AAPI holds gun violence prevention rally in San Francisco
Community-based groups join rally urging financial institutions to cut ties with the gun industry
AAPI Victory Alliance working to build Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) political power and March For Our Lives, a student-led movement in support of gun control legislation hosted a gun violence prevention rally in San Francisco on Sunday.
About 50 people including gun violence survivors, students, senior citizens, doctors, and community-based groups joined the rally just blocks away from Wells Fargo’s corporate offices. Activists called on the bank and other financial institutions to cut ties with the gun industry, according to an Alliance press release.
Read: Indian American aims to combat gun violence in Chicago (February 8, 2023)
“We are standing up today to say no more. That we will sever our ties with Wells Fargo if they don’t stop these practices,” said Varun Nikore of AAPI Victory Alliance.
“As the wealthiest group in the US, as Asian Americans, Wells Fargo does not get the right to turn our wealth and resources into investments for which manufacturers cause our blood to run in the streets,” he said.
“Wells Fargo is one of the largest financiers of the gun industry in the United States. They have provided millions of dollars in loans and lines of credits to gun manufacturers and retailers—including those that produce assault weapons,” said Anya Patri of March For Our Lives.
“By funding the gun industry, Wells Fargo is directly contributing to the proliferation of guns in our society and the resulting gun violence. It’s time to hold them accountable for their role in enabling the gun industry,” she said.
“Profiting from guns is the same as profiting from gun violence. It is blood money. Let’s get to work. Let’s get Wells Fargo to stop funding gun manufacturers,” said Dr Tung Nguyen of AAPI Victory Alliance.
“Our communities are called upon to demonstrate the values of diversity for corporations like Wells Fargo…and yet they are investing in industries that are taking away our lives,” said Dr. Jennifer Tran of Progressive Vietnamese American Organization.
Read: San Francisco AAPI community rallies, calling out banks supporting gun manufacturers (April 18, 2023)
“We have to be tired of being at this point, right here, over and over and over again,” said local gun violence survivor and activist Rudy Corpuz.
“Reaching out for help from people who have made it obvious that they have no interest in helping us…so we have to do it ourselves folks,” he said. “We have to put our personalities aside, and we need to link up with all of these organizations.”
