Stop AAPI Hate has launched Stop AAPI Hate Action, a new 501(c)(4) advocacy organization aimed at mobilizing Asian American and Pacific Islander communities for political engagement and civic action.
More than six years after its founding, Stop AAPI Hate announced the launch of Stop AAPI Hate Action, a new 501(c)(4) political and advocacy organization, in a statement released on May 28. This initiative is focused on building long-term political power and civic engagement among Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities across the United States.
The establishment of Stop AAPI Hate Action comes in response to rising concerns about authoritarianism and the increasing threats faced by communities of color and immigrants. Its mission is to empower AAPI communities to transform their experiences with racism, discrimination, and exclusion into sustained civic and political action.
In recent years, AAPI communities have encountered escalating challenges, particularly a surge in anti-Asian hate during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was compounded by a rise in xenophobic policies and racist rhetoric during the Trump administration. According to Stop AAPI Hate, these developments have contributed to broader forms of state violence affecting AAPI communities, especially South Asians and immigrants. The organization highlights issues such as racial profiling by ICE, increased arrests and deportations, efforts to undermine voting rights and due process protections, challenges to birthright citizenship, and attacks on immigration pathways like H-1B visas and green cards.
“Stop AAPI Hate has been at the forefront of calling out and combating anti-AAPI hate – and now, we’re building the political power needed to defeat it on every level,” said Manjusha Kulkarni, Co-Founder of Stop AAPI Hate.
“Across America, we are seeing an increasing sense of urgency from AAPIs and allies who want to fight back against growing assaults on our safety, freedoms, and democracy. However, there’s a need for clearer, more accessible pathways for our communities to act at the scale and speed this moment demands. Stop AAPI Hate Action aims to strengthen AAPI civic engagement and organizing infrastructure on a national scale, so that more AAPIs can take action and make an impact, no matter where they live.”
Stop AAPI Hate Action builds on years of organizing by AAPI activists and organizations at local and state levels. Rather than replacing existing efforts, it seeks to enhance them by adding national organizing capacity and addressing gaps in civic engagement infrastructure, particularly in regions where resources are limited.
To achieve its goals, the organization plans to leverage its national reach and digital platform to expand political and civic participation through grassroots mobilization campaigns. It will strengthen voter engagement networks across states and recruit volunteers from non-competitive districts to support outreach in key competitive areas. Additionally, the organization intends to invest in multilingual civic education, increase participation among underrepresented AAPI communities, and develop long-term volunteer leadership beyond election cycles.
“As the fastest-growing racial group in the United States, AAPIs have both the opportunity and responsibility to help shape the future of this country,” said Andy Wong, Managing Director of Advocacy for Stop AAPI Hate Action.
“Stop AAPI Hate Action is about ensuring AAPI communities are not just visible and active in moments of crisis, but consistently empowered, engaged, and organized to shape the decisions that impact our lives and our future. We want to help people turn their individual pain, fear, and outrage into collective power, action, and change for years to come – starting with the 2026 midterm elections cycle.”
As part of its efforts, Stop AAPI Hate Action will launch a nationwide voter mobilization campaign next month in preparation for the November midterm elections. This initiative aims to influence the balance of power in Congress by increasing AAPI voter participation in competitive districts.
The organization plans to raise and spend approximately $1 million on this initiative. Volunteers from across the country will engage AAPI voters through culturally grounded and multilingual outreach conducted in English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, and Korean. The campaign will primarily rely on phone banking and will also incorporate targeted peer-to-peer outreach, such as South Asian-to-South Asian and Filipino-to-Filipino voter engagement conducted in English.
“For too long, AAPI communities have lacked adequate investment in infrastructure to fuel sustained political participation,” said Tamlyn Tomita, Chair of CAPA21, a key partner in Stop AAPI Hate Action’s midterm election efforts.
“There is a pressing need for culturally competent, national-scale voter engagement work that meets AAPIs wherever they are. Stop AAPI Hate Action will help fill that gap by connecting communities across the country and expanding opportunities to get involved in the political process. We are proud to support this work ahead of the critical 2026 midterm elections and excited to see it grow.”
A portion of this text was edited with the assistance of an AI tool and has been reviewed and edited for accuracy and clarity by India Currents.