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1.09.2013

Assemblywoman condemns racist anti-Filipino letter



Some more on that racist letter that was recently mailed out in the Bay Area city of American Canyon... Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada, who represents California's 4th Assembly District (including American Canyon), has responded with a statement condemning the letter, which uses racist language and falsely purports to be from a state agency. From the Assemblywoman's press release:

"The letter recently sent to at least one of my American Canyon constituents is deeply troubling. First, it purports to be an official state communication from the California Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA), Board of Barbering and Cosmetology, but far worse, the letter contains hate speech, which has no place in a civilized society.

"Since learning of the letter, our office has alerted DCA officials in Sacramento and offered support to American Canyon Mayor Leon Garcia and Police Chief Jean Donaldson. A swift, strong, and clear message condemning such acts and reaffirming our commitment to diversity and respect for all people is the best response to hate."
We can all agree that the letter is deplorable. It takes a special kind of hate to forego the usual anonymous quick-hit internet comment, and instead take the effort to compose and send an actual physical letter. As I said in this Huffington Post story, that's special delivery racism.

So that's great. But what are the authorities doing about it now? Doesn't this demand action? At the very least, the author is pretending to represent an official state agency. Somebody is responsible for this, and they should be exposed.