XPost: alt.politics.communism, alt.california, alt.politics.elections
XPost: alt.fan.rush-limbaugh, talk.politics.guns
Despite not being a citizen of the United States, a Chinese immigrant was
sworn in to serve on the San Francisco Election Commission, prompting some concerns regarding national security as one U.S. senator had previously cautioned that Chinese President Xi Jinping is playing the “long game.”
On February 14th, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously
selected Kelly Wong, an immigrant rights activist who arrived in the U.S.
from Hong Kong in 2019 to pursue doctoral studies.
After a ballot initiative to remove the citizenship barrier to serve on
San Francisco boards was adopted by California voters in 2020, she is
thought to be the first non-citizen to hold a commission position.
“There are always voices inside my head, like ‘You can’t do it. You’re not competent. You’re an immigrant. This is not your country,’” Wong said.
“If I can do it, you can do it,” she added.
Wong, who is not allowed to vote, is one of seven individuals in her new
role who will supervise and carry out the Department of Elections’
policies.
She will be in charge of voter registration, mail-in ballots, polling
areas, and election monitoring.
“This appointment is a milestone for all immigrant and marginalized
communities throughout San Francisco,” Wong wrote on her now-deleted
LinkedIn profile, according to the Epoch Times.
“Representation matters: thousands of immigrants living in the city hold
stakes in politics, and there is no better way to have us be represented
than to serve in leadership positions.”
“I am deeply committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of
immigration status, has a seat at the table in shaping the future of our
city,” she added.
Wong expressed her desire to see a rise in the number of immigrants and non-English speaking voters show up on election day.
This is Kelly Wong, a non-citizen who cannot legally vote in the USA, yet
was recently elected to San Francisco’s Elections Commission
This was her victory speech pic.twitter.com/mM6nvz3DCy
— Clown World ™ ?? (@ClownWorld_) February 19, 2024
“Even though I’m fluent in English, I still encounter challenges in
navigating a new system, let alone participating in political conversation
and activities,” she told KQED.
However, Wong also intends to carry on working for Chinese for Affirmative Action, a non-governmental organization that was established in 1969, as
the commissioner role is unpaid.
On its website, it states that its goals are to “promote multiracial
democracy in the United States” and defend the “civil and political rights
of Chinese Americans.”
Previously, the group was in charge of pressuring the government to amend
the legislation so that non-citizens may cast ballots in San Francisco
school board elections provided their kids attended a district school.
Meanwhile, Senator Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) expressed concern about what he
claims is President Xi Jinping’s “long game” in response to Wong’s
appointment to the elections board, citing the 452 Chinese individuals who
have been apprehended at the southern border in the last three days alone, according to Customs and Border Protection data.
“Look, they’re flooding our borders with fentanyl, killing Americans,” he
said.
NEW: San Francisco Appoints First Noncitizen to Serve on Elections
Commission.
Kelly Wong who came to the U.S. in 2019 from China and isn’t legally
allowed to vote will be overseeing and creating policy for the San
Francisco Department of Elections.
Wong is immigrant rights… pic.twitter.com/gPvtSs4aZZ
— I Meme Therefore I Am ???? (@ImMeme0) February 17, 2024
https://www.oann.com/newsroom/chinese-immigrant-without-u-s-citizenship- is-sworn-in-to-san-frans-election-commission/
--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)