Groups Call Out ‘Racist’ Mailer Targeting Dr. Sion Roy In CA Senate Race
India-West News Desk
SANTA MONICA, CA – A statewide coalition of labor and Asian American and Pacific Islander advocacy groups has issued a joint letter condemning campaign mailers targeting Dr. Sion Roy, the cardiologist running for California’s State Senate District 24.
The coalition, which includes South Asians For America (SAFA), SEIU California, UAPD Local 206, and the California Democratic Party AAPI Caucus, said the mailers contained what they described as a “racist dog whistle” by depicting Roy in ultra-high contrast imagery intended to darken his skin.
The groups said the tactic was intended to “other” the only AAPI candidate in the race and criticized the mailers as racially charged political attacks.
The joint letter also targeted the funding behind the campaign materials, which were distributed by JobsPAC and backed by the California Chamber of Commerce along with utilities including PG&E, Edison International and Sempra.
The coalition said the companies spent $400,000 on attacks against Roy despite him being the only candidate in the race to lose his home in the Palisades Fire.
“The deepest betrayal is who is funding these attacks,” the coalition wrote, adding that the utilities are facing lawsuits tied to California wildfires.
“Now they have the audacity to pour $400,000 into smearing a man who watched his own home burn,” the letter stated.
Roy, an associate professor of medicine at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, currently serves as vice chair of the Santa Monica College Board. He previously served as president of the Los Angeles County Medical Association and has also been involved in local education and community initiatives in Malibu.
His campaign has focused on lowering living costs, protecting Medi-Cal and supporting wildfire recovery efforts.
The coalition called on the utilities to stop “hiding behind front groups like JobsPAC” and answer to communities affected by wildfires.
Roy’s campaign has also emphasized emergency planning and public safety following the Palisades Fire as the State Senate race intensifies.
