AALDEF Launches New Web Campaign on Facebook and YouTube; the Multilingual Voter Hotline is 800-966-5946.

(New York City) The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), a 34-year old national civil rights organization, announced details of its Asian American Election Protection Project and nonpartisan multilingual exit poll for the November 4, 2008 elections. Attorneys, law students, and community volunteers will cover 200 poll sites in 11 states with these characteristics: 1) areas with a surge in newly-registered Asian American voters; 2) jurisdictions in which Asian-language assistance is provided; or 3) polling places where Asian Americans have reported voting barriers or intimidation in recent elections.

Margaret Fung, AALDEF executive director, said: "We want to ensure that all eligible Asian Americans can participate in the electoral process and have their votes counted in this critical Presidential election." She said that AALDEF plans to poll 15,000 Asian American voters on Election Day in 11 states with large Asian American populations: New York, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Illinois, Texas, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Louisiana and Washington, D.C.

POLL MONITORING

Upcoming Activities from members of http://SAVEOURCHINATOWN.org:

- Tues., May 12 at 5:45 p.m., Revoke the Vote Demonstration; City Council Public Comments session begins at 6:30 p.m.

- Sat., May 16:
- 6th Annual Riverside International Drum, Mask, and Dance Festival, White Park, 12 noon - 7 pm, SOCC table 12 noon - 4 pm

- Old Riverside Foundation Vintage Home Tour event. SOCC will staff a table 10 am - 4 pm at the non-profit area in the Courtyard Marriott on University Avenue (near ORF's Weber House).

- Mon., May 18, 6-8 pm, 1503 Humanities & Social Sciences (HMSS 1503). For Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month, SOCC will co-sponsor a film screening and Q&A session with UC Riverside's Asian Pacific Student Programs for When They All Still Lived. Admission: free to all.

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