ChicoSol Interviews Rose on Standing Up for Core Values

Rose Penelope Yee speaks to constituents.

Chico, CA (Sept. 4) – Interviewed by ChicoSol for an article about the rise of racist and discriminatory speech in electoral campaigns — and what to do about it — Rose Penelope Yee said elected officials are obligated to challenge speech that causes lasting harm to their constituents.

“Only by naming harm can we start to undo it,” Yee said. “If elected officials care for everyone in our community — as they should — they are obligated to object when anyone in our community is subject to identity-based attacks.”

Read the full article here.

Yee’s full statement on the topic continues:

“I’m running for Congress because I felt it was my duty and responsibility to do what I can to bring more opportunities to the working people of District 1 and to ensure that we have what we need to thrive. That means all the people. The fact that I’m an immigrant from the Philippines didn’t deter me, nor did I consider it an issue. In some ways immigrants feel about the United States the same way adoptive parents feel about their children. We love this country and consider it our own. Immigrants have just as much care and hope for the future of our country as those who were born here, and we contribute through our hard work to this country’s success.

It is sad that racism exists but even sadder to know that it is fueled by some of those who are in power. I look at this as a systemic problem. Individual slurs and racist hate speech are a product of a system that perpetuates severe inequality. People who are insecure—emotionally or about economic or social status—can be misled by those who benefit from the system into thinking that immigrants and other “others” are the root cause of their insecurity. People in power who promote these divisions do it to maintain their power. As long as the rest of us are attacking each other, we won’t be working together to create a better life for everyone.

The best way to counter this dynamic is to model behavior that shows grace under pressure and to stay focused on the issues and concerns of voters in District 1.”