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Virginia:
Governor of Virginia Ralph Northam marked the importance of diversity at an event celebrating Asian American an Pacific Islander Heritage in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

As the 73rd governor of the state, he acknowledged assuring every Virginian is gainfully employed, every child has access to a world class education system, every resident has accession to affordable and prime health care surviving in an environment where air and water are spick-and-span and in risk-free communities where there are not guns on every street corner.

Taking a jibe at Donald Trump Northam said, “Most importantly is that we understand our society is diverse and it is becoming more diverse every day and it is the diversity of our society that makes us great, not our current president. We will welcome people to the Commonwealth of Virginia. Our lights will be on, our doors will be open.”

Addressing the Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month Awards Dinner organize by Democratic Asian Americans of Virginia (DAAV) at Sapphire restaurant in Tysons Corner, a neon sign outside read Indian-Pakistani cuisine.

He added, “What a great community. I remind people all the time, this is not the easiest time to serve the public, but it is the most important time. You all are blessed here in northern Virginia to have such great elected officials.”

Introducing governor at the awards, founder and chairman of AAPI Victory Funds Sheka Narasimhan noted that the than any other group community voted by a higher percentage in the Commonwealth 2017 election compared to previous figures and 78 percent voted for Ralph Northam.

Nortam further expressed saying, “To all of the Asian Americans here, I just came tonight to say, Thank you for what you do for our communities, thank you for what you do for our society. We are all in this together. We want to make sure that Virginia is the most inclusive state in this great country.”

By Sowmya Sangam