Category Archives: Take Action

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 campaign
  • Allows 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: 

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]. 

DRUM – #FreePrakashChuraman

Join Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM) in demanding Queens District Attorney to drop the charges against Prakash Churaman, a Guyanese immigrant youth who was pressured into a confession by NYPD at the age of 15.

Adhikaar – Pass NY A9398 Nail Salon Minimum Standards Council Act!

NEW YORK – Nail salon workers and their allies in the New York Healthy Nail Salons Coalition joined New York State Senator Jessica Ramos and Assemblymember Harry Bronson in introducing the Nail Salon Minimum Standards Council Act. The first of its kind in the United States, the legislation (bill numbers forthcoming), would create a nail salon industry council made up of workers, employers, and government officials. The council will have broad powers to establish new workplace standards for all nail salons in New York, including on issues such as wages, scheduling, paid time off, and training. After completion of investigations, hearings, and consultation with experts, the council would submit a report with final recommendations for minimum standards to the New York State Labor Commissioner.

The NY nail salon industry came under national scrutiny in 2015 when nail salon workers who were organizing to improve working conditions caught the public’s attention and won the NY Nail Salon Workers’ Bill of Rights, the first-ever bill specific to the industry that requires nail salons to meet certain safety requirements and pay proper wages. Nail salon work is overwhelmingly performed by immigrant women of color. Nail technicians (i.e., manicurists and pedicurists) make up the vast majority of New York’s nail salon industry workforce, with 85% identifying as women. Among these workers, 73% identify as Asian or Pacific Islander, and 21% identify as Latinx.

“This bill is the culmination of years of work with our nail salon worker member leaders, our partners and legislative champions as a step towards a more equitable nail salon industry,” said Pabitra Khati Benjamin, Executive Director of Adhikaar. “Passing the Nail Salon Minimum Standards Council Act would mean that nail salon workers, quite literally, will have a seat at the table, with employers and the state to improve their conditions. Nail salons are a bedrock of economic mobility for so many Asian immigrants, including the Nepali-speaking community. It is in the vested interest of all that this industry survives and thrives. Adhikaar’s 1,300 nail salon worker membership base is excited to introduce this bill with Senator Ramos and Assemblymember Bronson today.”

Read more: https://adhikaar.org/2022/01/26/4364/

Tongan Americans Seek White House Support of Tongan Disaster Relief

Washington, D.C.—Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC) released the following statement regarding the volcanic eruption and tsunami in the Kingdom of Tonga on January 15th, 2022. The impact destroyed communications and left many residents in need of aid and relocation. EPIC, its partners, and allies have sent a letter to the White House calling to provide a statement and further humanitarian relief. The full letter can be found here.

The eruption of the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano and tsunami destroyed homes, schools, churches, businesses, and agriculture. To date, three lives have been claimed. The aftermath has left many residents displaced while volcanic ash has polluted air and freshwater sources, leaving residents at risk of long term health issues. Scientists are racing to understand the once-in-a-century event. There is no question that this event will have lasting global impacts as reverberations were felt as far as Alaska and tsunamis traveled as far as Japan, Chile, and the West Coast of the U.S.

The road to recovery will be a long-term process to rebuild its infrastructure and restore hope in the Tongan people. Food, water, medical supplies, personal protective equipment, and other essential necessities will be a continuous need in the coming months, however this need for aid also leaves the population increasingly vulnerable to COVID-19 exposure.

Partnerships between Tongan women-led community-based organizations, academic institutions, and nonprofit organizations have mobilized to provide direct relief through mutual aid with Tongan NGOs. The collective, consisting of Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC), Motivating Action Leadership Opportunities (MALO), the Vakatasi Foundation, and the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA), has sent a letter to the White House, requesting the Biden administration to release a statement in support of the Tongan American community and commit to providing further aid for Tonga’s relief and recovery.

Stop AB969! No Armed Cops in Schools

February 10, 2022

WISCONSIN – Tomorrow the Assembly Committee on Education will hear public testimony on Assembly Bill 969, which would give the state of Wisconsin grounds to put armed police, otherwise known as School Resource Officers (SROs), back in our schools. LIT, our coalition partners, and other supporters condemn this attempt to disregard the voices of communities across the state that made the decision to end police department contracts and removed armed police from their district schools.

All students deserve to feel safe at school – regardless of their zip code, race, or background. Threatening students with policing does not make students, faculty, or staff safer.

Our communities want and deserve real solutions to promote school safety and help students thrive on and off campus. That starts by listening to, respecting, and acting on the interests of students across the state of Wisconsin. That means keeping cops out of school so young people feel safe.

Go to Bit.ly/STOPSRO to fill out the form that will send a pre-written email to your legislators – it only takes 2 minutes!

National Week of Action to End Southeast Asian Deportations

Join the Southeast Asia Deportation Defense Network (SEADDN) national movement in our Week of Action to #StopTheRaids! 

SEADDN will be hosting a week of call-in sessions to demand that the White House and ICE stop separating families. There will be organizations from different parts of the country hosting virtual sessions each day as listed below although all sessions are virtual and you may join in any region.

Tuesday, Feb. 15: West Coast Day of Action
Wednesday, Feb. 16: Northeast Region Day of Action
Thursday, Feb. 17: South Region Day of Action
Friday, Feb. 18: Midwest Region Day of Action

More information, including a social media toolkit to promote the Week of Action, can be found at bit.ly/seatoolkit2022 and on SEARAC’s Facebook and Twitter.

If you can’t make one of the sessions listed above, call the White House today to demand that ICE not deport any Cambodian community members. Remind them that the Biden Administration has recently celebrated its accomplishments in protecting Asian American immigrants and refugees, and that the act of separating families and deporting community members is an unjust act of violence.

Call the White House at 202-456-1111 and use the following call script (or write your own):

“My name is ____ from (city, state). I am calling President Biden to express concern over the planned deportations of Cambodian Americans. Many of these community members came to the United States as refugee children. Deportation is a double-punishment to individuals who committed crimes but have already served their time. They deserve justice and a second chance. Your administration recently celebrated that you had reduced deportations to Burma, Cambodia, and Laos during the first year of the Biden presidency. I demand that ICE reconsider these upcoming deportations and allow Southeast Asian Americans to remain at home with their families and communities.”

Learn more at bit.ly/seatoolkit2022

Take Action Against Anti-Asian Violence and Racism

Our network partners have worked In allyship and solidarity across marginalized groups and have continued to call on community members to report hate incidents, condemn anti-AAPI and racist sentiments, attend workshops and bystander intervention trainings, and call for greater accountability and policy responses from elected officials. Community groups and activists have also provided support systems and spaces for community members to reflect in the current moment, learn more about the long history of anti-Asian violence in the United States, as well as support those who have experienced hate themselves. Here are some ways you can take action against anti-Asian violence and racism:

Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Chicago is offering various Bystander Intervention Trainings each month. To combat the current rise in harassment and discrimination and to also proactively prepare for the future increase of hate incidents, Advancing Justice | Chicago is partnering with New York-based nonprofit Hollaback! and CAIR-Chicago to plan and implement an aggressive scaling up of locally-led bystander hate incident intervention trainings for community members.

Asian Americans United and VietLead – Add Your Name: Joint Statement in Response to Recent Anti-Asian Violence! Our hearts go out to the Asian American youths who were harmed by racially motivated intimidation and violence on SEPTA. We recognize that they suffered real physical, mental, and emotional trauma, and that this harm is felt broadly across many in our communities. We know that increased policing and punitive measures will not break this cycle of violence and is not part of the vision for true safety that our communities continuously seek. Add your name to our petition to actually center our young people and ask: What does justice look like for them?https://secure.everyaction.com/ZtLzCsn_ikub0NarCatfEw2

Watch this Facebook live event from Cia Siab, Inc where community members learned how to effectively respond as a bystander and how to form a safety plan from some of the Cia Siab, Inc. staff. Members of the community can also continue to report hate incidents through Cia Siab, Inc’s Hate Incident Form at www.ciasiabinc.org/hateincidentreport.

Address Anti-Blackness through Racial Justice Discourse

As we continue to work towards social and racial justice, incidents of anti-racism and xenophobia in AAPI communities has also brought forth calls for racial solidarity to dismantle anti-Blackness in our communities and understand the role of white supremacy in our struggles toward shared liberation. Here are some ways to take action, continue your education to address anti-blackness, and help fight against attacks on social justice discourse:

VAYLA’s AAPI Rising: Uplifting AAPI Means Dismantling Anti-Blackness Event – Over the past year, the uptick of anti-Asian incidents has reminded us that racism and violence against AAPIs is not new. Through much grief and pain, our AAPI community is strengthened through solidarity. As AAPI communities move forward and overcome increased anger, fear, and violence, it is critical for us to recognize and dismantle anti-Blackness in our communities and understand the role of white supremacy in our struggles toward shared liberation. Watch the recorded session and listen to the community and conversation around addressing anti-Blackness with our own family, community, elders, and navigating internalized white supremacy.

Join the crucial fight to defend the truth with the African American Policy Forum’s #TruthBeTold Campaign – “After unprecedented global protests for racial justice that followed the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, right-wing groups across America instigated and intensified well-funded, orchestrated disinformation campaigns against critical race theory, intersectionality, and other forms of racial and gender justice discourse.” Visit their website to learn more about how to respond to these organized attacks and find the latest updates from the disinformation and legislative campaign against critical race theory, social justice discourse, and race and gender education. This website also offers articles, research, and critical analyses that help explain the who, what, where, and why of the coordinated attacks on critical race theory, racial justice, and anti-racist education (including useful explainers of critical race theory, research into the structure of the disinformation campaign, political analysis, and more).

As an organization of Muslim women committed to building sisterhood and advancing social equity, Reviving the Islamic Sisterhood for Empowerment has continued to open space for our community to learn and grow as anti-racist activists, advocates, and allies. Please visit their anti-Blackness resource page to learn about places to begin or continue your anti-racism journey.

Empowering Pacific Islander Communities invites Black Pasifika specifically to join in conversation with one another to share space and perspectives from the skin you live in as Black AND Pacific Islander. This discussion will be facilitated by Jason Finau and Savali Andrews, two maternal cousins with a shared identity but different upbringings and journeys forward as African American Samoans raised on the west coast in the US. This space will convene on the second Friday of every month. “Black Pacific Alliance Join us every 2nd Friday for conversations on the Black + PI experience. Our next meeting is Friday, January 14th, 2022 | 6-8 PM (PT) For more info or to join, please contact: [email protected].”

Organizing to Protect Immigrants, Refugees, and TPS Holders

Our network partners have been advocating for immigrant and refugee rights and protections as they call for pathways for citizenship, organize against ICE, defend asylum, advocate to end deportations and incarceration in our communities, and work to free our community members from immigration jails, prisons, and detention facilities. Here are some of the most recent campaigns that you can take part in to protect our communities from these incidents of anti-Asian violence. 

Adhikaar has previously called upon Congress to act now to protect Nepali TPS holders and affirm immigrants by creating a concrete pathway to citizenship and permanent residency through legislation. Adhikaar launched a TPS redesignation campaign and needs your help! Nepal remains unsafe for return due to the continuing effects of the 2015 earthquake, ongoing and recent political instability, and the current impacts of COVID-19. Their campaign urges the Department of Homeland Security to redesignate Nepal for TPS, which could allow for 35k+ additional Nepalis to become eligible for TPS. Watch this video to understand why redesignation is so important and what you can do. Take action today by signing the petition to call Secretary Mayorkas to redesignate Nepal for TPS! 

Asian American Resource Workshop (AARW) – “In order to #StopAsianHate, we have to hold to account the way the government enacts anti-Asian violence through deportation. Anti-Asian violence isn’t just between individuals, it’s ingrained in how our country is governed. #seafreedom #stopseadeportation.” Join the Coalition of Asian American Leaders and their partners with the Southeast Asian Deportation Defense Network (SEADDN) in calling for urgent action to end the deportation of Southeast Asian families by signing this petition demanding that visa sanctions against Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos be removed. Sign this petition to demand that President Biden and DHS Secretary Mayorkas lift all visa sanctions. 

Southeast Asian Freedom Network – SEAFN has worked to lift up the stories of community members who were targeted unjustly by the immigration legal system. Detention and deportation is anti-Asian violence. The Southeast Asian immigrants facing deportation have families, communities, lives ahead of them. They do not deserve to have their lives upended by an unjust immigration system. Join these organizations and pledge to support the end of Southeast Asian Deportation: http://bit.ly/seafreedom. You can also share their toolkit: https://bit.ly/seafreedomtoolkit. We cannot stop until deportations are ended entirely for Southeast Asian immigrants and refugees.

Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Atlanta – The Biden administration plans to expand Folkston ICE Processing Center, making Georgia the private prison capital of the U.S. We stand firm with 20 other organizations to demand an immediate halt to all plans to expand! #AbolishICE #ShutDownFolkston #CommunitiesNotCages Read the full press release here: https://drive.google.com/…/1mLiIefWe7GUDndK3jUKy1b…/view

Southeast Asian Freedom Network – SEAFN – Phoeun You, is a 47-year-old Cambodian refugee and crisis counselor from Long Beach, CA. After serving over 25 years in and being found suitable for parole, Phoeun deserves to be reunited with his family! Not transferred to ICE detention! His leadership and hard work has been overlooked because he is a refugee. #StopICEtranfers to #ProtectPhoeun and support #VISIONAct. Use this Toolkit: bit.ly/ProtectPhoeun

Advocating for a Pathway to Citizenship for All

Sign the petition: Vice President Kamala Harris and Congressional Democrats can and must provide a pathway to citizenship immediately – We won’t take no for an answer. This is the year we will win citizenship for millions. Sign the petition: Vice President Kamala Harris and Congressional Democrats can and must provide a pathway to citizenship immediately.

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: