#400 400 Issues Later: Still Building Community, Advocacy, and Voice

In This Issue #400

Still Building Community, Advocacy, and Voice

We celebrate the 400th issue of the APA Justice Newsletter by reflecting on the journey that began with our first issue on July 5, 2020. What started as a modest community publication during a period of uncertainty and upheaval has grown into an enduring platform for information, dialogue, advocacy, and historical record.It was a time to honor the many contributions of Asian Pacific Americans to the United States, but it was also a time of extraordinary challenge. As the nation confronted the COVID-19 pandemic, Asian Pacific Americans fought on two fronts. Our medical professionals and researchers battled the coronavirus, while our communities faced a surge in anti-Asian hate amid the climate surrounding the China Initiative.The launch of the Newsletter also marked the continued evolution of APA Justice. What began in the fall of 2015 as a response to concerns raised by Representative Judy Chu gradually evolved from a platform connecting elected officials, individuals, and community organizations into a broader, sustainable ecosystem dedicated to addressing racial profiling and advancing justice, fairness, and civil rights for Asian Pacific Americans.Beginning with approximately 300 subscribers, the Newsletter soon became one of the three integrated pillars of APA Justice’s core activities, alongside our Monthly Meetings and Website, while webinars further amplified critical issues, community concerns, and public dialogue.

Four hundred issues later, the APA Justice Newsletter remains grounded in the same mission: to build community, amplify voices, document history, and advocate for a more just and inclusive society.

I. Looking Back: Why the Newsletter Was Started

The APA Justice Newsletter was launched during a period of growing uncertainty and concern for many Asian Pacific Americans, particularly within academic, scientific, and immigrant communities. In 2020, public debate surrounding the China Initiative, national security investigations, and U.S.-China tensions increasingly intersected with concerns about racial profiling, civil liberties, and equal treatment under the law.Many in the community worried about wrongful prosecutions and investigations, the erosion of academic freedom, and the chilling effect these developments could have on scientific research, international collaboration, and public discourse. At the same time, the rise in anti-Asian discrimination and hate incidents during the COVID-19 pandemic intensified fears and underscored the need for stronger community engagement and public education.Against this backdrop, the APA Justice Newsletter was created to provide timely and reliable information, thoughtful analysis, and a trusted platform for discussion. The goal was not only to report developments, but also to help connect a growing network of advocates, academics, attorneys, scientists, journalists, students, and community leaders working to promote fairness, due process, and civil rights.

The Newsletter also sought to amplify Asian American voices that were often underrepresented or misunderstood in mainstream conversations. By sharing articles, statements, webinars, legal developments, and community perspectives, it became a centralized resource for those seeking both information and solidarity during a turbulent period.Over time, the Newsletter evolved into an ongoing historical record of a consequential era for the Asian Pacific American community — documenting not only challenges and controversies, but also resilience, advocacy, collaboration, and civic engagement.

II. What We Cover — And Why It Matters

Many of the challenges facing Asian Pacific Americans today are not entirely new. From the Chinese Exclusion Act, Alien Land Laws, Japanese American incarceration, to Cold War-era Red Scare loyalty investigations, Asian Pacific Americans have repeatedly faced suspicion, exclusion, and unequal treatment during periods of national anxiety. In recent years, many of these historical patterns have reemerged in modern forms — through racial profiling, politicized investigations, surveillance concerns, and renewed questions about citizenship, belonging, and civil rights.Against this backdrop, the APA Justice Newsletter has focused on three intersecting areas: combating racial profiling, protecting rights and fairness, and advancing social justice through community engagement and advocacy.

A. Combating Racial Profiling

A central focus of the Newsletter has been the China Initiative, attempts of its revival, and the broader climate of modern-day McCarthyism surrounding scientists, researchers, and Asian American communities. The Newsletter closely followed cases involving individuals such as Anming Hu, Franklin Tao, and Gang Chen, highlighting concerns about racial profiling, wrongful investigations, due process, and law enforcement overreach.The Newsletter also amplified investigative reporting, congressional oversight, and independent reviews that exposed systemic flaws and bias in the implementation of the China Initiative. Through case updates, webinars, and public education, APA Justice sought to support impacted individuals while advocating for greater accountability and civil rights protections.

B. Protecting Rights and Fairness

The Newsletter has consistently addressed broader threats to constitutional rights and equal treatment under the law, including opposition to warrantless surveillance and support for birthright citizenship. APA Justice viewed these debates not as isolated policy disputes, but as part of a larger struggle to ensure that Asian Pacific Americans and other communities are afforded the same protections and freedoms guaranteed to all Americans.Through advocacy campaigns, legal resources, webinars, and partnerships with organizations including Asian American Advancing Justice | AAJC, Asian American Scholar Forum, Committee of 100, and U.S.-China Education Trust, the Newsletter helped mobilize public engagement and strengthen community response to civil liberties concerns.

C. Driving Social Justice

Beyond reporting on problems, the APA Justice Newsletter has sought to strengthen civic participation, community solidarity, and collective action. The Newsletter publicized advocacy campaigns, sign-on letters, town halls, webinars, and “know your rights” programs designed to inform and empower communities.Examples included promoting the “We Belong” Yellow Whistle anti-hate campaign, supporting voter engagement and multilingual outreach efforts, and connecting impacted individuals with legal and community resources. By bringing together advocates, academics, attorneys, journalists, elected officials, and community leaders, the Newsletter helped build a broader network committed to justice, fairness, and democratic engagement.

III. Beyond the Newsletter: Building an Ecosystem

As APA Justice evolved into building a sustainable information and community ecosystem, the Newsletter, Monthly Meetings, Website, and Webinars each reinforce and complement one another. Together, they provide timely information, deeper analysis, community dialogue, historical documentation, and opportunities for collaboration, advocacy, and public education.

A. APA Justice Monthly Meetings

The APA Justice Monthly Meetings provide a unique forum for open and candid discussions on current events, civil rights concerns, public policy, and community issues. Featuring regular leaders the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Asian American Advancing Justice | AAJC, and Asian American Scholar Forum, as well as invited speakers, the meetings bring together attorneys, academics, scientists, journalists, policymakers, and community leaders for substantive updates and strategic discussions.To encourage frank dialogue, meetings are generally by invitation only and conducted off the record unless speakers authorize public sharing. These conversations frequently identify emerging issues, shape future webinars, inform newsletter coverage, and strengthen collaboration across organizations and communities. Written summaries are later posted on the APA Justice Website to preserve key discussions and developments.

B. APA Justice Website

The APA Justice Website at https://www.apajusticetaskforce.org/ serves as the organization’s public archive and resource center, preserving and organizing years of reporting, advocacy, and educational materials. The Website complements the Newsletter by providing broader access to articles, stories, case updates, event announcements, webinar recordings, community statements, and historical documentation.As the Newsletter captures ongoing developments, the Website helps preserve institutional memory and provides a centralized source of information and reference materials.

C. Webinars and Public Discussions

APA Justice webinars, frequently co-hosted with partner organizations, extend these discussions to broader public audiences by bringing together legal experts, journalists, academics, policymakers, civil rights advocates, and community organizations to examine critical issues in greater depth.Webinars have addressed topics including civil rights, U.S.-China relations, scientific research, immigration, media narratives, academic freedom, racial profiling, and constitutional protections. The webinars foster partnerships with allied organizations and create opportunities for public education, community engagement, and informed dialogue.Since October 2025, APA Justice has partnered with the Committee of 100 and U.S.-China Education Trust on a continuing webinar series examining the intersection of U.S.-China relations and the civil rights and civil liberties of Asian American and immigrant communities — bringing these conversations to broader public audiences as geopolitical tensions continue to shape life at home.Together, the Newsletter, Monthly Meetings, Website, and Webinars form an interconnected platform for APA Justice to inform, connect, document, and mobilize the community while preserving important historical records on issues affecting Asian Pacific Americans and broader community concerns.

IV. Recognition of Our Staff Members

To conduct these activities and pursue our ambitious goals, we are very fortunate to be supported by a small but talented staff who contribute day in and day out:

Charlotte Ding, Product Developer

Charlotte Ding recently graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. She joined APA Justice in 2023 as an intern working on web design and content management. She has stayed with the organization since then, continuing work on the website and taking on new initiatives involving project management and digital content strategy. Charlotte has also worked as a software engineer on a research project with UCSF Law, developing an AI negotiation platform to explore AI’s ability to perform complex reasoning.  

Madeleine Gable, Communications Associate

Madeleine Gable is a rising senior at New York University, studying International Relations, Economics, and Chinese. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, she developed a global perspective from an early age, beginning her study of Mandarin in elementary school and later studying abroad in Shanghai during college. Outside the classroom, she is involved in student government, a professional law fraternity, and enjoys exploring New York. Her work with APA Justice allows her to integrate her skills in research, writing, and policy analysis into her commitment to community advocacy and social justice.

Ryan Zhao, Web Developer  

Ryan Zhao is a pre-med senior majoring in Computer Science at the University of Texas at Austin. Interested in the cutting-edge of healthcare and tech, he has researched machine learning methods for cancer characterization and leads a machine learning team at UT's biggest Neurotechnology and BCI organization. Ryan's involvement with APA Justice has enabled him to bridge his technical and social interests by supporting the documentation and dissemination of important Asian American issues. Outside of his academic and professional work, he enjoys the piano and playing sports such as soccer and golf.

The Team Behind Every Issue

Every issue of the APA Justice Newsletter reflects the collective efforts of a dedicated team and community committed to our mission. What began as a small grassroots effort has grown into a sustained platform because of the time, talent, trust, and support of countless individuals over the years.

One of our inside jokes is that APA Justice Co-Organizers serve as both "CEO and janitor" — and everything in between. There are no regular work hours in grassroots community work. Behind every meeting, webinar, newsletter issue, website update, and advocacy campaign are countless hours of coordination, editing, outreach, troubleshooting, planning, and follow-up. What sustains this work is a shared belief that we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us and have an obligation to help build the path for those who come after us.

V. A Peek Into the Future — Expanded Webinars, AI, and the Work Ahead

As we mark 400 issues, we are energized by what lies ahead. The challenges facing Asian Pacific American communities are evolving rapidly — and so are the tools and partnerships available to meet them.Expanding Our Webinar Series. Building on our continuing webinar series with the Committee of 100 and U.S.-China Education Trust, we intend to expand this partnership, broaden the topics we address, and reach new audiences across the country. Future webinars will continue to examine civil rights, academic exchange, immigration policy, constitutional protections, and the evolving U.S.-China relationship — always grounded in the lived experiences of our communities.Harnessing Artificial Intelligence. We are actively exploring how AI can strengthen our work — from more accessible tools for community education to enhanced search and navigation of our growing archive of newsletters, webinar recordings, and advocacy materials on the APA Justice Website. Our goal is to make the institutional memory we have built over the years more discoverable and useful for advocates, researchers, journalists, and community members. We will approach this work thoughtfully, ensuring that AI serves our mission of fairness and justice rather than introducing new forms of bias or exclusion. As a first step, we have launched a ChatBot pilot on our Newsletter and McCarthyism web pages. It is a work in progress, and we invite you to take a look and share your feedback with us at contact@apajustice.org.

Growing Our Team and Our Network. Sustaining and expanding this work requires people as much as platforms. We are actively recruiting two part-time staff members, ideal for college students or early-career professionals, to support our expanding activities. If you — or someone you know — combines a commitment to civil rights with skills in communications, research, writing, or technology, we hope you will reach out to us at contact@apajustice.org. Every person who joins this effort strengthens the entire community we serve.

VI. A Word of Gratitude - Please Support Our Work

Four hundred issues would not exist without you. To our readers who have forwarded newsletters, shared webinar links, written letters, signed petitions, testified at hearings, and simply showed up — thank you. To our donors whose generosity has made this work sustainable year after year — thank you. You are not a passive audience; you are co-authors of this record.APA Justice is a strategic, powered-by affiliate of the Committee of 100. Your tax-deductible contribution directly sustains the Newsletter, Monthly Meetings, Webinars, and Website that serve our community. If this work has informed, connected, or empowered you, we ask you to invest in its future at https://bit.ly/DonateAPAJustice or scan the QR code above. Donations of any size make a difference — and every contribution is a vote of confidence in the work ahead.Here is to the next 400 issues — and to the more just and inclusive society we are building together.

News and Activities for the Communities

1. APA Justice Community Calendar

Upcoming Events:2026/06/17 Voting Barriers for AA & NH/PI Women2026/06/23 Under the Microscope: The Cases Targeting America's Scientists, Scholars & Researchers in 20262026/06/27-28 From Crisis to Coalition: Lessons from the Front Lines in Minneapolis/St. Paul2026/06/28-07/01 UCA: 2026 Chinese American Convention2026/07/04 Unveiling of Mabel Ping-Hua Lee Mural2026/07/06 APA Justice Monthly MeetingVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details.

2. AASF: Under the Microscope: The Cases Targeting America's Scientists, Scholars & Researchers in 2026 

WHAT: Under the Microscope: The Cases Targeting America's Scientists, Scholars & Researchers in 2026WHEN: June 23, 2026, 1:30 PM ETWHERE: Webinar

HOST: Asian American Scholar Forum

Moderator: Gisela Perez Kusakawa, Esq. Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum

Speakers: 

·       Rob Fisher, Esq. Partner, Nixon Peabody

·       Justin Sadowsky, Esq. Legal Director, Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance (CALDA)

·       John Sandweg, Esq. Partner, Nixon Peabody

·       Brian Sun, Esq. Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright

·       Clay Zhu, Esq. President, CALDA

DESCRIPTION:  This discussion will feature leading attorneys examining the evolving landscape of government investigations targeting researchers, the intersection of criminal defense, immigration and employment law, and the particular pressures faced by scholars, researchers, and scientists of Chinese descent. The panel will explore what has changed since the China Initiative and what echoes remain.

This conversation speaks directly to AASF's ongoing work to protect our communities, strengthen the U.S. research ecosystem, and ensure that policies support innovation and create a welcoming environment for our community. Whether you are a researcher navigating these challenges, an educator confused about the changing norms, a student seeking more resources, or a community member invested in protecting civil rights, this webinar offers essential insights and practical information.REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/4e5ASEv 

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APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community.  For more information, please refer to the new APA Justice website under development at www.apajusticetaskforce.org. We value your feed