In response to recent social media commentary from various community members regarding the Assyrian Democrats of the Bay Area’s endorsements in the California primaries, Vice President Mona Malik offered the following perspective.

Being an Assyrian Democrat does not mean rejecting our people…it means believing our people are strong enough, confident enough, and secure enough to stand for democracy, pluralism, and justice for everyone, not just ourselves.

Supporting a Muslim woman, a Korean American candidate, or any progressive candidate is not “betraying Assyrians.” That’s the entire point of living in a democratic country. We vote based on values, policies, humanity, and vision…not ethnicity nor religious affiliations alone. If we reduce politics to “only support your own,” then we are abandoning the very democratic principles that allowed immigrant communities like ours to thrive in America.

Also, being proud of Assyrian culture does not require fear or hostility toward others. I love our language, history, food, music, and traditions deeply. But I also understand that solidarity with other marginalized communities strengthens us politically and morally. The civil rights, labor, and immigrant protections many Assyrians benefit from today came from broad coalitions…not ethnic isolation.

And let’s be honest: an Assyrian candidate should not automatically receive support simply for being Assyrian. They should earn support through competence, ethics, and policies that reflect justice and progress. That is called democracy, not tribalism.

The irony is that some people accuse progressive Assyrians of being “rootless,” while demanding we think and vote only through ethnic identity. Many of us are actually secure enough in who we are that we don’t see supporting others as a threat to our identity.

America is not a bloodline voting system. It’s a democracy. And as Assyrians who came from societies damaged by authoritarianism, sectarianism, and ethnic division, we should know better than most why that matters.