Newsletter - #345 8/4 Meeting; Will Kim; Fed Data Integrity/Statistical System at Risk; Ed Dept Funding+ #345 8/4 Meeting; Will Kim; Fed Data Integrity/Statistical System at Risk; Ed Dept Funding+ In This Issue #345 · 2025/08/04 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · Alert: Korean Scientist with Green Card Detained · Trump Terminated Federal Data Integrity—Not Just the BLS Commissioner · Rob Santos on The Threat to the Federal Statistical System · Education Department Releases Grant Money · News and Activities for the Communities 2025/08/04 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held on Monday, August 4, 2025, starting at 1:55 pm ET.In addition to updates from: · Judith Teruya , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) · Joanna YangQing Derman , Program Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC · Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) We are honored by and welcome the following distinguished speakers: · Munira Abdullahi , Member, Ohio House of Representatives · Guangya Liu , Member, North Carolina House of Representatives · Min Fan , Executive Director, US Heartland China Association · Youngwoon Han , Network & Organizing Director, National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) · Daniel Chung , President, Korean American Bar Association of Northern California (KABANC) Congressman Al Green regrets that he will be unable to speak at the meeting due to the ongoing redistricting issue in Texas. He has agreed to return to a future meeting.Despite the late notice, Youngwoon Han and Daniel Chung have graciously accepted our invitation to speak. They will provide an update on Tae Heung 'Will' Kim, a Ph.D. student at Texas A&M University and Texas resident with a Green Card. For more background on Will Kim’s situation, please refer to the next article below.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 . Alert: Korean Scientist with Green Card Detained According to multiple media reports, Tae Heung "Will" Kim , is a South Korean green card holder. He has lived in the U.S. for 35 years, since age five, when his family emigrated from South Korea. He is currently pursuing a PhD at Texas A&M, where he is researching a vaccine for Lyme disease. Kim was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at San Francisco International Airport after returning from a family wedding in South Korea. Kim’s attorneys told reporters that they had no contact with Kim while he was detained at the airport for a week and had difficulties getting information from authorities, who initially denied Kim’s right to legal counsel. CBP later cited a 2011 marijuana possession charge as the basis for Kim's detention, despite his having completed community service. Kim was reportedly held in poor conditions, exceeding CBP’s 72-hour detention limit, and may have lacked access to his asthma medication. He has since been transferred to an ICE facility in Arizona. On July 29, 2025, the National Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NAKASEC) launched a “Release Will Now!” campaign to get Kim released. A weeklong Phone calls to Texas legislators had been organized starting July 30. Over 1,000 people have already signed a petition letter to Texas Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz . On July 30, 2025, the Korean American Bar Association of Northern California (KABANC) issued a statement strongly condemning the indefinite immigration detention of Will Kim without access to his attorney. Kim has remained in indefinite immigration detention since July 21. KABANC demands that he be immediately released from ICE and granted access to his attorney. Kim’s immigration lawyer, Karl Krooth , said that “it’s appalling to see a lawful permanent resident suffer detention for a week without access to counsel.” “While detained, CBP kept the lights on 24 hours per day, not allowing Will to see any daylight because the only time he was allowed near a window was at night,” Krooth said in a statement to the Daily Beast . Media Reports · 2025/07/31 Houston Chronicle: Texas A&M researcher in ICE custody following weeklong detention at San Francisco airport · 2025/07/29 Washington Post: Scientist on green card detained for a week without explanation, lawyer says · 2025/07/29 ABC News Korean PhD student detained in California despite green card, lawyer says · 2025/07/29 KBTX Immigration officials detain Texas A&M PhD student after attending brother’s wedding, report says · 2025/07/29 Daily Beast Scientist Trapped at Airport in ‘Inhumane’ Conditions With No Explanation Trump Terminated Federal Data Integrity—Not Just the BLS Commissioner President Donald Trump ’s abrupt firing of Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Commissioner Erika McEntarfer has ignited bipartisan outrage and fears over the politicization of federal data. According to multiple media outlets, Trump ousted McEntarfer after the latest jobs report showed hiring had slowed and prior months had been revised downward. He accused her—without evidence—of manipulating the data and emphasized that she was appointed by President Joe Biden . McEntarfer was confirmed in January 2024 by a bipartisan 86–8 Senate vote, including support from Republicans J.D. Vance and Marco Rubio , now serving in Trump's cabinet. She is a widely respected labor economist who previously served in nonpartisan roles at the Census Bureau, Treasury Department, and the White House Council of Economic Advisers.The reaction was swift and damning. Former Trump BLS Commissioner William Beach , now co-chair of the Friends of BLS, defended McEntarfer’s record, stating, “She is a very fine analyst and a good colleague.” In a joint statement, Beach and other leaders from the federal statistics community warned that Trump’s action “undermines the credibility of federal economic statistics” and risks setting the U.S. on a path similar to authoritarian regimes where official data loses public trust. Republican Senators Cynthia Lummis and Thom Tillis condemned the firing as reckless, while Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Bernie Sanders , called it authoritarian. Sanders cautioned that when leaders only accept good news, “it’s hard for us to deal with the problems, because we don’t know what is going on.”Beyond this singular firing, Trump’s broader record has intensified concerns. Federal data systems—long regarded as the global gold standard—are under mounting pressure from budget cuts, survey nonresponse, and politicized interference. The BLS alone has seen an 8% budget cut and up to 40% attrition, leading to the discontinuation of hundreds of critical statistical components. Experts like David Wilcox and Michael Strain warn that even small disruptions, such as mismeasuring inflation, could misallocate billions in Social Security payments. Simultaneously, over 400 changes have been made across federal databases, many erasing references to race, gender identity, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). As former U.S. Chief Data Scientist Denice Ross noted, this amounts to a “targeted, surgical removal of datasets.” A Reuters poll found 89 out of 100 top economists are worried about the quality of U.S. economic data, and over 80% say the federal response has been inadequate. Without urgent intervention, the U.S. risks losing its statistical integrity—along with the democratic trust that depends on it.Statement by the Friends of BLS: "The President seeks to blame someone for unwelcome economic news. The Commissioner does not determine what the numbers are but simply reports on what the data show. The process of obtaining the numbers is decentralized by design to avoid opportunities for interference. The BLS uses the same proven, transparent, reliable process to produce estimates every month. Every month, BLS revises the prior two months’ employment estimates to reflect slower-arriving, more-accurate information. "This rationale for firing Dr. McEntarfer is without merit and undermines the credibility of federal economic statistics that are a cornerstone of intelligent economic decision-making by businesses, families, and policymakers. U.S. official statistics are the gold standard globally. When leaders of other nations have politicized economic data, it has destroyed public trust in all official statistics and in government science."BLS operates as a federal statistical agency and is afforded autonomy to ensure the data it releases are as accurate as possible. To politicize the work of the agency and its workers does a great disservice not only to BLS but to the entire federal statistical system which this country has relied on for almost 150 years. We stand firmly behind the BLS, Commissioner McEntarfer, and the data they work hard to produce. Commissioner McEntarfer is a widely-respected economist who has devoted her career to public service. She has an impeccable record. Over ninety percent of U.S. Senators supported her confirmation."We call on Congress to respond immediately, to investigate the factors that led to Commissioner McEntarfer’s removal, to strongly urge the Commissioner’s continued service, and ensure that the nonpartisan integrity of the position is retained. The statement from the President undermines these tenets and politicizes data which cannot and should not be used for political points." References and Links 2025/08/02 The Hill: Statisticians blast Trump over BLS firing: ‘Dangerous precedent’ 2025/08/01 Friends of BLS: Statement on Commissioner McEntarfer’s Removal 2025/08/01 COPAFS: Removal of BLS Commissioner Erika McEntarfer 2025/08/01 NBC News: Republican senators raise concerns about Trump's firing of Labor Dept. official 2025/08/01 CNN: Trump fires a senior official over jobs numbers 2025/08/01 Wall Street Journal: Trump Orders Firing of Bureau of Labor Statistics Chief 2025/08/01 AP: Who is Erika McEntarfer, the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner fired by Trump? 2025/07/28 MarketPlace: Federal data has been disappearing under Trump 2025/07/25 Reuters: US economic data quality a worry, authorities not acting urgently enough, experts say- Reuters poll 2025/07/03 Washington Post: Why some fear government data on the U.S. economy is losing integrity Rob Santos on The Threat to the Federal Statistical System Robert Santos was the 26th Director of the U.S. Census Bureau—the first Latino and first person of color to hold that position. He left the Census Bureau on February 14, 2025, and is still decompressing from what was a very intense experience, especially during the final months of his tenure when he spoke at the APA Justice monthly meeting on May 5, 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nJzpcHpg2s (16:27) Director Santos emphasizes the critical role of federal statistical data—particularly from the Census Bureau and other agencies—in supporting justice, equity, and informed policymaking. High-quality, objective data is essential for identifying disparities and ensuring the equitable allocation of resources, from broadband funding to education and infrastructure investments. Current Status However, recent political and administrative developments have significantly undermined this mission. Early in the new administration, an executive order targeting terms related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), as well as sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI), forced agencies to quickly remove these terms from documents, databases, and websites—often within 48 hours. This led to widespread shutdowns of public data access. Agencies complied to avoid legal consequences and to protect career staff from being fired.There is also a hiring freeze, leaving hundreds of critical positions vacant—especially among field data collectors. Ongoing staff reductions have included the departure of around 1,000 Census Bureau employees, many of whom were senior experts. Looming budget cuts tied to the FY26 budget and broader plans like Project 2025, which call for a drastic reduction in the federal workforce, further threaten the system.Director Santos warns that these developments compromise the ability of federal statistical agencies to fulfill their missions and stresses the urgent need for Congress and the public to protect the integrity and independence of the federal statistical system. Major Emerging Threats Rollback of Revised Race and Ethnicity Standards: Recent updates allow for more detailed data on Asian and Pacific Islander subgroups. However, there is political resistance—particularly in Congress—questioning the need for such detailed classifications.Return of the Citizenship Question: Adding a citizenship question to the census has been shown to suppress participation among immigrant communities, leading to undercounts and distorted data. Director Santos warns against its possible reintroduction.Making the American Community Survey (ACS) Voluntary: The ACS is a critical data collection tool. Making it voluntary would lower response rates, degrading the quality and reliability of federal data.Additionally, there are concerns that the Department of Justice (DOJ) may interfere with Title 13 protections, which safeguard the confidentiality of census responses. Santos stresses that breaching this confidentiality would be a grave threat—and assures that career staff would resist any such attempt.Overall, Director Santos warns of growing political and administrative pressures that could undermine the federal statistical system’s objectivity, reliability, and public trust. What can we do? Be vocal advocates—Speak out against efforts to dismantle or weaken data collection. We must defend the ability to produce high-quality, objective data.Engage strategically—Try to understand where the current administration is coming from in terms of its goals around government efficiency. Then demonstrate how the current data infrastructure is already efficient—and how it can be improved further. Everyone wants good data. Let’s show how data help the economy, support businesses, and enable all communities to thrive.We don’t need to be enemies. We can build a path forward together.Director Santos compares the current threats to the federal statistical system to a natural disaster—damage is inevitable, but we can work to minimize the impact. Most importantly, we must plan for the future. Once the current administration ends, there must be a united effort—across all communities—to rebuild a fair, inclusive, and effective federal statistical system.2025/04/16 Amstat Videos: Telling Our Stories - Rob Santos - Statistics in Public Service (9:55) Education Department Releases Grant Money Author: Madeleine Gable, APA Justice Communications Associate According to CBS , New York Times , and multiple media reports, the White House is set to release billions in federal funding it had initially withheld from schools. On July 1, Congress approved nearly $7 billion in education funding, but the Trump administration abruptly withheld it a day before the deadline. More than $2 billion of the money was intended for arts and music education in low-income districts, additional support for English language learners, and extra assistance for children of migrant farmworkers. The appropriation also allocated funding to train and recruit teachers, particularly in low-income areas. On June 20 before the deadline, the Trump administration conducted a review of the funds, finding instances of federal money being “grossly misused to subsidize a radical left-wing agenda.” The funding freeze faced several lawsuits, including two in federal court. On July 18, Congress announced it would release $1.3 billion in frozen federal funding intended for after-school and summer programs across the country, including non-profits such as the YMCA and Boys and Girls Club of America. The release occurred after a lawsuit from Democratic leaders in 24 states called the action illegal, and days after 10 Republican senators sent a public letter to the administration. On July 25, the Education Department announced it will release $5.5 billion, nearly the full amount of the originally intended $7 billion. The administration will begin allocating the money to states next week. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/07/31-08/10 Asian American International Film Festival2025/08/02-07 2025 Joint Statistical Meetings2025/08/04 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/08/11 Committee of 100 Conversations – “Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes” with Gary LockeVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. SCMP : 6G Expert Gee-Kung Chang Counts Costs Author: Madeleine Gable, APA Justice Communications AssociateOn July 29, 2025, The South China Morning Post published a report where Georgia Tech professor Gee-Kung Chang 張繼昆 shared his harrowing experience as a target of the defunct China Initiative. In 2021, federal agents stormed his home and charged him with ten felonies related to misuse of the J-1 visa program. The accusations centered on claims that Chinese scholars he hosted worked for ZTE, but after four years of isolation and legal battles, all charges were dropped due to lack of evidence.Chang reflects on the emotional and financial toll, stating at an APA Justice meeting on May 5, 2025, that “freedom did not bring euphoria.” His case, like others, highlights how changing political winds turned academic collaboration with China into legal jeopardy. Although the China Initiative ended in 2022, efforts in Congress to revive it continue. Chang warns others: “Justice is not guaranteed. It must be fought for.”Read Professor Chang's statement " From Injustice to Integrity: A Journal Through Fire ." # # # 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 August 4, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #23 APA Justice Meetings; Charles Lieber Lawsuits; New Visa Rules; Early Voting; 2020 Census #23 APA Justice Meetings; Charles Lieber Lawsuits; New Visa Rules; Early Voting; 2020 Census Back View PDF October 19, 2020 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #316 Webinar Today; Dr. Tao Sues; China Initiative; Early-Career Scientists; Firing Ruling+ #316 Webinar Today; Dr. Tao Sues; China Initiative; Early-Career Scientists; Firing Ruling+ In This Issue #316 · Reminder: Webinar on Fair Housing Rights and Alien Land Laws Today · NYT : Professor Franklin Tao Sues to Get His Job Back · 03/12 MSU Webinar: The China Initiative · U.S. Early-Career Scientists Struggle Amid Chaos · Judge Rules Trump’s Firing of Head of Special Counsel was Unlawful · News and Activities for the Communities Reminder: Webinar on Fair Housing Rights and Alien Land Laws Today Today, March 4, 2025, starting at 4:00 pm ET, the Committee of 100 and APA Justice will co-host a webinar on Fair Housing Rights and Alien Land Laws. With new laws limiting property ownership based on nationality, real estate professionals and advocates are stepping up to challenge these discriminatory policies. This webinar will provide critical insights into how these restrictions are reshaping the housing landscape and what we can do to fight back.Register to attend: https://bit.ly/4hEouum NYT : Professor Franklin Tao Sues to Get His Job Back According to the New York Times on March 2, 2025, Feng "Franklin" Tao , a former University of Kansas professor, has filed a lawsuit against the university, alleging wrongful termination and violations of his civil rights. This legal action follows a series of events stemming from the U.S. Department of Justice's now-defunct "China Initiative," which aimed to counter economic espionage but shifted to target individuals of Asian descent.Arrested in 2019 as the first professor charged under the China Initiative, Dr. Tao fought allegations of failing to disclose ties to a Chinese university. After five years, a federal appeals court overturned his lone conviction, yet the University of Kansas has refused to reinstate him.Dr. Tao argues the university engaged in fearmongering and racial profiling, prioritizing political pressure over due process.Despite the official end of the China Initiative in 2022, Congress is now considering legislation to investigate Chinese espionage, with proposals for a "CCP Initiative" that could reignite racial targeting of Chinese researchers. Some lawmakers have also raised concerns about the large number of Chinese students studying science and engineering on American campuses. Senator James Risch ’s assertion that “each [Chinese student] is an agent of the Chinese Communist Party” exemplifies the continued stigmatization of Chinese academics and students. Gisela Perez Kusakawa , executive director of the Asian American Scholar Forum, warns against indiscriminate policies, urging for measured, evidence-based responses rather than racial profiling. “There are real, genuine threats that need to be addressed, but we should not be using a sledgehammer on the issue — we should be using a scalpel,” she said. “We can’t choose the country where we were born, where we came from,” said Dr. Tao’s wife Hong Peng , an American citizen. “What we have experienced, this is completely racial profiling.”Read the New York Times report: https://nyti.ms/3XoR76S . Read Dr. Tao's story: https://bit.ly/4i0WZLw 03/12 MSU Webinar: The China Initiative On March 12, 2025, please join the webinar hosted by Michigan State University's Asian Pacific American Studies Program for an insightful discussion of the past and present of the China Initiative, a Trump administration program that targeted Asian American scholars and researchers for investigation and prosecution. Dr. Lok Siu of UC Berkeley and Dr. Jeremy Wu of APA Justice will speak at the event moderated by Dr. Kent Weber of Michigan State University.Register to attend: https://bit.ly/4hVaITO U.S. Early-Career Scientists Struggle Amid Chaos According to Science on February 21, 2025, early-career researchers in the United States are facing significant challenges due to recent federal funding uncertainties under the Trump administration.The administration’s funding freezes, DEI grant cancellations, and federal scientist firings have created widespread instability.Researchers who had been awarded NIH “diversity” fellowships are left in limbo, while NSF postdoc programs supporting underrepresented groups were suddenly canceled. Some applicants only learned their programs were deleted through automated rejection emails.The USDA and U.S. Geological Survey rescinded job offers and terminated early-career scientists, leaving them with financial hardship and no immediate job prospects. One scientist, who envisioned a 20-year career at USDA, now faces an uncertain future.Some worry that race- and gender-related research—such as a study on maternal mortality disparities—could now be flagged under Trump's executive orders restricting DEI.As funding delays mount, researchers face not only financial uncertainty but also structural barriers. Universities, forced to anticipate prolonged funding cuts, have begun reducing faculty hiring and graduate student admissions.Early-career scientists fear a missing generation of researchers—one that could take years, if not decades, to recover. Institutions are under growing pressure to support affected researchers and prevent long-term damage to the U.S. scientific workforce.Experts warn that sustained instability could weaken the U.S.'s global leadership in science and innovation, pushing talent overseas and reducing America’s research output in critical fields.According to Nature on February 24, 2025, some early-career researchers are considering changing jobs, leaving the country or abandoning research altogether.“Disruption and uncertainty are the enemy of science,” says Donna Ginther , an economist at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. And when disruption and uncertainty strike, she adds, “the people who lose their jobs are students and postdocs.” If that happens now, science in the United States could undergo its own generational shift, she says: “Early-career scientists are the future.”According to Inside Higher Ed on March 3, 2025, federal judges have temporarily blocked many of President Trump’s executive actions, but researchers relying on federal grants are still facing significant disruptions. University scientists working on critical medical research are caught in bureaucratic limbo as Trump’s administration delays funding and enforces strict policies targeting DEI initiatives.“My grant’s future is in limbo,” said neuroscientist Eve Marder , whose NIH funding has been stalled due to the cancellation of advisory council meetings. Without approval, she fears shutting down her lab: “If I don’t get another source of money in the next six months, I’ll have to shut my lab.”NSF and NIH have slowed or halted funding processes. Advisory councils have not met since January, preventing new grants from being approved and stalling $1.5 billion in medical research funding. Astrophysics postdoc Adrian Fraser shared his frustration over the uncertainty: “Things aren’t clearly defined from the top, so it becomes a messy game of telephone … No one knows what is considered DEI-related.”Meanwhile, universities are preparing for prolonged funding cuts. Jeremy Berg , former NIH director, suggests the administration may be stalling funding as a hidden budget-cutting tactic: “Effectively a way of cutting the NIH budget without cutting the NIH budget.” If unspent by September 30, allocated funds must be returned to the U.S. Treasury, raising concerns about whether the administration is intentionally withholding money despite congressional approval.If funding restrictions persist, many early-career scientists may be forced to abandon research or leave the U.S., posing a serious threat to the nation’s scientific progress, global competitiveness, and long-term innovation. Judge Rules Trump’s Firing of Head of Special Counsel was Unlawful As of March 3, 2025, the number of lawsuits against President Donald Trump 's executive actions reported by the Just Security Litigation Tracker has grown to 96.According to AP News , Fox , and multiple media reports, one key case, Dellinger v. Bessent (1:25-cv-00385) , resulted in U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson ruling that Trump’s attempt to remove Hampton Dellinger as head of the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) was unlawful.Dellinger, fired on February 5 despite legal protections limiting presidential removal to cases of inefficiency, neglect, or malfeasance, sued for reinstatement. Judge Jackson’s ruling temporarily restored him to his position, warning that unchecked presidential removal of the Special Counsel would undermine protections for federal employees, including whistleblowers.“The Special Counsel is supposed to withstand the winds of political change and help ensure that no government servant of either party becomes the subject of prohibited employment practices or faces reprisals for calling out wrongdoing,” Judge Jackson wrote in her decision.The Trump administration quickly appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. The Supreme Court previously allowed Dellinger to remain in his role pending litigation.Beyond his own case, Dellinger has challenged the administration’s mass termination of probationary federal workers, arguing some firings may have been illegal. In addition, the OSC enforces the Hatch Act, which limits partisan political activities by government employees—an issue drawing scrutiny as Trump administration officials continue publicly endorsing his policies. The ruling comes as Dellinger is challenging the removal of probationary workers who were fired as part of the Trump administration’s massive overhaul of the government. A federal board has halted the terminations of several probationary workers after Dellinger said their firings may have been unlawful.The ruling is a major legal setback for Trump’s efforts to reshape the federal workforce. It underscores the ongoing battle over protections for whistleblowers and civil servants.The case will likely have broader implications as Trump seeks to expand executive power. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/03/04 Fair Housing Rights & Alien Land Laws: Challenges and Advocacy for the Asian American Community2025/03/05 The Global Economy at a Crossroads: U.S.-China in Focus2025/03/12 MSU Webinar on China Initiative2025/03/16 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/03/30 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting 2025/04/07 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/04/13 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/04/24-26 Committee of 100 Annual Conference and Gala2025/04/27 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. 11-year-old Student Took His Own Life After Repeated Bullying According to Cleveland.com on February 28, 2025 , the parents of an 11-year-old boy in Akron filed a federal lawsuit, Gurung v. Akron Public Schools District Board of Education (5:25-cv-00374) in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.The 41-page complaint alleges that Abyesh Thulung , born in a Bhutanese refugee camp in Nepal and U.S. citizen, died by suicide after enduring relentless racial bullying at Akron’s National Inventors Hall of Fame (NIHF) Middle School. He was reportedly harassed online and at school, including being called racial slurs like “Ching Chong” and physically assaulted multiple times. Throughout the year, he visited the school nurse 11 times—four for injuries from attacks, the rest for stress-induced headaches and stomach pain.Despite clear signs of distress, the lawsuit claims school officials failed to intervene and, instead, punished Abyesh when he tried to defend himself. In addition, the Akron Public School District allegedly destroyed surveillance footage of a key incident leading up to his death and withheld parts of his educational records from his family.The lawsuit argues that the school’s negligence, failure to enforce anti-bullying policies, and disregard for Abyesh’s safety directly contributed to his tragic death. 3. The Global Economy at a Crossroads: U.S.-China in Focus WHAT: The Global Economy at a Crossroads: U.S.-China in Focus WHEN: March 5, 2025, 7:00 pm ET/4:00 pm PT WHERE: Webinar HOST: 1990 Institute and sponsors Moderator: Clay Dube , Director Emeritus and Senior Fellow, USC U.S.-China Institute Speakers: · Yuen Yuen Ang , Alfred Chandler Chair Professor of Political Economy at Johns Hopkins University · Andy Rothman , Founder and CEO of Sinology LLC DESCRIPTION: The U.S. and China represent the two largest economies in the world, with deeply interconnected yet often competing interests. Their economic relationship involves trade, investment, and technology exchanges, shaped by regulatory, cultural, and geopolitical factors. This workshop will explore the economic interdependencies between these two powers and provide a discussion into the impact of these unique yet interwoven economic landscapes. REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/3QIqdms # # # 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 March 4, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #276 9/9 Meeting; NIH's China Initiative; Talent Programs; Heartland/Mainland; Texas Raids+ #276 9/9 Meeting; NIH's China Initiative; Talent Programs; Heartland/Mainland; Texas Raids+ In This Issue #276 · 2024/09/09 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · NIH's "China Initiative" · International Talent Programs in the Changing Global Environment · From Heartland to Mainland: Reflections and Insights on US-China Agricultural Roundtable · Texas Raids Latino Democrats' Homes, Including Those of LULAC Members · News and Activities for the Communities 2024/09/09 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, September 9, 2024, starting at 1:55 pm ET. In addition to updates by Nisha Ramachandran , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC); Joanna YangQing Derman , Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC; and Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), invited speakers are: · Ted Lieu , Member, U.S. House of Representatives; Vice Chair, Democratic Caucus (invited) · Jane Shim , Director, Stop Asian Hate Project, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) (confirmed) · Tori Bateman , Director of Advocacy, Quincy Institute (confirmed) · Sandy Shan , Director, Justice Is Global (confirmed) · Christine Chen , Co-Founder and Executive Director of Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) Vote (confirmed) 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 . NIH's "China Initiative" According to the South China Morning Post on August 26, 2024, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is attempting to rebuild relationships with Asian researchers, though some scientists believe the damage is almost "irreversible."Six years after the Trump Administration's "China Initiative" targeted scientists for suspected ties to China, the NIH, which led many of these investigations, has acknowledged the "difficult climate" it created but stopped short of issuing an apology. The NIH was the first and most active federal agency in conducting these investigations.As of June 9, 2024, 112 scientists, predominantly of Asian descent, had lost their jobs due to dismissals or forced retirements. Most of these cases involved NIH-funded researchers who were suspected of undisclosed connections to Chinese institutions. Consequences ranged from job terminations to funding suspensions and criminal investigations.Tragically, a prominent Chinese American researcher in neurology and genetics died after her lab at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine was shut down.On August 15, 2024, NIH Director Dr. Monica Bertagnolli expressed support for Asian American, Asian immigrant, and Asian research colleagues, acknowledging that the government's actions had "unintended consequences" for these communities, leading them to feel "targeted and alienated."According to her statement, NIH is now working with universities and academic organizations to take steps to repair relations with Asian researchers. Dr. Nianshuang Wang , a principal scientist at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, highlighted that researchers of Chinese descent make up a significant portion of the NIH and the broader US life sciences and biotechnology research community. Many top research papers today include contributions from these researchers. However, Dr. Wang, whose work was instrumental in developing the COVID-19 vaccine, noted that many scientists, including well-established senior figures, have left the US, feeling targeted and bullied due to their race.Although the Department of Justice ended the "China Initiative" in February 2022, the NIH's efforts to curb "foreign interference" continue. A leading Chinese-born virology professor in the US welcomed the NIH's recent statement as encouraging but cautioned that the impact of racial profiling on Asian American scientists, particularly those of Chinese origin, is "long-lasting and almost irreversible." This climate of suspicion, the professor argued, will "definitely" weaken the US's competitiveness in life sciences research, a field in which China is becoming a formidable competitor. There are approximately 100,000 Chinese-born scientists in the US, who contribute enormously to America's leadership in science. However, the number of Chinese-born scientists leaving the US has risen steadily, from 900 in 2010 to 2,621 in 2021, according to the Stanford Center on China's Economy and Institutions. In June 2024, Dr. Marcia McNutt , President of the National Academy of Sciences, warned in her address on the State of Science in the US that the country is losing its global scientific leadership to other nations, particularly China. Read the South China Morning Post report: https://bit.ly/3T5LOa0 International Talent Programs in the Changing Global Environment WHAT : International Talent Programs in the Changing Global Environment WHEN: August 29, 2024, 3:00-4:00 pm ET WHERE: Webinar HOST: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine; speakers include Harvard University Professor of Biostatistics Xihong LinDESCRIPTION: This event highlights the public release of the International Talent Programs in the Changing Global Environment consensus study report. The report reviews foreign and domestic talent or incentive programs and recommends ways to improve the effectiveness of U.S. mechanisms for attracting and retaining the best and brightest scholars, relative to programs and incentives used by the U.S.'s strategic competitors. Members of the consensus study committee will provide an overview of the report and discuss its findings and recommendations. This will be followed by a moderated question and answer period during which members of the public can submit written questions. REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/3X3k5If From Heartland to Mainland: Reflections and Insights on US-China Agricultural Roundtable In June 2024, the U.S. Heartland China Association (USHCA) led a special delegation of American agriculture students and faculty from 7 states, 10 universities to attend the 4th Annual U.S.-China Agriculture Roundtable in China. The immersive trip was 17 days long.On August 29, 2024, a special webinar will share the delegates' reflections and insights from their recent travels. As delegates of two American delegations organized by USHCA - the Ag & Food Business Delegation and the Ag Education Delegation – they had a front-row-seat opportunity to observe and explore the impact of US-China collaboration around agriculture as they traveled through Shanghai, Hefei, Jinan, Binzhou, Weifang, Beijing, and Xi’an.Register to attend the webinar: https://bit.ly/3Z4uWnU Texas Raids Latino Democrats' Homes, Including Those of LULAC Members According to CBS News on August 27, 2024, the nation's oldest Latino civil rights organization, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), has been targeted in voter fraud raids led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton .LULAC, founded in 1929, has requested the Justice Department investigate Paxton's office for potential Voting Rights Act violations, accusing it of conducting illegal searches under the guise of voter fraud. The organization argues that these actions are reminiscent of historical voter suppression and intimidation tactics against Black and Latino communities. Latinos make up about 40% of the Texas population.One of those reportedly targeted was Lidia Martinez , an 87-year-old who lives in San Antonio. Martinez has been a LULAC member for over 35 years and works to expand voter registration among seniors and veterans in South Texas.She said that on August 20, 2024, there was a knock on her door in the morning, and she was greeted by nine officers in tactical gear and firearms who said they were executing a search warrant. Martinez was questioned for over three hours about her voter registration efforts in Texas. Law enforcement seized Martinez's phone, computer, personal calendar, blank voter registration forms and her certificate to conduct voter registration. "This is a free country, this is not Russia," Martinez said during a press conference denouncing the raid. Manuel Medina , the chair of Tejano Democrats, is another LULAC member who was targeted. Medina's home was raided on August 22 by police in riot gear, who were armed and broke down his door. Read the CBS News report: https://cbsn.ws/3X4qNhb News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events:2024/08/29 From Heartland to Mainland: Reflections and Insights from the U.S.-China Agriculture Roundtable2024/08/29 International Talent Programs in the Changing Global Environment 2024/08/29 Anti-Alien Land Law & Attacks on AAPI Community2024/09/01 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/09/09 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/09/10-12 Chronicle Festival: The Road Ahead to 20352024/09/12 AA4D: Nobel Laureates and Scientists for Democracy 2024/09/19 1990 Teachers Workshop: Asian American Identity2024/09/19-20 AANHPI Unity Summit2024/09/25 C100: State of Chinese American Survey 2024 The Community Calendar has moved. Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. Anti-Alien Land Laws: a Broad Overview On August 29, 2024, Texas State Representative Gene Wu will host a webinar on "Anti-Lien Land Laws: A Broad Overview," starting at 7:00 pm ET. In the past two centuries, more than a dozen states passed laws banning Asian immigrants from purchasing or acquiring property. Nationwide, states enacted Anti-Alien Land Laws in response to a wave of Anti-Asian feeling that began in mid-1800s. However, the history of Anti-Alien Land Laws can be traced back to the very founding of our country. Previous alien land laws have since been ruled unconstitutional for violating the 14th Amendment right to equal protection, as well as regulations prohibiting discrimination based on race, ethnicity, and national origin. However, legislative efforts across the United States, including here in Texas, continue to target individuals from China based solely on their national origin.Join the webinar: https://bit.ly/3X2BjFB Back View PDF August 29, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #270 08/05 Monthly Meeting; Franklin Tao; NCAPA Policy Platform; "Stop Woke Act" Stopped+ #270 08/05 Monthly Meeting; Franklin Tao; NCAPA Policy Platform; "Stop Woke Act" Stopped+ In This Issue #270 · 2024/08/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · 2024/07/23 Capitol Hill Press Conference on Professor Franklin Tao · NCAPA 2024 Policy Platform · Part of Florida’s "Stop WOKE Act" Permanently Blocked · News and Activities for the Communities 2024/08/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, August 5, 2024, starting at 1:55 pm ET.In addition to updates by Nisha Ramachandran , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC); Joanna YangQing Derman , Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC; and Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), confirmed speakers are: · Anne S. Chao , Co-founder, Friends of the National Asian Pacific American Museum; Program Manager, Houston Asian American Archive, Rice University · Franklin Tao , former Professor of Kansas University, Victim of China Initiative; Hong Peng , Wife of Professor Tao · Ron Barrett-Gonzalez , Committee A Co-Chair, Kansas Conference of the American Association of University Professors Sonal Shah , Chief Commissioner, President's Advisory Commission on AANHPI, will join us in a future meeting.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 . *****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 University. 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 in Washington DC. Anne serves on the boards of the Houston Ballet, Wellesley Colleges, the National Archives Foundation, the Dunhuang Foundation among others. Ann will update us on her activities.Professor Franklin Tao was the first academic scientist indicted under the China Initiative. It took him almost 5 years to clear all 10 charges against him, the last of which was overturned by the 10th Circuit Appeals Court on July 11, 2024. None of the charges were related to espionage or the transfer of sensitive information to China. Franklin and his wife Hong will share their thoughts and remarks about their experience and plans. 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. Dr. Ron Barrett-Gonzalez will describe the work of KCAAUP. 2024/07/23 Capitol Hill Press Conference on Professor Franklin Tao On July 23, 2024, a press conference was held on Capitol Hill following Professor Tao’s recent victory in a federal court appeal. "Unfortunately, I was one of the earliest scientists arrested under the China Initiative. More than 4 years, I was indicted for 10 felony counts. Thanks to my lawyers, we fought the charges. Now, we have finally won. But this victory is bittersweet. I have lost almost everything. My academic career … has been destroyed," Professor Tao said at the press conference. “It has been 1,786 days. Each of those days was lived with fear and desperation,” he said of the period from his arrest to a US appeal court tossing out his conviction on July 11.The 52-year-old chemical engineer said his immediate hope was to return to the University of Kansas, where he was a tenured associate professor before the school fired him after he was convicted of four counts in 2022.Tao’s lawyer, Peter Zeidenberg , said he represented dozens of individuals like Tao who “were caught up and charged in multiple felonies for civil paperwork errors in their grant applications”. “They’re not stealing money. They’re not diverting money. They’re not sharing secrets with anyone who isn’t allowed,” he said. Rep. Judy Chu , Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, also spoke at the press conference, "we are at a critical moment for our nation and our community. It is because Chinese Americans, and more broadly Asian Americans, have had target on their back, scapegoated for public health crises, economic downturn, and now national security concerns. So we recognize the full realization of justice with Dr. Tao today, but we must remain vigilant. No American should have to live in fear that their entire life may be turned upside down due to wrongful accusations, unwarranted racial profiling, or ugly xenophobia. There is no room for this prejudice in our government or our country." In recent months, lawmakers and advocacy groups have pushed back against efforts to bring back the China Initiative, including one in a House Republican funding bill that was ultimately removed. Rep. Judy Chu said that she and her team were “constantly on [their] watch” for such efforts.“With few convictions and multiple dismissals, the China Initiative has tragically damaged the lives and careers of too many innocent Americans and has actually hurt the nation’s ability to lead in global scientific research and innovation,” said the Committee of 100, a non-partisan organization of prominent Chinese Americans.Watch the report by Sinovision: https://bit.ly/46p8is4 (video 5:16). Read the South China Post report: https://bit.ly/3zTJk7U NCAPA 2024 Policy Platform The National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) has published its 2024 Policy Platform. The 127-page report covers eight policy priorities: · AA and NHPI Visibility · Civil Rights · Education · Empowering AA and NHPI Workers · Health · Housing and Economic Justice · Immigration · Tech and Telecom Recommendations under Civil Rights include · Require law enforcement agencies to conduct cultural competency and anti-profiling training, improve government monitoring of their activities with respect to race and other protected classes, and create effective complaint resolution processes. · Prevent the return of the Department of Justice’s defunct “China Initiative” and any future iterations of such programs and policies · Engage directly with impacted members of the Asian American scholar community, and ensure that due processes are in place both within federal agencies and academic institutions to protect the rights of Asian Americans – particularly those of Chinese descent – who have been subjected to heightened scrutiny as US-China tensions worsen. · Oppose discriminatory land laws introduced at the state and federal levels, with a specific focus on bills that target individuals based on their national origin, race, ethnicity, or color. (also under Housing and Economic Justice) · Ensure that surveillance authorities are not overbroad, overused, and abused to the detriment to vulnerable communities of color. This includes opposing the reauthorization of Sec. 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act without comprehensive reforms, and preventing any future surveillance authorities that lack appropriate checks and balances against prejudice and bias against a person based on their race, ethnicity, national origin or religious background. Recommendations under AA and NHPI Visibility include · Invest in and make public commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts across government and private sector hiring. Oppose efforts to dismantle existing programs designed to encourage diverse workforces The 2024 Policy Platform is available at https://bit.ly/3yiCM2k . The NCAPA platform website is located at https://ncapaplatform.org/ Part of Florida’s "Stop WOKE Act" Permanently Blocked According to multiple media reports, U.S. District Judge Mark Walker issued a final order to overturn a Florida law known as “ Stop WOKE Act ” that was pushed by Governor Ron DeSantis and Republican lawmakers in 2022 as part of the war on “woke ideology.” It attempted to limit diversity and race-based discussions in private workplaces.In August 2022, Judge Walker issued an injunction that blocked Florida from enforcing parts of the law prohibiting mandatory workplace activities and trainings that suggest a person is privileged or oppressed based on their race, color, sex or national origin. Judge Walker said in a 44-page ruling that the "Stop WOKE Act" violates the First Amendment and is impermissibly vague. He said the law, as applied to diversity, inclusion and bias training in businesses, turns the First Amendment "upside down" because the state is barring speech by prohibiting discussion of certain concepts in training programs. He also refused to issue a stay that would keep the law in effect during any appeal by the state.Judge Walker's decision was upheld by an appeals court in March 2024. His latest order makes his temporary injunction permanent.The challenge to the law was brought in June 2022 by several Florida businesses, represented by Protect Democracy , which describes itself as a “nonpartisan, anti-authoritarianism group.” Shalini Goel Agarwal , counsel for Protect Democracy, said in a post on X, “(This is) a powerful reminder that the First Amendment cannot be warped to serve the interests of elected officials. Censoring business owners from speaking in favor of ideas that politicians don’t like is a move ripped straight from the authoritarian playbook.”Judge Walker also has separately issued a preliminary injunction against part of the law that would restrict the way race-related concepts can be taught in universities. A panel of the appeals court held a hearing in that case in June. 2024/07/29 CNN: Judge permanently blocks part of Florida’s ‘Stop WOKE Act’ 2024/07/27 Fox News: Judge permanently blocks part of Florida's 'Stop WOKE Act' as unconstitutional on First Amendment grounds 2024/07/27 Tallahassee Democrat: Federal judge permanently blocks part of Florida's Stop WOKE Act, pushed by Gov. DeSantis 2024/07/27 CBS News: Federal judge takes final step to overturn Florida's 'Stop WOKE Act' News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2024/08/04 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/08/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/08/19 DNC Convention, AAPI Briefing & Reception, Chicago, IL2024/09/01 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/09/09 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/09/19-20 AANHPI Unity SummitThe Community Calendar has moved. Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. TMAC 2024 Community Contribution Award Ceremony On July 26, 2024, the Texas Multicultural Advocacy Coalition (TMAC) hosted the 2024 Community Contribution Award Ceremony. The event was held at the STV Global Theatre of the Southern News Group in Houston, Texas. Wea Lee , Treasurer of TMAC and Chairman of Southern News Group, opened the ceremony. Congressman Al Green presented a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition to The Committee of 100 and its Interim President Cindy Tsai in honor of their service to the community. 3. APIAVote: Recap of Presidential Town Hall On July 13, 2024, APIAVote held a Presidential Town Hall in Philadelphia, featuring speakers including Vice President and presidential candidate Kamala Harris , Congresswoman Judy Chu , Congressman Ted Lieu , Congresswoman Jill Tokuda , Congresswoman Mazie Hirono , Philadelphia Councilmember Dr. Nina Ahmed , anchor & reporter for NBC10 Frances Wang , actress and activist Tamlyn Tomita, and others. Watch video of the event: https://bit.ly/3WGMIfv (2:35:15). A photo album of the event is available at: https://bit.ly/3SravNU . Back View PDF August 1, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

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 - #163 Tragedies at Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay; Anti-Texas SB147 Rallies; Fred Korematsu #163 Tragedies at Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay; Anti-Texas SB147 Rallies; Fred Korematsu In This Issue #163 Tragedies at Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay Protests Grow Against Texas Senate Bill 147 and New Related Bills Sign-on Letter to Honor Fred Korematsu Tragedies at Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay At a time when the Asian American communities and the rest of America were celebrating the lunar new year, two senseless mass shootings in California shook first Monterey Park on January 21, 2023, and then Half Moon Bay on January 24, 2023. According to media reports, 11 persons, five Asian men and six Asian women age between 57 and 76, died in a dance studio in Monterey Park, about seven miles east of the Downtown Los Angeles civic center. Nine other people were injured. The suspect, a 72-year Asian man, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound after he was prevented from attacking another dance club in Alhambra. Three days later, five men and two women, all reportedly either Asian or Hispanic, were shot and killed at two mushroom farms in Half Moon Bay, about 30 miles south of San Francisco. The suspect, a 66-year old man of Chinese origin, was arrested after driving to a police station. He had worked at one of the mushroom farms and was formally charged with premeditated murder.Motives for both mass shootings are being investigated at this time.Monterey Park is a city of about 60,000 people on the eastern edge of Los Angeles and is composed of 65% Asians - mostly immigrants from China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, or first-generation Asian Americans. A 1994 book by Professor Timothy P. Fong at Sacramento State University describes Monterey Park as the "First Suburban Chinatown." In recent years, several publications have named the city as one of the U.S.'s best places to live . Lily Lee Chen was the first female Chinese American mayor in the United States when she became mayor of Monterey Park in 1983. Rep. Judy Chu 赵美心 , Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, represents the 28th congressional district which includes Monterey Park. She previously served as mayor for three terms and city council of Monterey Park. Yahoo News reported that Rep. Chu spoke to the media outside the Monterey Park Civic Center and was at a candlelight vigil to honor the victims of the mass shooting. In a statement released by her office, Rep. Chu said, “This shooting in my hometown of Monterey Park has torn a hole through all of our hearts. My thoughts and condolences go to the victims of this horrific crime, and to their families and loved ones who woke up this morning to the worst news imaginable. I can't even comprehend the pain and suffering they are going through."While there is so much we do not yet know, we do know this occurred at a time that should have been very special to Asian Americans in this country and around the world. Lunar New Year is the highlight of the year for Asian American communities, and a time of celebration and of being with our families. In fact, it is horrific to think that only hours before, and only one block away, I joined with thousands of people and many elected officials at the opening of the Lunar New Year Festival. But now, Asian Americans in the Monterey Park community and nationwide are in mourning and are terrified instead of celebrating."If there is one thing I know, it is that Monterey Park is resilient. Our community is strong, and we will get through this terrible event together.” On January 22, 2023, President Joe Biden issued a statement on the mass shooting in Monterey Park and directed U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff as a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless attack. "I directed my Homeland Security Advisor to mobilize full federal support to local and state authorities as they continue to respond and investigate this shooting. As we await more crucial information from law enforcement, I want to assure the community of Monterey Park and the broader area that we will support you in every way we can," according to the statement. On January 24, 2023, PBS News Hour interviewed Erika L. Moritsugu , Deputy Assistant to the President and Asian American and Pacific Islander Senior Liaison, who was in Monterey Park. "It's important to show up, in the first instance, when there's a crisis and a tragedy that befalls the community that's already felt under siege and in terror, to be present. And that's one of the reasons why the president asked me to come here immediately in the wake of the tragedy, even as it was still unfolding, to be with the community, to deliver his messages of healing and condolences on behalf of him and Dr. Biden, but also because I am a member of the community. This is my community too." said Moritsugu. According to USA Today and NBC News ,, Vice President Kamala Harris , a former California senator, arrived outside of the dance studio in Monterey Park on January 25, 2023, stopping to take a look at each of the victims' names and pictures from the deadly mass shooting before placing a bouquet in front of the memorial. Harris told reporters the nation is mourning the loss of the 11 people killed and nine others injured, while also advocating for stricter gun control laws. "Tragically we keep saying the same things," Harris said. "Congress must act. Should they? Yes. Can they? Yes." In a report by Ding Ding TV (video 21:44) on January 24, 2023, AAPI community leaders in California gave their reactions and statements on the mass shootings. They included Joel Wong 黄锦斻 (Chairman of National Asian Americans United), Maeley Tom 唐美梨 (Founding President, Joint California Legislative Caucus Institute), Ken Fong 方瑞贤 (Founder and Chairman of Kenson Ventures), Dennis Wu 伍宗德 (Chairman of SF Cause), Wilson Chu 苏元吉 (Board member of SF Cause), Carmen Montano (Mayor of Milpitas), Anthony Ng 吴柱梁 (Executive Director of CLUSA), and Carl Chan 陈锡澎 (President of Oakland Chinatown Chamber Foundation).Maeley Tom said: “I do agree that these past years of living under the threat of anti Asian violence has taken its toll on the mental health of the Asian community, especially the elders, though not condoning this as a reason for the two tragic incidences. But our community is really on edge, angry and frustrated.” Ken Fong stated: “It reminded us of the serious emotional trauma of the APIs that we are facing now. Not that we are condoning this kind of desperate action, you and I have to pay close attention to it and let our elected representatives know about the seriousness. It is most likely other ethnic groups have similar problems, but these two side by side API mass killings have brought this long simmering mental instability to the surface.” AASF Webinar Postponed to February 2 . Due to the two mass shootings leading to the deaths and injuries of multiple Asian Americans and immigrants, the Asian American Scholar Forum is moving the "Know Your Rights on Airport Enforcement and Border Harassment" webinar to Thursday, February 2, 2023 at 8:00 pm ET. Register to attend: http://bit.ly/3ZMVUhX Protests Grow Against Texas Senate Bill 147 and New Related Bills On January 29, 2023, two Anti-Asian Bill Rally will be held in Austin and Dallas, Texas, respectively. Read more at https://bit.ly/402lG1w . On January 23, 2023, Texas Representative Angie Chen Button 陳筱玲 announced that she has joined State Representatives Cody Harris and Jacey Jetton in support of House Bill 1075 , recently filed legislation that would prohibit foreign governments or any entity owned or controlled by a foreign government from purchasing agricultural land in Texas."Like so many other Texans who immigrated here for a better life, I came to America because it afforded me new opportunities, including the right to own property and freely purchase a safe and stable home in which to rase my family. This is a right that all Texans, regardless of race, color, or creed, should have," stated State Representative Angie Chen Button.Under HB 1075 by Rep. Harris, all individuals and American-owned businesses will maintain their right to purchase ag property in the State of Texas. As filed, the legislation applies to all foreign governments or government-controlled entities equally.On January 23, 2023, Texas Senate Bill 552 was introduced. The title of the bill is "Relating to prohibiting contracts or other agreements with certain foreign-owned companies in connection with agricultural land."On January 23, 2023, a rally was held at the Houston City Hall to p rotest against the discriminatory Texas Senate Bill 147. According to multiple media reports, Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said during the press conference that with Houston being a very diverse city, the bill would affect a lot of individuals who immigrated here from those targeted countries. "Senate Bill 147 is just down right wrong," he said. "It is more divisive than anything else. Houston, the most diverse city in the United States, stands as one to say that we all should stand against 147 – this is not the way to start 2023."“After an unprecedented rise in anti-Asian hate around the nation, our communities continue to struggle against not only violence within our society, but with political persecution as well," State Representative Gene Wu 吳元之 said in a statement. “SB 147 is discriminatory, hateful, and brings back painful reminders of laws passed a hundred years ago that specifically prevented Chinese individuals from owning property, starting businesses, or even marrying the person they love." Wu is an Asian-American who immigrated from China as a child. He said his family moved here to have a better life for themselves, not to be targeted.Congressional members Sheila Jackson Lee and Al Green also spoke at the rally. The Anti-Defamation League, the NAACP, CAIR-Houston, and other leaders were also at the press conference. Texas SB147 would affect people like Niloufar Hafzi who was born in the U.S. but also has citizenship in Iran. "I shouldn’t have to choose between being able to visit my family and having that citizenship and being able to have property rights here," said Hafzi. Many are worried this bill would bring along more racism. APA Justice is monitoring the continuing development of Texas SB147, community responses, and media repots at: https://bit.ly/402lG1w . It includes a link to Immigration History's " Alien Land Laws In California (1913 & 1920) " and the text of California's original 1913 Alien Land Law. Franklin Odo , who served as the director of the Asian Pacific American Program at the Smithsonian Institution from the program's inception in 1997 until his retirement in 2010, wrote the following commentary:California led the way for fifteen states to pass legislation preventing “aliens ineligible to citizenship” from owning land. Although occasionally used against other Asians, these laws were directly aimed at Japanese immigrants, who were perceived as gaining undue economic power through agricultural holdings. Legislation using the words “Asian” or “Japanese” would clearly be unconstitutional, hence the circumlocution. Violators would have their property revert to control by the state. But at least some Japanese manage to evade the law, and the legislature moved in 1920 to strengthen its provisions as well as prohibit the practice of immigrant Japanese (as guardians) placing land in the legal hands of their citizen children. The Supreme Court declared such laws constitutional in 1923, and California’s law remained on the books until 1956, although court cases had invalidated the 1920 and 1913 Alien Land Laws in Oyama v, California (1948) and Fuji Sei v. State of California (1952).Excerpt from: Odo, F. (ed.) (2002). The columbia documentary history of the Asian American experience . New York, NY: Columbia University Press. Sign-on Letter to Honor Fred Korematsu Demand Justice has prepared an open letter to Senators Mazie Hirono and Tammy Duckworth and Representatives Mark Takano and Jill Tokuda , in support of following legislation to recognize Fred Korematsu ’s legacy as a civil rights hero: Fred Korematsu Congressional Gold Medal Act , which would prohibit detention or imprisonment based solely on an actual or perceived protected characteristic of an individual. Recognizing the importance of establishing a national "Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution," which will help to ensure that Fred Korematsu's legacy is remembered and honored, and that the lessons of the internment are not forgotten. Korematsu-Takai Civil Liberties Protection Act, which will honor Fred Korematsu for his decades-long fight for justice, and will serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of protecting civil liberties for all Americans. According to the Smithsonian Magazine , on Memorial Day 1942, Fred Korematsu was walking down a street in San Leandro, California, with his girlfriend when police arrested him on suspicion that he was Japanese. On February 19, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which authorized the forced relocation and internment of Japanese Americans. In all, more than 120,000 Japanese Americans were detained and forcefully removed from their homes without charges or due process for years. The lawsuit brought by Fred Korematsu, an American citizen of Japanese descent, fought the implementation of that order, challenging the mass violation of civil liberties on the basis of race. Korematsu stood against these unfounded and racist actions. At the time, our institutions — our democracy — failed him. The Supreme Court, intended as a bulwark against Executive power run amok, upheld Korematsu’s detention in Korematsu v. United States in 1944, with a 6-3 majority. However, the dissent by Justice Frank Murphy spoke the truth that the United States, grudgingly and slowly, would come to recognize through executive, judicial, and legislative action. Justice Murphy declared the order to detain Japanese Americans the “legalization of racism.” The imprisonment of Americans of Japanese ancestry, and its legal sanction, is now recognized as a grave injustice and a violation of civil liberties. Its basis was rank racism and xenophobia combined with undue deference to the Executive branch, not facts. While the racist basis of the internment decision was discovered in the early 1980s, leading to Korematsu’s conviction being overturned after 40 years, the decision remains a dangerous precedent used to justify discrimination against other communities. Sign on to the Demand Justice open letter by noon Friday, January 27, 2023: https://bit.ly/3JgDq3o . If there are questions, please contact Hajar Hammado, policy advisor, Demand Progress Action, at hajar@demandprogress.org .Read about the Fred Korematsu story at Fred T. Korematsu Institute: Fred Korematsu's Story 2017/01/30 Smithsonian Magazine: Fred Korematsu Fought Against Japanese Internment in the Supreme Court… and Lost 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 January 26, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #34 House Hearing Call; SCOTUS Ruling And Right To Sue; Diversity Concerns; More #34 House Hearing Call; SCOTUS Ruling And Right To Sue; Diversity Concerns; More Back View PDF December 14, 2020 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #374 2/2 Meeting; Equity Pulse; "One Year of Trump"; Angwang Lawsuit; University Rankings+ #374 2/2 Meeting; Equity Pulse; "One Year of Trump"; Angwang Lawsuit; University Rankings+ In This Issue #374 · 2026/02/02 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · Frank Wu Leads Off Equity Pulse Webinar Series · Science : One Year of Trump · Former NYPD Officer Angwang Files Lawsuit · NYT : Chinese Universities Surge; U.S. Slips · News and Activities for the Communities 2026/02/02 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held on Monday, February 2, 2026, starting at 1:55 pm ET. Rep. Judy Chu , Chair Emerita of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, will deliver a New Year of the Fire Horse message and a review of 2025 via video, in addition to updates from: · Judith Teruya , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) · Joanna YangQing Derman , Program Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC · Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) We are honored by and welcome the following confirmed distinguished speakers: · Frank Wu , President, Queen’s College, City University of New York · Rosie Levine , Executive Director, US-China Education Trust · Elizabeth Rao and Attorney Tom Geoghegan , Despres, Schwartz, & Geoghegan, Ltd. 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 - Vincent Wang 王文奎 and Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org . ***** The deadline for signing the coalition letter by faculty members to support justice & honor the memory of Dr. Jane Ying Wu is January 29, 2026, 12 pm ET. Effective January 1, 2026, Dr. Steven Pei has stepped down from his role as Co-Organizer of APA Justice. As a result, Dr. Pei no longer represents APA Justice. Please direct all APA Justice matters to Jeremy Wu and Vincent Wang, Co-Organizers. We thank Dr. Pei for his dedicated service over the past few years and wish him continued success in the future. Frank Wu Leads Off Equity Pulse Webinar Series The Equity Pulse is a monthly webinar series hosted by the Committee of 100 that translates the State of Chinese Americans Survey insights into policy-relevant public education. The series focuses on policy issues that disproportionately affect the Chinese American community, emphasizing the chilling effect, indirect consequences of policies framed as race-neutral or national security-driven that produce secondary discrimination and contribute to fear, withdrawal, and diminished belonging. The first session on February 3, 2026, features Frank Wu 吴华扬 , President of Queens College, City University of New York, and Committee of 100 member. He will provide historical context on how similar policy frameworks have produced unequal outcomes over time and how these patterns reemerge under new rationales. Register to attend: https://bit.ly/45THbX2 . Science : One Year of Trump On January 22, 2026, Science published a four-part special section examining the effects of Donald Trump ’s first year back in the White House on the U.S. research enterprise. Rather than isolated policy shifts, the reporting describes a broad systemic disruption driven by overlapping political, fiscal, and ideological forces whose full consequences are still unfolding. 1. Damage Assessment One year into Trump’s second term, U.S. science has experienced what many observers characterize as a structural shock. Although Trump’s campaign priorities—shrinking government, expanding executive authority, restricting immigration, and confronting elite universities—did not explicitly target science, their convergence has produced sweeping effects: billions of dollars in frozen or canceled grants, prolonged review delays, elimination of climate- and DEI-related programs, mass departures of federal staff, agency restructuring, and reduced access to federal data. Former NSF director Neal Lane summarized the moment bluntly: “It’s an attack on anything that doesn’t conform to Trump’s political agenda.” Analysts describe three overlapping drivers. “Muskism,” associated with Elon Musk ’s short-lived Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), relied on aggressive and often legally questionable tactics to slash staffing and terminate grants, including at agencies such as USAID. Many actions were later reversed by courts, and even Musk acknowledged limited success. As a result, DOGE is widely viewed as disruptive but unlikely to leave a lasting institutional imprint. “Voughtism,” by contrast, is seen as far more consequential. Rooted in Project 2025 and advanced by OMB Director Russell Vought , it aims to shrink federal capacity while consolidating power in the executive branch. The central test is spending authority. Trump’s assertion of the right to impound congressionally appropriated funds—partly upheld by a 2025 Supreme Court ruling allowing him to withhold $4 billion in foreign aid—has alarmed research leaders. Former NIH director Elias Zerhouni warned that if impoundment becomes routine, “all bets are off.” Universities are already scaling back hiring, facilities, and graduate programs in response to fiscal uncertainty. “Trumpism,” the broadest and most unpredictable force, encompasses unilateral executive actions affecting immigration, data access, DEI programs, and political oversight of grantmaking. While many actions rely on executive orders and could be reversed, some changes may endure. DEI infrastructure has largely disappeared from universities, and Trump’s August 2025 order expanding political review of grant awards may set a lasting precedent. His May 2025 “gold standard science” order further polarized the community, with critics warning it undermines trust and supporters arguing it corrects perceived favoritism. Whether these changes prove transient or transformative will depend on institutional resilience, judicial constraints, and whether policymakers articulate a coherent long-term strategy—something critics say remains absent. 2. Pressure on the Pipeline The disruption has fallen most heavily on the scientific workforce pipeline, particularly early-career researchers. While senior scientists remain relatively insulated, graduate students, postdocs, and junior faculty face canceled grants, funding uncertainty, the rollback of DEI programs, and a more restrictive climate for international scholars. Some are leaving U.S. science altogether. As one chemist told Science, “What we’re more seeing is the toll of the uncertainty.” Grant freezes, proposed 2026 budget cuts of roughly 40% at NIH and more than 50% at NSF, and efforts to cap indirect cost reimbursements have made long-term planning difficult for universities—even where courts or Congress have intervened. Institutions are pulling back on faculty hiring and graduate admissions rather than risk multi-year commitments they may not be able to sustain. “You have the momentum going, and then the momentum is lost,” said Néstor Carballeira of the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras. Early data suggest the pipeline is already tightening. Overall graduate enrollment in fall 2025 was flat, but computer science enrollment fell 14%, international graduate enrollment dropped 6%, and faculty hiring declined sharply in fields such as chemistry and biomedical engineering. Cuts to DEI-focused programs and visa restrictions further threaten the future workforce. While some leaders argue this moment could prompt reforms in training for nonacademic careers, many fear the long-term damage to U.S. scientific capacity will only become visible years from now. 3. Talking Back Trump’s second term has also forced a fundamental rethink of science advocacy. Institutions long reliant on quiet, bipartisan engagement suddenly faced grant terminations, agency upheaval, and threats to university funding. That shift became unmistakable in February 2025, when the Association of American Universities sued the federal government for the first time in its 125-year history, challenging proposed caps on research overhead payments as unlawful and devastating. Responses diverged. Some universities and societies opted for restraint, fearing retaliation. Others concluded silence was riskier and turned to litigation, grassroots campaigns, advertising, and political donations. Courts quickly became a key battleground, with early rulings blocking indirect-cost caps and releasing billions in frozen funds—reinforcing lawsuits as an effective defense. Congressional advocacy intensified as well, with science groups reframing their case around national security, economic competitiveness, and public health. New coalitions adopted explicitly “America-first” messaging and funded political action committees to support sympathetic lawmakers. While these efforts blunted some proposed cuts, observers noted a sobering recalibration: outcomes once seen as losses were now celebrated simply for preserving the status quo. More overtly political strategies also emerged. Graduate student Colette Delawalla founded Stand Up for Science, embracing protests and partisan messaging to confront Trump’s agenda directly. Admirers praise its urgency; critics warn it risks eroding science’s historically bipartisan support. Still, one conclusion is widely shared: quiet diplomacy alone is no longer sufficient. The advocacy landscape has permanently changed. 4. What’s Next With three years remaining in Trump’s second term, uncertainty continues to hang over U.S. science. Key questions include whether the administration will attempt further impoundment of congressionally approved funds and whether courts will continue to block unilateral actions affecting grants and overhead payments. Universities remain under pressure from funding disputes, visa restrictions, and political scrutiny, while public health policy—particularly around vaccines and research on marginalized populations—has emerged as a growing flashpoint. Meanwhile, plans to shrink the federal scientific workforce and revise regulations governing environmental protection, pathogen research, international collaboration, and open-access publishing could reshape the research landscape for years to come. The Science report makes clear that the defining question is no longer whether damage has occurred, but whether U.S. science can adapt quickly enough to preserve its capacity, independence, and global leadership. Read the Science report: https://bit.ly/49Cru95 Former NYPD Officer Angwang Files Lawsuit According to the New York Times on January 20, 2026, Baimadajie Angwang 昂旺 , a former New York City police officer and U.S. Marine Corps veteran, has filed a federal lawsuit alleging retaliation, discrimination, and malicious prosecution after being fired by the New York Police Department (NYPD) even though federal prosecutors dropped espionage-related charges against him. Prosecutors quietly dismissed the case identified as part of the now-defunct “China Initiative” in January 2023 after reassessing evidence, but the NYPD proceeded with an internal investigation based on the now-dismissed charges and terminated Angwang in January 2024 following his absence from a mandatory disciplinary hearing. Angwang, an ethnic Tibetan granted political asylum after immigrating to the United States as a teenager, joined the NYPD in 2016 after serving honorably in the Marines, including a deployment to Afghanistan. He was arrested in 2020 on allegations that he acted as an undeclared agent of the Chinese government and spent more than five months detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Prosecutors cited his communications with Chinese consular officials, but Angwang maintains these contacts were routine and necessary for visa-related matters common among Tibetans and other Chinese-born immigrants. In his lawsuit and public statements, Angwang argues that the investigation and his termination were driven by racial animus and retaliation for speaking out against what he calls an unfounded prosecution. He described the ordeal as a misuse of prosecutorial power that derailed his career and stigmatized him as disloyal to a country he says he loves and has served. The NYPD declined to comment on the lawsuit. CourtListener: Angwang v. United States Of America (1:26-cv-00478) Read more about the story of Angwang at the APA Justice website. NYT: Chinese Universities Surge; U.S. Slips According to the New York Times on January 15, 2026, there is a significant shift in global university rankings, with Chinese institutions surging ahead in research output while American universities, including prestigious ones like Harvard, are experiencing a relative decline. Harvard, which once dominated global rankings, has dropped to third place in the Leiden Rankings, a system that evaluates universities based on academic publications and citations. Zhejiang University in China now occupies the top spot, with seven other Chinese universities also ranking in the top 10. This marks a stark contrast to the early 2000s when seven American universities were among the top 10, and only one Chinese university made it into the top 25. Despite producing more research than ever before, American universities are being outpaced by the rapid growth in research output from Chinese institutions. The article attributes this trend to several factors, including China's substantial investment in research and education, as well as its efforts to attract international researchers and students. Chinese universities have focused on publishing in English-language journals, which are more widely read and cited globally, further boosting their rankings. In contrast, American universities are facing challenges such as reduced federal research funding, travel bans, and anti-immigration policies under the Trump administration. These measures have led to a decline in international student enrollment and could potentially harm the prestige and future rankings of U.S. institutions. While Harvard remains at the top of some rankings, such as those for highly-cited scientific publications, the broader trend suggests a shift in global academic dominance. Despite the decline in research-focused rankings, American universities still perform well in broader ranking systems that consider factors like reputation, finances, and Nobel Prize winners among faculty. For example, Harvard and other U.S. schools continue to hold top spots in rankings by Times Higher Education and the University Ranking by Academic Performance. However, the article warns that the erosion of American supremacy in higher education could have long-term consequences for the nation’s global influence. As China continues to invest heavily in research and education, its universities are becoming increasingly competitive, signaling a new era in the global academic landscape. Read the New York Times report: https://nyti.ms/4pAv4Ff News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2026/01/28 Elliot L. Richardson Prize for Exceptional Public Service 2026/01/29-30 The Jimmy Carter Forum on U.S.-China Relations2026/02/02 APA Justice Monthly Meeting 2026/02/03 The Equity Pulse with Frank Wu 2026/02/11 Conversations, Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes: BD Wong Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. January 28, 2026: Gary Locke to be Honored Elliot L. Richardson Prize for Excellence in Public Service Wednesday, January 28 Reception 6:00 p.m. Awards 7:00-9:00 p.m. Ronald Reagan International Trade Building 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20004 Please join us in celebrating this year’s honorees for their extraordinary public service—an embodiment of the values championed by Elliot Richardson. A beacon of integrity and principled leadership, Richardson was a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration and served in four Cabinet-level roles, including Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare; Secretary of Defense; Attorney General; and Secretary of Commerce. 3. AASF: AIX Summit East 2026 Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) will AIX Summit East 2026 in New York City on April 17, 2026. This one-day AASF gathering in New York City will provide an exciting and energizing forum to exchange ideas, build partnerships, and define pathways for impact over the next five, ten, and fifty years. The inaugural AASF AIX Summit East 2026 convenes leaders across academia, industry, government, and the next generation of AI innovators to shape how artificial intelligence will transform—and be transformed by—science, engineering, health, education, and finance. At a moment of profound technological and societal change, the Summit centers collaboration across disciplines, sectors, and generations, bringing together established visionaries and rising stars to move the conversation from what AI can generate to what it can build for the nation. High school, undergraduate, and graduate students are invited to submit posters showcasing their research and applied work in artificial intelligence and related fields. Selected students will present their project at the summit, compete for poster awards, benefit from small-group mentoring, and receive highly discounted conference registration. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/4k04TXl 4. In Memoriam: Norman Zalkind Norman Stanley Zalkind , age 87, passed away on December 20, 2025. He was a renowned Massachusetts criminal defense lawyer and founding partner of the law firm Zalkind Duncan & Bernstein LLP. Norman was a long time supporter of the work of APA Justice. In a touching tribute, Attorney Harvey Silvergate said, "Norman was an extraordinary criminal defense lawyer, particularly with juries. He could, as the saying goes, sell refrigerators to Eskimos.” # # # 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 26, 2026 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #236 Year of The Dragon; Alien Land Laws; Section 702; US Heartland China Association; More #236 Year of The Dragon; Alien Land Laws; Section 702; US Heartland China Association; More In This Issue #236 · The Year of The Dragon Has Arrived · Updates on Alien Land Laws in FL, GA, and More · New Warrantless Surveillance Bill Introduced in Congress · US Heartland China Association · News and Activities for the Communities The Year of The Dragon Has Arrived February 10 was New Year Day for the Year of the Dragon with celebrations across the U.S. and the world. The sighting of a dragon was reportedly captured in a video in Singapore, but locals later claimed with tongue in cheek that the dragon is around all year and stays at a hotel named after it. When did the Chinese calendar start? According to Wikipedia , it depends on when the origin of a particular calendar era is chosen. This is Year 4722 if you go by the first reign of the Yellow Emperor ( Huángdì 黄帝 ). Updates on Alien Land Laws in FL, GA, and More On February 1, 2024, The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily halted the enforcement of Florida’s alien land law, known as SB 264, against two Chinese immigrants who have challenged the statute in court. On very short notice, Clay Zhu (DeHeng Law Offices), Ashley Gorski (ACLU), and Patrick Toomey (ACLU) of the legal team spoke at the APA Justice monthly meeting on February 5, 2024. They provided updates on the ruling for the ongoing lawsuit which was filed after Florida passed SB 264 last May. The legal team, including the ACLU, ACLU of Florida, DeHeng Law Offices PC, AALDEF, and Quinn Emanuel, swiftly challenged the Florida state law in May. Despite the District Court judge initially rejecting their motion for a preliminary injunction, the legal team appealed to the Court of Appeals last August, seeking an expedited process due to the harm caused by the state law.The legal team is grateful for the decision that was issued. It prevents Florida from enforcing SB 264 against two of the plaintiffs. It is a very good sign because the court’s reasoning was that the plaintiffs are substantially likely to prevail on their argument that Florida's law is preempted by federal law.There is already a federal statute that regulates real estate purchases that potentially implicate national security, the court said. Under the Constitution, the federal law controls and for that reason the Florida law is very likely unconstitutional. The Department of Justice filed a statement of interest in support of the preliminary injunction in the US District Court in June 2023. The adopted legal theory, if it is embraced ultimately by the Appeals Court, is one that could reach many other people who are contending with the hardships posed by SB 264. Oral arguments are scheduled in Miami the week of April 15. Florida Asian American Justice Alliance (FAAJA) has been leading a broad, diverse coalition to hold rallies against SB264. Concerned organizations have also submitted amicus briefs.The legal team's talk is included in this partial summary of the February 5 APA Justice monthly meeting: https://bit.ly/3uuhm0b . For more information about alien land bills, visit https://bit.ly/43epBcl Georgia Introduces Alien Land Bill HB 1093 According to LegiScan, House Bill (HB) 1093 , was introduced by six Republicans in the Georgia legislature on January 31, 2024.A hearing was held by the Georgia House Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee on February 9, 2024. Ben Lynde , ACLU of Georgia Policy Counsel, testified on HB 1093, a bill that would exclude certain non-citizens from buying agricultural land in Georgia. He said, "HB 1093 represents a new law that recalls similar efforts over the past to weaponize false claims of National Security against Asian immigrants and other marginalized communities. It is very difficult for me now as a veteran and lover of History to recall the horrors I felt in high school when I learned about bills like the Chinese Exclusion laws and alien land acts to see my state government trying to do similar laws... In the early 1900s, politicians from across this country used similar justifications to pass alien land laws and prohibit Chinese and Japanese immigrants from becoming land owners. These racist policies not only hurt immigrant families financially at that time but also severely exasperated violence, discrimination against Asian communities living in the United States... Regardless of the concerns which I do understand about where we got to the bill today, I don't want to have a discriminatory practice of the past being codified in Georgia law... Property ownership by certain noncitizens as a threat to National Security is a baseless claim with no evidence that they are causing harm... Members of the Asian communities are experiencing historic highs in discrimination and hate crimes in the modern discourse now... The Florida law has been enjoined by the 11th Circuit Court that will also hear this law if it is passed by Georgia... We just hope that you will reject this bill today or when this bill comes up for a vote. Thank you very much for your time." Time was not adequate for all who wished to speak at the hearing. Those who spoke in opposition to the bill included Koreans, Vietnamese, Latinos, and whites. The bill was not advanced to the next step of the process, pending on further discussion and negotiation. Watch a video of Ben Lydne's testimony at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ya9zGuzHOMg (2:57). The Committee of 100 tracks federal and state alien land bills and maintains an interactive map at: https://bit.ly/3Hxta4B USDA Status Report on Foreign Investments in US Land Micah R. Brown, Staff Attorney of the National Agricultural Law Center at the US Department of Agriculture, gave a presentation on the history and current developments in anti-foreign land ownership laws to the SB 147 Roundtable. The presentation covers: · Historical context on how state laws vary widely without a generalized or uniform approach and how they developed unevenly at five different “political flashpoints” over ensuing decades/centuries including the period of 2021 to the present, · Current proposals in Congress to seek to control, prohibit, restrict, or increase oversight on foreign investments in U.S. agriculture, · Enactment of alien land law SB 383 in Arkansas; preliminary injunction against SB 264 in Florida, and Missouri Governor John Ashcroft ’s Executive Order 24-01 Read the presentation: https://bit.ly/49ve4IX CAPAC Denounces Efforts to Ban Chinese Immigrants from Owning Land in the U.S. On February 8, 2024, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) held a virtual press conference about the recent resurgence of land laws that would prohibit Chinese immigrants from purchasing or owning property in the United States, following a federal appeals court's temporary injunction. In the ruling, a federal judge noted that it violates the 14th amendment’s protection against discrimination. CAPAC members denounced the Republican-led attempts to restrict land ownership that are being pushed in Congress and in state legislatures across the nation, and they will uplift legislation aimed at stopping these efforts from moving forward. CAPAC has cautioned against history repeating itself through laws that ban land or property ownership based on an individual’s country of origin. For more information, contact Graeme Crews , (202) 597-2923 (Rep. Judy Chu) or Jordan Goldes , (202) 308-9691 (Rep. Grace Meng) New Warrantless Surveillance Bill Introduced in Congress According to The Hill on February 12, House Republicans unveiled a new package for reauthorizing and reforming the nation’s warrantless surveillance powers. Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which allows the government to spy on noncitizens located abroad, is set to expire in April after a short-term extension.Monday’s text more closely aligns with the original proposal from the House Intelligence Committee over that of its Judiciary competitor, focusing on more reforms at the FBI to address misuse of the powerful spy tool. It does not include Judiciary’s hope for a warrant requirement — something deemed a red line for the intelligence community but nonetheless a top priority for privacy advocates in Congress.Though FISA 702 only allows the government to surveil foreigners, their communications with Americans are often swept up in the process, creating a database found to be misused by the FBI, which has already undertaken a number of reforms amid criticism.To privacy champions and advocates, a warrant is the only way to protect Americans’ rights. Complicating the bill’s consideration further are reports from Politico it may be partially considered during a closed session. “Make no mistake: a secret session is completely unnecessary. National security legislation is openly debated in every Congress. There have only been 6 secret sessions in the House since 1812,” Elizabeth Goitein , co-director of the liberty and national security program at the Brennan Center for Justice, wrote on X. “Secret law is anathema to democracies, and making law in secret is the next worst thing. Open debate is a core feature of our democratic system. But intelligence committee leaders prefer to work in the shadows because it gives them a strategic advantage.”Read The Hill report: https://bit.ly/3SYnvuU . US Heartland China Association Min Fan 范敏 , Executive Director of the US Heartland China Association (USHCA), introduced USHCA and described its mission and activities during the APA Justice monthly meeting on February 5, 2024.USHCA was started by the late Senator Adlai Stevenson , Illinois; it is almost 20 years old originally under the name of Midwest-US China Association. Bob Holden , former Governor of Missouri, is current Chair of USHCA. USHCA is a 501(C)3 nonprofit organization. It does not lobby.USHCA is funded by American sources including membership dues, Heartland community supporters, private donations, grants from private foundations, corporate sponsors, and contributions from state governmental agencies.Through organizing people-to-people exchanges in culture, education, and business, USHCA promotes a stable and productive US-China relationship to protect and advance the interests of the American Heartland so that: · Farmers in the Heartland can continue to expand our exports to China. · Educational institutions in the Heartland can remain competitive and continue to attract the best talent from around the world, including China, · Companies headquartered in the Heartland can remain competitive in the global economy by continuing to do business in and sell products to China. · The Heartland community and leaders have the resources to better understand and engage with China. · Heartland students can have the opportunities to develop a global mindset through learning about the Chinese language and culture. There are a lot of bridges to the world. Where bridges exist, communities flourish. USHCA has a bi-partisan network of many former governors, ambassadors, and local officials. USHCA works with them to build community connections. In 2020, in the depth of the pandemic, USHCA was one of the first NGOs that brought people from the US and China together via Zoom to talk about education, public health, and development programs that are in the best interest of the Heartland community. Min sees some hesitation on both sides. The Chinese side is worried about being locked up in a small black room in the customs office. The US side is worried about being held hostage in China. There is fear and the other side looks strange after no exchanges for three years.USHCA believes that bringing back exchanges is very important. It received support from the Ford Foundation and the Luce Foundation to promote Yangtze River and Mississippi River city-to-city exchange on energy transition, climate change, and green economy. Six mayors coming from five different states in the Heartland visited Hong Kong, Wuhan, Nanjing, Suzhou and Shanghai.Min said there are politicians whose mindset is shut. There are also elected officials who are curious and interested in learning. The communities have a role to play.Her presentation is available here: https://bit.ly/3HTc5Cu . Her talk is included in this partial summary of the February APA Justice monthly meeting: https://bit.ly/3uuhm0b Muscatine, Iowa, Celebrates Lunar New Year According to several local reports , Muscatine and China celebrate almost four decades of friendship with Lunar New Year Celebration on February 9, 2024.The events featured performances from Chinese students, videos documenting Muscatine and China’s shared history, and speeches from local, national, and international ambassadors.“There’s probably not all positive rapport with China from some leaders. But we just want to get more people here so they can see the people and see the traditions,” said Sarah Lande, one of the local diplomats on the state of current Chinese-American diplomatic relations. Terry Branstad , former Iowa Governor and US Ambassador to China, commented in the event, "I think the more people get to know each other... the more they gain friendship and trust in each other and that can be good for both of our countries... We are the two largest economies in the world... if we can find ways to get along and work together... it benefits the whole world." People’s Republic of China President Xi Jinping visited Iowa and stayed with Sarah Lande's home in Muscatine back in 1985. He has remained friends with several Iowans since. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2024/02/13-15 Senior Executives Association Senior Executive Leadership Summit2024/02/13 WHI: Advancing Educational Equity for AA and NHPI Students2024/02/13 Committee of 100: The Career Ceiling Challenges in Journalism 2024/02/27 President's Advisory Commission on AA and NHPIs Meeting and Solicitation for Oral and Written Comments2024/02/28 WHI: Community Engagement EventVisit https://bit.ly/45KGyga for event details. 2. Asian American Identity: At the Intersection of Perpetual Foreigner and Pop Culture Trendsetter WHAT: Asian American Identity: At the Intersection of Perpetual Foreigner and Pop Culture Trendsetter WHEN: March 6, 2024, 4:00 pm Pacific Time/7:00 pm Eastern Time (90 minutes) WHERE: Virtual Workshop HOST: 1990 Institute SPEAKERS: · Neil Ruiz, Head of New Research Initiatives, Pew Research Center · Ziyao Tian, Research Associate, Pew Research Center · Jeff Yang, author, journalist, businessman (Rise: A Pop History of Asian America from the Nineties to Now) · Margaret Yee, education consultant DESCRIPTION: This virtual Workshop aims to foster dialogue for better understanding of different cultures and contribute to a more inclusive representation of our communities as Americans. While prepared for middle and secondary school educators who teach Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Studies and/or Ethnic Studies in mind, this Workshop is open to all. REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/48lGsw1 Back View PDF February 14, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #194: Florida Lawsuit/Land Bills; Chinese Scientists; Houston Needs Help; Colonel Kalsi; FBI #194: Florida Lawsuit/Land Bills; Chinese Scientists; Houston Needs Help; Colonel Kalsi; FBI In This Issue #194 Updates on The Florida Alien Land Bill Lawsuit Opinion: Banning Foreign Ownership of Land Doesn't Protect US. It Just Scapegoats Asian Americans Chinese Scientists Increasingly Leaving U.S. Houston’s Chinese American Community Is Asking The Public For Help Colonel Kalsi: Beyond The Call Understanding The FBI Webinar; Upcoming FBI-Community Roundtable Updates on The Florida Alien Land Bill Lawsuit On July 3, 2023, Clay Zhu 朱可亮 , Partner, DeHeng Law Offices 德恒律师事务所; Founder, Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance 华美维权同盟, provided these updates on the Florida alien land bill lawsuit: Back View PDF July 6, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

2020/08/06 Briefing with Senator Mark Warner The APA Justice Task Force submitted the following statement for a briefing with Senator Mark Warner and his staff on August 6, 2020. 2020/08/05: Update on Racial Profiling and Related Issues 2020/04/02 Senator Warner Letter to FBI Director Wray On April 2, 2020, Senator Mark Warner (D-VA), Vice Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, wrote a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray and urged him to "hold biannual meetings with national leaders of Chinese American and Asian American organizations regarding issues of importance to those communities as you work to counter the foreign intelligence threat from the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC)." On May 29, 2020, the Assistant Director of the FBI Office of Congressional Affairs replied with this letter to Senator Warner. A previous meeting between the Assistant Director of the Counterintelligence Division and Asian American leaders was cited as productive in the letter. Background and context of the December 7, 2018 meeting is available here . 2020/01/15 CAPAC Meeting On January 15, 2020, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus chaired by Rep. Judy Chu convened a briefing session to update the current work on the profiling of Chinese Americans. As facilitator for APA Justice, Jeremy Wu provided a two-page handout and read a prepared statement during the briefing. 2018/12/07 FBI Meeting On December 7, 2018, a group of community leaders met with a senior-level FBI official and representatives at the FBI headquarters to convey concerns raised within the Chinese American community about the role of bias in its investigations, among other issues. A public statement about the meeting is here: English | 中文 . Each of the five community leaders brought his/her talking materials to the meeting with the FBI official and representatives: Aryani Ong, community advocate Robert Gee, Vice Chair, Washington DC Region, Committee of 100: Letter to FBI Official Andrew Kim, Visiting Scholar, South Texas College of Law and Litigator, Greenberg Traurig: Prosecuting Chinese “Spies:” An Empirical Analysis of The Economic Espionage Act Steven Pei, scientist and Honorary Chair of United Chinese Americans: FBI Meeting Talking Points Jeremy Wu, retired government official: FBI Meeting Talking Points Additional Information 2022/05/31 APA Justice: Summary Statement for The Town Hall Meeting Hosted by The FBI San Francisco Field Office 2022/05/31 APA Justice: Statement for The Town Hall Meeting Hosted by The FBI San Francisco Field Office 2018/12/23 Houston Chronicle: Houston Asians meet with D.C. FBI about economic espionage, racial bias 2018/10/12 Six Hues: Summary: Panel Addresses Concerns that Chinese Americans Are Targeted by Law Enforcement as U.S.-China Tensions Flare 2018/09/22 Houston Chronicle: Houstonians respond to Asian-Americans being increasingly targeted in economic espionage cases 2018/09/22 Community Educational Forum: A Dialogue with the FBI and Legal Experts: The Impact of Espionage Investigations on the Asian American Community 2018/08/26 CBS 60 Minutes: U.S. fight against Chinese espionage ensnares innocent Americans 2018/08/08 Houston Chronicle: FBI warns Texas academic and medical leaders of ‘classified’ security threats 2018/05/17 New York Times: Cleared of Spying for China, She Still Doesn’t Have Her Job Back 2018/05/05 South China Morning Post: Spying charges against Chinese-American scientists spark fears of a witch hunt 2018/03/01 Community Organizations: Joint letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray 2017/05/10 New York Times: Former Espionage Suspect Sues, Accusing F.B.I. of Falsifying Evidence 2015/09/15 New York Times: The Rush to Find China’s Moles Racial Profiling: Continuing Developments Return to Racial Profiling Overview