FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kevin Hirano
Unity March
202-223-9170
Media@APIAVote.org
WASHINGTON, DC, June 23, 2022 – The organizers of the first-ever Asian American-led Unity March, taking place on Saturday, June 25, 2022, in Washington, D.C., welcome PepsiCo as a Platinum Sponsor. PepsiCo joins leading sponsors, The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) and the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation in support of more than 40 nonprofits—including Asian American Advancing Justice – AAJC, Gold House, Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote), and more— in their efforts to gather alongside Asian American, Black, Latinx, Indigenous, Pacific Islander, and other historically marginalized groups on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. to advance the Equity Platform, which pushes for equitable representation and rights for all.
“At PepsiCo, we are committed to leveraging our size and reach to help build a more inclusive and equitable society,” says Tina Bigalke, Global Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer at PepsiCo. “Participating in this Unity March is a powerful act of allyship; and as allies, we will continue to partner to address the needs, and give voice and visibility to the communities we serve.”
The Unity March organizers are also excited to announce that more than 35 community leaders, activists and media makers representing a broad range of issues and topics will be speaking including:
- Award-winning producer and trans rights advocate Geena Rocero
- Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas
- Civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton
- Political activist & Women’s March Co-Founder Linda Sarsour
- Alexandra Huỳnh, 2021 National Youth Poet Laureate
- Tamlyn Tomita, Actress, Advocate, Philanthropist
- NYC-based hate crime survivor Esther Lee
- Gareth and Fe Hall, Christian Hall’s Parents
- Dr. James Zogby, Founder, Arab American Institute
- R&B/Gospel singer Keedron
- R&B/Pop Artist Thuy
- Emcees: Richard Lui, Anchor, MSNBC/NBC News and Joie Chen
Unity March, and multicultural partners representing the intersection of Asian American, LGBTQ+, Muslim, disability communities, Black, Indigenous, Pacific Islander, Latinx, and Arab communities, will be uniting to demand progress toward achieving its Equity Platform, which calls for:
- Full Participation in Democracy, meaning a pathway to citizenship for undocumented members and long-term visa holders, access to voting and civic power for traditionally disenfranchised citizens, especially people of color and historically under-resourced communities.
- Racial and Economic Justice, including holding the public and private sectors accountable for investing in workers’ rights and providing equal access to financial empowerment for small businesses, entrepreneurs of color, and women.
- Cultural Equity and Media Representation, that promotes more diverse, authentic narratives and fights harmful stereotypes so we can create culturally dynamic, equitable and inclusive schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods.
The Unity March will be held on June 25, 2022, starting at 12 p.m. ET at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on 12th Street, between Jefferson and Madison Streets.
Acknowledging that we are in unprecedented times, Unity March organizations have implemented Covid-19 guidelines.
For more information about the Unity March and how you can help to eradicate systemic oppression to create more equitable opportunities for all communities, visit www.unitymarch.com.
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The Unity March is the first Asian American-led call to action to fight against systemic oppression and the systems that stand in the way of full participation by all. We march because we believe every single person in the country must have a voice in our local, state, and federal governments. We believe that a fair society and economy values and protects workers, asserting all workers’ rights to dignity and security regardless of industry, citizenship, and/or employment status. We exist to tell our own diverse and authentic stories and disrupt harmful narratives.
Host Committee Members:
- Asian American Advancing Justice – AAJC (Advancing Justice – AAJC)
- Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote)
- Gold House
- Indian American Impact Project
- National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA)
- OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates
- Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF)
Unity March Organizational Partners:
For a full list, please visit www.UnityMarch.com.
- Arab American Institute
- Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA)
- Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (National ACE
- National Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NAKASEC)
- Japanese American Citizens League (JACL)
- National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF)
- National Action Network (NAN)
- National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA)
- Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC)
- Sikh Coalition
The Unity March is made possible by the generous premier sponsorship of the Asian American Foundation.
