During the Asian Americans Advancing Justice Conference, AAOP staff, Organizing Fellows, and interns alongside CAPI, FIRM, and LACM stormed the Capitol to speak to Minnesota Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith on issues the APIA community in MN care about.
Though Senators Klobuchar and Smith were not present, their staff was able to take in and listen to what we had to say.
AAOP Community Organizer Pashie Vang and Vang Xor Xiong introduced their group, letting the Senator’s staff know a little bit more about our stance on Family-Based Immigration, deportation of Southeast Asian Americans, and the citizenship question on the 2020 census.
Below is a comprehensive table of what AAOP staff had gathered from the conversation with Senators Klobuchar and Smith and their stance on these issues:
| Issue | Senator Klobuchar | Senator Smith |
| Family-Based Immigration | Support Family-Based Immigration | Support Family-Based Immigration
ACTION: potentially planning on hosting a round table with community members, organizations, and leaders to share narratives |
| Deportation of Southeast Asian Americans | Both stated they will do their best to make sure those detained with receive basic necessities. | |
| Citizenship Question on 2020 Census | Opposes Citizenship question; plans to signing onto letters to support Census. | Opposes Citizenship Question
ACTION: trying to introduce a bill to help with the 2020 and future Census. This bill would eliminate the citizenship question and prevent the introduction of any question without research or data backing up statement. |
The issue of the census question is particularly interesting, Vang says. The citizenship question would be a barrier or a challenge for many community members who might not be documented. It also presents a difficult situation to be in because completing the Census form is also very important in determining the number of Representatives your district might have.
The conference addressed this by allowing organizations who had previously worked on the 2010 Census Organizing to provide insight on what worked and what didn’t. Hearing from this helped provide a clearer vision on what the 2020 Census Organizing would look like, Vang adds.
For Xiong, it was amazing to be in a space where Elected Officials were able to show support for the APIA community.
“It’s great to see that they do care about building relationships with activists, as well,” Xiong says.