Asian voter harassment claims eyed
Civil rights group to investigate complaints of discrimination at District 19 polls
By Nathan Duke
Comment
 |
| TimesLedger Newspapers |
An organization that protects the civil rights of Asian Americans said it is investigating complaints of voter harassment during the Nov. 3 City Council race between Dan Halloran and Kevin Kim, who is Korean American.
Glenn Magpantay, a staff attorney at the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, said the group is looking into whether any laws were broken at the polls during the general election race between Halloran, an Auburndale Republican, and Kim, a Bayside Democrat.
“The number of complaints have been more than in any other race I’ve seen before,” Magpantay said. “One volunteer told us that a couple of white guys told her not to vote for Kevin Kim because of his race. We observed a couple of incidents, including a commissioner of elections allegedly not allowing a voter who did not speak English to use an interpreter. It’s very reminiscent of what happened in the Deep South with African-American voters during the 1950s and 1960s.”
Halloran defeated Kim 53 percent to 47 percent in the election. Magpantay said the aim of the AALDEF investigation was not an attempt to change the election’s outcome.
“We’re not looking to challenge election results in any way,” he said. “We’re looking at whether the law has been violated.”
Manreet Gurm, a northeast Queens high school student, said she filed a complaint with the AALDEF after volunteering for Kim’s campaign on election day.
“Halloran’s campaigner was right across from me,” she said. “He was saying Kevin Kim is some Chinese guy and that Chinese people were taking over the neighborhood.”
Steven Stites, a spokesman for Halloran, said the councilman-elect “rejects any attempts to divide the community.”
“Dan won because we mobilized our volunteers,” he said. “We were telling people to support Dan because of the issues, such as overdevelopment.”
The AALDEF will release a report on its findings following the investigation and file it with the city Board of Elections. Magpantay said the group decided to pursue the matter as a result of the Election Day complaints coupled with an October incident during which two Kim volunteers were harassed while campaigning on Francis Lewis Boulevard.
During that incident, a group of young men shouted racial slurs at two Kim volunteers in their 20s as they passed out fliers. The 109th Precinct confirmed a report on the confrontation had been filed.
No allegations have been made against specific individuals. But Kim’s and Halloran’s camps threw out accusations of racial and religious discrimination during the heated campaign for the Council seat.
Magpantay said he was not sure what actions the BOE could take on the complaints.
“Right now, we’re interviewing voters who feel they were harassed or denied language assistance, as well as campaign volunteers or individuals who were witnesses to inappropriate and possibly illegal conduct that may have violated the federal Voting Rights Act,” he said.
The act, signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson in 1965, outlaws discriminatory practices that prevented African Americans from voting.
The Board of Elections could not be reached for comment.
Reach reporter Nathan Duke by e-mail at nduke@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 156.
Glenn Magpantay, a staff attorney at the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, said the group is looking into whether any laws were broken at the polls during the general election race between Halloran, an Auburndale Republican, and Kim, a Bayside Democrat.
“The number of complaints have been more than in any other race I’ve seen before,” Magpantay said. “One volunteer told us that a couple of white guys told her not to vote for Kevin Kim because of his race. We observed a couple of incidents, including a commissioner of elections allegedly not allowing a voter who did not speak English to use an interpreter. It’s very reminiscent of what happened in the Deep South with African-American voters during the 1950s and 1960s.”
Halloran defeated Kim 53 percent to 47 percent in the election. Magpantay said the aim of the AALDEF investigation was not an attempt to change the election’s outcome.
“We’re not looking to challenge election results in any way,” he said. “We’re looking at whether the law has been violated.”
Manreet Gurm, a northeast Queens high school student, said she filed a complaint with the AALDEF after volunteering for Kim’s campaign on election day.
“Halloran’s campaigner was right across from me,” she said. “He was saying Kevin Kim is some Chinese guy and that Chinese people were taking over the neighborhood.”
Steven Stites, a spokesman for Halloran, said the councilman-elect “rejects any attempts to divide the community.”
“Dan won because we mobilized our volunteers,” he said. “We were telling people to support Dan because of the issues, such as overdevelopment.”
The AALDEF will release a report on its findings following the investigation and file it with the city Board of Elections. Magpantay said the group decided to pursue the matter as a result of the Election Day complaints coupled with an October incident during which two Kim volunteers were harassed while campaigning on Francis Lewis Boulevard.
ADVERTISEMENT
No allegations have been made against specific individuals. But Kim’s and Halloran’s camps threw out accusations of racial and religious discrimination during the heated campaign for the Council seat.
Magpantay said he was not sure what actions the BOE could take on the complaints.
“Right now, we’re interviewing voters who feel they were harassed or denied language assistance, as well as campaign volunteers or individuals who were witnesses to inappropriate and possibly illegal conduct that may have violated the federal Voting Rights Act,” he said.
The act, signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson in 1965, outlaws discriminatory practices that prevented African Americans from voting.
The Board of Elections could not be reached for comment.
Reach reporter Nathan Duke by e-mail at nduke@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 156.
 |
 |
|
| Springfield Gdns. fire kills man | Council OKs College Point police academy |
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of yournabe.com.
Klink Cannoli wrote on Nov 20, 2009 12:13 PM:
" The establishment of an " Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund" is in and of itself a racist entity. Why focus on one ethnicity to an issue of protecting lawful civil rights instead of the notion itself? There lies the frustrating hypocrisy.
The wider issue here is the sprawling of enclaves, the unwillingness of assimilation, fear and political correctness. "
The wider issue here is the sprawling of enclaves, the unwillingness of assimilation, fear and political correctness. "
Chickie wrote on Nov 20, 2009 6:58 PM:
" No allegations were made against individuals. So, it's all generalities with no evidence that asian voters were harrassed in any way. It's easy to get headlines claiming racism, but where's the proof?
Voting booths have multiple languages, though I don't agree with this. How on earth can anyone know if the information is translated accurately? Was the person cited above illiterate or didn't speak english? If he or she can't read, how do we know the interpreter didn't tell him how to vote? Please!
Many countries have a national language or use one language specifically to conduct business. The UN conducts business in french, are the people who speak other languages racist? Looks like a bunch of sore losers to me! "
Voting booths have multiple languages, though I don't agree with this. How on earth can anyone know if the information is translated accurately? Was the person cited above illiterate or didn't speak english? If he or she can't read, how do we know the interpreter didn't tell him how to vote? Please!
Many countries have a national language or use one language specifically to conduct business. The UN conducts business in french, are the people who speak other languages racist? Looks like a bunch of sore losers to me! "
Conbo wrote on Nov 20, 2009 11:43 PM:
" SORE LOSERS!!!!!!
As usual.. the cry of racism when something just didnt turn out the way someone wanted. We are giving America away... and I fear for our children.. when the PC police have gone too far. This country is made up of immigrants who worked hard.. (my ancestors included) who learned the language (that would be ENGLISH!!!) and strived to make a better life for themselves in this new country that they loved. I am sure they are turning over in their graves now.... "
As usual.. the cry of racism when something just didnt turn out the way someone wanted. We are giving America away... and I fear for our children.. when the PC police have gone too far. This country is made up of immigrants who worked hard.. (my ancestors included) who learned the language (that would be ENGLISH!!!) and strived to make a better life for themselves in this new country that they loved. I am sure they are turning over in their graves now.... "
Anita wrote on Nov 21, 2009 12:54 AM:
" You are absolutely right Condo , WE ARE GIVING AMERICA AWAY!! It's just beyond me why people are so afraid to speak up. Maybe their just to blind to even care. I hope not "
Bubba wrote on Nov 23, 2009 4:51 PM:
" Wow. The comments here so far speak for themselves. They don't seem to be coming from a disagreement about these allegations; instead they seem to be motivated by the fact that Asian immigrants are moving into the neighorhood. If this is typical of Halloran supporters, I can see they were mobilized indeed - mobilized by xenophobia. "
Anita wrote on Nov 23, 2009 10:10 PM:
" Xenophobia, what a big word BUBBA, I do disagree with the allegations and I am not a Halloron supporter:) I'm sick and tired of people or groups that don't get what they want crying RACISM. Our country is made up of immigrants from all over the world and ENGLISH is the language that has enabled all of these immigrants to communicate with one another. P.S. Bubba your real name haha very funny "
Right... wrote on Nov 24, 2009 7:42 PM:
" I wonder how many of these "people" are actually Halloron supporters. When one campaign is having people saying "taking over" neighborhoods and other clearly mudslinging slogans, its unbelievable that there are so many defenders.
When the country enters another depression, people like Anita will see how far corruption will drag down their wages and living space. "
When the country enters another depression, people like Anita will see how far corruption will drag down their wages and living space. "
Submit a Comment
We encourage your feedback and dialog, all comments will be reviewed by our Web staff after appearing on the Web site.
|
Anita wrote on Nov 19, 2009 11:22 PM: