Washington, D.C. | June 11–12, 2026

We invite you to join us in D.C. for the 5th Annual AAPI Against Gun Violence Coalition Convening, hosted at the National Education Association.

Schedule:

June 11: 8:30 AM – 7 PM (Reception at APIAVote Office 5–7 PM)
June 12: 8:30 AM – 2 PM
Register Today!

Gun violence has become a concern among the AAPI community, especially after growing incidents of hate crimes targeting the AAPI community during and after the COVID pandemic. APIAVote is attending this convention to promote the “Vote Without Fear” Act, a piece of legislation to keep firearms at least 100 yards away from polling places. APIAVote also wants to gain perspective on the AAPI community’s thoughts, opinions, and concerns on gun violence; how they respond when faced with the threat of gun violence, and how to build solidarity and awareness among AAPI community members around the issue of gun violence.

This year’s theme, “Freedom From Gun Violence,” will examine gun violence as both a public safety and civil rights and democracy issue. Leaders across AAPI, Black, Latino, and other communities will come together to explore the intersections of gun violence with racism, immigration, enforcement, democratic participation, and state accountability.

This convening will:

• Launch a new “Freedom from Gun Violence” messaging framework that connects safety, civil rights, and democratic participation
• Examine a legislative strategy at the federal and state levels
• Examine how racism, fear-based politics, and disinformation fuel gun proliferation
• Elevate the voices of survivors and communities directly impacted
• Strengthen cross-racial solidarity to build durable power for change
• According to Giffords, 57% of Asian parents are concerned about their child being a victim of gun violence.
• A study in the National Library of Medicine, found that Asian Americans who perceived more cultural racism were more likely to purchase a gun and that COVID-19 exacerbated these issues, thus raising rates of firearm ownership in the Asian American community
• A recent survey from APIAVote shows that Asian American voters are most concerned about gun violence when it comes to safety, mostly stemming from fear of anti-Asian hate crimes, school shootings, and general crime.
• Efforts to prevent gun violence at polls have made it to Congress, with California
• Representative Raul Ruiz proposing H.R.7965 or the “Vote Without Fear” Act, restricting firearm ownership within 100 feet of a polling site.
• We look forward to seeing you!