A group of prominent leaders in biomedical research warn that recent government actions with respect to Chinese scientists in the U.S. could threaten U.S. leadership in biomedical science. August 21, 2019 On August 21, 2019, a group of 150 prominent leaders in U.S. academic and industrial biomedical research and drug development published a letter titled " Chinese scientists and US leadership in the life sciences ," warning that recent actions by government agencies and universities with respect to Chinese scientists in the U.S. could threaten U.S. leadership in biomedical science. "We, the undersigned, are leaders in U.S. academic and industrial biomedical research and drug development. We are concerned that recent actions by government agencies and universities with respect to Chinese scientists in the U.S. could threaten U.S. leadership in biomedical science. Recently, some scientists from China, or American-born of Chinese heritage, have been summarily dismissed from their university positions, creating a climate of fear and uncertainty in our biomedical communities. Let us be clear: we must absolutely guard against foreign espionage and IP theft, and prosecute those who engage in it, whatever their origins. At the same time, actions that more broadly limit collaboration between Chinese and American scientists and companies would be deleterious to our national interests; so too would limitations on American residents of Chinese origin receiving government research funding or being employed by the NIH. In military wars between national adversaries, leaders often vilify “the other.” Our “war” unifies an international community of medical researchers to fight a common adversary, disease: cancers, immune diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, infections, to name just a few. Vilifying or excluding any group as “the other” limits our ability to win this war. The United States’ unique constitution as a nation of immigrants has been fundamental to our world leadership in biomedical research and drug development. Our nation most prolifically attracts the best, most diverse talent from the entire world. This has enriched our economy and society. As a case in point, our preliminary research indicates that, since 1999, over 400,000 US patents have been issued to inventors of Chinese descent, and approximately 28% of U.S. biomedical science publications in 2018 included an author of Chinese descent. An atmosphere of intimidation will encourage many outstanding scientists of Chinese origin to leave the US or never to come. In addition, scientists from other countries who are working in the U.S. cannot fail to get the message that they may well be next. We also note that the vast majority of the results of academic biomedical research are not secret; their publication and open exchange are the cornerstone of our success against our common enemy of human disease and suffering. Thomas Jefferson wrote, “He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.” We support the opinions recently published by the editors of Nature, Nature Biotechnology and by former NIH Director Elias Zerhouni , and advocate for measured policies that will both protect U.S. intellectual property and continue to foster the diversity and collaboration that fuel our ability to advance science and cure disease. At a minimum, universities must effectively communicate and consistently apply their rules governing scientific collaborations and IP obligations, and they, as well as government agencies, must clearly justify their actions when they accuse scientists of malfeasance or seek to dismiss them from their positions. Ronald Reagan said, “We lead the world, because unique among nations, we draw our people, our strength from every country and every corner of the world,” and, “If we ever close our door to new Americans, our leadership in the world will soon be lost.” Nowhere are these thoughts more pertinent than in biomedical science. If we are to prevail in humanity’s common quest to conquer disease, our surest route is to include any person able to contribute, regardless of country of origin, religion, race, gender, or other identity. The U.S. biomedical community stands for the principles of diversity and unity embedded in the founding principles of our country, without which our leadership indeed will soon be lost." Read the original letter here for all the signatories. A group of prominent leaders in biomedical research warn that recent government actions with respect to Chinese scientists in the U.S. could threaten U.S. leadership in biomedical science. Previous Next Pharmaceutical Chiefs and Scientists Support Chinese Researchers Living in ‘Climate of Fear’

Newsletter - #145 AAU Meeting; 9/12 Monthly Meeting; NSF Request for Comment; Prof Xi's Appeal; FOIA #145 AAU Meeting; 9/12 Monthly Meeting; NSF Request for Comment; Prof Xi's Appeal; FOIA Back View PDF September 15, 2022 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #228 1/8 Monthly Meeting; "China Initiative;" US-China Ties; CA Leaders in Higher Ed; + #228 1/8 Monthly Meeting; "China Initiative;" US-China Ties; CA Leaders in Higher Ed; + In This Issue #228 · Reminder: 2023/01/08 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · Opposition to Revive "China Initiative" · 45th Anniversary of US-China Diplomatic Ties · Book: The Rise of Chinese American Leaders in U.S. Higher Education: Stories and Roadmaps · News and Activities for the Communities Reminder: 2024/01/08 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, January 8, 2023, starting at 1:55 pm ET. In addition to updates by Joanna Derman, Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC and Gisela Perez Kusakawa, Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), confirmed and invited speakers include: · Rep. Judy Chu 赵美心, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, to kick off the New Year with us by reviewing 2023 and looking to what is ahead in 2024. · Haipei Shue 薛海培, President, United Chinese Americans (UCA), Hongwei Shang 商红伟, and Echo King 金美声, Co-Founders of Florida Asian American Justice Alliance (FAAJA) to give us a report on December 16 Justice4All protest in Miami. · Ted Gong, Executive Director of the 1882 Foundation will introduce the 1882 Project, 1882 Foundation, and its upcoming activities in 2024, and Martin Gold , Pro Bono Counsel, 1882 Project; Partner, Capitol Counsel, LLC, on a future lecture. · Dr. Yawei Liu 刘亚伟, Senior Advisor, China Focus, Carter Center to introduce us to the China Focus at the Carter Center and the upcoming Conference for the 45th Anniversary of U.S.-China Relations in Atlanta. The 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 . Opposition to Revive "China Initiative" The Department of Justice (DOJ) ended the China Initiative nearly two years ago. It targeted mostly ethnic Chinese academics and their links to China. The program was stopped after criticism of racial profiling. Now, a proposed House spending bill wants to bring the initiative back. According to a NPR report on January 2, 2024, about 90% of the more than 70 cases prosecuted under the initiative involved people who were ethnically Chinese. Just about a quarter were convicted and usually for much lesser charges. Charges against MIT Professor Gang Chen were all dismissed - he had done nothing wrong, but the damage has been lasting on him and his wife. Professor Chen told NPR, "The China Initiative has fundamentally harmed the U.S. competitiveness. The biggest competition is on talents. And that really deterred a lot of talents coming to the U.S."NPR also interviewed Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director at the Asian American Scholar Forum, John Yang , president of Advancing Justice | AAJC, and Baimadajie Angwang , New York Police Department Officer who was also charged with being an unregistered foreign agent for China under the China Initiative and also had all the charges against him dismissed. Read the NPR report: https://n.pr/3NPexgA .On December 7, 2023, a coalition of over 50 organizations wrote to Congressional leaders Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, Mike Johnson, and Hakim Jeffries to voice their concerns and strong opposition to reinstate the “China Initiative.” Read the letter: https://bit.ly/47oQP1F . Alien Land Laws Among Top Community Concerns in 2024 In 2023, an onslaught of federal and state legislation was started to prohibit property ownership by citizens of foreign countries (i.e. “alien land laws”). It has raised alarm and response throughout the Asian American community and is expected to continue in 2024. According to a Legal Sidebar by the Congressional Research Service (CRS), during the first six months of 2023, at least 15 states enacted legislation regulating foreign ownership of real property. A group of plaintiffs filed a legal challenge to one state law—Florida’s Senate Bill 264 (SB 264)—arguing that it violates their constitutional rights, does not comport with the federal Fair Housing Act, and is preempted by federal law.The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a Statement of Interest in the case supporting the plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction and arguing that the Fair Housing Act bars SB 264. The statute declares invalid “any law of a State” that permits or requires a discriminatory housing practice. In addition, the United States argues, SB 264 violates the Equal Protection Clause, because it discriminates based on alienage and national origin without justification. While the federal government has more leeway in regulating alienage, the United States explains, state classifications singling out aliens must be narrowly tailored in pursuit of a compelling government interest. The United States maintains that the law “will not advance the State’s purported goal of increasing public safety,” as Florida has not identified “any legitimate connection between protecting the State” and barring individuals of certain nationalities from owning real property. Plaintiffs, the United States points out, are not members of the PRC government or of the Communist Party of China and are not representatives of their country of origin.Read the CRS Legal Sidebar: https://bit.ly/41N2QwM According to the South China Morning Post on December 16, 2023, Chinese land ownership in US was down 2 per cent in 2022 amid heightened national security concerns. Agriculture Department data reveals holdings fell to nearly 350,000 acres, just shy of 1 per cent of all foreign-held American land. Read the South China Morning Post Report: https://bit.ly/48MC4qR According to a New York Times opinion by Professor Mae Ngai of Columbia University, her parents faced discrimination when attempting to buy land in northern New Jersey due to their Chinese heritage in the 1950s. This discrimination was part of a broader history of racial segregation in the United States, with practices like racial covenants and alien land laws preventing certain groups, including Asians, from owning property. Fast forward to the present day, similar discriminatory measures are resurfacing, with some states passing laws to restrict Chinese nationals, Chinese-owned companies, or the Chinese government from buying land near critical infrastructure like military facilities and airports. Several states have already implemented such laws, with others considering similar measures, and some proposals have been introduced at the federal level targeting foreign land ownership.Citing national security concerns as a reason to prevent foreign adversaries and entities from owning U.S. property, these laws, exemplified by Florida's land bill, target Chinese nationals and companies, promoting a view that associates all Asians, especially Chinese people, with being enemies of America. This echoes a long history of discriminatory legislation dating back to the "yellow peril" fears of the 19th century, which restricted Asian rights and immigration. The contemporary wave of anti-Chinese measures is not entirely new; it was exacerbated during the Trump administration, blaming China for the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in racist assaults on Asian Americans. Policies like the China Initiative, initially aimed at intellectual property theft, unfairly targeted Chinese and Chinese American academics without evidence of wrongdoing. Although disbanded, it left a chilling effect on ethnic Chinese scientists in the U.S., affecting their job security and deterring future talent from coming to the country. The justification for these measures, rooted in national security concerns, seems overstated. Statistics show that the ownership of agricultural land by foreign nationals, especially Chinese, is minimal, contradicting the perceived threat. The narrative framing China as an adversary serves political expediency but carries severe consequences, including racial harassment and discrimination against Asian Americans.While the Biden Administration has attempted to ease tensions, like President Joe Biden 's meeting with President Xi Jinping and calls for trade relationship "derisking," the persistent linkage of trade and national security perpetuates discrimination against Chinese and Asian Americans. This echoes a history of injustice, such as the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, which took decades to receive an official apology.Professor Ngai's parents, immigrants from China, eventually found success in their careers and in buying a home, benefiting from the civil rights gains. However, they would likely express concerns about current U.S. policies towards China today, recognizing the potential impact and targeting of individuals like themselves due to their heritage.Read the New York Times opinion: https://nyti.ms/3H9GLiE On December 15, 2023, the Committee of 100 (C100) issued a statement to denounce the legislation in Florida, Texas and additional states that would limit the ability of non-U.S. citizens to purchase land in their state. To track the recent surge of legislation prohibiting property ownership by Chinese citizens (including permanent residents) across the U.S., C100 launched a new database that identifies and explains such legislation considered, and in some cases passed, by Congress and state governments.The webpage features an interactive map of the United States that visually demonstrates the data. The data can be filtered by the provisions included in the legislation, including the types of entities prohibited from owning property (e.g. Chinese citizens, businesses headquartered in China) and the types of properties prohibited from ownership (e.g. residential, commercial, agricultural property).C100’s database, tracking the legislation and documenting resources on the subject, will be updated on a quarterly basis.Read the C100 announcement: https://bit.ly/41NWtJG On December 16, 2023, hundreds braved a stormy day in Miami to protest the unfair legislation of Florida's SB264 and SB846 state laws. The rally was an urgent call for unity and justice, aiming to bring together concerned citizens of all backgrounds and all ethnicities in opposition to injustice and unfair treatment going on in Florida right now. Elected officials and community leaders from across the country actively participated and delivered inspirational speeches. Visit the FAAJA website at https://www.faaja.org/ for more reports. Read the West Orlando News report: https://bit.ly/3TRjlpI 45th Anniversary of US-China Diplomatic Ties According to multiple media reports, President Joe Biden and President Xi Jinping exchanged greetings on January 1, 2024, which marked the 45th anniversary of US-China diplomatic ties. The two countries are trying to restore relations that have reached their most confrontational point in the 45 years since ties were established in 1979. Beijing and Washington officially established ties on January 1, 1979, based on agreements reached after years of negotiations. On the same date, Washington officially switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing.In his letter to Biden, Xi said the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the US was a “major event” in the history of bilateral and international relations. “Over the past 45 years, China-US relations have gone through ups and downs but have generally moved forward, which has not only enhanced the well-being of the two peoples, but also promoted world peace, stability and prosperity,” he said.Biden responded that since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1979, the relationship between the US and China had promoted prosperity and opportunities for the US, China and the world. “I am committed to responsibly managing this important relationship. I look forward to building on the progress made by our predecessors and our many meetings and discussions as we continue to advance the US-China relationship,” Biden said. The Carter Center will honor President Jimmy Carter and commemorate the 45th anniversary of the normalization of U.S.-China relations during a conference in Atlanta on January 9, 2024. World-renowned experts will participate in panel discussions on different dimensions of the U.S.-China diplomatic, military, and economic relationship. A gala dinner to celebrate President Carter’s legacy promoting peace in East Asia will follow the conference in the evening. Both events are open to the public. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3TQYG58 Book: The Rise of Chinese American Leaders in U.S. Higher Education: Stories and Roadmaps A new book titled "The Rise of Chinese American Leaders in U.S. Higher Education: Stories and Roadmaps" has been published by Springer Nature. It is a collection of 36 stories and reflections that represent Chinese American leaders and depict their tortuous journeys in U.S. higher education that comes at a critical point in time. Many books have been devoted to academic leadership, but this volume uniquely focuses on subjects most relevant to Chinese Americans. We live at a time that not only witnesses an increase in Chinese American leaders on U.S. campuses but also mounting incidents of discriminatory treatment of this group. They represent leaders holding different ideological values in various academic fields, positions, stages of careers, professional trajectories, generations, Chinese ethnic groups, and geographical locations. Read more about the book at https://bit.ly/48eNQu5 . If you wish to submit a formal review of the book, please visit: https://bit.ly/48p7J1t . News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2024/01/08 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/01/09 The Jimmy Carter Forum on US-China Relations in Honor of 45th Anniversary of Normalization2024/01/20 White House Initiative AA and NHPI Economic Summit in Metro Atlanta2024/01/17 Committee of 100 - Are Asian Americans Paid Less in Business?2024/02/04 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/02/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/03/03 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall MeetingVisit https://bit.ly/45KGyga for event details. Back View PDF January 7, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #183 2/6 Meeting Summary; Alien Land Bills/Louisiana; NIH Director; Heritage Month Videos+ #183 2/6 Meeting Summary; Alien Land Bills/Louisiana; NIH Director; Heritage Month Videos+ In This Issue #183 2023/02/06 Monthly Meeting Summary Posted Latest Developments on Discriminatory Alien Land Bills Including Louisiana Monica Bertagnolli Nominated to Head NIH Heritage Month and Educational Videos/Events 2023/02/06 Monthly Meeting Summary Posted The February 6, 2023, APA Justice monthly meeting summary has been posted at https://bit.ly/42N0htX . We thank the following speakers for their updates and discussions: Nisha Ramachandran , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), provided updates from CAPAC Gisela Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), provided updates from AASF Les Wong , President Emeritus, San Francisco State University, and Frank Wu , President, Queen's College, City University of New York, provided updates on forming a network of Asian American university leaders Michele Young , Attorney, Michele Young Law; Member of Sherry Chen Legal Team was recognized for her historic achievements in the Sherry Chen case. Michele also shared her thoughts and reflections on Sherry's case and the civil rights and civil liberty concerns in the meeting Gene Wu , Member, Texas House of Representatives, led the discussion on Asian American groups and other communities across Texas building a coalition to rally against Texas Senate Bill 147 on "Relating to the purchase of or acquisition of title to real property by certain aliens or foreign entities." Video of his portion of the meeting is posted at https://bit.ly/3DVEdU6 (video 56:48) Latest Developments on Discriminatory Alien Land Bills Including Louisiana 1. CAPAC Chair Statement on Florida Law Banning Chinese Nationals from Purchasing Land, Need for Federal Legislation On May 15, 2023, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chair Rep. Judy Chu released the following statement:“I am incredibly outraged by the signing of SB 264 into law. This is the latest state-level effort to restrict the property ownership of Chinese home seekers, who are aspiring small business owners, students, and families seeking to build better lives for themselves here in America. In addition, SB 264 places a disproportionate burden on current Chinese homeowners who now must register their property with a state agency. And as a result of SB 264, Asian Americans living in Florida will now likely face undue suspicion when purchasing property, including potential racial profiling by realtors, lenders, and other professionals in the real estate industry.“The government’s scapegoating and stripping of the land ownership rights of Asian American communities are stains on our nation’s history. SB 264 repeats this shameful discrimination and further stokes current anti-Asian sentiment by equating Chinese people with certain immigration statuses as agents of the Chinese Communist Party. That is why I am currently working with CAPAC Housing Task Force Chair Rep. Al Green of Texas to introduce a bill to preempt at the federal level such discriminatory state laws, and reaffirm my commitment to ensuring the safety of our communities.”“Let me be clear—elected officials must be vigilant about addressing specific threats that foreign state-owned enterprises and entities, companies, and individuals with ties to the foreign government pose to our national security, but policies that target and profile individuals and communities because of their national origin, race, ethnicity, or immigration status, however, are discriminatory and wholly unconstitutional. They harken back to nativist anti-Asian alien land laws in the 19th and 20th centuries after Chinese immigrants first arrived here, and later, a xenophobic suspicion of Japanese Americans during World War II that also led to their blanket incarceration. I will continue to fight for the civil rights of our communities, including the right to purchase and own property, and stand up against all attempts to racially profile our communities.”Read the CAPAC Chair statement: https://bit.ly/3BvCUtk 2. Testimony of High School Senior Abigail Hu in Louisiana Legislature On May 15, 2023, High School Senior Abigail Hu testified in the Louisiana State Legislature against Louisiana House Bill 537 . This is a transcript of her testimony:"Good afternoon Honorable Chairman Miller and distinguished members of the committee,My name is Abigail Hu. I am a proud product of the Louisiana public school system and a recent high school graduate. I'll be attending college in the fall to study Education and Political Science, and I hope to come back to Louisiana to teach middle and high school in the future.My parents, Tony and Chloe, have been living in the US for over 22 years. They came here as young students with very little money, looking for an opportunity to work hard, get good jobs, and start a family.During the COVID-19 pandemic, my dad worked around the clock to help contain the spread of the virus in our city of New Orleans. My brothers and I volunteer regularly, coaching for the local children’s sports club, helping clean up our local park, and registering and canvassing voters in our area. I am incredibly grateful to belong to a country that is a fundamental part of who I am.To us, ownership and belonging are as important as the piece of paper that makes us citizens.House Bill 537 strips us of such rights—rights to owning a house, education, secured employment, rights to starting the kind of life we sacrifice so much for. It prevents stories like my family’s from ever coming to fruition.This bill tells us that we are not good Americans, we are not Americans deserving of protection under the law, we are not Americans that the legislators we elect care to serve. This bill tells us that we are Americans whose lives are pure political pawns, subject to the whims of the state and condemned to exist under a perpetual instability.I would like to take some time to address some of the remarks that were made by Representative Hodges. I believe the language in this bill continues to have an anti-immigrant, xenophobic, fearmongering undertone, regardless of how many amendments we make, it will continue to create suspicion against immigrants and immigrant families in the communities that they live in. It leaves us vulnerable to unlawful investigations, unlawful search and seizure, and loyalty tests by the state. Representative Hodges has also repeatedly said that it is not about the individual, but under this legislation, any individual can be perceived as connected to a "foreign adversary." If you want a more specific example, anybody who is Chinese can be perceived as "nefarious" and acting on behalf of what Representative Hodges calls the communist tyranny of China.The vagueness of this bill presents undeniable dangers to not only our Chinese American community, but to any group of people who could be ambiguously tied to what the legislation describes as foreign adversaries or governments. It brands us as enemies of a country that we love so deeply.This is a civil rights issue, and I urge that the committee to recognize its dire implications and reject the passage of HB 537 before it becomes a civil rights legislation." Monica Bertagnolli Nominated to Head NIH According to Reuters on May 15, 2023, the Biden administration said it intends to nominate cancer surgeon Dr. Monica Bertagnolli to lead the National Institutes of Health (NIH) following a 16-month search for a permanent successor to the agency's long-serving director Dr. Francis Collins, who stepped down in December 2021. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Bertagnolli will become the second woman to lead the NIH, the largest biomedical research agency in the world with a budget of $45 billion in 2022. NIH falls under the direction of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Read the Reuters report: https://reut.rs/3MvKzya On March 23, 2023, Science published an investigative report titled PALL OF SUSPICION - The National Institutes of Health’s “China initiative” has upended hundreds of lives and destroyed 6 scores of academic careers and an editorial titled Eroding Trust and Collaboration . "Given the information available in the public domain, the scientific community could easily conclude that this is a xenophobic program to harm Chinese scientists and cut off international scientific cooperation. The federal government needs to figure out a way to let the NIH and the institutions reassure the community that this is all worth it," the editorial concluded. Read the Science report at https://bit.ly/3oWH1eY and its editorial at https://bit.ly/3z24z40 Heritage Month and Educational Videos/Events 1. White House Forum on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders On May 3, 2023, the White House celebrated Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with a community-wide program in Washington, DC. This historic forum on Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities features Biden-Harris Administration officials, groundbreaking artists, and trailblazers. Watch the video at https://bit.ly/3BwrPZ9 (video 4:35:34) 2. Exclusion: The Shared Asian American Experience According to a video produced by the 1990 Institute, America has been represented as an open society that welcomes immigrants to a land of opportunities. Many immigrants from Asia came to find a better life for their family, escaping from poverty, prosecution, colonialism, and other political atrocities. But America did not receive them with open arms. Throughout history, people from Asia have been excluded, discriminated against, subjected to violence, and prevented from becoming American citizens. Laws were passed that kept them from voting, owning land, marrying the person they loved, and seeing their relatives again. Though coming from different countries and cultures, the pioneering Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, Indians, Filipinos, and more Asians who arrived here each faced similar conditions of exclusion, which forged the beginnings of a common, shared Asian experience in America. This educational video takes you through exclusion experiences that Asians endured then and what they continue to face as Americans now. Watch the video at https://bit.ly/42I4BLq (video 17:24) 0:00 Introduction 0:50 19th Century and Prior 6:36 20th Century 13:03 1965 Immigration Act 3. "Between Black & White: Asian Americans Speak Out" premieres on PBS In honor of Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the Sirica Initiative announced its newest film collaboration with WNET/PBS Between Black & White: Asian Americans Speak Out is premiering Thursday, May 18, 2023.The conversation about race in America is often between Black and White, leaving Asian Americans out of the dialogue. Between Black & White: Asian Americans Speak Out is a three-part series about communities building bridges, confronting racism, discovering surprising connections, and fighting hate – together.To celebrate each episode's launch, three events will be hosted this month, featuring distinguished speakers including President of Queens College, Frank Wu ; media mogul Paula Madison ; and first Filipina American Rabbi Mira Rivera . Watch the Between Black & White trailer at https://bit.ly/3pKsZh1 (video 0:35) 4. AANHPI Heritage Month Celebration in Guangzhou, China Los Angeles-Guangzhou Sister City Association and Asia Pacific and American Network will sponsor the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2023 Gala at the Garden Hotel, Guangzhou, China, on May 27, 2023. The event honors Paula Williams Madison 's work on creating the Finding Samuel Lowe documentary and book and enlightening the public on the immigrant experience, family separation, and family connections, all common themes shared by Asian Americans. Paula Williams Madison and Luo Man Kwan will be keynote speakers. 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 May 18, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #311 Stand w Asian Americans; Rights Tool Kit; Privacy at Risk; Trump Policies on Science+ #311 Stand w Asian Americans; Rights Tool Kit; Privacy at Risk; Trump Policies on Science+ In This Issue #311 · SwAA: Justice and Equality Through Law, Education, and Community · AALDEF: Immigrant Rights Toolkit · U.S. Personal Information and Privacy at Risk Abroad and at Home · WP : Trump Policies Sow Chaos, Confusion Across Scientific Community · News and Activities for the Communities SwAA: Justice and Equality Through Law, Education, and Community In the aftermath of the 2021 Atlanta spa shootings, where six Asian women were among the victims, Stand with Asian Americans (SWAA) emerged to combat anti-Asian hate and advocate for justice. In 2022, SwAA launched the Workplace Justice Initiative to address workplace discrimination, bias, and barriers that Asian Americans face in professional settings. Its mission is to protect and advance the rights of Asian Americans against discrimination at the workplace through three key activities: · Power of Law – SwAA provides legal support through a discrimination reporting portal, direct legal services, and a public relations strategy to raise awareness and advocate for workplace justice. · Education – The organization equips individuals and employers with human resources tools, educational workshops, and panels such as Shattering the Myth of Asian Passivity, Know Your Rights, and Leadership Empowerment to foster inclusion and leadership opportunities. · Community – SwAA supports mental health initiatives and amplifies stories to strengthen solidarity and resilience within the Asian American community. If you or anyone you know is experiencing racial discrimination at work or in business, you may reach out to SwAA for legal, education, and community support. SwAA's discrimination portal containing resources is here , and ways to support the SwAA mission here . Michelle Lee , President, General Counsel and Board Chair, and Brian Pang , Chief Operating Officer and Head of Partnerships will speak at the next APA Justice monthly meeting on March 3, 2025. AALDEF: Immigrant Rights Toolkit During the APA Justice monthly meeting on February 3, 2025, Bethany Li , Execuitve Director of Asian American Legal and Education Defense Fund (AALDEF), offered an Immigrant Rights Toolkit designed to inform individuals about their legal rights, particularly concerning expedited removal procedures. This toolkit is part of AALDEF's broader Immigrant Rights Program, which provides legal representation, policy advocacy, community education, and organizing support for Asian immigrants across various backgrounds. The program aims to promote humane and dynamic immigration laws and policies that uphold the dignity of all migrants. Here are some of the links to AALDEF's Immigrant Rights Toolkit : · Know your rights if you are detained and facing expedited removal (AALDEF) · Use this tool to request immigration documents to help prepare you against ICE (AALDEF) · Know your rights for dealing with ICE (Immigrant Defense Project) · Know your rights during an ICE check-in (Know Your Fight) · Know your rights if ICE comes to your workplace (National Day Laborer Organizing Network) · Know your rights as a worker, regardless of your immigration status (AALDEF) · Watch these videos about dealing with ICE in different scenarios (We Have Rights) · Print pocket cards to hand to ICE if they approach you (Immigrant Legal Resource Center) · Learn and stay updated on what the Trump Administration has done so far (Guttentag, Immigration Policy Tracking Project) U.S. Personal Information and Privacy at Risk Abroad and at Home According to an exclusive report by the Washington Post on February 7, 2025, security officials in the United Kingdom have demanded that Apple create a back door allowing them to retrieve all the content any Apple user worldwide has uploaded to the cloud, which if implemented would undermine Apple’s privacy pledge to its users. According to the report, the UK government has issued a "technical capability notice" to Apple under the Investigatory Powers Act, commonly known as the "Snoopers' Charter." The notice mandates that Apple create a backdoor to its encrypted iCloud services, enabling law enforcement agencies to access user data. Apple has consistently maintained that introducing such backdoors would compromise user privacy and global cybersecurity. In response to the UK's demand, Apple is reportedly considering discontinuing some of its services in the UK rather than compromising its encryption standards.Read the Washington Post report: https://wapo.st/3CHgF7U Here at home in the United States according to multiple media reports, the "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) under billionaire Elon Musk has gained access to databases at the Treasury , Education and Labor departments that contain sensitive data about Americans, such as Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and financial transactions. Federal officials have been terminated or forced to resign for protecting access to these critical data systems. Unions, students and public interest groups have filed lawsuits alleging the administration of violating privacy laws by allowing DOGE access to the databases. On February 6, 2025, Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia restricted access to a Treasury Department payments system that various DOGE surrogates had infiltrated at the direction of Elon Musk. In her ruling on Alliance for Retried Americans v. Bessent (1:25-cv-00313) , the judge stated that the defendants cannot “provide access to any payment record or payment system of records maintained by or within the Bureau of the Fiscal Service.” Tom Krause and Marko Elez , two DOGE-linked “special government employees” at the Treasury Department, were granted “read-only” access to Bureau of Fiscal Service systems “as needed for the performance” of their duties. According to The Washington Post on February 7, the Treasury Department is appointing Krause as assistant secretary, replacing David A. Lebryk , who resigned after opposing Krause’s efforts to access senstive government payment systems—a move Lebryk deemed illegal. Booz Allen Hamilton, a contractor running a threat intelligence center for the Treasury Department, reported that DOGE’s access to the payment network should be “immediately” suspended as it represented an “unprecedented insider threat risk.” Bloomberg later reported that the Booz Allen Hamilton's subcontractor had been dismissed.On February 7, 2025, the New York Times reported that U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer in the case of State of New York v. Donald J. Trump (1:25-cv-01144) issued an emergency order temporarily restricting access by DOGE to the Treasury Department’s payment and data systems, saying there was a risk of “irreparable harm.” Judge Engelmayer ordered any such official who was granted access to the systems since January 20 to “destroy any and all copies of material downloaded from the Treasury Department’s records and systems.” He also restricted the government from granting access to “special government employees.”Several members of Congress have publicly expressed concerns regarding Elon Musk's DOGE gaining access to the U.S. Treasury's federal payment systems. Congressman Bill Foster said in a February 3 statement , "Elon Musk is an unelected oligarch with no regard for national security, conflicts of interest, or ethical standards. Americans deserve answers as to why his team was given unrestricted access to the U.S. Treasury payment system, which gives them the ability to spy on U.S. treasury payments to private American citizens, as well as Musk's business competitors. This power grab is corrupt and unprecedented, and my colleagues and I are doing everything we can to put a halt to this." On February 7, 2025, District Court Judge John D. Bates denied the motion for a temporary restraining order in the case of American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations v. Department of Labor (1:25-cv-00339) . The AFL-CIO contends that granting DOGE access to Department of Labor systems could lead to conflicts of interest, especially concerning sensitive information related to investigations of Musk's companies, including Tesla, SpaceX, and The Boring Company. They argue that DOGE's involvement might compromise the integrity of these investigations and potentially expose confidential data. Judge Bates' ruling stated that the union did not demonstrate sufficient harm resulting from the Department of Labor's actions. The judge ordered that the parties shall file a proposed preliminary-injunction motion briefing schedule by not later than February 12, 2025. The Education Department case, University of California Student Assocation v. Carter (1:25-cv-00354) , is pending. The Univrsity of California Stucent Association is the official systemwide student advocacy organization representing over 285,000 students across all ten University of California campuses.Two groups of FBI agents have sued the Justice Department to block any public release of a list of thousands of employees who worked on investigations tied to President Donald Trump or the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. On February 6, 2025, U.S. District Judge Jia M. Cobb of the District of Columbia ordered the consolidation of Federal Bureau of Investigation Agents Assocation v. Department of Justice (1:25-cv-00328) and Does 1-9 v. Department of Justice (1:25-cv-00325) . On February 7, Judge Cobb issued a temporary restraining order (TRO), which had been mutually proposed by the parties. The TRO prohibits the government from publicly releasing any list before the court rules on whether to grant a preliminary injunction. The briefings for a preliminary injunction will be filed by March 21, 2025.As of February 9, 2025, the number of legal challenges to Trump administration actions reported by the Just Security Litigation Tracker has increased to 41.On February 7, 2025, the Washington Post reported the following summary of where Trump action court cases stand: WP : Trump Policies Sow Chaos, Confusion Across Scientific Community According to the Washington Post on February 6, 2025, President Donald Trump 's executive orders targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within federally funded programs have led to significant concerns in the scientific community. The National Science Foundation (NSF) suspended grant disbursements, leaving researchers without salaries. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) removed materials on clinical trial diversity from its website, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) took down tools and data related to health disparities, including the Social Vulnerability Index and the Environmental Justice Index. These actions have disrupted ongoing research and raised fears about political interference in scientific endeavors. Dr. Sudip Parikh , CEO of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), expressed concern, stating, "The scientific community is deeply troubled by these developments, which threaten the integrity and progress of our research."On February 5, 2025, Dr. Parikh testified at a hearing of the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on The State of U.S. Science and Technology: Ensurig Global Leadership . His written testimony emphasized the importance of a strong and adaptable American science and technology enterprise, highlighting the role of research institutions, industry, and the workforce in driving innovation and prosperity. Dr. Parikh stressed that the U.S. faces challenges from accelerating technological change, existential threats to public health and security, and growing international competition, particularly from China. He called for a comprehensive approach to strengthening the U.S. science and technology sector, advocating for reduced inefficiencies, investment in workforce development, and strategic research commitments. He also warned against actions that undermine the scientific community, such as spending freezes or policies that alienate international talent. Dr. Parikh concluded by urging the U.S. to adapt to new global realities and secure its future leadership in science and technology.Part of his testimony says,"The American science and technology enterprise is strong, but its continued strength is not guaranteed. We must be proactive in implementing our vision by being open to change and disruption without dismantling our foundational principles and strengths."Through an enterprise that includes industry, academia, and sources of capital to scale, we have turned the discoveries of the past 80 years into technological innovations that have increased our prosperity and security."Many of the structures and institutions that have contributed to our achievements are outdated. They were the result of a vision after World War II that the investments in science and technology we had made during a time of war should be continued during a time of peace. Over generations, we have made substantial and sustained federal investments in fundamental research — much of it carried out at our universities, research institutes, and national laboratories where research and education take place side-by-side. Industry translated and scaled discoveries into technologies and products with intellectual property protections that incentivized continued innovation. It was a relatively simple vision with profound consequences. It created the modern world."But we are at a crossroads. "Three things are happening at once. First, the pace of change is accelerating so rapidly that the tools and strategies that brought us here are insufficient to ensure our future. Transformational technologies are reshaping our way of life. Second, we face existential threats to our health; food supply and water security; environmental resilience; energy production, utilization, and storage; and our overall wellbeing. Third, more than ever, we are competing with other nations —particularly China — that rival us in talent, infrastructure, and capital investment and that can put our economic prosperity and national security at risk. China trains more scientists and engineers than we do; files for more international patents than we do; publishes just as many highly cited scientific papers as we do; and is leading us in several critical research and technology areas. "I know for all those here today what the answer is: We want America to lead."The good news is that we have a suite of significant assets that our nation can leverage. "We must recognize that the enterprise as a whole — from federal investment to workforce to industry investment to tax and regulatory policy — is what differentiates our nation from all others. "In addition to these holistic recommendations, we must stop hurting our own enterprise with self inflicted wounds. Two examples illustrate the point. "First, while we must recognize the global competition and take it seriously, we must not demonize people or international collaboration in the process. Our colleagues of Chinese, Indian, and other immigrant backgrounds make up a substantial percentage of the American science and technology workforce. They are colleagues and friends and deserving of respect. We must ensure that our drive to compete does not alter our humanity. When we make America less welcoming to scientists who are immigrants or those who have been here for generations, we only hurt our own competitiveness and opportunity for prosperity. In addition, science is a global activity. When we close ourselves off to international collaboration, we lose visibility to advances made around the world and slow progress for everyone."Second, last week, the announcement of an abrupt spending freeze on science and technology funding broke trust and hurt the S&T enterprise. This is the kind of action that, even if brief, can have a lasting negative impact. Many scientists, particularly those early in their careers, live paycheck-to-paycheck. I was most saddened to hear from these scientists who began questioning whether they should even continue their scientific pursuits or switch careers. Scientists and engineers are resilient, and I have no doubt that most will persevere because they care deeply about solving problems and better understanding the world around them. But every time we stop and start, lose focus, break continuity across funding and intellectual property protections, we lose some of the next generation of science and technology talent and hurt America’s competitiveness. "The stakes are enormous, the necessary actions are clear, and the time is now."Read Dr. Parikh's testimony: https://bit.ly/40S7iug News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/02/10 Federal Employees: What are my whistleblower rights?2025/02/12 Federal Employees: How might my benefits be affected?2025/02/13 China Initiative: Impacts and Implications2025/02/13-15 2025 AAAS Annual Meeting2025/02/16 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/02/18 Protecting Our Organizations: 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Compliance Virtual Training2025/02/23 World Premier of "Quixotic Professor Qiu" with Xiaoxing Xi2025/03/02 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/03/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/03/12 MSU Webinar on China InitiativeVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. # # # 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 February 10, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

October 22, 2019 The American Physcial Society announced on October 22, 2019 that Temple University Physics professor Xiaoxing Xi is the recipient of the 2020 Andrei Sakharov Prize . The Prize is awarded every two years by the American Physical Society and recognizes "oustanding leadership of scientists in upholding human rights." Citation: "For articulate and steadfast advocacy in support of the US scientific community and open scientific exchange, and especially his efforts to clarify the nature of international scientific collaboration in cases involving allegations of scientific espionage." The struggle of Chinese American scientists against racial profiling by the U.S. government, as symbolized by Professor Xiaoxing Xi, is now recognized to be a human rights issue. Previous Next Professor Xiaoxing Xi Receives Andrei Sakharov Prize

Newsletter - #134 PennLaw Acts on Amy Wax; US-China Hostility Hurts People; UCA Convention; 5/2 Meeting #134 PennLaw Acts on Amy Wax; US-China Hostility Hurts People; UCA Convention; 5/2 Meeting Back View PDF July 21, 2022 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #118 CAPAC Meets President; Senator Wicker on DOC; Letter to Olsen; Editorials; Anming Hu #118 CAPAC Meets President; Senator Wicker on DOC; Letter to Olsen; Editorials; Anming Hu Back View PDF March 8, 2022 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #205 9/11 Meeting; No to Discriminatory Laws; March on Washington; "A Life Well Lived;" + #205 9/11 Meeting; No to Discriminatory Laws; March on Washington; "A Life Well Lived;" + In This Issue #205 2023/09/11 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Tell Congress NO To Discriminatory Land Laws; Is China Really Buying Up U.S. Farmland? NPR Interview UCA on March on Washington Vigil Honors "A Life Well Lived" at The University of North Carolina News and Activities for The Communities 2023/09/11 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, September 11, 2023, starting at 1:55 pm ET. In addition to updates by Nisha Ramachandran , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC); John Yang 杨重远 , President and Executive Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC; and Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), confirmed and invited speakers include: Clay Zhu 朱可亮 (confirmed) , Partner, DeHeng Law Offices 德恒律师事务所; Founder, Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance 华美维权同盟, to report on the latest developments of the lawsuit against Florida's discriminatory alien land law Deborah Seligsohn (confirmed) , Senior Associate (non-resident), Center for Strategic and International Studies; Assistant Professor, Villanova University on the case for US-China Science and Technology Agreement (STA) https://bit.ly/3OMc8En Steve Kivelson (confirmed), Prabhu Goel Family Professor of Physics Luke Blossom Professor, Stanford University, on the joint letter with Professor Peter Michelson to President Joe Biden and members of the National Security Council on renewing the STA https://bit.ly/44xTNPX Sudip Parikh (invited) , Chief Executive Officer and Executive Publisher Science Family of Journals at AAAS, on moving open science, basic research, and US-China collaboration forward in today's environment. Ting Wu (invited) , Advisor, Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, Office of the Chief of Staff, The White House, on the letter to the President and more The virtual monthly meeting is by invitation only. 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 On August 24, 2023, Stanford University Professors Steven Kivelson and Peter Michelson sent a letter to President Joe Biden and the Members of the US National Security Council to express their strong support for renewing the Agreement Between the United States and China on Cooperation in Science and Technology , which was signed by U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Chinese Premier Deng Xiaoping on January 31, 1979. Their letter was endorsed by over 1,000 faculty and scholars from many US universities including multiple Nobel Laureates, members of the National Academies, and of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Read the letter: https://bit.ly/44xTNPX . Read the APA Justice coverage: https://bit.ly/3E9NmI8 Tell Congress NO To Discriminatory Land Laws; Is China Really Buying Up U.S. Farmland? NPR Interview 1. Tell Congress NO To Discriminatory Land Laws On August 25, 2023, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) put out a call for the public to tell Congress: Say NO to Discriminatory Land Laws."Dangerous laws are being introduced at the state and federal level right now that use 'national security' as an excuse to discriminate against immigrants from China. In Florida, for example, Governor DeSantis has banned many Chinese immigrants from buying a house in much of the state – a move that is both unconstitutional and unfortunately, not new."This type of 'alien land law' should sound alarm bells for all of us. From the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, to the WWII incarceration of Japanese Americans, to the ongoing post-9/11 surveillance of Black and Brown communities – we’ve seen how such racist policies created under the guise of 'national security' are racist and used to scapegoat entire communities."We cannot allow history to repeat itself: Tell your Members of Congress to speak out against any law that falsely equates Chinese people with the Chinese government."Thanks to ACLU, take one easy step to tell Congress NO to discriminatory land laws at https://bit.ly/3qRsFOh 2. CNBC: Is China Really Buying Up U.S. Farmland? According to NBC News on August 26, 2023, state and federal lawmakers are pushing to regulate foreign ownership of U.S. real estate because of fears that Chinese entities are creating a national security risk by amassing swaths of U.S. farmland, some of it near sensitive sites.A review by NBC News of thousands of documents filed with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), however, shows very few purchases by Chinese buyers in the past year and a half — fewer than 1,400 acres in a country with 1.3 billion acres of agricultural land. In fact, the total amount of U.S. agricultural land owned by Chinese interests is less than three-hundredths of 1%.But the review also reveals a federal oversight system in which reporting of foreign ownership is lax and enforcement minimal. NBC News was able to review filings on foreign purchases and leases of agricultural land, meaning both farm and forestry land, from 35 states since Jan. 1, 2022. The vast majority of the transactions were European wind power companies leasing land from U.S. farmers to build wind turbines. One Italian wind company disclosed 40 new leases of farmland in just one rural Illinois county. The same company had leases in at least four other states.In those 35 states, NBC News found 11 purchases by Chinese entities that had been reported to the USDA from Jan. 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023.Several of the disclosures were not recent sales, and at least one was a repeat of a previous disclosure. Another was not reported to the government till it had been revealed in the media.Historically only about 3.1%, or 40 million acres, of the nation’s 1.3 billion acres of agricultural land has been owned by foreigners. Almost half of the foreign-owned land is forest. USDA records show that a third of the 40 million foreign-owned acres are held by Canadian interests, while Chinese interests hold less than 400,000 acres.In the name of national security, members of Congress have called for tougher laws to regulate foreign land purchases, criticizing existing efforts by the USDA to police disclosure.In late July, the Senate passed a ban on China, Russia, North Korea and Iran buying American agricultural land, but it’s unclear if the amendment will make it into the final defense spending bill that will go to a vote in Congress this fall.Read the NBC News report: https://cnb.cx/3sGWSAk 3. NPR: Slew of new landownership bills are reminiscent of anti-Asian Alien Land Laws On August 28, 2023, National Public Radio (NPR) talked with legal expert Edgar Chen , Special Policy Adviser for the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), about the recent slew of legislation aimed at restricting U.S. land ownership for Chinese citizens and businesses.The following are excerpts of his responses:"Fear of so-called malign influence by the Chinese Communist Party over American agriculture or fear that China will use land for spying purposes has often been cited as the basis for introduction of these bills. But to be clear, several of these bills, as introduced, also placed restrictions on the ability of ordinary Chinese citizens to purchase residential real estate, like condos."In Florida, a law recently enacted there would prevent persons from certain countries that are deemed adversaries to the U.S. from purchasing agricultural land, land near military bases or critical infrastructure and - so most habitable areas. And that would ban persons from countries like China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela or Cuba from doing so. But that Florida law has an entire separate section dedicated to restricting those from China. And that law even has higher penalties for those violating the Chinese section than for other sections. So there are felony provisions for violating the Chinese section of the Florida law and misdemeanors for the other sections."The Chinese spy balloon in February of this year doesn't help matters. That provided a tangible illustration of the ongoing geopolitical threat posed by China. But again, these laws that we've seen introduced do nothing to address that particular threat head on. I don't see how banning someone from buying a condo in the downtown area will address that particular threat."The problem is there is a false moral equivalency that equates ordinary Chinese citizens, even those with no ties to the Chinese Communist Party, as essentially being agents of those regimes. So these laws assume that if you immigrate from China, your loyalty is to China. And that's extraordinarily harmful to the broader Asian American community in this country."This country has already seen this movie before. We've experienced the discriminatory effects of these laws. The court that recently upheld the Florida law cited to a widely discredited 1923 precedent which contains language about those who are eligible for citizenship and therefore entitled to purchase property. And that 1923 Supreme Court precedent says that Natives of European countries are eligible. Japanese, Chinese and Malays are not. That is the type of case law that is being cited to. And as an Asian American and as a lawyer, I'm stunned that the court would continue to rely on a case that contains so much discriminatory reasoning. "As legal precedent, those alien land laws helped set the groundwork for the incarceration of Japanese Americans during the Second World War. So for the Asian American community, we have seen this. This slippery slope has already come and, we thought, gone."Listen to the interview and read the entire transcript at: https://n.pr/45Sa4k6 . Follow APA Justice coverage of Alien Land Bills at: https://bit.ly/43epBcl UCA on March on Washington According to a summary report on the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington by United Chinese Americans (UCA), several hundred members and partners joined the March at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC on August 26, including nine members of its Board of Directors. UCA made customized placards and banners such as "We Belong Here", "Against Asian Hate", "One Common Dream" and wore unified UCA T-Shirts. At the same time, as a symbol of anti-Asian hate, thousands of Yellow Whistles were distributed on the spot. The Yellow Whistles were described as "a symbol of self-preservation and solidarity in the fight against racism and anti-Asian violence," and feature a yellow color that "has been used as a symbol of hateful mentality against Asians." Haipei Shue 薛海培 , UCA President, was invited to have a cordial and in-depth conversation with Martin Luther King III and his daughter-in-law, Arndrea Waters King , and discussed the development of the American civil rights movement and cooperation.Haipei Shue remarked afterwards: "Today, I participated in the historic 60th anniversary March on Washington. I met with the King family and had a good talk. I expressed my gratitude from the Chinese community, telling them that without the March on Washington in 1963 and the vigorous civil rights movement in the 1960s, there would be no immigration law reform in 1965, and thus many Chinese would not be able to settle down in the United States today. I further told his family about the current difficult situation faced by the Chinese community such as the 'China Initiative' and the discriminatory alien land bills, as well as UCA outreach to various ethnic groups, including NAACP and the Jewish community. The King family is very interested in connecting with UCA to continue bilateral communications. The Chinese community was often absent in the past social and political movements in the United States. Today, more than 100 people from over ten states participated in this March with high visibility. It is a significant milestone worthy of everyone's pride! UCA calls for the launch of a new civil rights movement of our generation! Thanks again for the participation and concern of friends from far and near!" Steven Pei 白先慎 , Founding Chair of UCA, said, "Chinese Americans have a long history of civil rights movement, such as the Yik Wo v. Hopkins case in 1886." From participating in the previous March on Washington and building intercultural partnerships, advocating for the creation of racial studies, to participating in the Black Lives Matter protests, the Asian American community does not stop for civil rights for all. Early in the 2020 pandemic, UCA hosted a summit of Asian, Black and Jewish community leaders to discuss the challenges each community faces and ways to work together to address injustice. Chen Jian 陈健 , Founding Director of UCA came to the Lincoln Memorial early in the morning to provide logistical support. She said that "we Chinese Americans are facing various challenges at present. But we firmly believe that, as Martin Luther King Jr. conveyed, the dream of equality and justice must be inherited by each of us. This mission transcends skin color, transcends background, and is integrated into the veins of our great country. Let us work together to overcome difficulties and write a better and more inclusive future."Read the UCA report: https://bit.ly/47WGV9d . Read APA Justice's coverage of the 2023 March on Washington: https://bit.ly/3OVojxs Vigil Honors "A Life Well Lived" at The University of North Carolina According to the University of North Carolina (UNC) on August 31, 2023, thousands wore ribbons and lit candles at the Dean E. Smith Center service in memory of Zijie Yan 严资杰 , a brilliant, soft-spoken faculty member and nanoscience researcher killed in a campus shooting.The vigil at the Smith Center allowed the Carolina community to come together to process the fear and uncertainty caused by the shooting and resolve to be “Carolina Strong” in the wake of the tragedy.“His loss will be deeply felt by all those who knew him and loved him,” Chancellor Kevin M. Guskiewicz said to the mourners, who included Yan’s mother and two young children. “Dr. Yan left this world a better place for his brilliance, his commitment and the lives that he affected. That’s a life well lived and a life ended far, far too soon.”An estimated 5,000 faculty, staff, students and community members attended the vigil, and another 10,000 watched the livestream from the Smith Center. Many wore blue ribbons and held candles that were handed out at the Smith Center entrance. Music professors played somber selections on cello and violin as mourners filled the seats. Leah Cox , vice provost of equity and inclusion and chief diversity officer, reminded audience members of the mental health resources available for faculty, staff and students. “Let us never forget that we are truly one Carolina where hope always triumphs over fear, where inclusivity arises above difference,” she said.According to the South China Morning Post on August 30, 2023, a doctoral candidate Tailei Qi 齐太磊 , 34, was charged with first-degree murder and possession of a firearm on educational property. He was ordered held without bail until his next scheduled court appearance on September 18.Read the UNC report: https://unc.live/45BgVP4 . Read the South China Morning Post report: https://bit.ly/3PnoLGa United Chinese Americans (UCA) issued the following report in Chinese: 8月30日星期三晚，大约五千名北卡罗来纳大学（UNC）教堂山分校校园和社区成员，聚集在史密斯中心（Dean E. Smith Center）举行烛光守夜活动，纪念两天前在校园不幸遇害的严资杰教授。校长古斯基维奇（Kevin M. Guskiewicz）在讲话中表示，“所有认识他和爱他的人，都会对他的去世深感悲痛，严以他的才华、他的承诺以及他所带来的影响，让这个世界变得更美好，这样一个美丽的生命如此戛然而止，令人痛心。”音乐系教授演奏了大提琴和小提琴的忧郁音乐，陪伴在场的人们凭吊和追思。据报道，身为纳米科学研究人员，严是一位才华横溢、为人谦和的教授，有两个年幼的孩子。2005年在华中科大以计算机和材料工程本科双学位毕业后，严先后在纽约和芝加哥攻读硕士、博士和做博士后研究，2019年起在UNC担任副教授。他生前所在的艺术与科学学院、应用物理科学系系主任丁格曼斯（Theo Dingemans）回忆说，严是他见过的最友善的人之一，也是一位杰出的科学家，“他的研究计划突破了纳米科学的界限……我确信，这些研究最终将改变世界。”枪击案凶嫌齐太磊是严教授手下的博士在读学生，被控一级谋杀罪和在教育场所持有武器，不得保释，这两项罪名都是重罪，但目前对于动机尚没有确切的信息。根据2010年中国媒体的报道，他是河南省高考状元之一，家境拮据，父母务农，他在武汉大学读物理学，在进入UNC之前与路易斯安那州立大学获得材料科学与工程硕士学位。凶杀案引起华人社区的热议，有一些猜测是在背后存在长期的心理问题，呼吁学生注重精神健康并善用相关资源。 News and Activities for The Communities Mark Your Calendar - National API Elected Officials Summit API Coalition and Civic Leadership USA (CLUSA) will convene the Inaugural National API Elected Officials Summit on November 18-19, 2023, immediately following The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders Meeting. This summit aims to facilitate the exchange of experiences, ideas, and the establishment of enduring relationships geared towards mutual support. The event will be held at The Westin St. Francis Hotel, 335 Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94102. Hundreds of current Asian Pacific Islander (API) elected officials, representatives from APEC member countries and regions, and the world's top business AANHPI elected officials will participate in the event. Contact Andy Li, President of API Coalition and CLUSA, at andy.j.li@gmail.com or (860)-263-9540 for additional details. APA Justice has also posted the event at its newly created Community Calendar: https://bit.ly/45KGyga Back View PDF September 4, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Photo Album Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Explore Rally Against Discriminatory Housing Laws Tallahassee, Florida, July 18, 2023

Newsletter - #249 4/19 C100 Conference/Miami Rally; FISA Vote; Dr. Underwood; Citizenship Question; + #249 4/19 C100 Conference/Miami Rally; FISA Vote; Dr. Underwood; Citizenship Question; + In This Issue #249 · Committee of 100 Conference and Miami Rally on April 19, 2024 · Second Vote on Reauthorization of FISA Coming Up in House? · Dr. Robert Underwood on AANHPISI and Bogus Rhetoric of Espionage · Opposition to Citizenship Question in Future Census - Founding Fathers were "Illegals" · News and Activities for the Communities Committee of 100 Conference and Miami Rally on April 19, 2024 1. Committee of 100 Conference in New York City This session on "The Impact of U.S.-China Tensions on Asian Americans in Government" in the Committee of 100 Conference was inadvertently left out of the previous newsletter. The conference will be held at the Marriott Marquis in New York City on April 19, 2024. In an environment where U.S.-China geopolitical tensions continue to escalate, Asian Americans serving in the federal government often find themselves unfairly treated when it comes to postings and assignments. The panel will explore the nuanced potential barriers to career advancement that spin from the tensions with China, the complexities of obtaining security clearances and the uncomfortable scrutiny regarding loyalty that Asian Americans endure due to concerns over foreign influence.Speakers: · Carol Lam , Former United States Attorney, Southern District of California · Chuck Rosenberg , Former United States Attorney, Eastern District of Virginia · Andy Kim , Representative, United States Congress · Jiashen You , PhD, Chief Data Officer, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Moderator: · Paula Madison , Chair & CEO, 88 Madison Media Inc. For more information about the C100 conference and registration: https://bit.ly/4d9giAD 2. Community Rally Against Florida's Anti-Chinese Alien Land Law in Miami On April 19, 2024, a community rally will be held at 99 NE 4th Street, Miami, as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit will hold a hearing on the Shen vs. Simpson lawsuit. The rally supports overturning Florida's hateful and discriminatory property law known as SB 264, which unconstitutionally bans many Chinese immigrants from buying homes in Florida.The rally is sponsored by · Florida Asian American Justice Alliance (FAAJA) · United Chinese Americans (UCA) · Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance (CALDA) · League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Florida · Stop AAPI Hate Second Vote on Reauthorization of FISA Coming Up in House? According to the Washington Post , the House reauthorized a part of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) in a bipartisan vote of 273-147 on Friday, April 12, 2024. The reauthorization window was shortened from five to two years. The post-9/11 provision known as Section 702 of FISA gave U.S. spy agencies the ability to collect without a warrant the communications of noncitizens abroad who are suspected of threatening U.S. national security or whose emails and text messages might provide foreign intelligence. At issue is whether spy agencies can analyze communications by Americans who may have interacted with foreign targets, which privacy advocates on the far right and left say is unconstitutional.An amendment to require a warrant if the FBI wants to analyze Americans’ communications swept up under Section 702 was not adopted because of a tie vote of 212-212.Privacy advocates decried the bill’s passage without a warrant requirement. Elizabeth Goitein , senior director of the Brennan Center for Justice’s Liberty and National Security Program, characterized lawmakers who supported the vote for passage of the bill as “a craven betrayal of the Americans who placed their faith in these members to protect their rights.”Stark opposition from another bipartisan group of lawmakers moved far-right members to compel a motion to reconsider the legislation, forcing the House to vote the following week on defending the measure and stalling its passage to the Senate, which must act before a lapse occurs on April 19, 2024.Read the Washington Post report : https://wapo.st/4aTgp13 . During the APA Justice monthly meeting on April 8, 2024, Joanna YangQing Derman , Director, Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security Program, Advancing Justice | AAJC, reported on the fast pace movement on the FISA Section 702 reauthorization legislation. The second vote in the House, as reported by the Washington Post , may be procedural.On April 14, 2024, the Brennan Center published a one-pager detailing how the Reforming Intelligence and Securing America Act (RISAA) authorizes the largest expansion of surveillance on domestic soil since the Patriot Act. According to the one-pager, the administration obtained approval from the FISA Court on April 4 to continue conducting Section 702 surveillance until April of 2025. According to the government itself, that approval will “grandfather” Section 702 surveillance for a year even if Section 702 itself were to lapse. "The Senate must not let a meaningless deadline pressure it into creating a surveillance state," the one-pager said. Dr. Robert Underwood on AANHPISI and Bogus Rhetoric of Espionage Dr. Robert Underwood gave remarks on two topics during the APA Justice monthly meeting on April 8, 2024. He joined the meeting from Guam around 4:00 am Chamorro standard time. It is the only time zone that is named after a people. On January 24, 2000, Congress passed the Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands Standard Time Zone Act. The Act established the Chamorro standard time zone for Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The term Chamorro refers to the culture and people of that area. Dr. Underwood is former President of the University of Guam and former Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC). He is currently a Member of the President's Advisory Commission AA and NHPI, serving on the data disaggregation and higher education subcommittee. One topic the Commission has been advocating is higher education, particularly the Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander serving institutions (AANHPISI). There are almost 200 such institutions across the country. About half of the AANHPI enrollment goes to AANHPISI institutions. Based on FY 2022 appropriations, AANHPISI institutions would receive approximately $75,000.There is a wide variety of minority serving institution programs in almost every federal agency. However, when AANHPISI applies, sometimes the agencies are hesitant because they do not really understand this network, which has been around for a couple of decades. There are calls for advocacy and some actions by federal agencies on this basis. In Guam and the Northern Marianas, one of the issues that has surfaced is the number of undocumented immigrants coming from the Northern Marianas to Guam on boats.The Northern Marianas is also a US territory, but they have a unique agreement where people can come from China without a visa as tourists and stay for 2 weeks. In the past couple years, about 100 to 200 people have rented a boat or get dropped from boats into Guam.According to the Stars and Stripes , there had been 118 unlawful or attempted unlawful entries by Chinese citizens to Guam since 2022 - 85 in 2022, 27 in 2023, and six were reported for the first two months of 2024.Some think tanks and Congressional members have surfaced the narrative that this stream of potential Chinese migrants is coming in to conduct espionage on military facilities in Guam, despite the fact that immigration authorities in Honolulu which oversee Guam and the Marianas have stated repeatedly there is no reason to believe the espionage allegation, Even though there is no basis for the espionage and no one has been charged, everyone starts looking at each other trying to figure out what is going on and looking at the neighbors wondering why the neighbors are here. Dr. Underwood reiterated that the hype of espionage is bogus. There is no truth in it. They are just economic migrants looking for a job and better opportunities.It is very dispiriting and irresponsible to use a little bit of data to create a false impression. Dr. Underwood is working with a think tank called the Pacific Center for Island Security to do its best to bring full understanding to that situation. Dr. Underwood applauds the recent rally and continuing efforts against Florida's state law known as SB 846 that restricts academic exchange and collaborations, including the hiring of graduate students based on their national origin. Dr. Underwood suggests that this is an opportunity to generate community support and understanding across the country. Everything is a new opportunity.A summary for the monthly meeting is being prepared at this time. 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 . Opposition to Citizenship Question in Future Census - Founding Fathers were "Illegals" According to the Brennan Center for Justice on April 11, 2024, leading civil rights organizations and good government groups are pressing the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability to oppose the Equal Representation Act (H.R. 7109), a bill proposing to add a citizenship question to the 2030 Census and to exclude non-citizens from the national head count used to apportion the House. In a letter to Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) and Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-MD), the 74 signatories – which include the Brennan Center for Justice – detailed the serious constitutional and practical problems with the bill.As the letter explains, the proposal to exclude noncitizens from the apportionment count violates the Fourteenth Amendment, which requires a count of all persons living in the country. As a result, H.R. 7109 effectively proposes to amend the Constitution through legislation, in violation of the amendment process set forth in Article V.The letter goes on to explain that the bill would threaten the success of future censuses by undermining the Census Bureau’s ability to collect accurate population counts, because including a citizenship question on the census would dissuade non-citizens from being counted.Read the Brennan Center statement: https://bit.ly/3VYmmFM Founding Fathers Were "Illegals" According to Yahoo News , Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) schooled Rep. Gary Palmer after the Alabama Republican claimed that the Founding Fathers “never anticipated” having a mass number of people “illegally” come to America.The comments were made during a House Oversight Committee markup session where lawmakers addressed the Equal Representation Act, which — if passed — would require a citizenship question on the 2030 U.S. census and every census 10 years after that.“There was no immigration law when the Constitution was adopted at all. In fact, the only illegals in the country, at least according to the native population, were the people writing the Constitution,” said Raskin, a Constitution attorney.48 of the 56 signers of the Constitution were born in America when it was a British colony. Of the remaining 8, Two were born in England; two in Ireland; two in Scotland; one in Northern Ireland; and one in Wales.Read the Yahoo News report: https://yhoo.it/3Q2iQX1 News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2024/04/17 Racially Profiled for Being A Scientist: A Discussion of the US DOJ's China Initiative2024/04/18 Corky Lee's Asian America: Fifty Years of Photographic Justice2024/04/19 Committee of 100 Annual Conference and Gala2024/04/19 Appeals Court Hearing on Florida SB 2642024/04/19 Community Rally Against Florida's Anti-Chinese Alien Land Law2024/04/30 Understanding Implicit Bias and How to Combat It2024/05/02 AAGEN 2024 Executive Leadership Workshop2024/05/04 Corky Lee's Asian America: Fifty Years of Photographic Justice Visit https://bit.ly/45KGyga for event details.Visit the 2024 Congressional Calendar by Roll Call : https://bit.ly/4aw4iqU 2. Understanding Implicit Bias and How to Combat It WHAT: Understanding Implicit Bias and How to Combat It WHEN: April 30, 2024, 3:00 - 4:15 pm ET WHERE: Virtual event HOST: American Academy of Arts & Sciences INTRODUCTION: David W. Oxtoby, President, American Academy of Arts & Sciences SPEAKERS: · Frank Dobbin, Henry Ford II Professor of the Social Sciences; Chair of the Sociology Department, Harvard University · Jennifer L. Eberhardt, William R. Kimball Professor; Professor of Psychology; Cofounder and Codirector, Stanford SPARQ, Stanford University · Camara Phyllis Jones, Leverhulme Visiting Professor in Global Health and Social Medicine, King’s College London · Goodwin Liu, Associate Justice, California Supreme Court DESCRIPTION: Implicit bias is the residue of stereotyped associations and social patterns that are outside our conscious awareness but reinforce inequality in the world. The implications of implicit bias are present in every field, from law enforcement, to courts, education, medicine, and employment. Scientific inquiry has advanced our understanding of implicit bias in recent decades. It has also illuminated the limitations of certain cognitive measures and commonplace interventions, including some forms of diversity or implicit bias training used by corporations, universities, and other organizations. How can we improve our knowledge base on effective strategies to counteract bias and its negative impacts on our nation? What changes to organizational policies, procedures, and decision-making structures have shown promise? And how can technologies be leveraged? REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/4aVrrmi Back View PDF April 15, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

April 7, 2019 On April 7, the Committee of 100 (C100 百人会) issued a statement condemning racial profiling against Chinese Americans . The statement was broadly distributed to the media and read by C100 President Frank Wu during its annual conference in New York. The statement responds to a few high-level American government officials, respected media outlets, and opinion leaders who have stated or suggested in the last few years that all Chinese persons in America should be suspected of wrongdoing. However, "overzealous criminal prosecutions in recent years of innocent individuals such as Sherry Chen and Xiaoxing Xi, like Wen Ho Lee before them, have embarrassingly fallen apart, while ruining lives for no reason. Such targeting of individuals based on their ethnic heritage or national origin violates our shared American ideals. It simply has to stop." "Racial profiling is wrong and un-American in our nation of democracy." The statement concludes that "by standing up and speaking out for what is right and just, Chinese Americans can help lead the way in answering the call that is always before us as Americans: to embody more perfectly the ideals and principles of this great nation we call home." C100 pledges additional plans and actions beyond the released statement. A conference is scheduled for September 28, 2019 in East Palo Alto, California. Previous Next Committee of 100 Condemns Racial Profiling of Chinese Americans