A new television and digital advertisement targeting Asian American voters draws stark comparisons between former President Donald Trump and historical instances of discrimination against the Asian community.
According to Fox News, the Harris-Walz campaign unveiled a provocative 30-second advertisement titled "Our America" on Saturday, which connects Trump's rhetoric to significant historical events of anti-Asian discrimination, including the World War II internment of Japanese Americans.
The advertisement strategically incorporates various symbols of American freedom, particularly highlighting the Constitution, while suggesting these fundamental principles face threats from what the campaign describes as Trump and his supporters' extremist positions.
The advertisement deliberately references two pivotal moments in Asian American history. In 1942, Democratic President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an executive order that led to the internment of approximately 117,000 people of Japanese descent, with American citizens comprising the majority.
The camps remained operational until a Supreme Court decision prompted the closure of nine facilities by the end of 1945. The final internment camp shut its doors in March 1946, marking the end of a dark chapter in American history.
The campaign's narrative also incorporates the 1982 murder of Vincent Chin, a 27-year-old Chinese American draftsman who fell victim to a racially motivated attack in San Francisco. The assault, carried out by two White autoworkers who blamed Japanese imports for automotive industry layoffs, resulted in Chin's death.
The Harris-Walz campaign's advertisement features diverse representations of Asian Americans, including military veterans and families. The campaign has implemented a comprehensive distribution strategy across multiple platforms.
The advertisement's reach extends beyond traditional television broadcasting in battleground states to include various digital channels such as Meta, Snap, and YouTube. Radio platforms are also included in the distribution strategy.
Andrew Peng, speaking for the campaign as their Asian-American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander spokesperson, stated:
The choice for Asian American voters in this election couldn't be clearer. While Trump surrounds himself with loyalists to emulate the dictators he admires and intends to wield unchecked power to serve himself, Vice President Kamala Harris has only ever had one client: the people.
The advertisement's narrator delivers a pointed message about the electoral choice facing voters:
We have a choice between someone who wants unchecked power and has an outdated vision of America that has no place for us… Or a president who will respect all Americans, who will never view us as 'others.' Protect our democracy and our communities. Vote.
The release of this advertisement coincides with Vice President Harris's intensified criticism of the former president. Her recent public statements have characterized Trump as "increasingly unhinged and unstable" and labeled him as "a fascist."
The advertisement strategically connects historical events to contemporary concerns, incorporating references to the surge in anti-Asian hate crimes that emerged during the pandemic. Visual elements include #StopAsianHate posters displayed behind groups of children.
The timing and content of the advertisement reflect the campaign's strategic focus on mobilizing Asian American voters by drawing parallels between historical discrimination and current political dynamics. This approach demonstrates the campaign's effort to frame the upcoming election as a pivotal moment for Asian American civil rights and representation.
