Overview:
On February 13, 2012 Asian & Pacific Islander American Vote - Michigan and more than twenty of other community and civil rights organizations launched the 2012 Respect America, Respect Michigan Candidate Pledge.  In light of the recent offensive "Debbie-spend-it-now" ad by the Hoekstra fro Senate Campaign, these organizations are asking all congressional candidates in Michigan to take the pledge.  
Candidates for the United States Senate and House of Representatives must live up to a standard of respect for Michigan’s diverse communities. APIAVote-Michigan is sending letters to all candidates who have filed their candidacy for Congress, urging them to take the pledge. The coalition also encourages candidates for state and local office to publicly state their commitment to engaging in respectful campaigns.

The pledge reads as follows:

“I am proud of the fact that Michigan is an increasingly diverse state. I recognize that at every level of American society, African Americans, Arab Americans, Asian/Pacific Islander Americans, Latino/Hispanic Americans and Native American/American Indians contribute to our democracy, culture and economy. 

I promise that my election campaign will not use harmful racial or ethnic stereotypes or xenophobic messages. I understand that the use of stereotypical imagery and language is inappropriate and denounce any campaign effort that uses such approaches. I will run a campaign that is respectful of the diverse communities of our state and nation.”  

Organization background:

Asian & Pacific Islander American Vote – Michigan is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit that serves the APIA community through civic participation, advocacy, and education. Founded in 2007, APIAVote-Michigan envisions an empowered Asian & Pacific Islander American people who are fully engaged in addressing issues in the community to make positive change.

Supporters of Respect America, Respect Michigan

• Asian & Pacific Islander American Vote - Michigan
• American Citizens for Justice
• American Indian Health and Family Services
• ACCESS
• Asian Pacific American Student Organization - Michigan State University
• Bangladeshi American Democratic Caucus
• Bangladeshi American Public Affairs Committee
• Association of Chinese Americans
• Chinese Association of Greater Detroit
• Council of Asian Pacific Americans
• Detroit Asian Youth Project
• Detroit Branch NAACP
• Filipino American Community Council of Michigan
• Great Lakes Hmong Association
• Hindu American Foundation
• Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan
• ImLaw, PC
• Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission
• Michigan Asian Pacific American Bar Association
• Michigan Muslim Democratic Caucus
• Michigan National Action Network
  
• Multicultural Council of America
• Michigan Unity
• National Action Network
• National Federation of Filipino American Associations - Michigan
  
• Pakistan Association of America
• Philippine American Community Center of Michigan
• Sikh Foundation
• United Asian American Organizations - University of Michigan
• 80-20 Initiative Southeast Michigan Chapter