My statement on Pete Hoekstra’s racist ad that aired yesterday in Michigan:

Stamford, CT – Following the airing of U.S. Senate candidate Pete Hoekstra’s racist TV commercial, candidate for U.S. Senate William Tong (D-CT) released the following statement:

“Images of a young Asian woman riding a bicycle among rice paddies speaking in cliched, broken English have no place in our political discourse. Hoekstra’s ad is xenophobic, racist, fear-mongering, and quite frankly disgusting.”

“Let us remember that Chinese Americans and Asian Americans of all national origins have fought and died for this country. Japanese Americans saw during World War II what can happen when xenophobia takes hold of the country. It is important now, as our interaction and competition with China increases, that we not stigmatize or vilify another group of Asian-Pacific Americans who have for generations been among the most important contributors to the nation.”

“Pete Hoekstra owes an apology to all Americans. The ad should never have been made, and both it and its disgusting companion website should be pulled immediately.”

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