WASHINGTON, DC – Government watchdog Accountable.US released a new analysis showing major corporations – including Amazon, Walmart, and Google – have made commitments to or commemorated AAPI communities while their political committees engaged in contradictory behavior. These corporations have contributed at least $1.1 million to Senate Republicans who voted against the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act  — legislation that would ensure all Americans could cast their ballots “regardless of their age, race, sex, language, or zip code.” In the 2020 elections, Asian American and Pacific Islander voter turnout increased from less than 2.8 million in 2016 to around 4 million thanks to alternatives to in-person voting – election accessibility that voter suppression laws threaten to roll back.

How can any corporation honestly say they’re an ally to AAPI communities while they hand over thousands to lawmakers determined to suppress people of color from exercising their right to vote? With our democracy in jeopardy, these companies have to decide if they will follow through on their own commitments to AAPI communities, or continue to prioritize political influence. But they can't do both, and they need to stop misleading their customers, shareholders, and employees about what side they’re on.”

Kyle Herrig, President of Accountable.US

Chairwoman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Judy Chu has laid out how voter suppression efforts harm AAPI voters, particularly after the “surge in AAPI turnout was significant enough to be the margin of difference in a number of swing states” in the 2020 election.

KEY FINDINGS:

  • Verizon commemorated the AAPI community in 2021 but has donated $190,500 to Senate Republicans in the 2022 election cycle.
  • Amazon commemorated the AAPI community in 2021 but has donated $152,500 to Senate Republicans in the 2022 election cycle.
  • Citigroup commemorated AAPI Heritage Month 2022 but has donated $53,000 to Senate Republicans in the 2022 election cycle.
  • Walgreens Boot Alliance commemorated the AAPI community in 2021 but has donated $27,500 to Senate Republicans in the 2022 election cycle.
  • Walmart commemorated AAPI Heritage Month 2022 but has donated $196,500 to Senate Republicans in the 2022 election cycle.
  • Microsoft Corporation commemorated AAPI Heritage Month 2022 but has donated
  • $208,000 to Senate Republicans in the 2022 election cycle.
  • Intel Corporation commemorated AAPI Heritage Month 2022 but has donated $57,000 to Senate Republicans in the 2022 election cycle.
  • Google commemorated AAPI Heritage Month 2022 but has donated $170,000 to Senate Republicans in the 2022 election cycle.
  • Boston Scientific has commemorated the AAPI community but has donated $30,500 to Senate Republicans in the 2022 election cycle.
  • Cisco commemorated the AAPI community in 2021 but has donated $20,000 to Senate Republicans in the 2022 election cycle.

 

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