a lot of it has to do with this transition from the immigrant mentality to the first- and second-generation mentality,” said Parikh in the NYT.

“Folks like myself who grew up here understand the importance of government and making sure that your voice is heard,” he said. “If you don’t go and do the work, you’re not going to effectuate change for yourself.”

The number of South Asians in the state has grown dramatically in recent decades. In 1970, there were fewer than 50,000 Asians in New Jersey, according to state data. By 2010, there were more than 725,000.

The NYT article noted the potential for a couple of firsts for South Asians. If Bhalla wins his contest in Hoboken, he would become the first South Asian mayor in the state. Vin Gopal, former Democratic chair for Monmouth County, could be the first South Asian in the state legislature in his Senate race for the 11th Legislative District.

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Racist flyers targeting Asian/American candidates flyers darken school board race

This flyer attacks the Asian/American candidates.

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A RACIST MAILER which declares that “Chinese and Indians are taking over our town” has been received by voters in Edison, New Jersey, reports the New York Daily News.

The postcards target incumbent school board member Jerry Shi and candidate Falungi Patel.

The mailing calls for the deportation of both candidates and proclaims “Make Edison Great Again,” a play off President Trump’s campaign slogan during the 2016 election.

“The Chinese and Indians are taking over our town. Chinese school! Indian school! Cricket fields! Enough is enough,” the postcard states, according to NJ.com.

“I’m obviously disgusted by it, to say the least,” said Patel to 101.5. “I was born and raised in New Jersey. To see the word ‘deport’ on my picture — where are you going to deport me to? Really it’s just outrageous.”

Edison Mayor Thomas Lankey also denounced the postcard.

“It has become a sad reality that in our polarized political atmosphere, some people suddenly feel empowered to publicly express these vile nativist ideas.” he said. “Make no mistake, we will do everything we can to expose the shameful people behind this.”

"This is an example of how our current political environment is both normalizing and fueling racism," said Jesse Burns, executive director of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey. 
 

The reverse side of the postcard was just as racist as the front.

(Views from the Edge contributed to this report)

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