Trump Wins Over Asian American Voters, Video Release Of Oklahoma Cop Slamming Elderly,Historic Recall of Oakland's Mayor

Good Morning November 12, 2024

Your daily update on stories impacting the Asian and Asian American community, along with key insights into business, culture, and trends.

TOP STORIES

How Donald Trump won more Asian American voters in 2024

While most Asian American voters cast their votes for Kamala Harris, a record 39% supported Donald Trump in this year’s election. As many Harris voters continue to look for answers to explain the outcome, Trump supporters are pointing at grassroots efforts, voter education and targeted campaign strategies as levers for the historic shift.

• By the numbers: Latest exit polling data show that Kamala Harris won 54% of the overall Asian American vote, but Trump's share grew to 39%, marking a five-point increase from 2020. Among Asian men, 55% voted for Harris, while 37% went for Trump. The Republican candidate’s share among Asian women was greater: 42% backed him, while 54% supported Harris. 

• How this happened: Asians Making America Great Again (AsiansMAGA), the leading grassroots PAC supporting Trump among Asian Americans, attributes the political shift to targeted voter education and outreach. The group says it organized in-person and online rallies, placed advertisements in swing states, published op-eds and distributed an “Asian Voter Guide” in five Asian languages. “AsiansMAGA identified a gap in educating and messaging key policy issues to Asian American voters. We helped close that gap in Asian communities across battleground states, increasing this key voting bloc's support for former President Trump,” said AsiansMAGA co-founder Holly Ham. The movement’s appeal lies in addressing frustrations with Democratic policies, which AsiansMAGA claims have harmed core community interests like economy, education, public safety and immigration. In an op-ed for the Los Angeles Times, James Zarsadiaz, an associate professor of history at the University of San Francisco, pointed out that the GOP’s appeal is not merely a reflection of Trumpism but a broader dissatisfaction with the left. “Pundits and strategists alike have acknowledged that the Democratic Party is now perceived as the party of highly educated elites, A-list celebrities and wealthy cosmopolitans culturally out of step with everyday Americans,” Zarsadiaz wrote in part.

• Key consideration: Language access was found to be a significant hurdle in cities like New York and Philadelphia during Election Day. An exit poll by the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) shows that 15% of Asian American voters identified themselves as either unable to speak English well enough or at all. Of these voters, 82% expressed a need for a translated ballot, while 26% did not have such a ballot. “Despite important protections for minority language speakers in the Voting Rights Act, we were troubled to hear from some voters that language assistance, even in places where they are mandated to provide interpreters, was unreliable, insufficient or nonexistent,” said AALDEF Executive Director Bethany Li.

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao recalled in historic vote

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao was recalled in last week’s election, marking the first successful removal of a mayor in the Bay Area city.

• What she’s saying: Thao’s recall passed with 63.85% in favor and 36.15% opposed, according to final tallies. The Associated Press had yet to officially call the mayoral recall as of Friday, but Thao, acknowledging defeat, expressed gratitude to the city she made history in as the first Hmong-American woman to lead a major U.S. city. “It was my goal to make Oakland safer, cleaner and more vibrant,” she said, pointing to achievements like a 35% reduction in homicides, resolving encampments and expanding technological infrastructure. The Oakland Police Officers Union reportedly celebrated Thao’s defeat, blaming her for defunding the police and fiscal mismanagement. Meanwhile, Oakland City Council President Nikki Fortunato Bas is set to serve as interim mayor until a special election, anticipated in April.

The big picture: Thao’s critics, including activists like Carl Chan and the police union, blamed her for high crime rates and financial mishaps, such as firing the police chief and missing out on millions in state grants. She received further criticism after the FBI raided her home in June amid a corruption probe. The recall of Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price followed a similar trajectory, with opponents highlighting leniency in prosecutions despite her charging over 60 murder cases. Both recalls were fueled by a campaign funded heavily by investment manager Philip Dreyfuss and mirrored a statewide backlash against progressive policies, with San Francisco and Los Angeles also voting out incumbents. Gov. Gavin Newsom now appears to have distanced himself from both women, announcing increased law enforcement support in Oakland.

Video released of Oklahoma cops slamming cancer-stricken 70-year-old to the ground

The Oklahoma City Police Department (OCPD) on Saturday released  footage showing an officer’s alleged use of excessive force against Lich Vu, a 70-year-old Asian man with bone cancer, during a traffic violation encounter in late October. The video shows the officer’s body camera footage and surveillance clip from a nearby business.

• What happened: The incident on Oct. 27 near Northwest 39th Street and Meridian Avenue reportedly started when Vu and another motorist wound up in a collision. A police officer arrived at the scene and issued both drivers a ticket for an improper U-turn. However, an argument ensued when Vu refused to sign his ticket, leading the officer to inform him that he could be imprisoned. In the video, Vu can be seen approaching the officer and lightly slapping the latter’s vest and telling him to “shut up.” This prompted the officer to hold Vu’s arms and slam him to the ground, placing him in handcuffs. The impact reportedly caused Vu to lose consciousness, with the OCPD stating that the officer removed the handcuffs after the paramedics arrived.

• The aftermath: Following the incident, Vu’s daughter Teresa took to Facebook to share that her father, who has bone cancer, was hospitalized and required surgery for brain bleeding. Vu, who is now conscious but experiencing some memory loss — being unable to remember why he was in the hospital — also needed a nasogastric tube to assist with eating, hydration and medication, as he could not swallow properly due to a neck injury. Meanwhile, the OCPD has put the officer on a paid administrative leave as they investigate the incident. The department assured the community that the case is “being thoroughly investigated.”

ELECTION INSIGHTS

Harris fundraiser receives wave of racist texts, told to “go back to India”

Ajay Jain Bhutoria, an Indian American fundraising official for the Harris-Walz campaign and the Democratic Party, has been the target of racist text messages demanding he leave the U.S. and return to India. Bhutoria, who serves as deputy national finance chair of the DNC and a former member of President Joe Biden's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, shared one of such messages he received with PTI on Sunday. “You claim that you are doing what’s best for Americans, but you aren’t doing anything for Americans and you don’t care about America. You are Indian. You only care about Indians. You do what’s best for India. Why are you here? Stop being a beggar in America and become a leader in India,” the message read. Responding to these threats, Bhutoria said, “Trump supporters asking me to go back to India to fight for green card backlog,” emphasizing the hostile environment he faces while advocating for legal immigrant rights. Despite the offensive messages, Bhutoria is not backing down and vows to continue his work.

BUSINESS AND GLOBAL AFFAIRS

Trio finds Singapore’s “Hunt the Mouse” gold coin worth $375,000

The hunt for Singapore’s “Hunt the Mouse” top prize came to an end early Friday morning after three men found the coveted gold coin worth 500,000 Singaporean dollars ($375,000). Event organizer Sqkii announced the breakthrough on Instagram, confirming that the three hunters — Wee Kiat, Edward and Erwin — found the coin hidden under a bench in front of Blk 208 at New Upper Changi Road in Bedok at 1:43 a.m. Announced in October, the hunt ran from Oct. 10 to Nov. 9, with the gold coin being hidden on Oct. 30. Sqkii also hid 300 silver coins worth between 500 ($375) and 2,500 Singaporean dollars ($1,880). Throughout the event, Sqkii posted several hints on social media to help hunters.

CULTURE AND TRENDS

Viral Olympics Korean shooter takes break amid hateful comments

Kim Ye-ji, who won a silver medal in the women’s 10-meter air pistol event at the Paris Olympics on Sept. 28, is taking a break from professional shooting. Speaking to AFP on Sunday, Kim’s agent, Yang Yong-sik, said the Olympian will “temporarily suspend her sports career... to have some time together with her young daughter.” Kim also decided not to renew her contract with her team, as the next competitions will not commence until April 2025. Yang clarified that the 32-year-old South Korean shooter is not retiring from the sport, as she just wants to “make up for the time she couldn’t spend with her family.” Kim received waves of modeling offers following her viral moment at the Paris Olympics, including posing for South Korea’s W Korea magazine and becoming Tesla Korea’s first brand ambassador. However, her newfound fame also drew in critics, who sent her hateful comments such as “stick to your main job,” along with strangers asking her for money. An unnamed executive from her entertainment agency, Plfil, said such comments also played a major role in her decision to take a break. “Although I haven't set a specific return date, I’ll do my best to come back as soon as possible,” Kim said in a statement.

ENTERTAINMENT HIGHLIGHTS

“Overwatch” actor mistreated by Westjet crew after alleged harassment by white passenger

U.S. actor Charlet Takahashi Chung took to Instagram to share her harrowing experience during a WestJet flight, accusing crew members of mistreatment after she reported another passenger for harassment.

• What she’s saying: Chung, known for her voice acting roles in “Family Guy,” “Fast & Furious Spy Racers” and as D.Va in the video game “Overwatch 2,” said the incident began when a male passenger behind her repeatedly hit and pushed her seat for over 20 minutes during boarding. The passenger allegedly told her to “f*ck off” after being confronted, prompting her to seek assistance from a flight attendant named Tricia. Instead of receiving support, however, Tricia, whom she was able to film, allegedly accused her of causing problems, forced her to change seats and threatened her with arrest. Throughout the flight, Chung said she was aggressively monitored and harassed by the crew, denied the use of the restroom at one point and subjected to taunting behavior. She accused the crew of raising their voice, mocking her and even spilling water on her during beverage service.

• The aftermath: Chung said the incident was “the most distressing, dehumanizing experience” she has ever encountered on a flight. She recalled feeling trapped and unsafe. “I was degraded, threatened and humiliated in front of a whole plane for an entire 4.5-hour flight,” she noted, adding that she has since been getting flashbacks and panic attacks. She expressed hopes that her story sheds light on what she perceives as a broader issue of discrimination and microaggressions faced by people of color in public spaces. Instagram users, who expressed support in the comments, are now pressing WestJet for answers, with many calling for Tricia’s firing. WestJet, which is headquartered in Calgary, Canada, is yet to publicly address the matter.

Michelle Yeoh had no idea what “Wicked” was when Jon M. Chu first recruited her

Michelle Yeoh was clueless about “Wicked” when director Jon M. Chu first approached her about starring in his film adaptation of the beloved musical.

• What she’s saying: Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter at the film’s Los Angeles premiere at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on Saturday, Yeoh, 62, confessed that she had no clue what Chu was talking about when he first tapped her for the role of Madame Morrible. Yeoh explained that she had not seen the musical and that she had not been to theaters for quite a while. While on a video call with Chu, Grande and Erivo, the “Crazy Rich Asians” star said Chu insisted it was “imperative” for her to join the cast. Addressing her role’s singing component, Yeoh admitted she was “terrified” at first, but after working with a coach, she realized it was actually fun. “The process of exercising, learning to use the muscles in a different way, was actually very, very good for me because it helps with my voice as an actor,” she said.

• Critics’ reactions: “Wicked,” a prequel to “The Wizard of Oz,” received positive reviews from critics who saw it ahead of its Los Angeles premiere. One described the movie as a “masterpiece”; another wrote that Erivo and Grande “knock it out of the park.” Meanwhile, one reviewer teased that the “world is not ready for how great [“Wicked”] is” and that “Ariana and Cynthia will blow you away.” The movie arrives in cinemas on Nov. 22.

Kim Jong-un” sings “Roketeu Roketeu” in viral deepfake “APT.” parody

A deepfake video showing “Kim Jong-un” and his sister “Kim Yo-jong” singing a parody of Rosé's “APT.” has gone viral on YouTube. The video, which was posted on Oct. 31 by user Lildoge_Mars, has since received over 6.3 million views. It shows the two “Kims” singing and dancing to “Roketeu Roketeu,” a parody of the original chorus “Apateu Apateu,” referencing the country’s infamous missile testing program. The deepfake includes other altered lyrics with North Korean context such as “avoid falling debris completely," "nukes every day" and "star of the Korean people." Aside from the two “Kims,” the “APT” parody video features a phony Russian President Vladimir Putin, the late former North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and North Korea’s iconic news anchor, Ri Chun-hee. YouTube users found the parody humorous, with one commenting, “I'm listening to it more than the original song... It's so stimulating.” Another noted, “I can't believe ROSÉ and Bruno Mars made a cover of this masterpiece.”

Stay informed, stay inspired. We’ll be back tomorrow with more stories that matter to the Asian and Asian American community.