Join the SEARR Campaign! This September, the SEARR Campaign is launching the national platform to call for US accountability and an end to Southeast Asian deportations. This national campaign is focused on calling for the US to take responsibility for the harms caused to the Southeast Asian community, dating back to the US’s intervention in Southeast Asia, to the failed Southeast Asian refugee resettlement program, and to the on-going deportation crisis facing our community today. As part of this campaign, the Southeast Asian Freedom Network (SEAFN) is introducing new federal legislation, the “Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act,” that would end deportations and its harms for the Southeast Asian community. SEAFN launching their campaign the week of September 19th in Washington, DC. During this launch, they’ll unveil the platform which includes 2 key strategies: 1) the long-term strategy to demand US responsibility in partnership with the Agent Orange, Legacies of War, and New Way Forward campaigns, and 2) the strategy to bring immediate relief through the Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act. As we’re gearing up for the launch, SEAFN is asking ally organizations to sign-on in support of this critical campaign. Will your organization sign-on to support the SEARR Campaign? Signing on indicates that your organization: Supports the SEARR campaignAllows us to use your organization’s name and logo on the SEAFN website and in its public materials Agrees to receive updates on the campaign from SEAFN, including opportunities to join them and help amplify actions, events, etc. If you all do decide to sign-on to the SEARR Campaign, please: Fill out this link: bit.ly/SEARRSignOnEmail your logo to Soche at [email protected] Here is a 2-page overview of the SEARR Campaign. If you have any questions, please reach out to Sarath at [email protected] and Soche at [email protected].
Mekong NYC – Pass NY’s #ClemencyJusticeAct Now! Transparency and efficiency in our immigration and criminal legal systems is vital to us surviving. So many families who face deportation and incarceration – overwhelmingly immigrant families and families of color – slip into poverty conditions while enduring forced separation, detention, and incarceration. The #ClemencyJusticeAct is the bare minimum our community deserves: a fair, transparent, accessible clemency application process. Instead, our immigrant women, queer folks, and elderly who are in detention centers and prisons endure violence and neglect. From 2017-2020, New York received over 6,400 immigrant clemency applications and granted only 1.5% of those. Even when clemency applications are submitted, our families often wait years for an update. We desperately need the #ClemencyJusticeAct, which creates more transparency and relief from forced separation. Sign our petition today! From 2017-2020, New York received over 6,400 clemency applications and granted only 1.5% of those. Even when a clemency application is submitted, our families often wait years for an update. We desperately need the #ClemencyJusticeAct: https://t.co/A8virRzlJl pic.twitter.com/5k8GybW4Fm— Mekong NYC (@MekongNYC) February 7, 2022
CAAL – Support MN’s HF3434: Ethnic Studies Bill The Ethnic Studies bill (H.F. 3434) incorporates Ethnic Studies into social studies graduation requirements, requires the commissioner to adopt ethnic studies standards, and establishes a task force to advise the commissioner on ethnic studies standards and curriculum for the State of Minnesota. Thank you Rep @CedrickFrazier for introducing our Ethnic Studies Bill (H.F. 3434)!"All students deserve to see themselves in their curriculum. Ethnic Studies is beneficial to all students." pic.twitter.com/sXmnnV2cdk— Coalition of Asian American Leaders (CAAL) (@CAALMN) February 23, 2022
AAAJ-Atlanta: Atlanta Spa Shootings Collective Statement Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Atlanta invites organizations to sign on to their Collective Statement in remembrance and solidarity to mark the one-year anniversary of the Atlanta spa shootings. Organizations who wish to be listed should sign on by Wednesday, March 9. To view and sign the statement, click here. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Advancing Justice Atlanta (@advancing_justice_atl)
HR5665 – Combating International Islamophobia Act LEGISLATIVE ALERT: #HR5665, Combating International Islamophobia Act passed in the House 219-212. @Ilhan thank you for your leadership in standing against Islamophobia and hate. #StopIslamophobia pic.twitter.com/1A8xg5ztQv— National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (@NCAPAtweets) December 17, 2021 H.R.5665 – Combating International Islamophobia Act – This bill passed in the House on December 14, 2021 and goes to the Senate next for consideration. This bill establishes within the Department of State the Office to Monitor and Combat Islamophobia and addresses related issues. The office shall monitor and combat acts of Islamophobia and Islamophobic incitement in foreign countries. The bill establishes the position of Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating Islamophobia, who shall head the office. The bill also requires certain existing annual reports to Congress about human rights and religious freedom in foreign countries to include information about Islamophobia, such as information about (1) acts of physical violence or harassment of Muslim people, (2) instances of propaganda in government and nongovernment media that attempt to justify or promote hatred or incite violence against Muslim people, and (3) actions taken by a country’s government to respond to such acts. The office shall coordinate and assist in preparing these portions of the reports. No funds made available pursuant to the bill may be used to promote or endorse a boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement ideology (i.e., economic measures against Israel or Israel-related individuals or organizations) or used to promote or endorse a Muslim ban.
Calling on Biden to End the China Initiative NBC ASIAN AMERICA: “Asian American groups call on Biden to end controversial China Initiative Advocates say the Trump-era national security program to address Chinese economic espionage unfairly targets ethnic Chinese scientists and harms their families. “Over the past year, Asian American advocacy groups have increased pressure on the Biden administration to end the initiative, which they say unfairly targets ethnic Chinese scientists and brings emotional and financial harm to their families. “’The China Initiative impacts Americans, permanent residents, immigrants, international students and visiting scholars,’ said Gisela Kusakawa, a staff attorney for the civil rights group Asian Americans Advancing Justice, or AAAJ. ‘It’s based on the premise that all scientists of Chinese descent or [who] have connections to China should be treated with suspicion.’ A year ago, AAAJ launched the Anti-Racial Profiling Project to persuade lawmakers to end the China Initiative and assist people targeted by the Justice Department. The group has provided legal and advocacy support to more than 70 academics, many of whom lost their jobs. “Thu Nguyen, the executive director of OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates, a nonprofit advocacy group, said the program has created a climate of fear that could trigger a brain drain in academia. The growing threat of racial profiling in the U.S., she said, has already pushed some talented scientists to look for jobs back in China. The China Initiative, she said, affects not only professors and working scientists but also students, many of whom may hesitate to apply for scholarships or pursue careers in science and technology out of fear of prosecution. In recent months, OCA has been lobbying lawmakers to end the program. In November, the group visited senators and mobilized chapter members to speak out about the issues at legislative sessions.” New in @NBCAsianAmerica: Our Executive Director Thu Nguyen explains how the China Initiative unfairly targets people of Chinese descent — and what we’re doing to end the federal government’s profiling of Asian Americans and Asian immigrants. https://t.co/JanPtPJAaY https://t.co/vfbFgXCkk7— OCA–Asian Pacific American Advocates (@OCANational) January 3, 2022 Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC: On May 29, 2020, six armed FBI agents raided Professor Shaorong Liu’s home, interrogated him and his wife, and arrested them. Professor Liu, who teaches at the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry of the University of Oklahoma, and his wife were charged with stealing years of research funding, even though they did the research, resulting in over a dozen academic articles and a U.S. Patent.In our latest blog, hear from Professor Liu’s daughter, Di Liu, about the devastating impact being targeted by the government’s racial bias and profiling through the “China Initiative” had on her family.”My parents have lived here in the U.S. for most of their lives. They are proud American citizens. They are not spies. They are academics who have committed their lives to improving life for everyone. Why has this man-made tragedy been forced upon them? What have they done to deserve the scorn, rather than protection of their own government?”Read the full blog here: bit.ly/diliublog. #StopProfilingUs Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC: A new study shows that over 50% of scientists of Chinese descent working in the U.S., regardless of citizenship, fear they are under surveillance by the U.S. government. Read our Anti-Racial Profiling Project Intern Alex Liang’s latest on the reverberating effects of the “China Initiative” within the scientific community, and the dangers of it coming at a time when the pandemic and climate change have become predominant threats to Americans’ health and prosperity. Why Ending the Justice Department’s “China Initiative” is Vital to U.S. Security
Advocating for AAPI Data Disaggregation Nationwide AAPIs have the biggest wealth gap of any ethnic group in the US. Disaggregating AAPI data is essential in helping to address the needs of underserved groups within our communities. We applaud @GovKathyHochul for signing this bill into law. https://t.co/0KZx6xg2xS— APIAVote | #StopAsianHate (@APIAVote) December 31, 2021 N.Y. enacts ‘groundbreaking’ law to change how Asian American populations are counted Gov. Kathy Hochul quietly signed a bill last week requiring state agencies to separate data among different Asian ethnic groups. State agencies in New York will now be required to break down data for individual ethnic groups under the Asian American Pacific Islander umbrella. A bill signed last week by Gov. Kathy Hochul mandates that any state department collecting information about ethnicity or ancestry will have to use different categories for each major Asian group, including the Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Korean, Vietnamese, Indian, Laotian, Cambodian, Bangladeshi and Hmong communities, which the bill names. The same will be done for individual Pacific Islander groups, including Native Hawaiians, Guamanians, Chamorros and Samoans. Civil rights organizations have advocated for such action for decades, saying there is a lack of understanding about lower-income, minority Asians whose data is often lumped together with that of higher-earning groups. Coalition for Asian American Children and Families – Victory After Over a Decade of Advocacy: Asian American Pacific Islander Community Commends NY Governor Kathy Hochul for Signing Data Disaggregation into Law: Data disaggregation is just the first step for accurate representation of Asian American, especially Southeast Asian, issues. https://t.co/nMcjkmXvni— Demand Cuomo #PardonJamesNow ! Links in bio (@MekongNYC) December 24, 2021 NBC ASIAN AMERICA: White House adds new initiative for Asian American, Pacific Islander and Native Hawaiian visibility – As communities slowly recover from the pandemic’s devastation, advocates hope the new initiative will help with data disaggregation and language access for federal programs. “Asians and Pacific Islanders are not a monolith. Our health data should reflect the breadth of ancestries present in our City’s API communities, so we may better understand and address health inequities.” https://www1.nyc.gov/…/dohmh-releases-api-report.page
Launch of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders President Biden Announces Intent to Appoint Commissioners to the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders DECEMBER 20, 2021 WASHINGTON – Today, President Biden announced his intent to appoint the following leaders as commissioners to the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders: The Commission will advise the President on ways the public, private, and non-profit sectors can work together to advance equity and opportunity for every Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community. The Commission is also charged with advising the President on policies to address anti-Asian xenophobia and violence, ways to build capacity in AANHPI communities through federal grantmaking and policies to address the intersectional barriers that AANHPI women, LGBTQ+ people, and people with disabilities face. The Commission will include civic leaders from across the country and will reflect the rich diversity of AANHPI communities across the United States. Today, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders was officially launched! We look forward to the important work ahead with Co-Chairs Katherine Tai and Xavier Becerra, and Executive Director Krystal Ka'ai.➡️ https://t.co/5o9xMC0NFg pic.twitter.com/AKgN1Ssfwu— Advancing Justice | AAJC (@AAAJ_AAJC) December 9, 2021 Advancing Justice – AAJC Statement in Response to White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders: Washington, D.C. — December 9, 2021 — Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC (Advancing Justice | AAJC) responds to the official launch of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI). John C. Yang, Advancing Justice – AAJC president and executive director states: “We are excited to begin working WHIAANHPI to ensure coordination between government agencies, national groups, and community organizations. Advancing Justice – AAJC also applauds the selection of WHIAANHPI’s co-chairs Katherine Tai, the first woman of color to head the Office of U.S. Trade Representative, and Xavier Becerra, a former Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus member and ally to the Asian American community. With longtime Asian American rights champion and civil rights advocate Krystal Ka’ai as the Executive Director, we are confident that WHIAANHPI will fulfill its mission to better serve the AANHPI community.” Today’s official launch of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders marks an historic moment of representation and belonging for the AAPI community. Congratulations to Co-Chairs, @AmbassadorTai and @SecBecerra for their leadership. pic.twitter.com/DQqU7J2dGl— The Asian American Foundation (@taaforg) December 9, 2021 Today is the official launch of @WHIAANHPI!We look forward to working with Co-Chairs @AmbassadorTai & @SecBecerra and Executive Director Krystal Ka'ai to continue our shared goals of uplifting our communities and protecting our civil rights.Read more:https://t.co/4t7PhRxwDX— APIAVote | #StopAsianHate (@APIAVote) December 9, 2021 We are thrilled that @POTUS has launched the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI)! Thank you to @NCAPAtweets for working with @WhiteHouse and @HHSgov on this important initiative. @SEARAC statement: https://t.co/fm3Lo8RUAd— SEARAC (@SEARAC) December 9, 2021 NCAPA Coalition Celebrates the Launch of WHIAANHPI: Washington, D.C.—NCAPA issued the following statement after the administration announced the official launch of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) and the Initiative’s new Co-Chairs Katherine Tai and Xavier Becerra. The Initiative will be housed under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Sign On to Join AAPI Orgs Fighting for Voting Rights Join AAPI organizations around the country in sending a clear message to the U.S. Senate that voting rights are fundamental to a healthy democracy and must be protected. Call on the Senate to proceed and pass H.R. 5746, the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act. Sign on here! We are in a moment where we need to show up to protect the right to vote. The Senate has an opportunity to vote on landmark civil rights legislation, but we need your help. We’re asking every Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander organization that believes in our democracy to sign onto this letter. Today, the House passed the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act. We support legislation that makes it easier to vote and restores critical protections of the Voting Rights Act, including for language equity. The Senate must now act to #FightforVotingRights. pic.twitter.com/AHpPnWN1YT— National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (@NAPABA) January 13, 2022 STATEMENT: AAPI Victory Alliance Urges Biden Administration for Action on Federal Voting Rights Legislation Ahead of Georgia Speeches, Midterms AAPI Victory Alliance Executive Director Varun Nikore issued the following statement: “Voting rights is the pillar of our democracy. AAPI Victory Alliance stands with fellow advocates in urging the Biden administration to shepherd across the finish line federal legislation that will protect the right to vote as we head into midterms, and beyond. As AAPIs were responsible for the highest increase in electoral engagement than any other in the 2020 election, voting rights stands at the central core of our newfound electoral empowerment. It is our sincere hope that, beyond advocacy and vocal support, President Biden and Vice President Harris will today outline a concrete plan of action for protecting the most bedrock American rights: the right to vote in free, fair, and secure elections that are not tainted by partisan manipulation.” “Voting rights is a national issue and, at this very moment, those rights are at stake. In Georgia, where Biden and Harris will speak today, after constituents decisively voted for new leadership in 2020, Republicans in the legislature decided that they could not win on the merits of their ideas alone. Instead, extremist lawmakers passed a voter suppression law that simply cuts out the electorate they know won’t vote for them. Georgia is far from the only state overtly acting against the ideals of democracy.” “Ahead of the speeches, and in lieu of fanfare, we urge President Biden to give us a plan of action to protect and expand the right to vote. The Senate must pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the Freedom to Vote Act; the fate of our democracy depends on it.” Asian Americans Advancing Justice Atlanta: We urge President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to come up with a concrete plan to pass federal voting laws immediately. We need action now! Phi Nguyen, executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta, addressed the President and vice president, saying, “We beg you to stay in Washington tomorrow because we don’t need you here in Georgia. We need legislation that will ensure that our democracy accurately reflects the growing diversity of this state and of this country. Mr. President and Madam Vice President, we beg you to ground that plane the same way that we continue to beg you to ground the planes of so many of our community members who are being deported because we still lack a pathway to citizenship.” Whether it’s language access, long lines, voter intimidation, or being unable to vote during working hours, we all require and deserve the right to safely and knowledgeably vote in each election.The #FreedomtoVoteAct and #JohnLewisVotingRightsAct are pivotal first steps. (2/3) pic.twitter.com/O2lj28ebq0— VAYLA New Orleans (@VAYLANOLA) January 13, 2022
Calling on Congress to Deliver a Permanent Pathway to Citizenship Asian Americans Advancing Justice Urges Congress to Commit to a Pathway to Citizenship and Visa Recapture After Parliamentarian Recommendations (December 17, 2021) Asian Americans Advancing Justice is extremely disheartened by the Parliamentarian guidance further blocking relief for millions of undocumented community members. We will not stop fighting until Congress delivers a permanent pathway to citizenship. Asian Americans Advancing Justice is extremely disheartened by the Parliamentarian guidance further blocking relief for millions of undocumented community members. We will not stop fighting until Congress delivers a permanent pathway to citizenship.https://t.co/YG0mqmUrps pic.twitter.com/1nfkgLkeTF— Advancing Justice | AAJC (@AAAJ_AAJC) December 17, 2021 Adhikaar along with Communities United for Status and Protection (CUSP) releases the following statement urging the Senate to disregard the Parliamentarian and provide green cards to millions: “This third rejection by the Parliamentarian clearly shows that she has no intention of approving any form of immigration relief to be included in the Build Back Better Act, despite very clear and significant budgetary impact. Senators must not allow a non-elected Senate staffer to subvert the will of the people via a purely advisory opinion. Senators must fulfill their duties to our communities and legislate what is right. The only way to do this is by including permanent residency in the Build Back Better Act.” Read their full statement here! HANA Center and Undocumented Community Members Respond to the Parliamentarian’s Third Recommendation: “This Changes Nothing. Vice President Harris, Disregard the Parliamentarian!” Read their full statement here! VietLead stands with Movement of Immigrant Leaders in Pennsylvania and New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia in their call to include a pathway to citizenship in the budget reconciliation. Read more here: Pennsylvania Families call on Vice President Harris and Senate to Include a Pathway to Citizenship in Budget Reconciliation.