#349 9/8 Meeting; Revamped Website; CT AG William Tong Remarks; Intro of FALA; Litigations+

In This Issue #349

·        2025/09/08 APA Justice Monthly Meeting

·        APA Justice Launches Revamped Website

·        Remarks by Connecticut Attorney General William Tong

·        Introduction of Federation of Asian Professor Associations

·        Latest on Litigations Against Trump's Executive Actions

·        News and Activities for the Communities

2025/09/08 APA Justice Monthly Meeting

The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held on Monday, September 8, 2025, starting at 1:55 pm ET.  The meeting is postponed one week because September 1 is Labor Day, a federal holiday. In addition to updates from:

·        Judith Teruya, Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC)

·        Joanna YangQing Derman, Program Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC

·        Gisela Perez Kusakawa, Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF)

We are honored by and welcome the following distinguished speakers:

·        Rosie Levine, Executive Director, U.S.-China Education Trust (USCET)

·        Cindy Tsai, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Committee of 100 (C100)

·        Bob Sakaniwa, Director of Policy and Advocacy, APIAVote

·        Thu Nguyen, Executive Director, OCA National Center 

Rosie and Cindy return to announce the launch of a series of webinars co-hosted by C100, USCET, and APA Justice.  The dual mission of C100 is to promote the full participation of Chinese Americans in all aspects of American life and to advance constructive relations between the U.S. and Greater China.  The mission of the US-China Education Trust (USCET) is to promote US-China relations through education and exchange for China's next-generation leaders by fostering greater mutual understanding of the US and China.Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) is the nation’s leading nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to engaging, educating, and empowering Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities to strengthen and sustain a culture of civic engagement.  Bob will update us on APIAVote's plans and activities as we approach the November election.Founded in 1973, OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates is a 501(c)(3) national member-driven nonprofit based in Washington, D.C. with 35+ chapters and affiliates across the U.S.  The 2025 OCA National Convention was held in Seattle, Washington, July 24 - 27, 2025.  Thu returns to update us on OCA's latest plans and activities.The virtual monthly meeting is by invitation only. It is closed to the press. If you wish to join, either one time or for future meetings, please contact one of the co-organizers of APA Justice - Steven Pei 白先慎, Vincent Wang 王文奎, and Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org. 

APA Justice Launches Revamped Website

Effective August 28, 2025, APA Justice has launched its redesigned website: https://www.apajusticetaskforce.org/.  Visitors to the previous site will be automatically redirected.

The new site offers a sharper focus on APA Justice’s mission, improved organization, and a forward-looking design ready for the integration of AI tools that will expand accessibility and understanding.This revamp was led by Vincent Wang, Co-Organizer of APA Justice, together with two interns: Charlotte Ding, a recent Cornell University graduate in Computer Science, and Ryan Zhao, a junior at the University of Texas at Austin majoring in Computer Science. 

Highlights of the New Website

The redesigned site features a streamlined structure for easier navigation across key issue areas. It is built to be dynamic and will continue to evolve and improve.

Racial Profiling

·  The China Initiative

·  Attempts to Revive The China Initiative

·  FBI & Law Enforcement

·  Chinese Exclusion Act

·  McCarthyism

Rights & Fairness

·  Birthright Citizenship

·  Warrantless Surveillance

Social Justice

·  Alien Land Laws

·  Impacted Persons

Activities

·  Monthly Meetings

·  Newsletters

·  Yellow Whistle Campaign

·  Community Calendar

News

·  News Archive on APA Justice Issues

Resources

·  Know Your Rights

·  Library

·  COVID-19 Resources

·  Who Is Chinese American?

·  APA Heritage Month

·  Asian American History

·  Report Hate Incidents

About

·  History and Mission of APA Justice

What’s Next?

APA Justice is also exploring the development of AI tools and a chatbot to help users more easily navigate and engage with the site’s content.We welcome your feedback. Please send comments and suggestions to: contact@apajustice.org.

Remarks by Connecticut Attorney General William Tong 

William Tong 湯偉麟 is the Attorney General of the State of Connecticut and the first Chinese American ever elected to serve as Attorney General in any state in the union. He is also the first Chinese American—and first Asian American—elected to any state office in Connecticut's history.

During the APA Justice monthly meeting on May 5, 2025, AG Tong emphasizes the significance of recent achievements for the AAPI community, particularly Chinese Americans, acknowledging that such progress came far too late. He highlights the persistent issues of xenophobia, racism, and scapegoating that target Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. He also challenges harmful stereotypes portraying AAPI individuals as quiet, non-confrontational, and lacking leadership. A key point is the community’s limited political power—a reality often overlooked. He underscores the urgent need for increased AAPI representation and leadership across public and private sectors.

He points out the political progress of the South Asian community within the broader AAPI group, noting its stronger voice and greater representation, including members of Congress, a governor, and the Vice President. In contrast, the East Asian community, particularly Chinese Americans, has lagged in political representation. He underscores this disparity by pointing out his own milestone as the first Chinese American elected as Attorney General only in 2018 and currently the highest-ranking Chinese American state official—emphasizing how few such leaders exist.

He discusses the lack of political power and representation for Chinese Americans, emphasizing that when the community is targeted, there are very few voices to speak up—and even fewer that are actually heard. He stresses the importance of speaking out, especially on critical issues like birthright citizenship, which is foundational for many Asian Americans. He argues that if more AAPI leaders held power, they could both defend the community and help prevent discrimination. He highlights ongoing challenges, including being seen as perpetual foreigners and the rise in anti-Asian hate, but affirms that the AAPI experience is deeply American, not foreign.

Speaking from Connecticut, he shares historical examples—like Joseph Pierce, a Chinese American Civil War soldier, and Yung Wing, the first Chinese American Yale graduate and lawyer—to highlight the long-standing presence and contributions of Chinese Americans in U.S. history. He challenges the misconception that the community only arrived in recent decades, emphasizing that many Chinese Americans have deep roots in the country. Whether fleeing hardship or seeking opportunity, their story is not foreign or recent—it's a longstanding and truly American story.

AG Tong closes by sharing an incident involving Amara Walker, a part-Korean CNN journalist who faced racist attacks despite her public status. Walker’s statement, “I’m as American as Korean barbecue,” resonated deeply with the speaker, who relates similarly to American cultural identity through food like egg rolls and pork fried rice. The talk stresses the importance of telling AAPI stories to highlight their deep roots in America and affirm their rightful place in the country. He condemns discrimination against Asian academics and scientists as not only wrong but an attack on their identity. Ultimately, he calls for a critical mass of voices to stand together against such attacks—emphasizing unity and collective strength to better protect the community.

A video recording of Attorney General William Tong’s talk is available at https://youtu.be/vXDx013lmwA

Introduction of Federation of Asian Professor Associations  

Another distinguished speaker from Connecticut at the APA Justice monthly on May 5, 2025, was Haifan Lin 林海帆, President, Federation of Asian Professor Associations (FAPA); Eugene Higgins Professor of Cell Biology, Yale University.

Haifan Lin was elected as the inaugural president of the Federation of Asian Professor Associations (FAPA) in 2024. FAPA was formed to protect the academic rights of AAPI faculty amid growing threats to academic freedom and due process, especially during heightened U.S.–China tensions. The unjust targeting of Chinese American scientists underscored the need for collaboration rather than isolation.

Several Asian faculty associations from accredited academic institutions across the U.S. came together with a shared mission to seek fairness and justice. FAPA is not a membership organization for individuals, but a national umbrella organization designed to coordinate and amplify these efforts toward a more just and inclusive academic future.

FAPA’s missions are:

·        To promote open collaboration in education, research, scholarship, and professional development.

·        To advocate for and safeguard academic freedom, legal rights, and career advancement opportunities for its members.

Since forming its leadership team in October 2024, FAPA has established itself as a legally sound, independent nonprofit organization. It has streamlined governance, built a skilled volunteer team, partnered with Yale Law School for legal guidance, officially incorporated in Delaware on February 16, 2025, and is currently finalizing its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.

FAPA has also launched several key initiatives:

·        Conducted a nationwide wellness survey—led by the Columbia University Asian Faculty Association—to assess the climate and mental health of Asian faculty.

·        Hosted public forums with leaders such as Azad Ranjanali from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and Ambassador Gary Locke to elevate the voices of Asian American scholars.

·        Advocated for due process protections in federal investigations, particularly in cases involving foreign affiliations, and submitted policy recommendations to OSTP that balance national security with civil liberties.

·        Publicly supported scholars such as Professor Xiaofeng Wang of Indiana University, whose termination—lacking transparency—raises serious legal and ethical concerns.

·        Launched the Synergy newsletter to inform and connect the growing community.

FAPA's work goes beyond advocating for Asian faculty; it is about protecting the integrity of American academia. Racial profiling, political pressure, and the erosion of due process harm not only individuals but the entire academic system. Marginalizing any group puts others at risk, stifles innovation, and deprives students of mentors and role models. FAPA believes that diversity is not just a value—it is a strategic asset. Defending that asset is a collective responsibility.

FAPA calls for unity in building a more just academic future. It continues to partner with key organizations and invites faculty associations, administrators, students, and allies to join in efforts to drive policy change, share best practices, and support colleagues under threat—emphasizing that we are stronger when we stand together.

In the words of FAPA's founding message: Diversity is our strength, and synergy is our power.A video recording of Professor Haifan Lin’s talk is available at https://youtu.be/oho2pPBXECg

Latest on Litigations Against Trump's Executive Actions 

As of August 27, 2025, the number of lawsuits against President Donald Trump's executive actions reported by the Just Security Litigation Tracker has grown to 383 with the following summary:

·        Case Closed in Favor of Plaintiff: 0

·        Blocked: 24

·        Temporarily Blocked: 77

·        Blocked Pending Appeal: 18

·        Temporarily Blocked in Part; Temporary Block Denied in Part: 11

·        Temporary Block Denied: 39

·        Not Blocked Pending Appeal: 36

·        Awaiting Court Ruling: 147

·        Case Closed: 22

·        Misc: Transferred: 2

·        Case Closed/Dismissed in Favor of Government: 7

Among the recent developments is:

United States of America v. Russell (D. Md.).  Case: 1:25-cv-02029.  A Trump-appointed federal judge, Judge Thomas Cullen, dismissed the administration’s lawsuit against all 15 sitting and senior judges of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. The administration had challenged Chief Judge George L. Russell’s court-wide order imposing temporary pauses on deportations when petitioners file habeas corpus claims.

Calling the case “unprecedented and unfortunate,” the court found that the District Court judges have sovereign and judicial immunity, and that the suit was a violation of separation of powers. Judge Cullen said the litigation was “novel and potentially calamitous” and that the government should have appealed in the relevant cases instead.

The administration quickly filed an appeal.

News and Activities for the Communities

1. APA Justice Community Calendar

Upcoming Events:2025/09/06 The 2025 Asian American Youth Symposium2025/09/08 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/09/08 Committee of 100 Conversations – “Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes” with Janet Yang2025/09/09 China Connections — Chinese Encounters with America: Profiles of Changemakers Who Shaped China2025/09/16-17 2025 AANHPI Unity Summit 2025/09/23 Committee of 100: Is Deglobalization Inevitable?Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details.

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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 feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org.