New York State Republican Asian Pacific American Roundtable and New York State Republicans celebrated “Asian Heritage Month” on May 5 at Glen Cove Mansion on Long Island.
Edward Cox, leader of the New York State Republican Party, Robert Ortt, Minority Leader of the New York State Senate, Chinese-American State Assemblyman Lester Chang, and over 300 elected officials, executives, candidates, and guests from New York City and Long Island attended the event. Participants reflected on the history of Asian Americans and expressed gratitude for the contributions of Asians to society and the community.
The event was hosted by Jeffery Gu, founder of the “Make Us Visible” organization, who first reviewed the history of Asian Heritage Month. In 1977, Congress legislated to establish Asian Heritage Week, later expanded to celebrate the entire month of May by President Bush in 1990.
According to 2020 census data, there are 25 million Asians in the United States. Asians are regarded as model minority due to their emphasis on education, hard work, entrepreneurship, and law-abiding nature. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in Asian political participation, with Republican candidates such as Julia Zhu in the 11th district, Justin Chan in the 17th district, and Sean Wang in the 40th district running for office this year.
Chairman Cox praised the values of Asians and their emphasis on education. He emphasized that the New York Republican Party will defend the merit-based admission system and the right to school choice. Cox, who has served as the chairman of the New York State Republican Party since 2009, reiterated his commitment to these principles. In a friendly and gentlemanly manner, he engaged with all attendees. During the Q&A session, when asked about his favorite Chinese cuisine, he mentioned Fuzhou cuisine, demonstrating his deep understanding of the New York Chinese community.
Minority Leader Ortt of the New York State Senate stated in his speech that many people worldwide come to the United States to pursue the American Dream because the U.S. is the most opportunistic country in the world.
Both prominent Republican leaders criticized the left’s attempts to strip students of their educational choices and dismantle the merit-based admission system. They also denounced the left’s tolerance of crime and tenant harassment. They stressed that the Republican Party’s governing principles align more with Asian values, prioritizing freedom and security for the people, and urged voters to make wise choices in the November elections.
At the event, Asian venture capitalists showcased cutting-edge technology and innovation. During the intermission, Julia Music Academy student Phoebe Qian performed a solo cello piece by Bach, while entrepreneur John Catsimatidis presented his autobiography “How Far do you want to go” as gifts to award winners and young volunteers.