Washington, DC – DNC AAPI Caucus Chair Bel Leong-Hong issued the following statement on this week’s new year celebrations:

“This week, Southeast and South Asian communities celebrate their new year with friends and family and look forward to a prosperous year ahead. We take this time to observe the great diversity of the AAPI community and honor the contributions of our Southeast and South Asian brothers and sisters to the fabric of our country. Ours is a nation of immigrant families and we must never forget their stories, especially when campaign rhetoric turns to fear-mongering and xenophobia, as has occurred this election cycle in the Republican primary. The Democratic Party celebrates diversity, believes in inclusion and will always stand in solidarity with Americans of all races, creeds and colors.”