#207 9/11 Meeting; AI, Civil Rights, Equity, Innovation; Franklin Tao, UNC Shooting; More News
In This Issue #207
2023/09/11 APA Justice Monthly Meeting
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Civil Rights, Equity, and Innovation
Tenth Circuit Court To Hear Appeal of Professor Franklin Tao 陶丰
Statements and Media Reports on UNC Shooting
News and Activities for The Communities
2023/09/11 APA Justice Monthly Meeting
The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, September 11, 2023, starting at 1:55 pm ET. In addition to updates by Nisha Ramachandran, Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC); John Yang 杨重远, President and Executive Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC; Gisela Perez Kusakawa, Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), Clay Zhu 朱可亮, Partner, DeHeng Law Offices 德恒律师事务所; Founder, Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance 华美维权同盟, confirmed speakers to cover the renewal of the US-China Science and Technology Agreement are:
Deborah Seligsohn, Senior Associate (non-resident), Center for Strategic and International Studies; Assistant Professor, Villanova University https://bit.ly/3OMc8En
Steve Kivelson, Prabhu Goel Family Professor of Physics, Stanford University https://bit.ly/44xTNPX
Sudip Parikh, Chief Executive Officer, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and Executive Publisher, Science Family of Journals
Ting Wu, Advisor, Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, Office of the Chief of Staff, The White House
1. Committee of 100 Letter to the President
On September 6, 2023, Gary Locke, Chair of the Committee of 100 (C100), wrote to President Joe Biden urging him to renew for another five years the Agreement between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the PRC on Cooperation in Science and Technology (STA). "The STA offers the United States significant benefits to advance scientific progress in many fields and in people-to-people exchanges, and it presents minimal risks to American national security," the letter said. "Committee of 100 believes renewing the STA for another five-year term will enhance American scientific and technological achievement and promote U.S. leadership in open and transparent scientific cooperation globally. Conversely, Committee of 100 argues that allowing the STA to expire would disrupt mutually beneficial scientific exchange and disrupt peaceful people-to-people ties between the U.S. and the PRC. For these reasons, Committee of 100 urges you and your Administration to renew the STA with whatever additional safeguards your national security advisors deem appropriate and not simply to abandon this proven framework for constructive bilateral engagement."Gary Locke is also former U.S. Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China (PRC), former U.S. Secretary of Commerce, and a former college president. Read the C100 letter at: https://bit.ly/3sJD1R0
2. National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Members' Update: China!
In a recent Members' Update, NAS President Marcia McNutt reported that "[m]embers have expressed concern about the deteriorating relationship between the U.S. and China, pointing out that this partnership has resulted in extensive collaborations, joint research projects, and mutual contributions to global scientific knowledge."The National Academy of Sciences has promoted engagement with China since Frank Press' presidency in the 1980s. More recently, I had the honor of co-chairing the first Chinese-American Frontiers of Science symposia, which brought young researchers from both nations together to discuss forefront research and build relationships."Although there have been bumps in the road in our relationship with China, one could well argue that a U.S. position that focuses on de-risking does not fully account for the risks to the U.S., our science, and innovation of pursuing a one-size-fits-all approach towards China. For example, we have seen how policies such as the so-called 'China Initiative' have resulted in many Chinese-American researchers' feeling persecuted and afraid for their safety."To be sure, there are several real concerns related to the actions of China's leadership around the world, and some important issues related to intellectual property, research security, and research misconduct must be addressed. Understanding the nature and implication of these threats requires dialogue among the many stakeholders, and the NAS is leading these discussions. At the same time, we need to identify productive ways to maintain connections between the U.S. and China, especially in mutually beneficial areas. The bilateral science and technology cooperation agreement between the U.S. and China was temporarily renewed last week for six months, but its long-term fate in uncertain."The United States has the most dynamic innovation economy in the world. Our country has benefitted over the centuries from our ability to assess the talent and ideas being developed around the world. At a time when more and more science is being produced outside the U.S., the nation is handicapping itself by restricting these collaborations. NAS will continue to engage with policy makers to listen to their concerns with engagement, while highlighting to them the benefit of such connections for fostering a healthy U.S. science and innovation ecosystem."
Artificial Intelligence (AI), Civil Rights, Equity, and Innovation
1. First look: Civil rights group starts center to monitor AI for hate speech
According to Axios on September 7, 2023, The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights (LCCHR), one of the nation's largest and oldest civil rights coalitions, is launching a Center for Civil Rights and Technology to investigate how artificial intelligence (AI) affects civil rights, fosters racism, and spreads bigotry. The center comes amid rising concern that AI may fuel racism and more antisemitism in the U.S. by amplifying bias from human-generated content on the internet.The center will monitor legislation and regulations on AI and other emerging technologies and assess how those will impact civil and human rights. The center also will publish papers and policy positions, and support active civic conversations about generative AI.Because AI models learn to complete sentences by analyzing enormous quantities of text created by people, usually on the internet, they pick up bias embedded in both the digital environment and broader society."Hate has had a very comfortable home on our social media platforms. And it has been given cover by, sadly, sometimes, by leaders that have every ability to disrupt that," LCCHR president and CEO Maya Wiley said. An advisory group of experts and civil rights organizations will advise the center, including Alondra Nelson, Acting Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) under the Biden Administration.Read the Axios report: https://bit.ly/467vI3F
2. Embed equity throughout innovation
According to a Science editorial on September 7, 2023, the social benefit of technologies is frequently unevenly realized across the United States. Rural communities, individuals with disabilities, and historically marginalized groups face out-of-reach costs or lack access to products that meet their needs. Blame is typically placed on complicated regulatory processes or complex delivery systems, but this response neglects the problem that equity is not baked into the nation’s innovation process at any stage. The United States needs to rethink its entire innovation ecosystem to incorporate equity as a foundational guiding principle—from research design and funding requirements to policies and regulations that govern the delivery and oversight of new products to the public.Development of new technologies and products in the United States benefits from a governance framework that optimizes fairness and opportunity for creators and investors while prioritizing the safety and autonomy of end users. Equity is typically an afterthought, usually arising after unfair public outcomes are recognized. Given the recent remarkable pace of progress across all scientific disciplines, there is an urgent need to incorporate equity considerations throughout the innovation life cycle. Consider, for example, the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning in health care. Lack of diversity in the workforce and in the geographic distribution of innovation centers reduces the range of perspectives that shape research in this field. Nonrepresentative and discriminatory data sets and poor selection of proxy outcomes measures lead to biased algorithms that skew machine learning and adversely affect AI platforms that influence decision-making. Although efforts are underway to advance the ethical use of AI, a fundamental cultural shift is needed to fully integrate equity in this field and in many others.Embedding these values in innovation means accounting for equity at each stage, from idea conception to technology and product development, evaluation, monitoring, and iterative learning and improvement.A diverse community of users and creators should join traditional stakeholders to rethink governance strategies and incentives. Equitable innovation will require creative steps and new practices, such as engaging with underserved and marginalized communities at each stage of the innovation life cycle. This will ensure that these groups are not only consulted during research but also have opportunities to substantively lead and engage in innovation partnerships.
If 21st-century innovation is to reflect social needs and improve the well-being of the entire public, then it will require a strong vision activated by a coalition of public and private partners that embrace an equity-centric approach at every stage.Authors of the Science editorial:
Keith A. Wailoo, Henry Putnam University Professor of History and Public Affairs, Princeton University.
Victor J. Dzau, President of the National Academy of Medicine.
Keith R. Yamamoto, Vice Chancellor for Science Policy and Strategy and Director of Precision Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco; President, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Read the Science editorial: https://bit.ly/44HfqO4
Tenth Circuit Court To Hear Appeal of Professor Franklin Tao 陶丰
Professor Feng "Franklin" Tao 陶丰 of University of Kansas (KU) was the first academic to be indicted under the now-defunct "China Initiative." Of the ten charges against him by the government, nine were dropped or dismissed. He was convicted by jury of one count of making a false statement. U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson stated that this “was not an economic espionage case” and released Professor Tao for time served. According to Inside Higher Ed on January 19, 2023, “Dr. Tao will be appealing his count of conviction and expects to prevail and be completely exonerated. And yes, he fully intends to continue his career as a scientist and researcher, either at KU or another university,” Peter Zeidenberg, Tao’s lawyer, said at that time.The 10th Circuit Appeals Court will hold a hearing on Professor Tao's appeal in Denver, Colorado, on September 21, 2023, starting at 8:30 am MT/10:30 am ET. Community members are urged to show their support for Professor Tao by attending the hearing at Byron White Court House, 1823 Stout Street, Denver, CO 80257. The Clerk's Office can be reached at 303-844-3157.Read APA Justice coverage of the case of Professor Franklin Tao at https://bit.ly/3fZWJvK. Read the Inside Higher Ed report: http://bit.ly/3wiMPQm
Statements and Media Reports on UNC Shooting
1. Statements by UCA and AASF
United Chinese Americans (UCA) and Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) issued statements mourning the tragic death of Dr. Zijie Yan 严资杰, an associate professor of Applied Physical Sciences at University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill.AASF joins the UNC community in grieving the devastating killing of Dr. Yan, and boldly condemns the senseless act of violence perpetrated against him and his family. Two fundraisers have been set up - one for his daughters here and another for his parents here.Read the AASF statement: https://bit.ly/4669EXjThe UCA statement condemns the racist rhetoric stemming from a public official in Wayne County, NC, which has no place in our society. "This hateful speech exacerbates the harm caused by discrimination and intolerance and can have dangerous consequences for the AAPI community," the statement said. "Together we must create an environment where every individual, regardless of their background, can pursue their educational goals without fear. Our condolences go out to the Yan family, and we hope that the UNC community finds strength and resilience in the face of this adversity. Let us come together to honor Zijie Yan's memory, strongly condemn racism, and work tirelessly for a future where such incidents can be prevented."
2. Media Reports on UNC Shooting
According to CBS-17 on August 30, 2023, Wendy H. Waters, principal of Spring Creek High School in Wayne County, North Carolina, posted on Facebook a message that is widely viewed as a racist response to the shooting at UNC-Chapel Hill.“There is nothing WHITE about him,” she said as part of the post alongside a photo of Tailei Qi 齐太磊,, the man accused of fatally shooting Zijie Yan 严资杰. The post continued to say “My bet is he’s a Chinese Nationalist.”In a statement from Wayne County schools, the district said Waters’ comments “do not reflect the views of the school district” and that the matter is now under review.Read the CBS-17 report: https://bit.ly/3ZsbS1jAccording to a report by WUNC on September 8, 2023, the death of Dr. Zijie Yan, triggered deep-seated anxiety and fear among Asian Americans in the Triangle.Jiu-Luen Tsai, 50, had been grappling with fear, frustration and grief. Like many other Asian Americans in the Triangle, he was afraid of how people would perceive him and his family after authorities identified graduate student Tailei Qi as the suspect. It reminded Tsai of instances when he and others in the Asian American community have been attacked.Tsai tried to talk to his 14-year-old son about it. “I honestly don’t know if he has experienced these things himself—xenophobia, racism and fear of gun violence,” Tsai said. “With a teenager, it’s especially hard to know. As a responsible parent, I have to talk about these things because these are truths in our world.”While the event is not characterized as a hate crime, it’s still an example of violence that’s impacted the Asian American community, said Jimmy Patel-Nguyen, the communications director at North Carolina Asian Americans Together.Events like the UNC shooting, as well as the 2021 Atlanta spa shootings, highlight a culture that’s prone to gun violence and the vulnerability of Asian immigrants in America, said Eileen Chengyin Chow, a Duke University associate professor of the Practice of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. However, when the gunman and victims are Asian, such as with the shootings in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay in California earlier this year, there is a tendency to dismiss the events as being isolated to the Asian community, she added.
Anti-Asian violence has increased especially after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. But similarly violent events that have impacted Asian Americans have been happening for decades.Cary resident Lily Chen, a community organizer and PhD student at UNC-Chapel Hill’s School of Nursing, recalled when she was an international student at the University of Iowa in 1991. That year, Gang Lu, a graduate student, shot and killed three faculty members in the department of physics and astronomy. He also killed postdoctoral researcher, Linhua Shan, who Chen personally knew.Thirty-two years later, Chen experienced the same feelings that she did back then. She was also dismayed when a Wayne County high school principal posted an angry message on Facebook days after the shooting, speculating that the suspected shooter was “stealing intellectual property” on behalf of the Chinese Communist Party.“It's like, can I have time even to grieve?” Chen said. “Can I just have time to spend time with my family, with my daughter, with my friends and not have to worry about these kinds of things?”Since the shooting, UNC social worker Susan Chung, has seen many international Asian students in her office and at mental health webinars. “They already feel like outsiders and they don’t feel included at the school,” Chung said. “They don’t feel seen. The incident that happened really escalated that. That’s kind of how they feel.” Chung herself immigrated from Taiwan when she was 12 years old and tries to act as a liaison between the two cultures. Even before the shooting, she said that international students have shared with her that they feel ignored by the school and have been bullied by their peers and professors.Read the WUNC report: https://bit.ly/3Py0mxX
News and Activities for The Communities
1. APA Justice Community Calendar
APA Justice has launched a Community Calendar to track the many events and activities. From the Committee of 100 career ceiling webinars, alien land laws, National Voter Registration Day, Franklin Tao's appeal hearing, to the AAUC National Unity Summit, they are all in a one-stop view. Options are available to look at a monthly, weekly, or a daily calendar, as well as an agenda view with event details.You can find the Community Calendar on the front page of the APA Justice website at https://www.apajustice.org/.
2. 2023/09/11 Bay Area FBI Community Briefings Roundtable
WHAT: Bay Area FBI Community Briefings Roundtable - San Mateo
WHEN: Monday, September 11, 2023, 5:30 - 7:00 pm, PT
WHERE: The San Mateo City Police Headquarter Community Meeting Room | 200 Franklin Pkwy, San Mateo, CA 94403
HOST: City of San Mateo: Amourence Lee, Mayor; Ed Barberini, Police Chief
PRESENTATION: FBI San Francisco Field Office
SPONSORS: Civic Leadership USA (CLUSA), The Asian American Foundation (TAAF); San Francisco Community Alliance for Unity, Safety, and Education (SFCAUSE)
REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/3sRjBcH
Provide the Federal & regional perspectives from the FBI on Public Safety
Build trust and relationships by reaching out to San Mateo Community & faith-based leaders
Provide a mutual listening opportunity with follow-up actions.
The roundtable format will feature selected public safety topics presented by the FBI, followed by a facilitated open dialogue in a roundtable discussion.
3. Behind Bay Area Preservation Dispute Is a Chinese American ‘Asparagus King’
According to the San Francisco Standard on September 10, 2023, Thomas Foon Chew, a young Chinese immigrant and entrepreneur in the canning industry, purchased the land in Palo Alto and built a cannery in 1918. Two years later, it grew to become the third-largest cannery of fruits and vegetables in the world, powered by a large and diverse workforce of Chinese-, Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking workers.Chew’s success turned him into a legendary and well-respected multimillionaire businessman whose company is thought to be the first to can green asparagus, earning him the moniker “Asparagus King.” Chew died in 1931 at the age of 42, and it is believed that 25,000 people attended his funeral in San Francisco's Chinatown. After his death, the cannery thrived until 1949.Now, more than 90 years since his death, a controversial plan to tear down parts of the former cannery site sparked a contentious debate within the local community members, and some of them want to preserve it as a rare piece of Asian American history.Monica Yeung Arima, a board member of Palo Alto History Museum, said this is a golden opportunity to save a critical part of both Chinese American and the city’s history.Palo Alto City Council heard hours of public comment in an early September meeting as people against the redevelopment plan held signs that read “Save the Cannery.” The council will vote on whether to proceed with the plan next week.Read the San Francisco Standard report: https://bit.ly/3LjVYQF
September 11, 2023