Newsletter - #301 1/6 Monthly Meeting; Honoring President Carter; 12/11 C100 Webinar; AAAS Updates; More #301 1/6 Monthly Meeting; Honoring President Carter; 12/11 C100 Webinar; AAAS Updates; More In This Issue #301 · 2025/01/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · Honoring Former President Jimmy Carter (1924-2024) · 2024/12/11 Webinar on Alien Land Bills · Updates from AAAS · News and Activities for the Communities 2025/01/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, January 6, 2025, starting at 1:55 pm ET. In addition to updates by Joanna YangQing Derman , Program Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC, and Dr. Kai Li , Vice President, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), invited and confirmed speakers are: · Congresswoman Judy Chu , Chair Emeritus, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) (invited) · Judith Terayu , Executive Director, CAPAC · Sudip Parikh , Chief Executive Officer of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and Executive Publisher of the Science family of journals · Robert S. Chang , Executive Director, Fred T. Korematsu Center for Law and Equality, University of California Irvine School of Law · Yawei Liu , Senior Advisor, China Focus, Carter Center 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 APAJustice - Steven Pei 白先慎 , Vincent Wang 王文奎 , and Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org . ***** Dr. Yawei Liu , Senior Advisor, China Focus, Carter Center, has agreed to speak at the January 6 monthly meeting Yawei has ben involved with the Carter Center for over 25 years. He directs the Center’s China Focus Program. He is also chief editor of the Center’s U.S.-China Perception Monitor and China-America Stories websites. Yawei will give his tributes as we honor the legacies of former President Jimmy Carter and describe the China Focus Program and its activities. Honoring Former President Jimmy Carter (1924-2024) President Joe Biden has declared January 9, 2025, a national day of mourning, ordering federal offices to close and flags to be flown at half-staff for 30 days to honor former President Jimmy Carter 's legacy. Memorial Schedule: · January 4-7: President Carter's remains will lie in repose at the Carter Center in Atlanta, allowing the public to pay their respects. · January 7: A motorcade will transport his remains to Washington, D.C. · January 7-9: President Carter will lie in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, providing an opportunity for national mourning. · January 9: A state funeral service is scheduled at the Washington National Cathedral, with President Joe Biden expected to deliver the eulogy. · Post-Funeral: Following the Washington service, President Carter's remains will return to Georgia for a private funeral at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, culminating in his interment at his home. Legacies of President Jimmy Carter His many legacies include: 1. Camp David Accords : President Carter brokered a historic peace agreement between Israel and Egypt in 1978. The Camp David Accords, signed on September 17, 1978, marked a groundbreaking achievement in Middle East diplomacy. Carter's tireless efforts brought Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar El-Sadat together for 13 days of intense negotiations at Camp David. The resulting treaty ended decades of conflict between Israel and Egypt, establishing a framework for peace that has endured for over four decades. 2. Human Rights Advocacy : President Carter emphasized human rights as a core aspect of U.S. foreign policy. His commitment to human rights marked a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy. He established the State Department's Human Rights Bureau and made human rights a central consideration in diplomatic relations. President Carter's advocacy helped raise awareness about human rights abuses worldwide. 3. Post-Presidency Humanitarian Work : President Carter's dedication to humanitarian causes has improved lives worldwide. Since leaving office, he has continued to work tirelessly on humanitarian initiatives through the Carter Center. Founded in 1982, the Center focuses on promoting democracy, human rights, and global health. Carter's efforts have helped eradicate diseases, promote fair elections, and support human rights defenders worldwide. His commitment to humanitarian work has earned him numerous accolades, including the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002. 4. Environmental Protection : President Carter's commitment to environmental protection led to significant legislative achievements. His administration prioritized environmental protection, resulting in landmark legislation including the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) and the Superfund law. ANILCA protected millions of acres of wilderness, while the Superfund law enabled the cleanup of hazardous waste sites. His environmental policies set a precedent for future administrations. 5. Energy Policy : President Carter's administration developed a comprehensive national energy policy. In response to the 1970s energy crisis, his administration developed a comprehensive national energy policy to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil, promote energy conservation, and develop alternative energy sources. Key initiatives included deregulating the energy industry, imposing fuel efficiency standards, and investing in renewable energy technologies. Carter's energy policy laid the groundwork for future efforts to address energy security and climate change. 6. Panama Canal Treaties : President Carter successfully negotiated the transfer of the Panama Canal from U.S. to Panamanian control. The Panama Canal Treaties, signed in 1977, provided for the transfer of ownership of the Panama Canal from the United States to Panama by the end of 1999. This diplomatic achievement demonstrated Carter's commitment to respecting the sovereignty of other nations and promoting peaceful cooperation. 7. Diplomatic Relations with China : President Carter established formal diplomatic relations with China on January 1, 1979, ending decades of isolation. The breakthrough paved the way for expanded economic, cultural, and strategic cooperation between the two nations. 8. Carter Center's Election Monitoring : The Carter Center promotes democracy worldwide by monitoring elections and ensuring their integrity. The Carter Center has become a leading authority on election monitoring, promoting democratic elections and transparent governance worldwide. Since 1989, the Center has observed over 100 elections in more than 30 countries, helping to ensure the integrity of electoral processes and promoting peaceful transitions of power. 9. Habitat for Humanity : President Carter's partnership with Habitat for Humanity has helped provide affordable housing for countless individuals and families worldwide. Since 1984, he has worked with Habitat for Humanity to build and renovate homes for low-income families. His commitment to affordable housing has inspired countless volunteers and helped improve the lives of millions. 10. Moral Leadership : President Carter's commitment to moral leadership and his willingness to take unpopular stands have inspired generations. Throughout his career, his leadership style, guided by a strong sense of morality and justice, has inspired generations of leaders and citizens. His moral leadership has been recognized globally, earning him numerous awards and accolades. 11. Advancements in Healthcare : The Carter administration's healthcare initiatives, including the creation of the Department of Health and Human Services, improved healthcare access and quality. This reorganization streamlined healthcare policy and administration, improving access to healthcare services for millions of Americans. His administration expanded community health centers, increased funding for healthcare research. 12. Federal Government Reform : President Carter's efforts to reform the federal government, including the creation of the Department of Education and the Senior Executive Service, aimed to increase efficiency, reduce bureaucracy, and promote accountability. Key initiatives included the creation of the Department of Education and the Senior Executive Service (SES). The SES reformed the federal government's personnel management system, providing more flexibility in hiring and promoting top executives. Additional Information President Carter is survived by his children — Jack, Chip, Jeff, and Amy ; 11 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. Married in 1946, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter 's enduring marriage and partnership have been a hallmark of their remarkable lives. They shared a lifelong commitment to public service, human rights, and humanitarian work. Their 77-year marriage came to a close with Rosalynn's passing on November 19, 2023, at the age of 96.President Carter is known to be a man of unwavering integrity, compassion, and humility. His strong Christian faith and rural Georgia upbringing have instilled in him a deep sense of morality, empathy, and responsibility. He has a quick wit and a gentle smile, exuding a quiet confidence and authenticity that has earned him the respect and admiration of people around the world. His home in Plains, Georgia, holds a special place in his heart. The modest, two-story house, built in 1961, has been the Carter family's residence since 1960. After leaving the White House in 1981, Jimmy and Rosalynn returned to Plains, where they continue to live part-time. The house is now part of the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site.Members of the public are encouraged to visit the official tribute website to the life of President Carter at www.jimmycartertribute.org . This site includes the official online condolence book as well as print and visual biographical materials commemorating his life.The Carter family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to The Carter Center, 453 John Lewis Freedom Parkway N.E., Atlanta, GA 30307. 2024/12/11 Webinar on Alien Land Bills On December 12, 2024, the Committee of 100 and APA Justice co-hosted a webinar titled "From Past Prejudice to Present Policy: The Impact of Land Ownership Exclusion Laws on Diverse Communities." It focused on the resurgence of "alien land laws," historically discriminatory policies that are reemerging in state legislatures across the United States. The discussion covered whether the alien land laws properly address national security concerns or serve as a pretext that infringes upon civil rights and liberties under the guise of protection. The webinar marked the first joint event where APA Justice partnered as a member-driven, "powered by" affiliate with the Committee of 100. Cindy Tsai , Interim President of the Committee of 100, gave opening remarks and moderated the webinar. Panelists included · Edgar Chen , Special Policy Advisor at the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) · Ashley Gorski , Senior Staff Attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) · Gene Wu , Chair, Texas House Democratic Caucus; Member, Texas House of Representatives Congressman Ted Lieu , Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus, gave summary remarks. Jeremy Wu , Founder and Co-Organizer of APA Justice and Member of the Committee of 100, gave closing remarks.Alien land laws are discriminatory policies that historically targeted specific immigrant groups, particularly Asian communities, by restricting their ability to own property. These laws were originally enacted to prevent Japanese immigrants from owning land, reflecting deep-seated racial prejudices of the time. The resurgence of such laws in recent years has raised significant concerns. Florida enacted a law banning non-resident Chinese nationals from purchasing property. The reintroduction of these laws is a stark reminder of how history can repeat itself if we are not proactive in safeguarding civil rights. These laws not only perpetuate racial discrimination but also violate constitutional protections against discrimination. Read more about the webinar and background: https://bit.ly/3CEWK9p . Watch the video of the webinar at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfjrVAZrjj8 (1:00:56).Professor Robert S. Chang , Executive Director, Fred T. Korematsu Center for Law and Equality, University of California Irvine School of Law, will speak at the APA Justice monthly meeting on January 6, 2025, to provide a basic description of a recent District Court preliminary injunction against two state laws that restricted foreign ownership of property and data centers in Arkansas.If you have been impacted by the alien land laws in your state or have a story to tell, please contact us at contact@apajustice.org . Updates from AAAS Dr. Sudip Parikh , Chief Executive Officer of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and Executive Publisher of the Science family of journals, will also speak at the APA Justice monthly meeting on January 6, 2025. He last spoke at the September 2023 APA Justice monthly meeting, covering open science, basic research, and US-China collaboration when the renewal of the U.S.-China Science and Technology Agreement was delayed. Founded in 1848, AAAS was the first permanent organization established to promote the development of science and engineering at the national level and to represent the interests of all its disciplines.Sudip said in a recent AAAS statement, "at a time of tremendous scientific promise, scientific advances are critical to ensuring future prosperity and to solving problems that jeopardize the health of the planet and the wellbeing of people. But, as knowledge and expertise are increasingly called into question, our ability to seize this momentum is at risk. To maintain U.S. global competitiveness and put the world on positive footing, we must redouble our collective efforts to advance science, engineering, and innovation throughout the world for the benefit of all. This means stepping out of silos to connect researchers with leaders across sectors, across the country, and across the globe. AAAS is uniquely positioned to lead the way. In our 176-year history, we have stood at the intersection of science across disciplines and public good. We have built essential relationships that have prepared us for this next era and the challenges and opportunities it will bring to our community." The 2025 AAAS Annual Meeting with the theme of "Science Shaping Tomorrow" is scheduled to take place from February 13 to 15, 2025, at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, Massachusetts. Read more about the event at: https://bit.ly/3BQVi3y Sudip will update us about these and other AAAS activities and developments at the APA Justice monthly meeting on January 6, 2025. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/01/05 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/01/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/01/15 Master Class: Maintaining the Effectiveness of Organizational Equity Initiatives in the Current Environment2024/01/16 Master Classes: Asian American Career Lessons2025/01/19 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/02/02 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/02/13-15 2025 AAAS Annual Meeting2025/02/16 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall MeetingVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. No 大年三十 This Year - Blame the Moon! January 29 will be New Year Day for the start of the Year of Snake, but there is no 大年三十 (da nian san shi) – the 30th day of the 12th lunar month. In fact, there will be no da nian san shi until February 2, 2030, when the Year of the Rooster makes way for the Year of the Dog. In the Chinese lunisolar calendar, the first day of each month begins with a new moon, where the moon is least visible to us. A full moon appears around the fifteenth day of each month, and the moon wanes as the month ends.On January 1, 2025, the South China Morning Post provided an explanation. Read https://bit.ly/4gTrthE As the moon’s orbit around Earth does not follow a perfect circle, the interval from one new moon to the next is not fixed. Instead, a lunar month ranges from around 29.27 days to 29.82 days, with an average length of 29.53 days. To correct for, and adjust to, the differences, the traditional Chinese calendar divides the year into “big months” lasting 30 days and “small months” lasting 29 days. The last lunar month is typically a big month, which is why the eve of Lunar New Year is referred to colloquially as “the 30th day of the big year” – da nian san shi. But having a shorter twelfth lunar month is not particularly rare – the month was also a small month in 2022, 2016, and 2013. What makes the coming one special is that it marks the first of five consecutive years to have the twelfth lunar month only lasting 29 days. This means that technically, according to the traditional Chinese calendar, there will be no Lunar New Year’s Eve again until 2030.Interestingly, because of the quirk in the lunisolar calendar, calculations suggest there will be two Lunar New Years in the year 2262.Blame The Moon! Now that we have that cleared away, let's start preparing the celebrations! # # # 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 . Back View PDF January 2, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #48 03/01 Meeting Summary; CSU Webinar; What You Can Do Today #48 03/01 Meeting Summary; CSU Webinar; What You Can Do Today Back View PDF March 11, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Qing Wang 王擎 Docket ID: 1:20-mj-09111 District Court, N.D. Ohio Date filed: May 12, 2020 Date ended: July 20, 2021 Table of Contents Overview Deletion from DOJ China Initiative Online Report 2021/09/15 Washington Post Report Cleveland Clinic Foundation Held Accountable in 2024 Links and References Overview On May 14, 2020, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the arrest of Dr. Qing Wang as a former Cleveland Clinic employee and a Chinese “Thousand Talents” participant. The case was listed under the China Initiative. Dr. Wang was charged with false claims and wire fraud related to more than $3.6 million in grant funding that he and his research group received from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Cleveland Clinic fired Dr. Wang the same day he was arrested. Dr. Wang was born in China, began his work at the Cleveland Clinic in 1997 and became a U.S. citizen in 2005. He specialized in breakthroughs in heart disease at the Lerner Institute of the Cleveland Clinic—one of the world’s leading research centers. On July 15, 2021, DOJ moved to dismiss its case against Dr. Qing Wang. In a statement, the DOJ explained, "The United States Attorney’s Office moved to dismiss the complaint, without prejudice, against Qing Wang, a.k.a. Kenneth Wang. The Office has made this decision after a review of the case and will decline further comment at this time." The Cleveland Clinic also released a statement saying, “We have fully cooperated with federal law enforcement’s investigation into this matter. Dr. Wang’s employment was terminated following an internal review which revealed violations of Cleveland Clinic and National Institutes of Health (NIH) policies.” On July 20, 2021, U.S. Magistrate Judge William H. Baughman, Jr. ordered the dismissal of Dr. Wang’s case. After DOJ made the motion to dismiss Dr. Wang’s case, it proceeded to delete it from its online report on the China Initiative – a practice that was continued unannounced and without explanation for several months until November 2021 when APA Justice reported it to the Attorney General and MIT Technology Review began to build a database on the online report. On September 15, 2021, the Washington Post published an interview with Dr. Wang, who later restarted his research career at China’s Huazhong University of Science and Technology. On June 21, 2024, Science reported that DOJ reached a settlement with the Cleveland Clinic Foundation (CCF), requiring CCF to pay $7.6 million to resolve allegations of mismanagement involving three NIH grants. This settlement sends a clear message that research institutions will be held accountable for failing to adequately monitor outside support provided to their faculty. Defense attorney for Dr. Wang maintained that his client had followed the rules and voluntarily disclosed his Chinese support. “He told them everything—both NIH and CCF.” The CCF settlement, he added, simply confirmed Dr. Wang’s innocence. Deletion from DOJ China Initiative Online Report The Department of Justice (DOJ) maintained an online report on China Initiative cases since the initiative's launch in November 2018, including Dr. Qing Wang's case. However, after the DOJ moved to dismiss Dr. Wang’s case, DOJ deleted his case from the online report. This unannounced practice of removing dismissed or acquitted cases continued for several months without explanation. On November 24, 2021, APA Justice reported the removal of about 20 cases from its online China Initiative report to Attorney General Merrick Garland. MIT Technology Review brought this practice to light with a published investigative report on December 2, 2021. DOJ ceased to update its online report on November 19, 2021. The end of the China Initiative was formally announced on February 23, 2022. 2021/09/15 Washington Post Report According to the Washington Post on September 15, 2021, in the weeks leading up to his arrest, Dr. Qing Wang was interviewed by the Cleveland Clinic and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) about his grants. He got no indication he was under criminal suspicion. “I was shocked,” he said about his early morning arrest in May 2020. “At that moment,” he said, “I felt that my life was over.” Dr. Wang was the lead investigator on a research project on the genetics of cardiovascular disease, funded by more than $3.6 million in NIH grants. He allegedly neglected to disclose to NIH that even as he was a professor at Cleveland Clinic’s Lerner College of Medicine, he was a beneficiary of the Thousand Talents Program, through which the Chinese government recruits academics in the West whose expertise might benefit Beijing. In an affidavit , FBI agent John Matthews alleged that through the program, Dr. Wang was made dean of the College of Life Sciences at Huazhong University of Science and Technology. The agent said Wang concealed receiving Chinese government grants totaling $480,000 for research that overlapped with his U.S.-funded work. In particular, Matthews alleged, citing NIH information, “the families used in both studies were mostly the same.” Dr. Wang’s lawyer, Peter Zeidenberg, disputed the allegations, saying Wang disclosed his research in China as part of the NIH application and did not use American families for the Chinese study. Dr. Wang also disclosed to the Cleveland Clinic that he was affiliated with the talent program, said Zeidenberg, a former federal prosecutor and a partner at Arent Fox in Washington. “Ultimately this came down to whether the grant forms were filled out correctly,” Zeidenberg said. “The information was all there. It just wasn’t where the NIH was looking.” Over 34 years of research in the United States, including 21 at the Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Wang led a team that discovered the first gene for Brugada syndrome, a disorder causing irregular heart rhythm, which can be fatal — especially in young people. He wanted to stay in the United States because it “has the best environment for science in this area,” and because he thought he would have the most impact in a country where heart disease is the leading cause of death. The arrest terrified Dr. Wang, his wife, Qiuyun Chen, and their two daughters. “We worked so hard day and night just trying to understand how to prevent human disease,” said Chen, who also came to the United States in 1986 to study and was a member of Dr. Wang’s Cleveland Clinic research team. “And you never think this would be criminal.” Cleveland Clinic Foundation Held Accountable in 2024 According to a report by Science on June 21, 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has signaled that research institutions will be held accountable for oversight failures. In a settlement reached on May 17, 2024, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation (CCF) agreed to pay $7.6 million to resolve allegations of mismanaging three National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants. As part of the settlement, a senior CCF administrator must personally attest to the accuracy of all NIH submissions, a significant responsibility. The case began in 2018 when NIH investigated CCF cardiovascular geneticist Dr. Qing Wang, based on an FBI list of scientists allegedly receiving Chinese funding. Following a CCF investigation, NIH suspended Dr. Wang’s $2.8 million grant in April 2020, and CCF terminated his employment. Dr. Wang was arrested in May 2020 under the China Initiative but was later cleared when the DOJ dropped the charges in July 2021 without explanation. Dr. Wang’s lawyer maintained that Dr. Wang had disclosed all necessary information to NIH and CCF, asserting his client's innocence. The CCF settlement follows earlier civil settlements with the Van Andel Institute, where scientists were not criminally charged, amounting to $6.6 million in 2019 and 2021. Previous Item Next Item

Newsletter - #190: Florida Lawsuit; Section 702 Webinar; AANHPI Commission; US-China Science Pact; More #190: Florida Lawsuit; Section 702 Webinar; AANHPI Commission; US-China Science Pact; More In This Issue #190 Update on Florida Alien Land Bill Lawsuit - Schedule and Amicus Brief Registration Open: June 26 Webinar on Perils of Warrantless Surveillance Register Now: July 6 President's Advisory Commission on AANHPI Public Meeting New Scrutiny on U.S.-China Landmark Science Deal News for the Communities Update on Florida Alien Land Bill Lawsuit - Schedule and Amicus Brief According to Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance (CALDA), Judge Allen C. Winsor has set the following schedule: 2023/07/03 Florida government submits its objection to the motion for preliminary injunction 2023/07/11 Plaintiffs submits its reply 2023/07/18 U.S. District Court holds hearing The July 18 hearing will be held at 111 N. Adams Street, Tallahassee, starting at 1:30 pm ET. It will be public, but no photography and audio or video recording will be allowed. The Florida state law becomes effective on July 1, 2023. The Court may make a ruling on the injunction by early August. An immediate appeal by either side is anticipated. On June 14, 2023, 19 racial justice centers, affinity bar and professional associations, and civil rights organizations submitted a 25-page amicus curiae ("friend-of-the-court") brief in support of the plaintiffs' motion for preliminary injunction. The lead counsels are: Madeleine K. Rodriguez , Partner, Foley Hoag LLP Robert S. Chang , Ronald A. Peterson Law Clinic; Counsel for Fred T. Korematsu Center for Law and Equality Rose Cuison-Villazor , Rutgers Law School; Counsel for Center for Immigration Law, Policy and Justice Gabriel J. Chin , UC Davis School of Law; Aoki Center for Critical Race and Nation Studies This is a list of the coalition of 19 racial justice centers, affinity bar and professional associations, and civil rights advocacy organizations: Racial Justice Centers: Fred T. Korematsu Center for Law and Equality at Seattle University School of Law Center for Immigration Law, Policy and Justice at Rutgers Law School Aoki Center for Critical Race and Nation Studies at UC Davis School of Law LLS Anti-Racism Center of LMU Loyola Law School Center on Race, Inequality, and the Law at New York University School of Law Boston University Center for Antiracist Research Center for Civil Rights and Racial Justice at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law Affinity Bar/Professional Associations: Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Tampa Bay Conference of Asian Pacific American Law Faculty Hispanic National Bar Association National Asian Pacific American Bar Association South Asian Bar Association of North America Civil Rights and Other Advocacy Organizations: Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Atlanta Asian American Women’s Political Initiative Asian Law Alliance Chinese for Affirmative Action Japanese American Citizens League LatinoJustice PRLDEF Read the CALDA announcement: https://bit.ly/3qU2Ah2 (in Chinese). Read the amicus brief: https://bit.ly/42DT9Q8 Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) Media Release. In response to FBI policy changes. AASF issued a media release urging the US Government to take more steps to put an end to warrantless and discriminatory investigations on June 14, 2023. AASF and other national advocacy groups have vocally agreed that the FBI announcement falls short of the level of vigilance needed to hold intelligence agencies accountable to the many human rights and privacy abuses they have perpetrated against countless numbers of people—including the nation’s top researchers and scholars that contribute greatly to the United States’ leadership in science and technology.While AASF welcomes any efforts from the federal government to create mechanisms for increased transparency and accountability of its agencies, they call on the federal government to take more serious steps to reform Section 702 and FISA, and to address the legal loopholes that allow warrantless surveillance of innocent people. Read the AASF media release: https://bit.ly/3CBhz2b Registration Open: June 26 Webinar on Perils of Warrantless Surveillance The Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), APA Justice, the Brennan Center for Justice, and the Committee of 100 will co-host a webinar on "Perils of Warrantless Surveillance: The Case for Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Reform." (note title of the webinar has been updated) WHEN: June 26, 2023, 4:00 pm ET/1:00 pm PT WHAT: The U.S. Constitution protects its people against unreasonable searches and seizures. However, under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), the U.S. government engages in mass, warrantless surveillance of phone calls, text messages, emails, and other electronic communications between Americans and foreigners. Information collected under this law without a warrant can be used to prosecute and imprison people, even for crimes that have nothing to do with national security. Asian Americans, especially Chinese Americans and the immigrant and scientific communities, have been targeted for warrantless surveillance that led to wrongful and unjust prosecutions. The current authorization of Section 702 will expire on December 31, 2023. What should the Asian American and immigrant communities know about Section 702? If it is not sunset, what reforms will be needed? What are the next steps for the communities? WHO: Keynote speaker. Rep. Pramila Jayapal , the first South Asian American woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives; a member of the House Judiciary Committee; Ranking Member of House Subcommittee on Immigration, Integrity, Security and Enforcement Moderator. Lillian Sing 郭丽莲 . Judge (retired), California Superior Court; first Asian American woman judge in Northern California Panelist. Gang Chen 陈刚 . Soderberg Professor of Power Engineering, MIT; Member, National Academy of Sciences; prosecuted under "China Initiative" with case dismissed; "We Are All Gang Chen" Panelist. Elizabeth Goitein. Senior Director, Liberty and National Security Program, Brennan Center for Justice Panelist. Ashley Gorski . Senior Staff Attorney, National Security Project, American Civil Liberties Union Panelist. Brian A. Sun 孙自华 . Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright; Board Member, Committee of 100 REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/42AbNIF Additional information about the webinar including bios of the speakers and references are posted at the Warrantless Surveillance webpage: https://bit.ly/3O6T43Q Register Now: July 6 President's Advisory Commission on AANHPI Public Meeting The President's Advisory Commission on Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) will hold its next meeting, the sixth of a series, on July 6, 2023 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The meeting serves to continue the development of recommendations to promote equity, justice, and opportunity for the AANHPI communities. It is open to the public and will be live streamed. The Commission seeks written comments that may be emailed to AANHPICommission@hhs.gov at any time. Individuals may also submit a request to provide oral public comments.For details, directions, and registration, visit: https://bit.ly/3NqpQMB .Dr . Robert Underwood , a member of the Commission, also urges all of us to feel free to communicate with him directly at anacletus2010@gmail.com . Read his remarks at the APA Justice monthly meeting: https://bit.ly/3qogBU1 . Watch his remarks at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnIrq1hfl4A (video 11:48 to 25:21) New Scrutiny on U.S.-China Landmark Science Deal According to Reuters on June 18, 2023, for over 40 years, a landmark agreement between the United States and China has yielded cooperation across a range of scientific and technical fields, a powerful sign that the rivals could set aside their disputes and work together.Now with bilateral relations in their worst state in decades, a debate is underway within the U.S. government about whether to let the U.S.-China Science and Technology Agreement (STA) expire on August 27, 2023.The agreement, signed when Beijing and Washington established diplomatic ties in 1979 and renewed about every five years since, has been hailed as a stabilizing force for the countries' relations, with collaboration in areas from atmospheric and agricultural science to basic research in physics and chemistry. It laid the foundation for a boom in academic and commercial exchanges.Inside the U.S. government, including the State Department, which leads the negotiations, there are competing views about whether to renew the pact, let it expire or renegotiate to add safeguards against industrial espionage and require reciprocity in data exchanges. Given the state of U.S.-China ties, trying to renegotiate could derail the agreement.Read the Reuters report: https://reut.rs/42M8Rsz News for the Communities Confirmations of Nusrat Jahan Choudhury and Dale Ho On June 15, 2023, the U.S. Senate voted 50-49 to confirm Nusrat Jahan Choudhury to serve as a United States District Judge for the Eastern District of New York, and voted on June 14, 2023 50-49 to confirm Dale Ho to serve as a United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York. Rep. Judy Chu , Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), issued the following statement:“I am thrilled that the Senate has voted to confirm Nusrat Jahan Choudhury to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York and Dale Ho to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.“Ms. Choudhury is a champion for racial justice, religious freedom, and privacy rights. While working at the ACLU, she challenged stop-and-frisk policies and the racial profiling and surveillance of Arab, South Asian, Muslim, and Sikh Americans. Ms. Choudhury’s confirmation is also historic, as she is now the first Bangladeshi American and first Muslim American woman to serve on the Federal bench.“Mr. Ho has a storied career as one of our nation’s leading civil rights lawyers and successfully argued at the Supreme Court against the inclusion of a citizenship question on the 2020 Census. He most recently was the director of the ACLU’s Voting Rights Project, where he spearheaded challenges on partisan gerrymandering, restrictive state voting laws, disenfranchisement of underrepresented and marginalized communities, and more. “I offer my heartiest congratulations to Ms. Choudhury and Mr. Ho on their historic confirmations. I commend President Biden for his ongoing commitment to ensuring that our judicial system reflects the diversity of our country, and I thank Majority Leader Schumer for his leadership on these successful confirmations.” Subscribe to The APA Justice Newsletter Complete this simple form at https://bit.ly/2FJunJM to subscribe. Please share it with those who wish to be informed and join the fight. View past newsletters here: https://bit.ly/APAJ_Newsletters . Back View PDF June 19, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

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Latest News This is a repository of News items that APA Justice collects as supporting facts and references. In addition to reports from the traditional media outlets including newspaper, television, and radio, it also includes but is not limited to digital news platforms, news agencies, specialized outlets and podcasts, journal and organizational reports, and blogs. The Search box in the menu line may help you to look for your specific topic of interest. Read More California Civil Rights Group Joins Fight Against Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Changes Jul 13, 2025 · LAist Read More After Northwestern Scientist Questioned for China Ties Died by Suicide, Family Sues and Speaks Out Jul 12, 2025 · NBC News Read More Tracking the Lawsuits Against Trump’s Agenda Jul 11, 2025 · New York Times Read More Federal Judge Issues New Nationwide Block Against Trump’s Order Seeking to End Birthright Citizenship Jul 10, 2025 · CNN Read More What’s Next for President Donald Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Order in the Courts Jul 10, 2025 · AP Read More Judge Blocks Trump’s Order restricting Birthright Citizenship Jul 10, 2025 · NBC Read More U.S. to Ban Chinese Purchases of Farmland, Citing National Security Jul 08, 2025 · Washington Post Read More New USDA Program Ties Food Security to National Defense Jul 08, 2025 · Department of Defense Read More Agriculture Dept. to Crack Down on Chinese Ownership of American Farmland Jul 08, 2025 · New York Times Read More Family of China-Born Neuroscientist Jane Wu Files Death-Related Civil Complaint in U.S Jul 01, 2025 · South China Morning Post Read More Want a Student Visa? The U.S. Government Needs Your Vine Account Jul 01, 2025 · The Intercept Read More We Asked 5 AI Models to Fact Check Trump. Here’s What We Learned Jul 01, 2025 · Washington Post < < 1 1 1

Latest Posts Court Hearing and A New Movement Emerges July 24, 2023 We published a Special Edition of our newsletter to cover the July 18 court hearing on Florida's new discriminatory housing law. Read More Lawsuit Against Florida Senate Bill 264 May 22, 2023 A group of Chinese citizens who live, work, study, and raise families in Florida filed a lawsuit to combat Florida’s discriminatory property law, SB 264. Read More Texas House Bill 1075 and Senate Bill 552 January 23, 2023 Texas state representatives are attempting to stop foreign governments from purchasing Texas agricultural land. Read More Rep. Judy Chu's New Year Greetings and 2022 Review January 9, 2023 During the first APA Justice monthly meeting of 2023, Rep. Judy Chu, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, reviewed the accomplishments of 2022, highlighted by the end of the "China Initiative" and Sherry Chen's historic settlement. Read More Campaign to Oppose The Nomination of Casey Arrowood July 29, 2022 Academics, elected officials, and civil rights groups across the country are raising concerns about the nomination of Casey Arrowood to be US Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee. Read More APA Justice Calls for Release of Report on Review of "China Initiative" March 8, 2022 On March 8, 2022, APA Justice sent a letter to Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen, calling for the release of a report on the Department of Justice's review of the “China Initiative.” Read More Texas man accused of attacking Asian family over racist coronavirus fears pleads guilty to hate-crime charges February 24, 2022 Nearly two years later, a 21-year-old Texas man who attempted to kill an Asian man and his young child has pleaded guilty to federal hate-crime charges. Read More 12. China Initiative Ends February 23, 2022 Assistant Attorney General Matt Olsen announced the end of the China Initiative. The 1,210 days of the Initiative were extremely damaging to individuals and their families, as well as the Asian American and scientific communities. The end of the China Initiative is a welcomed start to correct the harms it caused. APA Justice is committed to continue its work to address racial profiling and seek justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American communities. Read More 11. MIT Technology Review Investigative Reports December 2, 2021 On December 2, 2021, MIT Technology Review published two investigative reports on the China Initiative as newly appointed Assistant Attorney General Matt Olsen was conducting a review of the initiative. Read More < < 1 1 1 What's the best flavor? Activists Including APA Justice Resist New "Red Scare" Chinese Americans are increasingly finding themselves targeted by the US in what has become the new "Red Scare."

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August 2024 Monthly Meeting Summary 2024/08/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting APA Justice Meeting – Monday, 2024/08/051:55 pm Eastern Time / 10:55 am Pacific Time 1. CAPAC Updates Speaker: Nisha Ramachandran, Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), nisha.ramachandran@mail.house.gov Casey Lee, Policy Director for CAPAC, gave the update report. Casey expressed her thanks to Professor Franklin Tao and his wife Hong Peng for joining the press conference hosted by CAPAC Chair Judy Chu and UCA to celebrate their recent victory. CAPAC also welcomed other speakers like Peter Zeidenberg and Joanna Derman, who contributed valuable perspectives on behalf of their organizations. CAPAC remains committed to working with Professor Tao, Hong, and all our community partners to ensure justice is fully realized, including supporting Professor Tao's reinstatement to the University of Kansas. Chair Chu recently spoke at the AASF Asian American Pioneer Medal Symposium and Ceremony. Casey congratulated Gisela Kusakawa and AASF on a successful event. Casey provided an update on the inclusion of the China Initiative language in the House Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations bill. The bill was marked up and passed out of committee in July, containing a provision to reestablish the China Initiative. However, the House did not put the bill up for full floor consideration before the end of July. With Congress now in recess and only 5 of the 12 appropriations bills passed in the House, the focus will be on passing a continuing resolution when Congress returns in September. This resolution will act as a stopgap funding measure until all appropriations bills are passed. During this time, CAPAC will work with Representative Grace Meng, Senator Mazie Hirono, and our community partners to urge Congressional leadership to keep the China Initiative provision out of the final CJS bill. CAPAC is actively working on this front from both a Congressional perspective and in partnership with advocacy groups. 2. Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security Program - Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC Speaker: Joanna YangQing Derman, Director, Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security Program, Advancing Justice | AAJC Joanna expressed full support for Casey’s remarks and emphasized Advancing Justice | AAJC’s ongoing efforts to monitor and push back against attempts to reinstate the China Initiative. This concern is particularly directed at the language in the House version of the Commerce and Justice Appropriations report for this fiscal year. Fortunately, this language does not appear in the Senate version, so there is hope for a favorable outcome during the conference. AAJC is in close contact with CAPAC and other supportive offices and will provide updates as the appropriations process advances. AAJC is tracking the Department of Treasury’s proposed rulemaking, which would add 59 military installations under the jurisdiction of CFIUS (Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States). AAJC is considering submitting a comment to urge the Federal Government to maintain protections against discrimination based on national origin. They advocate targeting enforcement appropriately, focusing on actions that genuinely implicate national security rather than subjecting individuals to suspicion based on their heritage. AAJC is coordinating with coalition partners, including NIAC, to ensure aligned and mutually supportive comments. AAJC recently participated in a press briefing on Professor Tao’s legal victory, applauding the overturned conviction in his case. 3. Update from Asian American Scholar Forum Speaker: Gisela Perez Kusakawa, Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), gpkusakawa@aasforum.org Gisela reported that AASF has been diligently working with allies on policy impacts while also focusing on fostering our community. The first Asian American Pioneer Medal Symposium and Ceremony was a tremendous success with over 1,300 attendees. It was held in partnership with Stanford's Asian American Activity Center. Gisela thanked CAPAC for their opening remarks and to Casey, Lindsay, Nisha, and her team for their support. Key highlights from the symposium include bringing together some of the brightest minds and leaders in AI, life sciences, and leadership, including Nobel Prize laureates and Turing Award laureates. Notable figures such as John Hennessy, pivotal in Stanford University's development, and industry leaders like Zoom CEO Eric Yuan and AASF Leadership Council Member Diane Green, attended. Academic leaders, including Stanford University President John Levin, and public figures like Dr. Arati Prabakar, US Cabinet Member and Science Advisor to the President, also participated. The event underscored the importance of recognizing and celebrating the contributions of Asian Americans to our country, aligning with AASF’s broader policy and civil rights efforts. The AASF high school competition was a great success, encouraging students to create videos highlighting the contributions of the medal recipients, fostering a sense of belonging and understanding of Asian American history. AASF continues to work with Joanna and other civil rights partners on legislative issues, ensuring that the academic and scientific perspectives of Asian Americans are represented in the White House and federal agencies. AASF is committed to supporting Dr. Franklin Tao in rebuilding his reputation and pursuing his research dreams. AASF has opened its membership to all scholars who believe in our mission of lifting Asian American pioneers. Gisela invites everyone to join in its efforts. 4. Asian American History in Houston and Nationally Speaker: Anne S. Chao, Co-founder, Friends of the National Asian Pacific American Museum; Program Manager, Houston Asian American Archive, Rice University · Houston Asian American Archive (HAAA), Rice University · Friends of National Asian Pacific American Museum · 2024/07/22 Rice News: A living chronicle: Rice’s Houston Asian American Archive documents community contributions Anne S. Chao is a modern Chinese historian, and currently an Adjunct Lecturer in the Humanities at Rice University, and co-founder and manager of the Houston Asian American Archive at Rice. She is a co-founder of the FRIENDS of the National Asian Pacific American Museum, whose goal is to establish a national AAPI museum on the nation's Mall. Anne serves on the boards of the Houston Ballet, Wellesley Colleges, the National Archives Foundation, the Dunhuang Foundation among others. Anne gave her report with a 12-slide presentation located here: https://bit.ly/3WxVzPg . At Rice University, Anne established the Houston Asian American Archive (HAAA) 15 years ago, recognizing that Houston is one of the most diverse cities in the U.S., and it yet lacked records of Asian American lives. Distribution of the Asian American population in the Greater Houston area is visualized by the heat map below. The county in the Southwest quadrant of this map is Fort Bend County. It has almost a parity of 25% Anglo, 25% African American, 25% Asian American, and 25% Hispanic. No other county in the country has the same parity. Rice University students began interviewing people, collecting memorabilia, conducting podcasts, making video clips, and exploring different aspects of Asian American lives. HAAA now has about 500 interviews along with various awards, performances, and exhibits. Among those interviewed as part of a multicultural and multifaceted Asian Houston were · Teresa and Peter Chang. Theresa Chang is a judge and at one time the highest placed Asian American woman in the Republican Party. Her husband, Peter Chang, is a cardiologist. · Dr. Vipul Mankad as part of a huge collection of South Asian interviews. · Donna Cole’s father was in the 442nd regiment in World War II. She and her friends created the Go for Broke Foundation that led to Congress awarding the Gold Medal of Honor posthumously to these veterans of Japanese ancestry. · Harry Gee Jr. is a prominent immigration lawyer. The Gee family has made huge contributions to Houston and beyond. · Leroy Chiao is a Chinese American astronaut. · Lakshmy Parameswaran founded Daya, Inc., which serves South Asian victims of family violence. · World-renowned Professor of Physics Paul Chu, and · Many others of Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Vietnamese, and others of diverse ethnicities. Anne told the story of the Gee family network in Houston. The Gee name may also be spelled as Zhu, Jee, and Chu. Many of them originate from Taishan and Kaiping counties in Guangdong Province in Southern China. One of Anne’s students created a Gee family network chart, from which a curriculum was developed for the Asia Society. A Voice of America reporter just interviewed the Gee family members about the curriculum. A book is in the works. Harry Gee Jr.’s father came to Houston as a restaurant owner. Harry Gee Jr.’s cousin, Albert Gee, was also a charismatic restaurateur who parlayed his business success into social and political success by contributing to Richard Nixon and John Connally campaigns respectively and also entertained celebrities such as Bob Hope. Switching to the national scene, Anne pointed out that the African American Museum is already part of the Smithsonian collection on the national mall. The Latino American Museum and the History of Women’s Museum are in the pipeline. We are missing the Asian Pacific American Museum. Congresswoman Grace Meng introduced H.R. 3525 in 2021 to create a commission to study the feasibility of creating an Asian Pacific American Museum. It became public law in June 2022. There are eight commissioner positions. The Senate Majority and Minority Leaders and the House Majority and Minority Leaders each appoint two commissioners. There are two vacancies at this time, but the commission cannot start work until all eight are present. They have 18 months to produce a report to Congress on the feasibility of an Asian Pacific American Museum. The commissioners are volunteers. They do not have actual funding. Only one of the current commissioners, Dr. Jay Xu, who is the Director of the San Francisco Asian Art Museum, has actual museum knowledge and experience. Handel Lee, Debbie Schon, and Anne co-founded a non-profit organization called the Friends of the National Asian Pacific American Museum to fast track the effort. All three have served on the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Advisory Board. Their goal is to champion the cause, as well as to mobilize, support, fundraise, supply a blueprint, and coordinate the efforts. It has engaged many museum experts and museum fundraisers. They are in the process of creating a group of academics as well as organizations around the country to talk about what to put in the museum. 5. Remarks by Professor Franklin Tao and Hong Peng Speakers: Franklin Tao 陶丰, former Professor of Kansas University, Victim of China Initiative; Hong Peng 彭鸿, Wife of Professor Tao · APA Justice: Franklin Tao 陶丰 · 2024/07/24 South China Morning Post: Chinese-born scientist in US tells of ‘fear and desperation’ from Trump-era convictions · 2024/07/24 美国中文网: “中国行动计划”受害者陶丰教授国会发声 · 2024/07/11 美國華人聯盟 UCA: 快讯 | 华裔学者陶丰胜诉，联邦上诉法院推翻定罪 · 2024/07/11 Reuters: Kansas researcher wins reversal of conviction in Trump-era China probe It was a deeply emotional day for Professor Franklin Tao to speak for the first time at the APA Justice meeting. He thanked his family, lawyers Peter Zeidenberg and Michael Dearington, thousands of GoFundMe donors, brothers and sisters from his church, and the unwavering support from CAPAC, United Chinese Americans, Asian American Scholar Forum, APA Justice, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Committee of 100, Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance, Alliance for Impact, and many other organizations. Professor Tao’s ordeal has lasted nearly five years. From the day of his arrest on August 21, 2019, to the day the 10th Circuit Court acquitted him of the last count, it has been 1,786 days—each one filled with fear and desperation. A false accusation from a lying whistleblower led to Professor Tao’s arrest under the China Initiative. Professor Tao said he is not a spy, and he should never have been arrested. He was indicted on 10 felony counts. Thanks to his dedicated lawyers, Professor Tao and his wife fought the charges and ultimately prevailed. On July 11, the final count was acquitted. However, this victory is bittersweet. Throughout this ordeal, Professor Tao has lost almost everything. His academic career, built over 20 years of hard work and 16-hour days, has been destroyed. The legal battle was extremely expensive, costing $2.3 million. He and his wife borrowed from friends, tapped into their retirement savings, and raised over $800,000 through GoFundMe. Despite all these efforts, they are still $1.1 million in debt, and he has had no income for the past four years, leaving his family nearly bankrupt. In July 2020, Professor Tao had an agreement with Kansas University (KU) stating that no action would be taken until the conclusion of criminal proceedings. However, KU terminated him in January 2023 before the conclusion of these proceedings. This was a breach of the agreement. Professor Tao appealed because he is innocent of all the allegations. He has proven his innocence, but he has lost his job. He is now focused on regaining his faculty position at KU. In the past few years while he was fighting his case, Professor Tao published 30 papers and retained the capability of working as a faculty member. Hong Peng followed her husband’s talk to share her story. It is a story marked by suffering and injustice, but ultimately ending in a victory for justice. It was very, very hard to live under the dark clouds of injustice for almost five years. Franklin lost his career and nearly everything. Hong had to work long hours, multiple jobs in different hospitals to help her family survive. She could not count how many times she had to work 24 hours straight, how many times she had to pull off the highway to find a gas station to take a short nap or use cold water to wash her face to stay awake. Sometimes she felt so desperate that she cried in her car after work, questioning why this was happening to Franklin and her family. Then she had to wipe away her tears and moved on. She had to tell herself to stay strong for her husband, their kids, and their family. She deeply regrets how this affects their children who are twins. This all began on their first day of high school. They were followed by a drone that the FBI used to surveil them from the moment they got into the car until the moment they got out at curbside and walked into the school. Their son often cried alone in his room because he did not want his parents to worry. Their daughter had to see a psychologist to cope with the trauma. Before they started college last year, her son said to Hong, “mom, don’t worry about us. We are going to start our new life in college. We are going to be fine. There were times before both of us thought about suicide.” Her heart breaks whenever she thinks about how much this has impacted their kids. Franklin was treated as a criminal when he was innocent. He became extremely depressed and had trouble sleeping and eating. From time to time before he slept, he would say “I almost wish I could just fall asleep and never wake up again. Then I wouldn’t need to think about all of this.” She was heartbroken to witness her loved one suffer so much because of this injustice. Physically, mentally, and financially Hong had to be the center of resource and support for her family. She was so drained. One time that she got off the highway and was completely out. She did not know where she was, but it was the road she drove to work daily. It was scary because she could not afford to be sick. She had to be there for her family. Justice finally prevailed with the 10th Circuit Court acquitted the last count against Franklin on July 11. This victory could not have been possible without the tremendous support they received from the organizations, community, family, friends, legal team, and countless individuals. Hong and Franklin are eternally grateful for the compassion and belief in the truth that were shown to them. In conclusion, Hong and Franklin look forward to Kansas University to reinstate Franklin, starting a new chapter in their lives and to a future where justice is not just a concept but reality for all. 6. Kansas Conference of the American Association of University Professors (KCAAUP) Speakers: · Ron Barrett-Gonzalez, Committee A Co-Chair, Kansas Conference of the American Association of University Professors (KCAAUP) · Rob Catlett, Committee A C-Chair, KCAAUP · Kansas Conference of the American Association of University Professors The Kansas Conference of the AAUP is a collection of individual chapters from a variety of institutions of higher education from around the state of Kansas. All of the officers are volunteers with many being trained at the national level in University Governance. The Conference regularly handles issues regarding denial of due process, governance, tenure adjudication and dismissal. With more than 400 AAUP members state-wide, the Conference is the only state-wide body representing all faculty members. Kansas University (KU) Professor Ron Barrett-Gonzalez spoke about his role with KCAAUP and recent meeting with a KU administrator. Emporia State University Professor Rob Catlett followed Ron with his comments. Committee A at the national, state, or local level frequently handles cases of significant injustice done to a faculty member. It is well aware of Dr. Tao’s case, monitoring it with great anticipation. It is overjoyed at his complete exoneration. The next goal is to have him reinstated. Ron and Rob chose to meet with a KU administrator who oversees discrimination cases on campus, attempting to use persuasion for the KU administration to do the right thing. As many would undoubtedly agree, Dr. Tao’s case is one of clear discrimination based on national origin which is not allowed at many levels, certainly not within university rules. It is un-American and unethical. Ron and Rob went into the meeting with the spirit that and the gentlest persuasion and the primary goal of reinstating Dr. Tao without any great fanfare. Ron and Rob made it clear that there is a golden window of opportunity to correct a wrong. There are some bad actors who discriminate against people of color and by national origin. Some of them are above the university administration in the Board of Regents and State Capitol. During their meeting with the KU administrator, Ron and Rob laid out a plan that includes an ideal time to reinstate Dr. Tao in the last week of October when the nation’s focus will be on the elections at all levels. The KU administrator paid close attention to the plan, took detailed notes, and promised to come back to Ron and Rob and let them know on August 19. As a president once told Kansans, “Speak softly but carry a big stick,” Ron and Rob also made clear that there are non-trivial sticks in this case. KU has a brand-new KU Faculty Union, which was voted in with 87% approval. If the university administration does not do the right thing, the union would make this a cause célèbre and a rallying cry, including media attention and protests below the Provost’s office or the Chancellor's office. It would also help with membership drive and strengthen union membership. As he heard from Dr. Tao and Hong about the injustice they faced at the monthly meeting, Ron was crying inside for them, as we all were. The injustice for a governmental entity taking private property without compensation and due process has been backed up with decisions in several cases at the 10th Circuit Court with decisions and rulings as recently as 2022. Rob is an economist. He followed Ron by commenting that there is reason for hope. He and Ron have worked with this administrator on another case before with success. She was effective. It involved another Chinese scholar. Oftentimes people have a hard time uttering the words “I was wrong” in one sentence. One of the lessons learned by Rob at the AAUP Summer Institute is that in a high profile battle, he would like to have two winners. In this case, KU can have its scholar back, and Dr. Tao can have his job back. 7. Q&A and Discussions 8. Next Meeting Monday, September 2, 2024, is Labor Day, a federal holiday.Next monthly meeting will be held on Monday, September 9, 2024, starting 1:55 pm ET/10:55 am PT Back View PDF August 5, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

January 8, 2024, Monthly Meeting 2024/01/08 APA Justice Monthly Meeting APA Justice Meeting – Monday, 2024/01/081:55 pm Eastern Time / 10:55 am Pacific Time 1. Remarks by Congresswoman Judy Chu Speaker: Judy Chu, Member, U.S. Congress; Chair, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Congresswoman Chu Judy represents California's 28th congressional district. She has been a member of Congress since 2009 and Chair of CAPAC since 2011. Rep. Chu kicked off the new year with her review of 2023 and a look ahead to 2024. Rep. Chu kindly expresses appreciation for the formation of the APA Justice Task Force in response to reports of racial bias and profiling of Asian Americans, particularly Chinese scientists, researchers, and engineers. They highlight the importance of the community's existence in addressing racial profiling issues. Rep. Chu acknowledges the challenges faced by the Asian American scientific and academic community and commends their leadership for raising awareness about racial profiling. She thanks the audience for their engagement, citing major wins in the past year. Her remarks cover legislative challenges, particularly bills restricting land ownership for Chinese and immigrant communities in various states. She shares instances where advocacy efforts successfully prevented discriminatory legislation in Texas but acknowledges similar laws passing in other states like Alabama, Louisiana, and Florida. Rep. Chu emphasizes the negative impact of such laws on families and realtors, citing examples of individuals affected by discriminatory land laws. She discusses joint efforts with Rep. Al Green to introduce a bill, the Preemption of Real Property Discrimination Act, at the federal level to counteract such state laws. Her speech also addresses successful advocacy against harmful language in the National Defense Authorization Act, which included xenophobic COVID conspiracy theories. Rep. Chu highlights the importance of protecting the Asian American research community and collaboration. Lastly, Rep. Chu emphasizes the need to recognize and preserve the resilient history of Asian American communities, mentioning efforts to address the historical discrimination of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 2011 and 2012. She stresses the importance of groups like APA Justice in achieving these accomplishments and outlines future priorities, including combating anti-Asian discrimination and advocating for FISA section 702 reform. A transcript of Rep. Chu’s remarks was published in Issue 229 of the APA Justice Newsletter at https://bit.ly/48AZIqx . A YouTube video of her remarks is posted at https://bit.ly/3tUixpp (11:56). 2. Report on Justice4All Protest in Miami - A Call for Unity Against Racism Speakers: · Hongwei Shang 商红伟, Co-Founder and Vice President, Florida Asian American Justice Alliance (FAAJA) · Haipei Shue 薛海培, President, United Chinese Americans (UCA) Hongwei Shang, co-founder and vice president of the Florida Asian American Justice Alliance (FAAJA), expresses gratitude for the opportunity to speak. FAAJA was established in response to SB 264, a discriminatory bill prohibiting land and property ownership by Chinese and other nationals. Over the past 8 months, FAAJA has experienced significant growth, especially after organizing a rally against SB 264 on December 16, 2023. Initially starting with a few thousand dollars from board membership fees and donations, FAAJA successfully raised around $86,000 through fundraising efforts in December. The membership increased from around 200 to nearly 500, including individuals from other states who became strong supporters. The success of the December 16 rally depended on the support of local community leaders. Key organizers met in Hongwei’s office to discuss and divide tasks, including applying for permits, renting equipment, designing promotional materials, and managing security. Local news media, including North American Economic Herald, Miami Chinese TV, and United Chinese News, supported the rally. Event flyers and rally reports were distributed by North American Economic Herald in their media network and were later reprinted by around 150 news media throughout the U.S. Sinovision and CBS also sent people over to cover the rally. Despite stormy weather, around 200 people attended the rally, making it a historical event. Attendees expressed unforgettable memories. They sang the song, We Shall Overcome, which became a constant talking point with the attendees and various news media. FAAJA thanks UCA and Haipei for their support, which facilitated the participation of keynote speakers like Congresswoman Judy Chu, former presidential candidate Andrew Yang, Texas House Representative Gene Wu, attorney Clay Zhu, as well as representatives from national organizations such as NAACP, LULAC, and AREAA. The rally garnered support from various communities, including Asian American, Latin American, black, and Jewish communities, with a total of 28 organizations supporting the event. FAAJA plans to collaborate with UCA and other organizations in 2024 to continue fighting against injustice for the AAPI community. Hongwei encourages those interested in learning more about FAAJA to visit their website at Faaja.org . Haipei expresses gratitude to Congressman Judy Chu, Gene Wu, and Andrew Yang for attending the protest in Miami. Despite facing a major storm during the protest, they believe it symbolizes the challenges ahead in their fight for justice and equality. The protest drew support from various minority groups serving as a model for moving forward. Haipei acknowledges the vulnerability of the Chinese community and the challenges they will face in the next two decades, including civil rights issues and concerns about political extremism. UCA is working to launch a civil rights movement in response to these challenges, with the support of figures like Martin Luther King's son and Malcolm X’s daughter. Specifically, Haipei considers the two bills signed by Governor DeSantis - SB 264 and SB 846 - as “gifts” to the Chinese community: SB 264 for its impact on property ownership, while SB 846 bans academic collaboration with China in public universities. He believes these laws will be repealed, comparing them to the successful termination of the China initiative as in previous times. Overall, Haipei remains optimistic that the Chinese community will overcome these challenges and see better days ahead. 3. The 1882 Project and the 1882 Foundation Speakers: · Ted Gong, Executive Director of the 1882 Foundation · Martin Gold, Pro Bono Counsel, 1882 Project; Partner, Capitol Counsel, LLC Ted Gong thanks Steven, Jeremy, and Vincent for their continuous support. He acknowledges Haipei's remarks on civil rights, emphasizing the connection between immigration rights and the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Ted discusses three topics. First, he provides an overview of the 1882 Foundation, which began almost 12 years ago. It could not have happened without the support of Rep. Judy Chu and Senator Scott Brown. The importance of the Senate and House resolutions in 2011 and 2012 was not just to express regret of what Congress did, but also reaffirm in writing that Congress has the responsibility to protect the rights of all people in the United States. The 1882 Foundation focuses on preserving oral histories and sites, working with school systems on lesson plans and curriculum, and collaborating with museums to spread awareness about the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act. Ted notes that expressing regret or apologizing for the Chinese Exclusion Act does not erase its impact. Despite commemorating the 80th anniversary of its repeal at the Library of Congress recently, issues like anti-Asian hate persist. The 1882 Foundation plans to establish a national monument at the Summit Tunnel in California to highlight the contributions of Chinese and Asian Americans. In addition to monuments, Ted emphasizes the need for national heroes, ensuring recognition for those who fought in wars. Collaborating with Martin and Jeremy, Ted aims to delve into the history of immigration laws in a comprehensive series. He sees the current immigration discussions as either too extreme or too general and seeks to initiate a detailed conversation on immigration laws with Martin providing historical insights. Martin was working with Covington & Burling when he served as pro bono counsel for the 1882 Project, which was a great joy and a great matter of professional fulfillment for him. Martin is pleased to continue on behalf of the 1882 Foundation and engage in continuing education and offers his perspective. It is important that what was done in 2011 and 2012 should not gather dust on the shelf but be a point of ongoing education for the community and for others. It is easy to focus on the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, as Rep. Chu said, one of the most discriminatory acts in American history, but Martin emphasized that the act did not stand alone. In fact, there were 8 separate enactments of Congress, 2 of which were vetoed and 6 of which became public law. The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was the third of those pieces of legislation after 2 vetoed measures, and it was followed by legislation in 1884, 1888, 1892, 1902, and 1904 when it became permanent. It remained so until 1943 when the law was repealed in the middle of the Second World War as a war measure. Up until that point, no person of Chinese descent born anywhere in the world outside of the U.S. could become an American citizen. Whether they were born in China, or they were born in England, or in France, or anywhere in the world, it would not have made any difference. So, the law was repealed in 1943, but Congress let it sit, and it was not until 2011 in the Senate and 2012 in the House that we were able to begin to make things right with the expression of regret resolutions. The resolution of the Senate passed by unanimous consent. The resolution in the House passed under suspension of the rules. Martin and Ted sat in the gallery that day in the House when Congresswoman Chu made her floor statement, and the legislation went through. Judy Chu’s leadership in this is obvious and crucial in terms of moving a resolution through the House. It simply would not have happened without her. Martin added a word about the Senate resolution because it gets a bit less attention, but it is worthy of highlighting. The prime sponsor in the Senate was Senator Scott Brown, a Republican from Massachusetts. It is interesting to note that at the time of the sponsorship as both resolutions went in on the same day, May 26, 2011, the 2 prime sponsors were members of the minority party in their respective chambers. Now, how is it that Scott Brown got to be the sponsor in the Senate? Opposition to the Chinese exclusion laws in the Senate was centered primarily among the remnant of the Abraham Lincoln Republican Party that would be found in the northeastern United States. One of the people who opposed the Chinese exclusion legislation - all of those enactments that Martin mentioned - was the senator from Massachusetts named George Frisbie Hoar. He was a senator from 1877 until upon his death in 1904. So Senator Hoar got to see this entire history, from the time that was controversial as it was originally until the time that there was no opposition, which was true by the end of this long and sorry story. In 1902. When the last major piece of Chinese exclusion legislation went through as a renewal and expansion of the old law, he waited until the end of the debate - he was by then an elderly senator - he finally stood up and said, my problem is basically not with the terms of this legislation, my problem is with the principle of this legislation. I believe everybody should be treated equally. As this legislation violates that principle, I am bound to record my protest, if I stand alone. The bill passed 76 to one. He stood alone. So Martin sat in Scott Brown's office where he had pictures of former senators from Massachusetts, including George Frisbie Hoar. Martin said to Senator Brown, we need to get this resolution introduced. If you stand in his shoes and in their shoes, it will have a place to go. Senator Brown did not hesitate. He agreed to sponsor the resolution. Then Senator Feinstein of California came along as the first Democrat. The 1882 Project began to accumulate co-sponsors. By the time it got to the original sponsor list, there were 6 Democrats and 5 Republicans. “When we were able to move to the Senate floor on October 6, 2011, we had strong bipartisan support,” Martin said. “We discharged the Senate Judiciary Committee. We passed the legislation by unanimous consent.” In the House, that came the following year. That is a foundation that builds upon a very long story that Martin will tell in education sessions. Again, it would not have happened without people of goodwill like Scott Brown. And it would not have happened without people of goodwill and leadership like Judy Chu. 4. China Focus, the Carter Center, and Conference for 45th Anniversary of U.S.-China Relations Speaker: Dr. Yawei Liu 刘亚伟, Senior Advisor, China Focus, Carter Center Yawei reported that the Carter Center was founded in 1982 after President Carter was involuntarily retired by the American people in 1981. Carter Center’s work in China started in the mid-1990s. President Carter was not able to visit China during his presidency because of domestic and foreign crises, but he was able to make the big decision to normalize relations with China after very long and hard negotiations with his counterpart Deng Xiaoping in China. Here in the US, but even more so in China, most experts and ordinary people give credit to Nixon and Kissinger for opening up to China, but Kissinger went to China in 1971 and Nixon went to China in 1972. It was President Carter and Deng who made the joint decision to normalize the relationship in 1978. The communique was published on December 15, 1978, and diplomatic relations were normalized on January 1, 1979. Deng Xiaoping told President Carter after he left the White House to visit China anytime he wanted. During one of the visits, President Carter asked Deng, we have a center, does China need the center to work on any projects? Deng Xiaoping referred the Carter Center to his paralyzed son who was the President of the Chinese Association for the Disabled People. That was the first project of the Carter Center in China. It offered special ed training to the teachers who were teaching at the schools for the deaf. The Carter Center also purchased an artificial limb production line from Germany for China. Starting in 1998 the Center started monitoring village elections in China. That gradually became a project the Center called promoting political reform in China. It was launched in 1998 and terminated roughly around 2012. During President Carter's visit, the new leader, Xi Jinping, told President Carter that China will not allow the Center to intervene in “domestic affairs” of China. Xi told President Carter, you are the president who normalized the relationship, so we would like you and the Center to dedicate more time and more resources on the promotion of better understanding between the two countries and the two peoples and to advance the bilateral relationship between the two countries. That was when the Center pivoted to promoting a better understanding between the two countries and how to prevent conflicts in the Pacific and in East Asia. Starting in December 2012, the inaugural Carter Center Forum on US China Relations was opened in Beijing. From 2012 to 2019, a total of 7 forums were held. President Carter attended and spoke at six of them. There was one forum in Suzhou, China, in 2016 that President Carter was not able to travel to China at that time. The pandemic started around January 2019. On the 40th anniversary of the normalization of US-China relations, the Forum was held at the Carter Center from January 17 through 19. By that time, the relationship was already in a downward spiral. The Carter Center was the only US based organization that organized such a meeting to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the normalization of US-China relations. The pandemic hit. During the pandemic, forums were held virtually. This year is the first In-person forum on US-China relations after the pandemic to be held at the Carter Center. This is also the first time the forum is named the Jimmy Carter Forum on US-China Relations. There will be a large contingent of Chinese speakers from universities and think tanks. There will also be many American experts. There will also be subnational government representatives. Vincent, Jeremy, and Steven committed to visit the Center and attend the Forum on January 9 and 10. The Carter Center is again the only US-based organization, at least for now, to have such a meeting in the US. The current atmosphere is such that most of the think tanks and the international NGOs are concerned that if they do something to commemorate the normalization of US China relations, you will be perceived to be pro-China. In the US, the Carter Center is criticized as being too pro-China because President Carter normalized the relationship. He really implemented Nixon's engagement policy. But because of that, it is being attacked by members of the congressional delegation from Georgia as being too soft on China as well as colluding with the Chinese Communist Party. In China, the Carter Center is not getting along very well with the Chinese government because they believe the Carter Center is trying to promote human rights and political reform in China. The Carter Center is accused of trying to sabotage the Chinese Communist Party’s legitimacy and to overthrow the regime. The Carter Center is blacklisted in China. The Carter Center has a mission, and the mission is that Americans need to have a more objective view of China and the Chinese need to have a more informed perception of the United States. Misperception leads to miscalculations and miscalculations lead to wrong decisions that can easily lead to a conflict between these two countries. So, one of the missions of the Carter Center is waging peace, and the most important mission for China Focus at the Carter Center is to wage peace between the 2 countries through better understanding of each other, through communicating with each other, through recommendations on mechanisms through which the relationship can be stabilized. 5. Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security Program - Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC Speaker: Joanna YangQing Derman, Director, Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security Program, Advancing Justice | AAJC Joanna provided updates from AAJC on its ongoing priorities and upcoming events. First, as Rep. Judy Chu mentioned, AAJC uplifted the discriminatory Rounds Amendment that was stripped from the final version of the NDAA. The Rounds Amendment, if enacted, would have effectively prohibited foreign citizens including Chinese citizens from purchasing various forms of US land and it would have been very much in line with the resurgence of the so-called alien land laws that we are seeing at the state level. Our collective advocacy, including many on the call, paid off in that regard. Second, a four-month extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) was included in the NDAA which was signed by President Joe Biden. This means that we have a bit of a longer runway to do advocacy and education around the merits of the House Judiciary Committee FISA reform bill. AAJC looks forward to working with all concerned organizations and individuals to ensure the strongest and most reform-minded piece of FISA legislation will receive floor consideration, probably sometime in February or early March. Third, senators on both sides of the aisle are considering extreme permanent changes to US immigration law in exchange for Ukraine aid. These harmful immigration policy proposals include gutting the asylum system, locking up more immigrants and families in detention, and expedited removals that would endanger undocumented people across the country. If passed, this would be devastating for our communities, Asian migrants, undocumented Asian Americans, and mixed status families. Multiple organizations including AAJC organized an in-person protest march in Washington DC on January 9, 2024. 6. Update from Asian American Scholar Forum Speaker: Gisela Perez Kusakawa, Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), gpkusakawa@aasforum.org Eri Andriola, Associate Director of Policy & Litigation for AASF, substituted for Gisela who was on leave and travel. Eri provided the following updates from AASF. First, AASF is monitoring the impacts of Florida's SB 846 that Haipei mentioned earlier. This law restricts Florida's public colleges and universities from hiring researchers and graduate assistants from several “countries of concern,” which include China and Iran. As AASF is looking to learn more about the impact of this law, Eri asks that scholars or students who are affected reach out to Gisela at gpkusakawa@aasforum.org and Eri at eandriola@aasforum.org . Florida's SB 846 restricts grants and partnerships collaborating on research projects as well as sharing research data with individuals and entities from the 7 countries of concern without prior approval. To get approval, educational institutions are required to submit a form to the state board of governors who then determine whether the partnership or agreement is valuable to the students in the institution and not detrimental to the safety or security of the United States or its residents. According to the guidance that is implementing the law, it does not apply to student enrollment, but there is a significant share of international graduate researchers from China and Iran at Florida's public universities such as the University of Florida. This is yet another attempt to scapegoat Asian Americans and Chinese American immigrants in particular as national security threats and appearing tough on China. The bill would chill research collaboration and open science and AASF is in the process of creating a brief explainer for the community. Gisela recently spoke with the New York Times on this issue: https://nyti.ms/421rWrZ Second, during last month's meeting, AASF lifted up a sign-on opportunity for a letter that AASF led with coalition partners to Congress on opposing language to reinstate the Department of Justice's China initiative in a house appropriations bill and any future iterations of the initiative. 48 organizations joined the letter that was submitted on December 7. The letter highlighted the lasting harms to scholars targeted, as well as the chilling effect on Asian American scholars and their leadership in science and technology. Eri expressed thanks to those who joined the letter and showed their strong support. Gisela was quoted in a recent NPR report about the attempt to revive the China Initiative here: https://bit.ly/3SlJ8p0 . Third, Eri also expressed thanks to APA Justice for co-hosting a community briefing webinar on Section 702 on December 12. The briefing featured civil rights, national security, and policy experts, who broke down what Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) is and how it impacts Asian American communities. Noah Chauvin, Joanna YangQing Derman, Gisela Perez Kusakawa, and Andy Wong discussed the key reform bills at play, including the Government Surveillance Reform Act (GSRA) and the Protecting Liberty and Ending Warrantless Surveillance Act (PLEWSA), and how the Asian American community and advocates can get involved on this issue. Video of the webinar is posted here: https://bit.ly/3O4Lw0v (YouTube video 59:22). Back View PDF January 8, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter