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#203 Reminder: Sign-on Letter! March on Washington; State Restrictions; Listening Session

In This Issue #203

  • Reminder:  Invitation to Sign Letter to President Biden Urging Renewal of US-China Protocol on Scientific and Technological Cooperation

  • See You at the "March on Washington" on August 26

  • NYT: Spreading State Restrictions on China Show Depths of Distrust in the U.S.

  • AASF Community Listening Session with the Department of Defense



Reminder:  Invitation to Sign Letter to President Biden Urging Renewal of US-China Protocol on Scientific and Technological Cooperation


Stanford University Professors Steven Kivelson and Peter F. Michelson issued the following letter calling for faculty members and scholars at U.S. institutions of higher learning to co-sign a letter to President Joe Biden to renew the US-China Protocol on Scientific and Technological Cooperation. 


APA Justice has created this web page to track the continuing development: https://bit.ly/3E9NmI8

Media reports:



See You at the "March on Washington" on August 26


United Chinese Americans (UCA) has issued a statement to urge the Chinese American and AANHPI communities to join the "March on Washington" in Washington DC on Saturday, August 26, 2023.  The statement reads:"Sixty years ago, Dr. King delivered his immortal speech 'I have a dream' at Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC."Sixty years later, Chinese Americans are joining Americans of all ethnicities and background to march again for justice and equality. We march now not just to commemorate but to realize the dream!"The Civil Rights Movement of the sixties has seared in the memory of Americans, but the mission is far from being completed. With racial profiling China Initiative, Chinese exclusion land bills in many states, and growing mistrust toward our community, now is the time for Chinese Americans to call for the civil rights movement of our generation."As a proud partner of this historic march to continue the dream, UCA cordially invites you to join this historical event. Let’s march to renew our pledge to build a truly inclusive and pluralistic democracy! Let’s march to relive the spirit of 60’s and for our shared dream! Will you join us this Saturday in Washington DC?"Register for the event: https://tinyurl.com/March-on-Washington-August-26."


Thanks to the support of the Committee of 100 and The Yellow Whistle™, APA Justice will help to distribute yellow whistles on site.  Use the whistle to amplify the voices of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities.  Participants are urged to wear yellow color clothing.  YELLOW is beautiful.  Let us take the YELLOW back.  We shall not remain silent, because WE BELONG™.  Participants who wish to help distribute the yellow whistles should send a request to contact@apajustice.org.  

ENTRANCE

March participants will enter on 17th St. between Independence and Constitution, Ave. ONLY. See the March Route map above.

WEATHER & HYDRATION

We anticipate the August summer heat during this event. We ask that you access participation based on your health history. Please bring water, hydrate, and summer cooling items for your safety; some will also be available on-site. We ask that you RECYCLE all water bottles using the recycling bins around the mall. 

MARCH ROUTE

Marchers will begin lining up on Lincoln Circle NW and proceed South on 23rd St. crossing through the median onto the Southern portion of Independence Ave (see map above).  They will march to West Potomac Park, serving as the dispersal point. Marchers will be routed to DC Metro locations, including Farragut West and North, Federal Triangle, and Smithsonian. Anyone not marching must exit the memorial and head to their transportation.Current Weather Forecast:

According to local radio WTOP, organizers expect tens of thousands of visitors to take part in this year’s march at the Lincoln Memorial.  The event is led by the Rev. Al Sharpton, Martin Luther King III and his wife, Andrea Waters King. 


According to an invitation by the Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), Dr. King's iconic "I Have a Dream" speech resonated with all those seeking justice beyond racial divides. This historic event's relevance extends to the scholar community, which also faces difficult challenges ahead. Recognizing the participation of scholars in the march highlights the interconnected struggles against inequality. It underscores the importance of collaboration among diverse groups in the fight for justice and equality, reminding us that our collective efforts transcend boundaries. 



NYT: Spreading State Restrictions on China Show Depths of Distrust in the U.S.


According to the New York Times on August 21, 2023, at a moment when Washington is trying to reset its tense relationship with China, states across the country are leaning into anti-Chinese sentiment and crafting or enacting sweeping rules aimed at severing economic ties with Beijing.The measures, in places like Florida, Utah and South Carolina, are part of a growing political push to make the United States less economically dependent on China and to limit Chinese investment over concerns that it poses a national security risk. Those concerns are shared by the Biden administration, which has been trying to reduce America’s reliance on China by increasing domestic manufacturing and strengthening trade ties with allies.But the state efforts have the potential to be far more expansive than what the administration is orchestrating. They have drawn backlash from business groups over concerns that state governments are veering toward protectionism and retreating from a longstanding tradition of welcoming foreign investment into the United States.The restrictions coincide with a resurgence of anti-China sentiment.  While Washington may see a relationship with China as a necessary evil, officials at the state and local levels appear determined to try to sever their economic relationship with America’s third-largest trading partner.One of the biggest targets has been Chinese landownership, despite the fact that China owns less than 400,000 acres in the United States, according to the Agriculture Department. That is less than 1 percent of all foreign-owned land.One of the most provocative restrictions has been championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, a Republican who is running for president. In May, Mr. DeSantis signed a law prohibiting Chinese companies or citizens from purchasing or investing in properties.But the legislation is written so broadly that an investment fund or a company that has even a small ownership stake from a Chinese company or a Chinese investor and buys a property would be violating the law. Business groups and the Biden administration have criticized the law as overreach, while Republican attorneys general around the country have sided with Mr. DeSantis.

The Florida legislation, which targets “countries of concern” and imposes special restrictions on China, is being challenged in federal court. A group of Chinese citizens and a real estate brokerage firm in Florida that are represented by the American Civil Liberties Union sued the state in May, arguing that the law codifies and expands housing discrimination. The Justice Department filed a “statement of interest” arguing that Florida’s landownership policy is unlawful.Read the New York Times report in both English and Chinese 切断与中国经济联系？美国多州“反中”情绪渐涨: https://nyti.ms/3sibK7MWatch also NBC News report "Backlash grows over Chinese companies purchasing land in U.S." (video 3:12)



AASF Community Listening Session with the Department of Defense


The Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) will host a scholar community listening session with the Department of Defense (DoD) on August 30, 2023, starting at 7:00 pm ET.  The session provides a platform where scholars can ask questions and engage in dialogue.  The guest speaker is Bindu Nair, Department of Defense Director of Basic Research.  This is a unique opportunity to offer feedback and learn more about new and developing policies at the DoD. The listening session will cover "Policy for Risk-Based Security Reviews of Fundamental Research" issued by the DoD on June 8, 2023.  The event is closed to the media and will not be recorded.Read the AASF announcement: https://bit.ly/44o4apu.  Register for the event:  https://bit.ly/3E6Rs43 


August 23, 2023

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