Out on a limb against Arpaio

We were recently asked to join other Asian American community members in a press conference demanding the resignation of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. One may wonder why an agency with a mission towards health improvement would want to go out on a limb against a county sheriff. I’m providing the text of my comments as an explanation:

My name is Doug Hirano. I am the executive director of the Asian Pacific Community in Action. We’re a non-profit agency that works on behalf of the rapidly growing Asian American and Pacific Islander community to ensure that they have equal access to the health services and information that can help them achieve good health.

Since 2002, we’ve helped thousands of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders get immunized, get screened for life-threatening diseases, and find a regular source of medical care. All of our programs are tailored to serve first generation immigrants and refugees facing real challenges of poverty, language, education and unemployment. In our 10 years of service, our work has taught us the power of grassroots advocacy, and so we also work to promote policies and practices that are fair to the needs of all Asian American and Pacific Islander individuals -- regardless of country of origin or citizenship status.

It has become clear that the policies and practices of the Sheriff’s Office are a problem for communities of color, including Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, many of whom are recent immigrants and refugees. Many of our service recipients come to the United States seeking a just and fair society. Unfortunately, the discrimination, racial profiling and unconstitutional retaliatory actions taken by the Sheriff’s Office are reminiscent of the policies and actions for which they originally left their home countries.

We are concerned that our community members are not seeking the government services they need and are entitled to because of the hostile and fear inducing atmosphere created by the Sheriff’s Office. Data indicate that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are over-represented among the very poor, but do not utilize government-funded services such as behavioral health care, cancer screening and nutrition services proportionate to their population size. For an agency charged with improving the health and well being of our communities, this is unacceptable.

We believe that government services and policies are meant to level the playing field for all. We believe that law enforcement must protect everyone’s safety and rights equally. We believe in equal access to justice. Under Sheriff Joe Arpaio, none of these beliefs can be realized. Change is demanded.

As Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” We therefore request that Sheriff Joe Arpaio resign from office immediately. Thank you.

- Doug Hirano, MPH, APCA Executive Director