Newsletter - #44 Registration Opens for Third Webinar; "China Initiative"; Hate Crimes #44 Registration Opens for Third Webinar; "China Initiative"; Hate Crimes Back View PDF February 19, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

From generation to generation, the Asian Pacific American communities have been resilient in fighting against discrimination and protecting their civil rights. It is a continuing effort that transcends the China Initiative, which again confirms the commitment and determination of the communities from elected officials to organizations and individuals. February 27, 2020 Table of Contents: Overview Protesting Petitioning Elected Officials and Policymakers Speaking Out Against Racial Profiling Support of CAPAC and Congressional Members Collecting and Studying Facts and Evidence Timely Response to Urgent Needs Launch of The Anti-Racial Profiling Project The Role of The Media and Telling Our Side of The Story Building and Sustaining Allies Dialogue with the AAU Technology and Yellow Whistle During Pandemic and Beyond Keeping Up with History and Education for the Next Generations Links and References Overview February 27, 2020, is a symbolic date. It was the day when University of Tennessee Professor Anming Hu, a Chinese Canadian, was indicted by the federal government. He was the first academic to go to trial under the China Initiative. Hu was not charged for economic espionage, but for wire fraud and making false statements. The trial revealed the zeal of the misguided “China Initiative” to criminalize Hu with reckless and deplorable tactics of spreading false information to cast him as a spy for China and press him to become a spy for the U.S. government. He was cleared of all charges, marking one of the major turning points in the China Initiative. Unlike other timecards in this series, this section describes the evolving strategies and approaches used by the communities to address the China Initiative. These communities include both within and outside the Asian Pacific American groups, as well as the scientific and academic individuals and organizations. Throughout history, Asian Pacific Americans have faced various forms of discrimination, including xenophobia, racism, and institutional biases. From the struggles of early immigrants facing exclusionary laws to contemporary battles against hate crimes and racial profiling, the resilience of Asian Pacific Americans remains a guiding force across generations. It spans beyond any single initiative, including the China Initiative, or a particular moment or issue. From elected officials to grassroots organizations and individual activists, there is a collective dedication and broad commitment to confronting injustices and advocating for equality for all. The China Initiative may highlight specific challenges, but it served to reinforce the resolve of Asian Pacific American communities to combat discrimination in all its forms. Ultimately, the resilience of Asian Pacific American communities serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration for future generations. Addressing discrimination and advocating for civil rights for all requires a multifaceted approach. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, and different strategies must be employed to effectively combat injustices and promote equality. Despite the fears and threats instigated by the China Initiative, the communities used a combination of strategies and approaches to raise awareness and advocate; stand up and speak out; petition elected officials and policymakers; protest in person and in writing; talk and write to the media; collect facts and evidence; raise funds; educate; build allies; run for office and vote; and take legal action and go to court. Protesting Peaceful protest is a time-honored method of drawing attention to injustices and mobilizing collective action. Organizing protests, marches, and demonstrations can exert pressure on policymakers and institutions to address discriminatory practices. Organizations such as United Chinese Americans and the Asian American Scholars Forum, United Chinese Americans, and Tennessee Chinese American Alliance organized protests and rallies outside and inside the courthouses during the trials and hearings of Professors Franklin Tao and Anming Hu, as well as in front of the Department of Justice. References and Links 2023/09/20 Asian American Scholar Forum: Reminder to Attend Appeals Hearing of Professor Franklin Tao . 2022/01/11 United Chinese Americans: UCA Protest Outside DOJ and Press Conference for the Victims of the DOJ’s China Initiative–An Urgent Community Notice 2021/06/08 Tennessee Chinese American Alliance: Press Conference Statement on the trial of Professor Anming Hu Petitioning Elected Officials and Policymakers Writing letters, making phone calls, and organizing lobbying efforts were part of the persistent efforts during the China Initiative. About 30,000 persons joined a petition to then-President-Elect Joe Biden and called for the end of the China Initiative. Led by Stanford University faculty members, thousands of academics and researchers wrote to Attorney General Merrick Garland to terminate the China Initiative. Maryland State Senator Susan Lee led successfully a coalition to call for a Congressional hearing on racial profiling of Asian American and Chinese scientists. References and Links 2021/09/08 Winds of Freedom: Stanford Faculty Members Open Letter to AG Garland to End the "China Initiative" 2021/04/09 Advancing Justice | AAJC: Petition of 30,000 People to President Biden Calling for End of the China Initiative 2021/02/01 Maryland State Senator Susan Lee: Calling for a Congressional Hearing on Racial Profiling of Asian American and Chinese Scientists 2021/01/05 Coalition: Letter to President-Elect Joe Biden Calling for End of “China Initiative.” Speaking Out Against Racial Profiling Speaking out against racial profiling is a powerful form of resistance. Whether it is confronting prejudice in everyday interactions or addressing systemic inequalities through public advocacy, individuals can make their voices heard and demand change. On March 22, 2019, three major scientific organizations voiced their concerns about racial profiling by publishing an open letter titled " Racial Profiling Harms Science " in Science. The Society of Chinese Bioscientists in America (SCBA, 美洲华人生物科学学会), The Chinese American Hematologist and Oncologist Network (CAHON, 美国华裔血液及肿瘤专家学会), and The Chinese Biological Investigators Society (CBIS, 华人生物学者教授学会) represent the largest and a rapidly growing professional group for scientists, mostly of Chinese descent, in many biomedical disciplines. The letter spells out the concerns about the recent political rhetoric and policies that single out students and scholars of Chinese descent working in the United States as threats to U.S. national interests. On April 7, 2019, the Committee of 100 (C100 百人会) issued a statement condemning racial profiling against Chinese Americans during its annual conference in New York. The statement responds to FBI Director Christopher Wray and a few high-level American government officials, respected media outlets, and opinion leaders who have stated or suggested in recent years that all Chinese persons in America should be suspected of wrongdoing. However, "overzealous criminal prosecutions in recent years of innocent individuals such as Sherry Chen and Xiaoxing Xi, like Wen Ho Lee before them, have embarrassingly fallen apart, while ruining lives for no reason. Such targeting of individuals based on their ethnic heritage or national origin violates our shared American ideals. It simply has to stop." "Racial profiling is wrong and un-American in our nation of democracy." The statement concludes that "by standing up and speaking out for what is right and just, Chinese Americans can help lead the way in answering the call that is always before us as Americans: to embody more perfectly the ideals and principles of this great nation we call home." References and Links 2019/04/07 Committee of 100: Committee of 100 Condemns Chinese American Racial Profiling 2019/03/22 Science: Racial Profiling Harms Science Support of CAPAC and Congressional Members The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) was established on May 16, 1994. Congressman Norman Y. Mineta, one of the founders of CAPAC, became its first Chair. CAPAC serves to ensure that legislation passed by the U.S. Congress reflects the interests and needs of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, educate fellow Members of Congress about the history and contributions of these communities, collaborate with other caucuses to protect civil rights, establish policies on legislation affecting individuals of Asian and/or Pacific Island ancestry in the United States, and coordinate the efforts of Asian American and Pacific Islander Members of Congress to achieve these goals. Since its founding, CAPAC has been a strong voice for the protection of the civil rights for the APA communities, especially in addressing the racial profiling issue and the China Initiative. Its efforts continue as CAPAC members themselves are also subject to racial profiling and McCarthyism. References and Links: 2024/01/23 CAPAC: CAPAC Members Lead Effort to Prevent the Relaunch Trump-Era China Initiative 2024/01/22 Rep. Grace Meng: Meng, Hirono and Chu Seek to Stop House Republicans From Relaunching Trump-era China Initiative 2023/04/26 CAPAC: In Joint USA Today Op-ed, CAPAC Members Chu, Krishnamoorthi Write: “In competition with Chinese Communist Party, anti-Asian rhetoric only divides” 2023/03/06 CAPAC: Chair Chu on MSNBC.com : "I am a target of the right’s new McCarthyism" 2023/02/23 CAPAC: CAPAC Statement on Rep. Gooden’s Xenophobic Remarks on Fox News 2022/11/14 CAPAC: CAPAC Chair Statement on Sherry Chen’s Settlement with Department of Commerce 2022/02/23 CAPAC: CAPAC Members Welcome End of China Initiative 2022/01/29 CAPAC: CAPAC Members Meet with Department of Justice Assistant Attorney General Matt Olsen on China Initiative Concerns 2021/10/29 CAPAC: CAPAC Members and Attorney General Garland Discuss China Initiative, COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, and Language Access 2021/09/10 CAPAC: CAPAC Member Statements on Acquittal of Dr. Anming Hu After Mistrial Based on False Evidence 2021/07/30 CAPAC: CAPAC Chair Statement on Retrial of Dr. Anming Hu After Mistrial Based on False Evidence 2021/07/30 Rep. Ted Lieu: Rep. Lieu and 90 Members of Congress Urge DOJ Probe into Alleged Racial Profiling of Asians 2021/07/19 CAPAC: CAPAC Leaders Issue Guidance on Anti-China Messaging and Anti-Asian Violence 2021/06/30 Rep. Jamie Raskin: Roundtable Led by Reps. Raskin and Chu Hears about Effects of Ethnic Profiling Against Chinese American Scientists 2020/02/20 CAPAC: Raskin and Chu Launch Investigation into NIH and FBI Probes of Chinese Scientists 2020/01/20 Rep. Jamie Raskin: Raskin and Chu Launch Investigation into NIH and FBI Probes of Chinese Scientists 2019/07/17 CAPAC: CAPAC Members Applaud Successful Passage of Amendment to Address Racial Profiling of Chinese Americans 2018/02/15 CAPAC: CAPAC Members on Rubio and Wray’s Remarks Singling Out Chinese Students as National Security Threats Collecting and Studying Facts and Evidence Gathering data and evidence to substantiate claims of discrimination and refute false narratives is critical for building strong cases and advocating for systemic reforms. Conducting research, compiling testimonies, and documenting incidents of racial profiling provide compelling evidence to support advocacy efforts. Community and professional organizations, individual research, and the media have all contributed important data and studies about the China Initiative and racial profiling. References and Links 2021/12/14 Bloomberg Businessweek: China Initiative Set Out to Catch Spies. It Didn’t Find Many 2021/12/02 MIT Technology Review: The US crackdown on Chinese economic espionage is a mess. We have the data to show it 2021/12/02 MIT Technology Review: We built a database to understand the China Initiative. Then the government changed its records 2021/11/30 National Association of Scholars: Cracking Down on Illegal Ties to China 2021/11/05 New York Law Journal: DOJ’s China Initiative’s Three-Year Anniversary: Growing Pains and Uncertainty 2021/11/04 NPR: DOJ's China Initiative aims to counter theft of U.S. secrets and technology 2021/10/28 Committee of 100/University of Arizona: Racial Profiling Among Scientists of Chinese Descent and Consequences for the U.S. Scientific Community 2021/10 American Physical Society: Research Security Policies & Their Impacts: Key Results of APS Member Survey 2021/09/28 Law360: 'Overheated': How A Chinese-Spy Hunt At DOJ Went Too Far 2021/09/21 Committee of 100: Racial Disparities in Economic Espionage Act Prosecutions: A Window Into The New Red Scare 2021/09/14 SSRN: Red Scare? A Study of Ethnic Prejudice in the Prosecutions under the Economic Espionage Act , PIER Working Paper No. 21-022 2021/08/18 Jeremy Wu: The Importance of Data in Fighting Racial Profiling: from FedCases to "China Initiative” and Beyond 2021/02/09 Cato Institute: Espionage, Espionage‐Related Crimes, and Immigration: A Risk Analysis, 1990–2019 Timely Response to Urgent Needs On July 24, 2020, the U.S. ordered China to close its consulate in Houston, accusing it to be a "spy center" to conduct spying activities with local medical centers or universities. At about the same time, five researchers from China were arrested and alleged to be spies for China’s military. FBI agents began to knock on doors to demand interviews with persons of Chinese descent, creating widespread fear and anguish in the Chinese American community in Houston. On July 26, 2020, The Intercept published an article: Was The Chinese Consulate in Houston Really a Hotbed of Economic Espionage? According to the article, “people close to China-related investigations in Houston say the decision to close the consulate may be more about politics than spy threats.” During the APA Justice meeting on August 3, 2020, Houston community leaders provided on-the-ground reports and expressed grave concerns about a "witch hunt for spies” by the FBI to use Chinese Americans as “scapegoat” to justify the political claim, for which the U.S. government provided little supporting evidence. Local community leaders appealed to Congress to de-escalate the situation, rein in the rhetoric and irresponsible actions, and provide oversight to protect the civil rights of Chinese Americans. Within three days, OCA, UCA, Advancing Justice | AAJC, and the Asian American Bar Association of Houston co-hosted a “Know Your Rights” webinar on August 6, 2020, to address the urgent question, "What to do if you are questioned by the FBI or police?" Over 850 participated in the webinar. 2020年7月24日，美国命令中国关闭驻休斯敦领事馆，指责其为“间谍中心”，与当地医疗中心或大学进行间谍活动。五名来自中国的研究人员同时被捕，并被指控为中国军方的间谍。联邦调查局（FBI）特工开始挨家挨户敲门要求对在美华人进行采访，在休斯敦的华裔社区中制造了恐惧和痛苦。 7月26日，《拦截》杂志发表一篇文章： 中国驻休斯敦领事馆真的是经济间谍活动的温床吗 ？ 文章称，“接近休斯敦与有关中国的调查人员说，关闭领事馆的决定可能更多是关于政治，而不是间谍威胁。” 在 2020 年 8 月 3 日的 APA Justice 每月例会中，休斯顿社区领袖提供了实地报告，并对 FBI 利用华裔美国人作为“替罪羊”来为政治主张辩护的“政治迫害”表示担忧。美国政府对 “间谍中心” 的指控提供很少支持证据。 当地社区领袖呼吁国会缓和局势，遏制言论和不负责任的行为，并提供监督以保护华裔美国人的公民权利。 三天之内，2020年8月6日，OCA，UCA，Advancing Justice | AAJC 和其他组织共同举办“了解您的权利”网络研讨会，以解决紧急问题：“如果FBI或警察对您提出质疑，该怎么办？ ” 超过 850 人参加了此次网络研讨会。 References and Links 2020/07/26 Intercept: Was The Chinese Consulate in Houston Really a Hotbed of Economic Espionage ? 2020/07/23 Department of Justice: Researchers Charged with Visa Fraud After Lying About Their Work for China’s People’s Liberation Army 2020/07/22 NPR: U.S. Orders China's Houston Consulate To Close, Ratcheting Tensions 2019/08/21 Department of Justice: University of Kansas Researcher Indicted for Fraud for Failing to Disclose Conflict of Interest with Chinese University 2019/06/13 Bloomberg Business: The U.S. Is Purging Chinese Cancer Researchers From Top Institutions . 2019/04/19 Science: Exclusive: Major U.S. cancer center ousts ‘Asian' researchers after NIH flags their foreign ties . Launch of Anti-Racial Profiling Project While short-term actions such as in Houston were necessary, readily available resources were also being developed. On October 7, 2020, Advancing Justice | AAJC launched the Anti-Racial Profiling Project after several months of preparation. The goal of the project is to be a resource, advocate for non-discriminatory policies, provide legal expertise, and to lift up the voices of those impacted by the U.S. government’s increased efforts to target and profile Asian American and Asian immigrant scientists and researchers, particularly of Chinese descent. The concept was advanced by Frank Wu, now President of Queen’s College of the City University of New York, by an essay on “Why You Need A Lawyer.” Initial seed funding was provided by Clarence Kwan, former Chair of Committee of 100, and others. Gisela Perez Kusakawa served as the inaugural director of the project. Individuals seeking legal referral should contact AAJC via the Signal app with the number 202-935-6014 or text ONLY a name and phone number to 202-935-6014 and wait for an AAJC staff member to make direct contact. The project was expanded into the Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security Program in 2022 with the purpose of combating profiling and protecting the rights of Asian Americans and immigrants through policy advocacy, legal referrals, coalition building, and education for policymakers, the media and the general public. Joanna YangQing Derman is the current director of the program. References and Links 2020/10/07 AsAmNews: AAJC launches Anti-Racial Profiling Project 2020/10/07 Advancing Justice | AAJC: Launch of Anti-Racial Profiling Project Webinar (video 1:00:49) 2020/10/07 Advancing Justice | AAJC: Anti-Racial Profiling Project Description 2020/10/07 Advancing Justice | AAJC: Anti-Racial Profiling Project Webinar Presentation Package 2020/10/07 APA Justice: Anti-Racial Profiling Project Webinar by Dr. Jeremy Wu 2020/10/06 Advancing Justice | AAJC: Anti-Racial Profiling Project Press Briefing (video 52:28) 2020/04/17 Frank Wu: Why You Need A Lawyer 2020/04/17 Frank Wu: Why You Need A Lawyer 2020/04/17 吴华扬: 您为什么需要律师 Know Your Rights by ACLU : What do you do if the FBI or police contact you for questioning? 知道您的权利 （ACLU）：如果FBI或警察联系您进行询问，您应怎么做？ The Role of The Media and Telling Our Side of The Story Asian Americans must share their experiences and tell their side of the story about racial profiling to the media and the public as the government possesses significantly greater resources and access to disseminate its information. By voicing their perspectives, Asian Americans can ensure that their stories are heard and understood, contributing to a more comprehensive and accurate narrative regarding racial profiling and its impacts on the individuals and communities. This proactive engagement can help counteract misconceptions and biases, promote empathy and understanding, and advocate for policies and practices that address racial injustice effectively. Several media reports have significant impacts at different stages of the China Initiative: In August 2018, prior to the launch of the China Initiative, the Houston Chronicle reported an unusual FBI meeting with top leaders from academic and medical institutions in Houston to address security threats posed by foreign adversaries, signaling the launch of a new nationwide initiative. Houston, being a hub of academic and research institutions, was chosen as the starting location for this initiative. In April 2019, Science and the Houston Chronicle collaborated to produce a series of on-site reports revealing the targeting of Chinese American researchers at the MD Anderson Cancer Center by the FBI and NIH, subjecting the researchers to undisclosed investigations, searches of email accounts unknown to the individuals, and video surveillance. “MD Anderson officials maintain they had little choice but to act after they received letters from NIH detailing allegations and concerns about the researchers.” In essence, MD Anderson threw its faculty under the bus. The reports further deepened the concerns of racial profiling. In June 2019, Bloomberg Business published an investigative report titled “The U.S. is purging Chinese scientists in a new Red Scare,” identifying the NIH and FBI for targeting ethnic Chinese scientists, including U.S. citizens, searching for a cancer cure. It provided the first account of what happened to Dr. Xifeng Wu 吴息凤. In June 2021, University of Tennessee Knoxville Professor Anming Hu became the first academic to go to trial under the China Initiative. Knox News covered the trial end to end, providing a series of shocking, insightful reports as the trial progressed. Thanks to Knox News reporting, especially by reporter Jamie Sattefield, by the time Professor Hu was acquitted of all charges on September 9, 2021, his case would become a symbol of a failed, overreaching China Initiative. In December 2021, MIT Technology Review published not one but two investigative reports. Less than three months later, the Department of Justice announced the end of the China Initiative. Following a proposal by Paula Madison , businesswoman and retired executive from NBCUniversal, in April 2023, APA Justice hosted a virtual Inaugural roundtable to assertively address immediate xenophobic challenges to our freedoms and consider longer-term proactive actions to ensure fairness and justice for all, including the AAPI and immigrant communities. Over 100 community representatives attended and spoke at the online event. Efforts to build a national media network to strengthen the presence and voice of Asian Pacific American communities is an ongoing effort. References and Links 2023/04/03 APA Justice: Paula Madison Speaks at APA Justice Monthly Meeting 2021/12/02 MIT Technology Review: The US crackdown on Chinese economic espionage is a mess. We have the data to show it 2021/12/02 MIT Technology Review: We built a database to understand the China Initiative. Then the government changed its records 2021/09/09 Knox News: Former Tennessee professor acquitted of fraud charges in espionage investigation 2021/08/02 Knox News: Former University of Tennessee professor falsely accused of espionage faces second trial 2021/07/29 Knox News: How the FBI manipulated the University of Tennessee to find a Chinese spy who didn't exist 2021/06/16 Knox News: Trump Administration's first 'China Initiative' prosecution sputters as jurors deadlock 2021/06/14 Knox News: With spy case a bust, feds seek fraud conviction against University of Tennessee professor 2021/06/13 Knox News: Trial reveals federal agents falsely accused a UT professor born in China of spying 2021/06/09 Knox News: University of Tennessee assured NASA that professor had no prohibited ties to China 2021/06/07 Knox News: Trial of former UT professor centers on whether he concealed ties to Chinese university 2019/06/13 Bloomberg Business: The U.S. Is Purging Chinese Cancer Researchers From Top Institutions 2019/04/23 Science: After ousters, MD Anderson officials try to calm fears of racial profiling 2019/04/19 Science: Exclusive: Major U.S. cancer center ousts ‘Asian' researchers after NIH flags their foreign ties 2018/08/09 Houston Chronicle: FBI warns Texas academic and medical leaders of ‘classified’ security threats Building and Sustaining Allies The Asian Pacific American community needs allies to fight racial profiling because collective action and solidarity amplify their voices and increase their effectiveness in advocating for change. Allies from within our subpopulations, professional disciplines, and other racial and ethnic groups, as well as advocacy organizations and community leaders, can provide support, raise awareness, and challenge systemic injustices. Additionally, allies can help bridge gaps in understanding and empathy, highlight the intersections of racial profiling with other forms of discrimination, and advocate for policies that promote equity and justice for all. “Recent immigrants,” meaning primarily those who came from China within the last 30-40 years, now compose more than half of the Chinese American population, outnumbering the native-borns and the “old immigrants” who came from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and other parts of the world after the enactment of the 1965 Immigration and Naturalization Act. As the main victims of the China Initiative, “recent immigrants” have also become new advocates and leaders opposing racial profiling and the China Initiative. United Chinese Americans (UCA) and the Asian American Scholars Forum (AASF) are two of these organized efforts. The scientific and academic community is among the strongest allies during and after the China Initiative, engaging in every phase of advocacy, protest, and policymaking. References and Links 2023/01/12 Migration Policy Institute: Chinese Immigrants in the United States 2022/06 AAPI Data: State of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in The United States 2022/02/23 Asian American Scholars Forum: Asian American Scholar Forum Welcomes the End of China Initiative 2022/01/11 United Chinese Americans: Press Conference for the Victims of the DOJ's China Initiative (online) and A Silent Protest in DC 2021/11/05 Science: China Initiative spawns distrust and activism 2021/10/29 University World News: Racial profiling of Chinese scientists is spreading fear 2021/09/08 Winds of Freedom: Stanford Faculty Members Open Letter to AG Garland to End the "China Initiative" 2021/09/01 American Physical Society: Letter to AG Garland and OSTP Director Eric Lander Dialogue with the AAU Founded in 1900, the Association of American Universities (AAU) is composed of America’s leading research universities which collectively help shape policy for higher education, science, and innovation; promote best practices in undergraduate and graduate education; and strengthen the contributions of leading research universities to American society. On September 9, 2022, Dr. Steven Pei and Dr. Jeremy Wu, Co-Organizers of APA Justice, joined a virtual meeting with Senior Research Officers at AAU. The meeting was moderated by Roger Wakimoto, Vice Chancellor for Research, UCLA. It included a 10-minute presentation by Drs. Pei and Wu on "Academic Freedom and Engaging Faculty on Campus - The Asian American Perspective" and a package of backgrounds and references , followed by questions and answers, and robust and productive discussions. The meeting continues our engagement and collaboration with AAU after Toby Smith, Vice President for Science Policy & Global Affairs, spoke at the APA Justice monthly meeting on June 6, 2022. Four wishes from the Asian American faculty perspective were presented to AAU: Engage faculty in the development and implementation of NSPM-33 and similar policies on campus to make sure clear instruction, sufficient support, and proper training are provided to faculty, researchers, and administrative staff. “Establish (an independent or joint with faculty senate) committee (preferably led by a Chinese American faculty) to evaluate, define and protect the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of faculty and administration in cases involving the investigation of faculty by outside agencies” - a resolution passed by the faculty senate of a founding member of AAU Offer and publicize first response followed by independent legal assistance. Consider legal insurance in the long term. Help faculty, staffs, and students to resolve visa, border entry, and related issues. References and Links 2022/09/09 Steven Pei and Jeremy Wu: Academic Freedom and Engaging Faculty on Campus The Asian American Perspective 2022/09/09 Steven Pei and Jeremy Wu: Academic Freedom and Engaging Faculty on Campus The Asian American Perspective - Additional Background and References 2022/06/06 APA Justice: Summary of APA Justice Monthly Meeting on June 6, 2022 Technology and Yellow Whistle During Pandemic and Beyond A year after the launch of the China Initiative, the COVID pandemic hit the Asian American community with two viruses simultaneously - the pathological coronavirus and the social injustice virus. Anti-Asian hate incidents and crimes spiked across the nation when increasing awareness about the prevalence and impact of discrimination was crucial. In times when physical gatherings are limited or not feasible, webinars, virtual events, and social media became powerful tools to maintain communications, share personal experiences, organize educational events, and amplify marginalized voices. These platforms enable organizations to host meetings, workshops, and conferences remotely, allowing participants from diverse geographical locations to come together, share ideas, and collaborate effectively. They provide a platform for marginalized voices to be heard, especially in short notice situations. On Patriots Day, April 19, 2021, The Yellow Whistle Project was started by Dr. Agnes Hsu-Tang and her husband Oscar Tang, Li-En Chong, and others in response to the anti-Asian hate and violence. The color yellow was chosen to signal the advent of spring, bringing hope, optimism, and enlightenment. The whistle is a symbol of self-protection and solidarity in our common fight against historical discrimination, anti-Asian violence, and racial profiling. It has a universal purpose - to signal alarm and call for help - for all Americans. The Yellow Whistle carries a simple and yet powerful message: “We Belong.” Over 800,000 Yellow Whistles have been distributed across the country to date. It continues as a symbol of hope, strength, and resilience for all Americans. References and Links The Yellow Whistle website: https://www.theyellowwhistle.org/ 2021/09/05 Axios: How the yellow whistle became a symbol against anti-Asian hate Keeping Up with History and Education for the Next Generations “Those Who Do Not Learn History Are Doomed To Repeat It.” Effectively incorporating the lessons from the China Initiative into education for future generations demands a multifaceted strategy that encompasses various key elements, including: Preservation of Facts and Information Development of a Comprehensive Curriculum Application of Interactive Learning Methods Promotion of Dialogue and Reflection Engagement with Communities Commitment to Continued Learning and Adaptation References and Links 2023/03/23 1990 Institute: Exclusion: The Shared Asian American Experience 2022/06/13 Representative Grace Meng: Meng Legislation Seeking to Establish First National Asian Pacific American Museum Signed into Law by President Biden From generation to generation, the Asian Pacific American communities have been resilient in fighting against discrimination and protecting their civil rights. It is a continuing effort that transcends the China Initiative, which again confirms the commitment and determination of the communities from elected officials to organizations and individuals. Previous Next 5. Communities Respond with Resilience

Newsletter - #320 ACF, CALDA and AAJC Reports; Trump Invokes 1798 Law; Court Rulings Against Trump; More #320 ACF, CALDA and AAJC Reports; Trump Invokes 1798 Law; Court Rulings Against Trump; More In This Issue #320 · The Institute for America, China, and the Future of Global Affairs · Updates from Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance · Updates from Advancing Justice | AAJC · Trump Invokes 1798 Law; Defies Court Order; Rebuked by Chief Justice · Recent Court Rulings Against Trump's Executive Actions · News and Activities for the Communities The Institute for America, China, and the Future of Global Affairs Jessica Chen Weiss is Founding Faculty Director of the Institute for America, China, and the Future of Global Affairs (ACF), SAIS, Johns Hopkins University.During the APA Justice monthly meeting on March 3, 2025, Jessica introduced ACF, newly launched in February 2025, that aims to enhance the rigor and depth of public and policy discussions on China, emphasizing civil liberties, inclusiveness, and democracy as central to U.S. foreign policy. Unlike other China-focused think tanks, ACF seeks to foster evidence-based dialogue among experts and practitioners while remaining neutral on policy stances. The institute was launched alongside the report " Getting China Right at Home ," a collection of essays by 15 experts, including contributions from Gisella Perez Kusakawa of Asian American Scholar Forum and Patrick Toomey of ACLU. Seven of the 15 essays in the conceptions of grappling with China address issues of civil liberties, transnational oppression, and discrimination against Asian Americans.ACF seeks to fill a gap in Washington's foreign policy conversations by addressing the domestic consequences of U.S.-China relations, ensuring that civil rights and inclusivity are not sidelined. Jessica emphasized that these issues are not merely collateral damage but are fundamental to formulating sound China policies. There are head winds, but the institute operates under four guiding principles: rigor in research, humility in acknowledging complexity, civility in discussions, and creativity in forward-thinking solutions. This approach is intended to bridge academia and policymaking, fostering long-term strategies that account for both national security and civil liberties.This spring, ACF will focus on disseminating its research findings through meetings with congressional offices, government agencies, and policy stakeholders to encourage two-way dialogue. The institute will also launch an ideas series spotlighting key policy areas while cultivating a new generation of experts who integrate academic insights with practical policymaking. Jessica underscored the importance of maintaining open academic spaces for constructive discussions, ensuring that universities continue to contribute to informed policy debates. Through these initiatives, ACF aims to provide a central platform for nuanced, fact-based conversations on U.S.-China relations and their broader societal implications.A summary of the March 3 APA Justice monthly meeting is being prepared at this time. Updates from Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance Clay Zhu 朱可亮 is Co-Founder, Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance 华美维权同盟 (CALDA).During the APA Justice monthly meeting on March 3, 2025, Clay provided updates on ongoing civil rights litigation concerning discriminatory laws against Chinese Americans, particularly in Florida. Clay’s update covered two major legal battles: Florida’s Alien Land Law (SB 264) and SB 846, which targets Chinese students and universities.SB 264, a measure enacted nearly two years ago, is widely seen as part of the political positioning for the Florida Governor’s presidential bid. This law has been challenged in federal court by CALDA in collaboration with the ACLU and other organizations. The case is currently before the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, with a decision anticipated in the next couple months. Clay stressed that the ruling will have far-reaching implications, as it is the first appellate-level decision on such a state law. Given its higher legal authority, the ruling could influence similar laws in other states, particularly Texas, where similar measures are under consideration. The second major case pertains to Florida’s SB 846 , which prohibits universities from forming agreements with Chinese entities. In practice, this has led to the termination of Chinese graduate students’ assistantship roles, severely impacting their academic and professional development.For students working towards a master or Ph.D. degree, it is essential for them to working for the supervising professors as graduate assistants, so that they can go into the lab and work on real life projects and be able to collaborate on academic papers.SB 846 basically bans all the international students from China to be graduate students at universities in Florida.CALDA promptly filed a lawsuit challenging this law. Recently, a magistrate judge ruled in favor of one of CALDA’s arguments, stating that Florida’s law interferes with federal immigration authority. The judge accepted the argument that the law overreaches state power by infringing upon federal immigration regulations. However, the court did not rule in favor of the claim that the law is racially discriminatory. The case is now under review by a district court judge, who is expected to issue a decision in the next month or two. Given historical precedent, it is likely that the district court judge will adopt the magistrate judge’s recommendations. Nevertheless, Florida is expected to appeal the ruling, which would bring the case before the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, similar to the Alien Land Law case.Looking ahead, Clay noted that CALDA is closely monitoring legislative developments in Texas. If Texas enacts laws similar to SB 264 or SB 846, the organization is prepared to launch legal challenges to prevent further discriminatory measures. The outcomes of these lawsuits will not only shape the legal landscape in Florida but also set critical precedents that could influence policy decisions and judicial interpretations in other states.Through these legal battles, CALDA continues to advocate for the rights of Chinese Americans, ensuring that unconstitutional and discriminatory policies are challenged in court. Clay’s update highlights the ongoing efforts to protect civil rights and the broader implications of these cases for immigrant communities nationwide. Updates from Advancing Justice | AAJC During the APA Justice monthly meeting on March 3, 2025, Joanna YangQing Derman , Director of Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security Program at Advancing Justice | AAJC, reported that AAJC strongly condemned President Trump's executive order mandating English as the official U.S. language, calling it a racist attack on immigrant communities.Joanna provided a litigation update, noting that a federal judge in Maryland temporarily blocked key parts of Trump’s executive orders targeting DEI initiatives in the Federal government and corporate America, citing constitutional violations and harm to affected individuals and organizations.AAJC is also tracking land law activities at state and federal levels, particularly in Texas, where lawmakers introduced SB 17 and HB 1849. AAJC is working with NAPABA and other groups to support advocacy efforts. At the federal level, they anticipate alien land bills and are coordinating opposition with allies, including CAPAC.In addition, reports indicate that the Trump administration plans to invoke the Alien Enemies Act soon, with advocacy groups engaging lawmakers to oppose it. Lastly, Trump nominated John Eisenberg to lead the DOJ’s National Security Division, raising concerns about a possible reinstatement of the China Initiative. AAJC is strategizing with partners to monitor his confirmation. Trump Invokes 1798 Law; Defies Court Order; Rebuked by Chief Justice According to multiple media reports, on March 15, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a wartime law granting the president broad authority to detain or deport noncitizens from "enemy nations" without due process. Trump’s order claims the U.S. is facing an “invasion” by a Venezuelan gang allegedly acting on behalf of Venezuela’s government. Harvard Law Professor Noah Feldman opined that the Alien Enemies Act is a weak argument for deportation without a hearing - the U.S. is not at war with Venezuela, a gang is not a government, and it is not threatening invasion or incursion.The Alien Enemies Act was last used during World War II to justify the internment of 120,000 persons of Japanese descent and has only been invoked twice before, during World War I and the War of 1812.The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Democracy Forward, and the ACLU of the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration over Trump's expected unlawful and unprecedented invocation of the Alien Enemies Act— J.G.G. v. Trump (1:25-cv-00766) . Chief Judge James E. Boasberg of the D.C. Circuit Court issued an initial temporary restraining order (TRO) blocking the deportation of the five plaintiffs named in the lawsuit. Later that day, Judge Boasberg expanded the scope of the TRO to encompass all individuals at risk of removal under the Alien Enemies Act, thereby granting class certification. This expanded TRO now protects all immigrants who could be subject to deportation under the Act, preventing their removal from the United States until further legal proceedings determine the Act's applicability and constitutionality in this context. The Washington Post reported that planes deporting 137 migrants under the act landed in El Salvador after Judge Boasberg ordered any such flights to return to the United States on March 15. Family members of some of those deported reportedly said their relatives are not gang members.On March 17, Judge Boasberg ordered Trump officials to provide the next day a sworn declaration that no one was deported under the authority of the Alien Enemies Act after his verbal order was made to turn the planes around. The judge also ordered officials to detail when the executive order was issued and provide a count of how many alleged gang members still in the United States are subject to the order. The Trump administration’s battle with the federal court system escalated sharply with government lawyers calling for the removal of Judge Boasberg and refusing to answer some questions in court.On March 18, Trump called for the impeachment of Judge Boasberg, prompting John G. Roberts Jr., Chief Justice of the United States to issue a rare and stern statement rejecting the idea and asserting the independence of the judiciary. “For more than two centuries, it has been established that impeachment is not an appropriate response to disagreement concerning a judicial decision,” he wrote. “The normal appellate review process exists for that purpose.”On March 18, the Justice Department refused to answer questions from Judge Boasberg seeking more details about deportations carried out under the Alien Enemies Act, leading the judge to issue a new order for the information. "The Government maintains that there is no justification to order the provision of additional information, and that doing so would be inappropriate...if, however, the Court nevertheless orders the Government to provide additional details, the Court should do so through an in camera and ex parte declaration, in order to protect sensitive information bearing on foreign relations," the DOJ filing said.Judge Boasberg responded to the filing a short time later, directing the government to answer his questions in a sealed court filing by noon March 19. Judge Boasberg has substantial qualifications in handling national security matters, having served a seven-year term on the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance (FISA) Court beginning in May 2014. He was the Court's Presiding Judge from January 2020 to May 2021. Judge Boasberg expressed frustration that the government had appeared to snub his order halting the deportations and refused to answer questions about its actions. He had reportedly summarized the government's position as "we don’t care, we’ll do what we want.”On March 19, New York Times reported that Judge Boasberg granted the government another day to share details on deportation flights, including what time two planes took off from U.S. soil and from where, what time they left U.S. airspace, and what time they landed in El Salvador.On March 24, a federal appeals court will hear oral arguments on the Trump administration’s request to lift the temporary block from Judge Boasberg.APA Justice will continue to closely monitor and provide updates on this development. Several organizations have issued statements on the invocation of the Alien Enemies Act, including: · 2025/03/18 Asian American Scholar Forum · 2025/03/17 Asian American Advancing Justice · 2025/03/17 Refugee International · 2025/03/16 Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund ***** WP: ‘Very dangerous’: Japanese Americans warn of Trump’s use of Alien Enemies Act According to the Washington Post on March 19, 2025, during World War II, the U.S. government used the Alien Enemies Act to arrest thousands of Japanese, German, and Italian nationals, often without evidence or due process. Russell Endo , whose grandfather Heigoro Endo was detained under the law, has researched hundreds of such cases and found no evidence of disloyalty. “If you read the case files, they are completely innocent,” Endo said, emphasizing how the law lacked oversight and offered no recourse for those targeted. Now, with President Donald Trump invoking the same law to deport alleged Venezuelan gang members without hearings, Japanese American leaders fear history is repeating itself. Former Congressman Mike Honda , who was incarcerated as an infant under Executive Order 9066, warned that the law gives “too much power in the executive branch because it can be used at a whim.” He has worked with lawmakers to repeal the law, calling it unconstitutional and a violation of fundamental rights. The personal impact of such policies extends across generations. Larry Oda , president of the Japanese American Citizens League, recalled how his father, Junichi , was arrested the day after a military exclusion zone was expanded in California, even though he had relocated to avoid internment. Junichi was sent to multiple incarceration camps, including one in Crystal City, Texas, where Oda was born. “One of the things that affected me the most was that myself and my family had done nothing wrong. We were targeted because of the way we looked,” he said. The trauma left a lasting fear of being unfairly imprisoned. The history of wartime detention highlights the broader dangers of discriminatory policies, as seen in Trump’s recent deportations, which a federal judge has already challenged. For Endo and others, the lesson is clear: “People are using a law that is very dangerous, and the government is abusing it.” Recent Court Rulings Against Trump's Executive Actions As of March 19, 2025, the number of lawsuits against President Donald Trump 's executive actions reported by the Just Security Litigation Tracker has grown to 129 with two closed cases. The New York Times is tracking court rulings that have at least temporarily halted some of the president’s initiatives. As of March 15, 2025, there were at least 46 such rulings.Some of the recent major rulings and related developments: · On March 18, 2025, U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang of the District of Maryland found efforts by Elon Musk and his team to permanently shutter the U.S. Agency for International Development likely violated the Constitution “in multiple ways” and robbed Congress of its authority to oversee the dissolution of an agency it created. Judge Chuang ordered that agency operations be partially restored and barred Musk’s team from engaging in any further work “related to the shutdown of U.S.A.I.D.” The ruling was issued in Does 1-26 v. Musk (8:25-cv-00462) On March 18, 2025, U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes of the District of Columbia blocked the Trump administration from banning transgender people from serving in the military until the lawsuit is decided. “The ban at bottom invokes derogatory language to target a vulnerable group in violation of the Fifth Amendment,” Judge Reyes wrote. The ruling was issued in Talbott v. Trump (1:25-cv-00240) On March 17, 2025, U.S District Judge Julie Rubin of Maryland ordered the U.S. Department of Education to reinstate numerous grants that support teacher-preparation programs. The ruling was issued in American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education v. McMahon (1:25-cv-00702) On March 13, 2025, U.S District Judge William Alsup of the Northern District of California ordered half a dozen federal agencies to “immediately” reinstate probationary employees fired last month as part of the Trump administration’s effort to rapidly shrink the federal workforce, calling the effort a “sham.” The ruling was issued in American Federation Of Government Employees, AFL-CIO v. United States Office of Personnel Management (3:25-cv-01780) . On March 17, the Ninth Circuit denied the government’s request for an administrative stay. On March 14, 2025, U.S District Judge James K. Bredar of Maryland granted a temporary restraining order demanding the Trump administration reinstate federal probationary employees terminated on or after January 20. On March 18, the Washington Post reported that the Trump administration has moved to reinstate at least 24,000 federal probationary employees fired in Trump’s push to shrink the government. The ruling was issued in State of Maryland v. United States Department of Agriculture (1:25-cv-00748) 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 Meeting2025/04/07 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 MeetingVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. # # # APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community. For more information, please refer to the new APA Justice website under development at www.apajusticetaskforce.org . We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF March 20, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Following a public campaign led by Maryland State Senator Susan Lee and a coalition in February 2022, Reps. Jamie Raskin and Judy Chu hosted a Democratic Member Roundtable on “Researching while Chinese American: Ethnic Profiling, Chinese American Scientists and a New American Brain Drain” in June 2022. It was the first congressional hearing where the profiling of Chinese American scientists and the damage to American leadership in science and technology were heard. June 30, 2021 Table of Contents Overview The Human and Scientific Costs of Racial Profiling Must be Heard Congressional Staffer Roundtable on Research Integrity Bicameral Letter Urging DOJ Probe into Racial Profiling Links and References Overview Watch the video here. (1:42:15) On June 30, 2021, Representative Jamie Raskin, Chair of the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, and Representative Judy Chu, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, held a Democratic Member Roundtable titled “Researching while Chinese American: Ethnic Profiling, Chinese American Scientists and a New American Brain Drain.” The Department of Justice (DOJ) has long targeted Chinese Americans in extensive investigations into foreign espionage, leading to multiple false arrests of innocent Chinese American scientists. These efforts ramped up in federal agencies under the Trump Administration’s China Initiative, causing numerous scientists to lose their jobs despite not unveiling chargeable criminal conduct. This roundtable examined the federal government’s alleged racial profiling of Chinese American scientists, and addressed how the continued harassment harms the broader U.S. scientific community. Opening Remarks by Representative Jamie Raskin: “That is not acceptable in the United States of America, which was founded on principles of equality and justice. We reject guilt by association, we reject notions of collective guilt or ethnic or racial guilt. The United States is a welcoming place, it is open to people of all backgrounds and to creative ideas, and to scientific research and inquiry. That is how we established ourselves as a world leader in innovation and technology, by allowing for free-flowing thoughts and theories. By targeting people who are ethnically Chinese, without evidence, we are hampering our ability to be that world leader and we are harming an entire community.” Opening Remarks by Rep. Judy Chu: “We need to make sure we don’t repeat the mistakes of the Cold War. That means not spreading unfounded suspicions that paint all Chinese people as threats and which put innocent Chinese Americans at risk.” Witnesses and Their Testimonies Sherry Chen , a renowned hydrologist who was falsely accused of espionage in 2014, described the long-lasting effects of her mistaken arrest: “Until now, my life is still in limbo. My reputation is still under a cloud. The ordeal has taken away precious time in my professional career, and I can never recover the years I have lost. This injustice has now entered its tenth year and sadly there is still no end in sight. I keep fighting not only for myself but to do my part to make sure no one should ever be harmed because of their race or country origin.” Her written testimony: https://bit.ly/3S46zmo The Honorable Steven Chu , former Secretary of Energy and current Stanford professor, characterized the impact of racial profiling on Chinese American scientists: “Many of my Chinese-American faculty colleagues feel that they are under increased and unjustified scrutiny by the U.S. government. The Department of Justice’s ‘China Initiative’ and statements by U.S. funding agencies is [ sic ] creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation.” His written testimony: https://bit.ly/3S4pTA8 Dr. Randy Katz , the Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of California, Berkeley, expressed how this targeting has affected the greater scientific community: “These investigations and related actions – such as the increased interrogation of Chinese-American researchers by Customs and Border Patrol officers at airports – have resulted in a chilling effect on our Chinese-American research community in particular, and America’s international collaborations and our continued ability to attract the world’s best and brightest. My university has seen a precipitous decline in graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and visiting students from China that began even before the Covid-19 pandemic. This will have ramifications for America’s research enterprise for many years to come.” His written testimony: https://bit.ly/3Y9GoLo Dr. Xiaoxing Xi , a professor of physics at Temple University and naturalized citizen who was falsely arrested for alleged spying in 2015, explained: “People have asked me, ‘How can the Department of Justice avoid wrongly accusing innocent people like they did in your case?’ My answer is that they can’t unless they stop considering Chinese professors, scientists, and students as nontraditional collectors, or spies, for China. For example, in all the criminal cases involving university professors under the China Initiative, the DOJ has shown no evidence, zero, that those charged have stolen intellectual property. Yet, they are being prosecuted for felony crimes.” His written testimony: https://bit.ly/48kZUKe Statements from concerned advocates and experts including Maryland Senator Susan C. Lee , who contextualized the current racial profiling in the broader history of discrimination against Asian-Americans. American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology , which explained how actions taken by the Department of Justice and research grantmaking agencies has a chilling effect on international scientific collaboration. Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC , which submitted a number of recommendations of how to address racial profiling. Asian American Scholar Forum , which noted that Asian American professors chose to stay in the United States because they “believe, in democracy, freedom of speech, rule of law, and the research environment of freedom and exploration without fear.” Asian Pacific American (APA) Justice , which explained that “whether it is with malice or implicit bias or both, the checks and balance system has failed not only individuals but also an entire group of people who are targeted for their race, ethnicity, and national origin.” The Committee of 100, which submitted the research of Andrew Chongseh Kim and white paper on Prosecuting Chinese “Spies:” An Empirical Analysis of the Economic Espionage Act . Defending Rights & Dissent , which raised concerns about the FBI’s rhetoric around the “alleged threat from Chinese Americans in academia.” Patrick Eddington , of Defending Rights & Dissent, who expressed that freedom of association and open scientific exchange are “absolutely essential to advance human progress on a range of issues.” Stefan Maier , who stressed the importance of “academic freedom and a healthy, global scientific collaboration” to addressing “global challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change.” Tennessee Chinese American Alliance, called for attention to the recent trial of Dr. Anming Hu (United States v. Hu; Case No. 3:20-CR-00021) at Knoxville, Tennessee. Testimonies from the trial have alarmingly revealed the FBI’s violation of Dr. Hu’s civil rights and misconduct during the investigation. [download and link to PDF at https://bit.ly/48Gia0G .] The Human and Scientific Costs of Racial Profiling Must be Heard On February 1, 2021, concerns about racial profiling culminated in a request by an alliance of prominent scientific and civil rights leaders and organizations nationwide for a congressional hearing spearheaded by Susan Lee, Maryland state senator, and Terry Lierman, Co-Chair of the University of Maryland. For a good part of 2021, scholars, think tanks, media, professional and community organizations began to collect data, conducted surveys, analyzed case studies, and reported on their findings, most of them do not support the government’s rhetoric on the China Initiative and instead point to its damaging impact on individuals and communities, open science, and international exchange. The alliance wrote to Jamie Raskin, Chair of the House Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties and called for an oversight hearing to address the profiling of scientists and scholars of Chinese or Asian descent based on the misguided perception that simply being of Chinese or Asian descent or having ties to China make them prone to espionage. The alliance requested the committee look into the broad sweep of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s counterintelligence efforts and the National Institute of Health’s related actions against scientists of Chinese or Asian descent which have resulted in the loss of their jobs, reputations and devastation of their lives and families, even though they were later proven innocent. Maryland State Senate Majority Whip Susan Lee, whose district includes NIH, stated, “While we strongly support efforts to safeguard America’s interests and prosecute wrongdoers, it would be a grave injustice to target, stereotype, or place under suspicion an entire ethnic group. Many of these patriotic scientists have spent a lifetime of work dedicated to advancing medical breakthroughs which have made America one the global leaders in science and technology. They are a part of the solution to the United States’ global challenges, not a threat.” “The overzealous, broad, unchecked, and overreaching activities fueled by a xenophobic and toxic political climate have not only led to mistakes in investigations or prosecutions and civil rights violations, but also have crippled America’s ability to develop medical innovations that can enhance the quality of and save lives, especially during this Covid-19 pandemic. We need the committee to shine light on any discriminatory policies being employed by those agencies to ensure there is fairness, transparency and accountability,” said Terry Lierman. For decades, international scientific collaborations and exchanges between the United States and foreign academic and research institutions have been strongly encouraged and supported by the NIH and other academic entities, but now, they are being criminalized. “Science - like America itself - thrives on freedom, openness, and inclusiveness - there is no room for discrimination against men and women from China or anywhere else based on nationality," former White House science advisor Dr. Neal F. Lane said. "The PRC Government's rising nationalism and use of its economic clout to influence U.S. universities and society are real and growing, but any U.S. Government response that assumes all students, scientists, and scholars of Chinese descent are potential intelligence risks is unfair and unwise profiling that has no place in our democracy," said Dr. Wallace Loh, former President of the University of Maryland, College Park. To date, Congress has held numerous hearings focused only on the espionage threat, but it has not addressed the civil rights violations of Chinese Americans who have been wrongly targeted or the long term consequences and damages to the American research enterprise and minority communities if this pattern of racial profiling continues. “The Department of Justice launched the ‘China Initiative’ to counter perceived ‘national security threats.’ But the past two years have shown an over-emphasis on national security and an underemphasis on bias. I join others in calling for the end of the ‘China Initiative’,” said Professor Margaret Lewis of Seton Hall University Law School. “We are deeply concerned with the racial profiling and unjust prosecutions of Asian Americans and immigrants by the government,” said John C. Yang, Advancing Justice – AAJC’s President and Executive Director. “This latest wave of xenophobia has instilled fear within our communities as many Chinese Americans and immigrants are once again caught in our country’s long history of suspicion and racial discrimination against Asian Americans. We urge Congress to engage in oversight on this issue by holding a public hearing on this issue.” “Xenophobic targeting and persecution of Chinese Americans is causing irreparable damage not only to the impacted persons and their families, but also creates fear, suspicion, and hate towards the Asian American community. It must stop. It is grossly unjust and unfair to target an entire ethnic group from specific countries,” said Dr. Steven Pei and Dr. Jeremy Wu, Co-Leaders of the APA Justice Task Force. Full Package of Call for Congressional Hearing 2021/02/01 Calling for a Congressional Hearing on Racial Profiling of Asian American and Chinese Scientists Cover and Table of Content Press Release Letter to Rep. Jamie Raskin, Chair of the House Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties with Signatories Articles, Letters and Statements from Professional Associations, Organizations and Societies Congressional Staffer Roundtable on Research Integrity On May 5, 2021, a Congressional Staffer Roundtable on Research Integrity was organized by the majority and the minority of the Committees on Science, Space, and Technology; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; and Armed Services (House and Senate). Speakers for the event included: Dr. Sudip Parikh, Chief Executive Officer, American Association for the Advancement of Science Mr. Tobin Smith, Vice President for Science Policy & Global Affairs, Association of American Universities Dr. Maria Zuber, Co-Chair, NASEM National Science, Technology, and Security Roundtable; Vice President for Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Mr. Alexander Bustamante, Senior Vice President, Chief Compliance and Audit Officer, University of California System Mr. Frank Wu, President, Queen’s College, City University of New York Frank Wu’s remarks emphasized three “Cs” that should be promoted and one “C” to be avoided: Consistency of rules and enforcement priorities (among agencies and over time) Clarity of policies Communications to promote compliance (including anti-bias aspects) And not Criminalization Bicameral Coalition Letter Urging DOJ Probe into Racial Profiling On July 29, 2021, Rep. Ted Lieu delivered a bicameral coalition letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland calling for an investigation into the Department of Justice's "repeated, wrongful targeting of individuals of Asian descent for alleged espionage." "Over the years, multiple people who happened to be of Asian descent have been falsely accused by the Department of Justice of espionage," including the false accusations of spying alleged against Wen Ho Lee , Sherry Chen , Xiaoxing Xi , Anming Hu , and many others. "The common thread in every one of these cases was a defendant with an Asian surname — and an innocent life that was turned upside down." "No person should be viewed by our government as more suspicious because of the individual’s race. We thus request an update on the mandated implicit bias training and request an investigation to determine whether the Department of Justice has a written or unwritten policy, program, pattern or practice of using race (or other civil rights classifications such as religion, gender and national origin) in targeting people for arrest, surveillance, security clearance denials or other adverse actions. We also specifically request whether, under the 'China Initiative,' there is a written or unwritten policy, program, pattern or practice to target people based on their race, ethnicity or national origin." Jump to: Overview The Human and Scientific Costs of Racial Profiling Must be Heard Congressional Staffer Roundtable on Research Integrity Bicameral Letter Urging DOJ Probe into Racial Profiling Following a public campaign led by Maryland State Senator Susan Lee and a coalition in February 2022, Reps. Jamie Raskin and Judy Chu hosted a Democratic Member Roundtable on “Researching while Chinese American: Ethnic Profiling, Chinese American Scientists and a New American Brain Drain” in June 2022. It was the first congressional hearing where the profiling of Chinese American scientists and the damage to American leadership in science and technology were heard. Previous Next 7. Congressional Roundtable on Racial Profiling

Newsletter - #47 End "China Initiative" And Racial Profiling; Charles Lieber; Gang Chen; Lots More #47 End "China Initiative" And Racial Profiling; Charles Lieber; Gang Chen; Lots More Back View PDF March 8, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Charles Lieber Docket ID: 1:20-cr-10111 District Court, D. Massachusetts Date filed: June 9, 2020 Date ended: May 8, 2023 Charles Lieber, former chair of Harvard's Chemistry and Chemical Biology Department, was prosecuted under the U.S. Department of Justice’s China Initiative. Arrested in January 2020, he faced six felony charges, including Making false statements to federal authorities Failing to report income from China Failing to disclose a foreign bank account The case centered on Professor Lieber's undisclosed ties to China’s Thousand Talents Program and Wuhan University of Technology (WUT). Prosecutors alleged that Lieber received significant compensation (including a $50,000 monthly salary and over $1.5 million in research funding) from WUT, which he failed to report to U.S. agencies while receiving U.S. grant funding. In December 2021, a federal jury convicted Professor Lieber on all six felony charges. In April 2023, Professor Lieber was sentenced to time served, 2 years of supervised release, $50,000 fine, and $33,600 restitution. Professor Lieber’s case became a high-profile example of the program’s controversial targeting of academics with ties to China, despite no charges of espionage. In May 2025, Professor Lieber accepted a new academic position in China. He joined the Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School (SIGS) as a full-time chair professor and is also serving as an Investigator at the newly established Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation (SMART), led by biologist Nieng Yan. References and Links CourtListener: United States v. Lieber (1:20-cr-10111) Wikipedia: Charles M. Lieber 2025/05/02 Inside Higher Ed: US academic convicted over China ties joins Tsinghua University 2025/05/02 Chemistry World: Harvard’s former chemistry chair takes new position at Chinese university 2025/05/01 South China Morning Post: Former Harvard professor convicted over China ties joins Tsinghua University 2024/10/30 The Harvard Crimson: After Conviction for Lying About China Ties, Ex-Harvard Chemist Gets Approval to Visit Beijing 2023/04/26 New York Times: Ex-Harvard Professor Sentenced in China Ties Case 2021/12/28 ScienceInsider: What the Charles Lieber verdict says about U.S. China Initiative Previous Item Next Item

Newsletter - #181 Heritage Month; Alien Land Bills; C100 Conference; Monica Bertagnolli; Fulbright; + #181 Heritage Month; Alien Land Bills; C100 Conference; Monica Bertagnolli; Fulbright; + In This Issue #181 May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month Latest Developments on Discriminatory Alien Land Bills in Florida and Texas Committee of 100 Annual Conference Who is Monica Bertagnolli, Biden's pick to lead NIH? Want to Improve US-China Relations? Bring back Fulbright Program, Advocates Say Activities and News for the Communities May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month Asian Pacific American Heritage Month originated in June 1977 when Representatives Frank Horton (New York) and Norman Y. Mineta (California) called for the establishment of Asian/Pacific Heritage Week. Hawaii senators Daniel Inouye and Spark Matsunaga introduced a similar bill in the Senate. Both bills passed, and in 1978 President Jimmy Carter signed the resolution. In 1990, President George H. W. Bush expanded the celebration from a week to a month. It became the AANHPI Heritage Month under President Joe Biden . May was selected as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month to commemorate the arrival in May 1843 of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States and the role of Chinese laborers in the completion of the first transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869.2023/04/28 White House: A Proclamation on Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, 2023 2023/05/01 Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus: CAPAC Members and House Democratic Leader Celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, & Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2023/05/01 National Academy of Public Administration: AAPI Heritage Month Spotlight - Pursuing a More Perfect Union and an Equitable Society by Jeremy Wu On May 1, 2023, CNN updated a story about the terms such as Asian American. APA. APIDA. AAPI. and AANHPI to describe this population of more than 24 million people with roots in East Asia, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, Hawaii, Samoa, Guam, Fiji, Tonga, Marshall Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands and other Pacific islands. It comprises scores of ethnic groups with distinct histories, cuisines, languages and cultures. It includes recent immigrants, those who have been in the US for generations and those who have endured centuries of colonization.The US government currently defines Asian Americans as those “having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent.” It uses the separate category of “Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander” to describe those “having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.”Read the CNN report: https://cnn.it/3NX7eo6 Latest Developments on Discriminatory Alien Land Bills in Florida and Texas According to an opinion by the Los Angeles Times on May 3, 2023, while our country celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida legislature are busy resurrecting a long-dead form of anti-Asian discrimination. The Florida Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 264 in April, and on May 3, the Florida House rushed to pass its twin, House Bill 1355, purportedly to prohibit the Chinese government from buying real estate in Florida. By targeting “any member of the People’s Republic of China,” the bill could also wreak havoc on the lives of ordinary people.On May 9, 2023, multiple media including Axios reported that Gov. DeSantis signed legislation that prevents certain foreign nationals from China and six other countries from purchasing what the state deems sensitive American land. It becomes effective on July 1, 2023. DeSantis also signed off on two other bills: one restricting government desktops or servers from downloading TikTok, an app owned by a Chinese company; and another prohibiting Florida colleges and universities from engaging in a partnership with schools overseas without governmental approval. Also on May 9, 2023, United Chinese Americans (UCA) issued a statement calling for national action against the discriminatory law that "among other things, prohibits Chinese nationals from acquiring real property in the state based solely on race, ethnicity and country of origin, ostensibly in the name of national security." According to the statement, UCA will work with Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance (CALDA), Florida Asian American Justice Alliance (FAAJA) and others to challenge this misguided Florida law and see to it that it is struck down by the Federal court or repealed by the people of Florida. UCA calls on Americans in all walks of life, corporations, civic organizations and faith-based groups, to condemn this act of blatant discrimination. A video titled " A Dark Day in America " (4:09) including statements by Haipei Shue, UCA President, and Anders Fung , Member of Millbrae City Council, was posted by Ding Ding TV.Also on the same day, CALDA issued a statement that the Florida bill may seem to be limited to real estate transactions, but in fact it regards the Chinese people as a threat to the national security of the United States and a target for isolation by the whole society. Despite some last minute changes, the bill still contains undisguised racial discrimination. These provisions mainly target ordinary people and various companies in several countries, prohibiting or restricting their basic rights to directly or indirectly purchase real estate. These provisions violate the US Constitution's prohibition of racial discrimination, and also conflict with the basic values of American society such as equality, tolerance and diversity.Once this discriminatory law is established, it will undoubtedly set off a wave of hatred against Chinese and even all Asians, and no one can be alone. States such as Texas, South Carolina, and Georgia are actively promoting bills similar to those in Florida.CALDA announced immediate legal action to overturn this discriminatory bill. It expects to file a lawsuit in Florida court in about a week, and a court injunction preventing the law from taking effect before the end of this month. CALDA has already begun assembling a team of attorneys and contacting potential plaintiff representatives. It will also work with all like-minded groups, including FAAJA and UCA, to stem this latest anti-Chinese wave. Texas Multicultural Advocacy Coalition (TMAC) and Civil Rights Town Hall on 2023/05/13 According to Houston Style Magazine on May 9, 2023, the Texas Multicultural Advocacy Coalition, with the support of Congressman Al Green , is organizing a Civil Rights Town Hall on May 13th, 2023, at 1 pm at FountainLife Center, located at 14083 S. Main St. Houston, TX 77035. The event will bring together a diverse group of community leaders and organizations, including Congressman Al Green, Rep. Gene Wu , Rep. Ron Reynolds , Bishop James Dixon (NAACP, Houston Branch), Wea Lee (International Trade Center), Judson Robinson (Houston Area Urban League), Dr. Steven Pei (United Chinese Americans), Nabila Mansoor (Rise AAPI), Niloufar Hafizi (Emgage Texas), Dawn Lin (Asian Real Estate Association of America), Gary Nakamura (Japanese American Citizens League, Houston), Claude Cummings, Jr. (Communications Workers of America), Kenneth Li (Asian American Business Council), Eileen Huang (United Association of Chinese Alumni), Dr. Sergio Lira (Greater Houston LULAC 4967), Dr. Pretta VanDible Stallworth , Hua Gu (Sino Professionals Association), Guowei Gu (Shandong Fellowship Association of Southern USA), Baohua Yang (Henan Fellowship Association of Southern USA), Liang Han (Southern Jiangsu Association USA), Yizhu Liao (Hunan Club of Houston), Kathy Xu (Texas Northeast Chinese Association), Casey Kang (Korean American Chamber of Commerce), Terrance Koontz (Texas Organizing Project), Ruth Kravetz (Community Voices for Public Education), Lani Cabral Pasao (People Caring for the Community), Stephen Yoe (Myanmar Chamber of Commerce), Harry Sun (Chinese Chamber of Commerce), H.C. Chang (OCA Greater Houston), William White (CAIR Houston) and many others. The participation of these organizations highlights the broad support for the event and the urgent need to stand against the harmful actions that threaten the rights and opportunities of communities of color.The primary objective of the town hall is to unite multicultural organizations and individuals against the racist and xenophobic Senate Bill 147 and the state takeover of the HISD school board. These actions are detrimental to communities of color: SB 147 threatens the right to property ownership, and the HISD takeover imperils access to quality education and equal opportunities.Read the Houston Style Magazine report: https://bit.ly/3nLxkzV Committee of 100 Annual Conference On May 5, 2023, Jeremy Wu , Founder of APA Justice and Member of the Committee of 100, delivered opening remarks to set the context on Turbulent Times for Chinese Americans. The presentations with and without script are posted at https://bit.ly/3NSmYZx . Eight categories of challenges are identified to be of top concerns to the Chinese American and scientific communities. Legalizing discrimination at the state and federal levels Return of the Red Scare and McCarthyism Warrantless surveillance Mini "China Initiative" conducted by the National Institutes of Health Cross-border profiling, interrogation, harassment, and denial of entry Continuing fallout from the now-defunct "China Initiative" Collateral damage from the deteriorating U.S.-China relations Anti-Asian hate and violence 2023/05/07 Los Angeles Post: Focusing on Challenges Faced by Chinese Americans in Turbulent Times, Committee of 100’s 2023 Annual Meeting Concludes in Silicon Valley 2023/05/07 South China Morning Post: Asian-Americans should prepare for more hate, committee warns 2023/05/06 South China Morning Post: Asian-Americans face numerous hurdles to win greater acceptance and influence, experts say Who is Monica Bertagnolli, Biden's pick to lead NIH? According to Science on April 27, 2023, Monica Bertagnolli never had the luxury of easing into her new job as head of the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI).Several weeks after taking over the largest component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in October 2022, the then–63-year-old surgical oncologist was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer and underwent surgery followed by chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Early in April, she unveiled a plan to implement President Joe Biden ’s signature Cancer Moonshot initiative. And Biden is expected to cap Bertagnolli’s whirlwind first 7 months in Washington, D.C., by nominating her to become the 17th director of NIH, the federal government’s crown jewel of biomedical research.The previous NIH Director, Francis Collins , stepped down in December 2021. If confirmed by the Senate, Bertagnolli would be only the second woman to lead NIH, following Bernadine Healy , who stepped down in 1993.Once nominated, her first hurdle will be a hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee . Bertagnolli has never testified before Congress (and leading NCI doesn’t require Senate confirmation). The HELP panel is chaired by Senator Bernie Sanders (I–VT).On March 23, 2023, Science published an investigative report titled PALL OF SUSPICION - The National Institutes of Health’s “China initiative” has upended hundreds of lives and destroyed scores of academic careers and an editorial titled Eroding Trust and Collaboration . "Given the information available in the public domain, the scientific community could easily conclude that this is a xenophobic program to harm Chinese scientists and cut off international scientific cooperation. The federal government needs to figure out a way to let the NIH and the institutions reassure the community that this is all worth it," the editorial concluded.Read the Science report at https://bit.ly/3oWH1eY and its editorial at https://bit.ly/3z24z40 Want to Improve US-China Relations? Bring back Fulbright Program, Advocates Say According to the South China Morning Post on April 28, 2023, as tensions between Washington and Beijing keep rising, a loose alliance of former officials, politicians and ordinary US citizens are pushing to restore one of America’s oldest and most prestigious connections to China that observers hail as unmatched in its potential to put the relationship back on track.The Fulbright China program, which for over four decades sent American scholars to the country and brought their Chinese counterparts to the US, was cancelled in 2020 by an executive order from then-president Donald Trump over Beijing’s imposition of the national security law in Hong Kong. President Joe Biden has extended the order twice.Opposition came thick and fast from within and outside the Fulbright community. Seton Hall University professor Margaret Lewis , for example, likened the decision to “shooting ourselves in the foot”, and an alumni-led petition to restore the program garnered more than 700 signatures in two days.“Appalled” by the cancellation, Colleen O’Connor and fellow alumni formed a group of 100 volunteers called the Protect Fulbright China Coalition to push for its restoration. On March 29, 2023 Representatives Rick Larsen of Washington, Don Beyer of Virginia and Judy Chu of California reintroduced the Restoring Fulbright Exchanges bill .Under the Nationalist government in 1947, China was the first country to sign a Fulbright agreement with the US, though the program was paused after the Communist Party came into power in 1949. Since restoring operations after the two countries normalized relations in 1979, the US sent more than 3,500 Americans to China under the program and received more than 1,500 Chinese in the US. Proponents describe its impact as profound.The Fulbright China program counts among its alumni Kevin Nealer , a former member of president Barack Obama’s Intelligence Advisory Board; Scott Kennedy , senior adviser in Chinese business and economics at the Center for Strategic and International Studies; John Pomfret , The Washington Post’s former Beijing bureau chief; and legions of academics.As of last October, there were fewer than 400 American students in the country – a sharp contrast from 2018, when China was hosting more than 11,000.There are organizations in the Biden administration, particularly in intelligence and law enforcement, “who are opposing restoring the Fulbright on national security grounds”, said Dennis Wilder , a research fellow at the Initiative for US-China Dialogue on Global Issues at Georgetown University, while noting these concerns were not necessarily shared by the White House. Neither the Trump nor Biden administration spelled out what the concerns with the program were.Read the South China Morning Post report: https://bit.ly/3ngzvLl News and Activities for the Communities 1. Victims of Mass Shooting in Allen, Texas According to multiple media reports, eight people including four Asian Americans were killed, and at least seven others were injured in a mass shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets in Texas on May 6, 2023.Three of the victims killed in Saturday's shooting belonged to one family. Cindy Cho, 35, and Kyu Cho, 37, and their 3-year-old son, James Cho , were among the victims. Their 6-year-old son, William , was also shot and has been released from the ICU. He is now with his extended family. The Korean American family was visiting the Allen Premium Outlets to exchange clothes William had gotten for his birthday four days prior to the shooting. Aishwarya Thatikonda, an engineer from India who lived in the Dallas suburb, was among those killed. She was less than a week away from celebrating her 28th birthday. Thatikonda was at the Allen mall with a friend when the shooting took place. Her friend was wounded in the shooting. Her family is now planning to repatriate her remains to India with the help of the Telugu Association of North America. She received a master's degree in construction management from Eastern Michigan University in the US in 2020. For the last two years, she was working for a Dallas-based contracting firm on a US work visa.On May 9, 2023, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus issued a statement about the mass shooting. “While investigations into specific motive are ongoing, Allen, Texas, and the surrounding areas have among the highest percentage of Asian Americans outside of the coasts and half of the victims are also of Asian descent. With the shooter’s likely social media presence demonstrating an ugly promotion of neo-Nazism and violent white supremacist ideology, it remains clear Congress and elected officials around the country have a lot more to do to fight extremism here at home and create a safe, welcoming multiracial democracy for us all.“This is the second largest mass shooting in this country this year, but every single day Americans die from gun violence. From going to the mall, going to school, to celebrating Lunar New Year, knocking on the wrong door or driving down the wrong driveway, it is clear that the problem is the guns. We must ban assault weapons now. Letting these weapons of war remain on our streets comes at the cost of American lives.” 2. Turbulence Ahead: Racial & Religious Profiling at the Border and Ports According to Advancing Justice | AAJC on April 20, 2023, 22 years after 9/11, racial and religious profiling is still the harsh reality for many Americans. Last March, three Muslim-American travelers from Minnesota, Texas, and Arizona sued the Department of Homeland Security after they were stopped multiple times by U.S. officials over several years at the border and in international airports. They were interrogated to determine if they were Muslims, if they attended a mosque, and how often they prayed. The distress of these experiences has led one man to stop wearing a kufi and to stop carrying religious texts when he travels internationally to avoid scrutiny. In recent months, there have also been reports of academics and scientists of Chinese descent being stopped, questioned, and harassed by law enforcement upon re-entry into the U.S., creating a chilling effect for many in the community.Profiling people at the border due to their race, ethnicity, or religion is illegal under the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection under the law. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is required to base its enforcement activities solely on credible intelligence and legitimate law enforcement purposes.In recent years, several racial and religious profiling cases have been widely reported and further highlight the problem at the border. Racial and religious profiling has created an environment of fear for communities of color across the country, but there are steps you can take to stand up for yourself.Read the Advancing Justice | AAJC blog at https://bit.ly/3ndt0ZJ 3 . 'Anti-Asian Racism' names the sin of white supremacy in Catholic Church According to the National Catholic Reporter on April 29, 2023, Servite Fr. Joseph Cheah is hopeful that telling Asian American-centered stories will help communities and individuals begin to understand the ways in which racism and white supremacy have shaped history. In his latest book, Anti-Asian Racism: Myths, Stereotypes, and Catholic Social Teaching , Cheah takes a wide and integral view on how Catholic social teaching can inform the way Catholics engage in the work of anti-racism in the context of Asian American communities. Read the National Catholic Reporter interview at https://bit.ly/3ALaV8F 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 . Copyright © 2023 APA Justice, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in or have expressed interest. Our mailing address is: APA Justice P.O. Box 257 McLean, VA 22101-0257 Add us to your address book We do not share, sell, rent or trade any of your information with third parties unless you provide explicit consent. Read our Privacy Policy here . Back View PDF May 11, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #192: BREAKING NEWS: DOJ Files Brief in Florida Lawsuit; 07/03 Meeting; Who Can Be American #192: BREAKING NEWS: DOJ Files Brief in Florida Lawsuit; 07/03 Meeting; Who Can Be American In This Issue #192 BREAKING NEWS: DOJ Files Amicus Brief in Florida Alien Land Lawsuit 2023/07/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting How Frederick Douglass and Wong Kim Ark Helped Define Who Can Be American BREAKING NEWS: DOJ Files Amicus Brief in Florida Alien Land Lawsuit On June 27, 2023, attorneys for the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a statement of interest in support of the motion for preliminary injunction: https://bit.ly/3PsKSvw The 22-page statement, also called an amicus curiae *“friend-of-the-court”) brief, begins with this introduction:"The State of Florida recently enacted a statute that imposes new prohibitions on owning or purchasing land in the State. Among other provisions, Senate Bill 264 (“SB 264”) prohibits individuals who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents and whose “domicile” is in China, or other so-called “foreign countries of concern,” from owning or purchasing real property. The United States respectfully submits this Statement of Interest under 28 U.S.C. § 5171 to advise the Court of the United States’ view that the provisions of SB 264 to be codified at Florida Statutes §§ 692.201–.2052 violate the Fair Housing Act (“FHA”) and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. These unlawful provisions will cause serious harm to people simply because of their national origin, contravene federal civil rights laws, undermine constitutional rights, and will not advance the State’s purported goal of increasing public safety. Plaintiffs are likely to succeed on the merits of these claims challenging the provisions of SB 264 that restrict and prohibit land ownership. Accordingly, the United States supports Plaintiffs’ motion to enjoin Defendants from implementing and enforcing these provisions."The brief proceeds to explain these two arguments: Plaintiffs are likely to succeed on the merits of their Fair Housing Act Claims Plaintiffs are likely to succeed on the merits of their Equal Protection Claim The brief concludes:"For the foregoing reasons, the provisions of SB 264 that restrict and prohibit land ownership violate the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, and Plaintiffs are likely to succeed on the merits of those claims."Read the DOJ amicus curiae brief: https://bit.ly/3PsKSvw 2023/07/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, July 3, 2023, starting at 1:55 pm ET.In addition to updates by Nisha Ramachandran , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC); John Yang 杨重远 , President and Executive Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC; and Gisela Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), speakers will include: Al Green , Member of U.S. House of Representatives; Member, Executive Board and Chair of Housing Task Force, CAPAC, on alien land bills and multicultural advocacy coalition 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, on the recent developments of the Florida lawsuit Scott Chang , Senior Counsel, National Fair Housing Alliance, on NFHA and its work on alien land bills Edgar Chen , Special Policy Advisor, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, on NAPABA's work on alien land bills and related activities Cindy Tsai , Interim President and Executive Director, Committee of 100, on the recent roles and activities of C100 The virtual monthly meeting is by invitation only. If you wish to join, either one time or for future meetings, please contact one of the co-organizers of APA Justice - Steven Pei 白先慎 , Vincent Wang 王文奎 , and Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org . How Frederick Douglass and Wong Kim Ark Helped Define Who Can Be American During a recent roundtable with state organizers and activists on alien land laws and related issues, Helen Zia 谢汉兰 shared a picture of Wong Kim Ark 黃金德 and Frederick Douglas - it is a story of Asian Americans and solidarity that is missing in American history.According to a KCET report on May 19, 2022, Frederick Douglass escaped slavery and was a powerful voice for racial justice. In his view, the struggle for equality of the Black man also meant a fight for equality for all people. "… I want the Asiatic to find a home here in the United States, and feel at home here, both for his sake and ours. Right wrongs no man," he said in Boston in December 1869. Wong Kim Ark, who was born in the United States and barred from re-entry in 1895, took his case to the US Supreme Court and won, paving the way for birthright citizenship for all."I am especially to speak to you of the character and mission of the United States, with special reference to the question whether we are the better or the worse for being composed of different races of men. I propose to consider first, what we are, second, what we are likely to be, and, thirdly, what we ought to be," Douglas said in his speech. "There are such things in the world as human rights. They rest upon no conventional foundation, but are external, universal, and indestructible. Among these, is the right of locomotion; the right of migration; the right which belongs to no particular race, but belongs alike to all and to all alike. It is the right you assert by staying here, and your fathers asserted by coming here. It is this great right that I assert for the Chinese and Japanese, and for all other varieties of men equally with yourselves, now and forever. I know of no rights of race superior to the rights of humanity, and when there is a supposed conflict between human and national rights."According to Wikipedia , Wong Kim Ark was born in San Francisco, California, at 751 Sacramento Street. In November 1894, Wong sailed to China for a temporary visit, to rejoin his wife at his family's village in Taishan, Guangdong. But when he returned in August 1895, he was detained at the Port of San Francisco by the Collector of Customs, who denied him permission to enter the country, arguing that Wong was not a U.S. citizen despite his having been born in the U.S., but was instead a Chinese subject because his parents were Chinese. Wong was confined for five months on steamships off the coast of San Francisco while his case was being tried. In a 6–2 decision issued on March 28, 1898, the Supreme Court held that Wong Kim Ark had acquired U.S. citizenship at birth and that "the American citizenship which Wong Kim Ark acquired by birth within the United States has not been lost or taken away by anything happening since his birth." Back View PDF June 28, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #117 3/7 Meeting; Before "China Initiative," Sherry Chen; Campaign Tally; DOJ Review Report #117 3/7 Meeting; Before "China Initiative," Sherry Chen; Campaign Tally; DOJ Review Report Back View PDF March 4, 2022 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #363 Andy Phillips on Dr. Yanping Chen Case; US Science & Data at Crossrords; 10/3 Summary+ #363 Andy Phillips on Dr. Yanping Chen Case; US Science & Data at Crossrords; 10/3 Summary+ In This Issue #363 · Andy Phillips on The Privacy Case of Dr. Yanping Chen · Banning Collaboration, Fueling Brain Drain: U.S. Science at a Crossroads · U.S. Data at Risk · October 2025 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Summary Posted · News and Activities for the Communities Andy Phillips on The Privacy Case of Dr. Yanping Chen During the APA Justice monthly meeting on November 3, 2025, Andy Phillips , Managing & Founding Partner, Meier Watkins Phillips Pusch LLP, presented an in-depth briefing on Dr. Yanping Chen 陈燕平 ’s Privacy Act case, which he has been litigating for several years. Dr. Chen emigrated to the U.S. from China and has a medical degree as a cardiologist. She worked as a scientist and supervisor for China’s astronaut program. She came to the U.S. to be a visiting scholar at George Washington University in Washington, DC, in the late 80s, became a permanent resident in 1993, and a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2001. In the 1990s, she founded the University of Management and Technology (UMT) in Arlington, Virginia, focusing on post-secondary and graduate studies for working adults. A fairly large number of UMT’s students are service members who seek degrees and receive assistance from the Department of Defense (DOD)’s Tuition Assistance Program, which UMT participates in along with many other schools. The program allows UMT to receive subsidized tuition payments for service members from the DOD. Dr. Chen became the subject of a years-long Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) investigation beginning around 2010 concerning statements she made on her immigration forms related to her work for China’s astronaut program. Despite FBI raids on her home and office and interviews with her family, the U.S. Attorney’s Office closed the case in 2016 with no charges filed. A year later, in 2017, Fox News and then reporter Catherine Herridge published a series of television and online reports accusing Dr. Chen of being a Chinese spy and suggesting that UMT was a front for gathering sensitive U.S. military information. These reports contained leaked FBI materials, including Dr. Chen’s immigration forms, family photographs, and references to internal interview memoranda—clear signs of an unauthorized disclosure of Dr. Chen’s private government records. In response, Dr. Chen filed a Privacy Act lawsuit in 2019 against several federal agencies, including the FBI, Department of Justice (DOJ), DOD, and Department of Homeland Security (DHS), arguing that government officials had unlawfully leaked her protected records to the press. Andy explained that the Privacy Act of 1974 was enacted to safeguard personal information collected by government agencies and to prevent such records from being used for unauthorized purposes. Under the Privacy Act, a plaintiff must prove that a government official intentionally or willfully disclosed private information. However, identifying the individual responsible for the leak proved to be the central challenge in Dr. Chen’s case. After two years of exhaustive discovery—including depositions, document requests, and interrogatories—Dr. Chen’s legal team was unable to pinpoint the leaker within the government. At that stage, Andy and his firm joined the case in 2022 (Dr. Chen was represented by co-counsel WilmerHale who handled initial stages of the case and discovery against the government) to focus on the media law issues, particularly journalist privilege, which they frequently encounter in First Amendment defamation litigation. They issued a subpoena compelling Catherine Herridge to reveal her source for the leaked materials. Herridge, represented by counsel, moved to quash the subpoena, citing a qualified First Amendment privilege that allows reporters to protect the identities of confidential sources. The privilege is “qualified,” not absolute, meaning it can be overcome under certain circumstances—specifically if the requested information is central to the case and the plaintiff has exhausted all other means of obtaining it. The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled in Dr. Chen’s favor, finding that both conditions were met: the identity of the leaker was essential to proving her Privacy Act claim, and Dr. Chen had already undertaken substantial efforts to discover the information elsewhere. Herridge’s arguments that national security, journalistic freedom, or Dr. Chen’s alleged misconduct should weigh against disclosure were rejected. The court stated firmly that the law must be applied equally and that courts should not make value judgments based on who the plaintiff is or what allegations have been made in the media. When Herridge refused to comply with the court order during her September 2023 deposition, Andy sought a contempt ruling, which the court granted, imposing a fine of $800 per day for noncompliance. The fine was stayed pending appeal as the case moved to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, which was argued around November 2024. In September 2025, the D.C. Circuit issued a unanimous 3-0 decision affirming the District Court’s ruling, rejecting Herridge’s call for a broader balancing test and upholding Dr. Chen’s right to pursue her Privacy Act claim. Andy emphasized the broader implications of the case, calling it a vital reaffirmation of the rule of law and government accountability. He explained that the case is not about restricting the press but about ensuring that government officials cannot weaponize confidential information to destroy reputations without consequence. “If this decision had gone the other way,” Andy said, “it would have sent the message that government agents could leak with impunity, as long as they laundered their misconduct through a journalist who would protect them.” He drew parallels between Dr. Chen’s case and the case of Dr. Wen Ho Lee 李文和 , where another Chinese American scientist was falsely accused of espionage based on leaked government information and media misrepresentation. Both cases, he noted, reflect how racial bias and national security fears can combine to harm innocent individuals. Andy praised the amicus brief filed in support of Dr. Chen, which traced a long history of anti-Asian discrimination in both media coverage and law enforcement, arguing that accountability and transparency are critical to restoring trust. Concluding his remarks, Andy said the D.C. Circuit’s decision “reaffirmed 50 years of precedent” in the nation’s capital and represents a strong affirmation that every citizen—regardless of ethnicity or background—is entitled to equal protection under the law. He expects Herridge to request en banc (before the full court) review or possibly appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, but remains confident that the case has set an enduring precedent for privacy rights and justice in the face of abuse of power. A summary of the November 3 monthly meeting has been posted at https://bit.ly/49dbmuO . We thank these distinguished speakers for sharing their thoughts and updates: · Judith Teruya , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) · Joanna YangQing Derman , Director, Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security Program, Advancing Justice | AAJC · Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) · Andy Phillips , Managing & Founding Partner, Meier Watkins Phillips Pusch LLP · Jane Shim , Director, Stop Asian Hate Project, Asian American Legal and Education Fund · Paula Williams Madison , Chairman and CEO of Madison Media Management LLC and 88 Madison Media Works Inc.; Retired Executive, NBCUniversal · Brian Sun , Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP; Former Attorney representing Dr. Wen Ho Lee Banning Collaboration, Fueling Brain Drain: U.S. Science at a Crossroads Congress’s proposed SAFE Act would bar federal funding to U.S. researchers who have collaborated with individuals from “hostile” nations such as China—drawing warnings from leading universities and civil rights groups that it would stifle innovation and revive discrimination. At the same time, deep federal research cuts and political pressures are driving a growing “brain gain” for China, as U.S.-trained scientists relocate there amid expanding investment and opportunity. China’s research output rose 17% last year while U.S. output fell 10%, signaling a widening gap. Without renewed openness and funding, experts warn, the U.S. risks losing its global scientific leadership. 1. Science : Congressional Push to Restrict Research Ties According to Science on November 6, 2025, nearly 800 American scientists have signed a letter opposing a proposed research restriction in the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) known as the Securing American Funding and Expertise from Adversarial Research Exploitation (SAFE) Act. Led by Stanford Professors Peter Michelson and Steven Kivelson , the letter warns that the measure—which would bar federal funding to U.S. researchers who collaborated within the past five years with individuals “affiliated with a hostile foreign entity” such as China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea—would weaken the very foundation of American innovation. “To maintain U.S. leadership in science and technology, we must preserve the thriving research ecosystem that laid the foundation for American competitiveness.” Major higher education groups, including the Association of American Universities (AAU) and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), urged Congress to remove the provision, calling it overly broad and ill-defined. Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) added that the SAFE Act “ignores, and in some cases contradicts, what is already in law.”Civil rights and Asian American advocacy organizations warn that the measure could echo the discriminatory effects of the defunct China Initiative, chilling legitimate academic exchange and disproportionately harming scientists of Chinese descent. During the APA Justice monthly meeting on November 3, Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director of the Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), outlined four major concerns raised in AASF’s October 17 letter to the House Armed Services Committee: · Five-Year Lookback – AASF warns this could lead to retroactive punishment for past research activities that were legal or even encouraged, urging fairness and a reasonable transition period for agencies, universities, and individuals. · Co-Authorship Barriers – The provision could effectively bar co-authorship within the timeline provided, restricting international research collaboration and openness, undermining U.S. competitiveness. · Overly Broad Definitions – Vague terms like “affiliation” could include almost any international engagement, making compliance impractical and potentially harmful to innovation and education. Both international students and American-born students benefit from international programs and collaborations. · Disparate Impact on Asian Americans – Broad, ambiguous rules risk biased application and enforcement that could disproportionately harm Asian American scientists, especially those of Chinese descent. 2. WP : China’s “Brain Gain” Accelerates While Washington tightens its guardrails and budget, Beijing is expanding its global reach in science and technology. A Washington Post investigation finds that China is reaping a “brain gain” as hundreds of U.S.-trained researchers—many of them Chinese American—relocate to China or take joint appointments.In the first half of 2025 alone, about 50 tenure-track scholars of Chinese descent left U.S. universities for China, adding to more than 850 departures since 2011. More than 70 percent of these scientists work in STEM fields, particularly engineering and life sciences. Those who have recently moved include a senior biologist from the National Institutes of Health, a Harvard statistician, and a clean-energy expert from the U.S. Department of Energy. Their decisions reflect both “push” and “pull” factors—the deteriorating climate for research in the U.S. and Beijing’s aggressive efforts to attract world-class talent.Trump’s policies have deepened that push. His administration has slashed billions from science budgets, canceled research grants, and imposed visa restrictions that hinder international collaboration. The revived scrutiny of researchers with ties to China—echoing the discredited “China Initiative”—has also made many Chinese American scientists feel unwelcome in the U.S. “We hope Trump is president for life, because it’s the best thing to happen to Chinese science,” one Chinese researcher half-joked to a visiting Harvard immunologist.China, meanwhile, is offering generous incentives. The National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) is channeling much of its $8 billion annual budget into talent programs, while cities and universities compete to lure foreign scientists with high salaries, lab funding, housing, and child care support. A new “K visa” aims to make it easier for young foreign STEM researchers to work in China. Westlake University and Tsinghua University’s Shenzhen International Graduate School have recruited leading U.S. academics, including Nobel-caliber scholars and rising stars.China’s total R&D spending—$917 billion in 2023—has nearly matched that of the United States, signaling a narrowing gap in global research leadership. As the two superpowers compete for scientific talent, individual researchers increasingly face painful trade-offs between opportunity and freedom. The result, experts warn, is a shifting global scientific order—one where U.S. skepticism toward science, combined with China’s strategic investment, may erode America’s long-held dominance in research and innovation. 3. Nature : U.S. Losing Ground as China’s Lead Expands Rapidly China’s dominance in global research is accelerating sharply, while U.S. scientific leadership is eroding at an alarming pace, according to the Nature Index 2025 Research Leaders report . The data show China expanding its lead in high-quality scientific output: its total research “Share” reached 32,122 in 2024, compared with 22,083 for the United States. That gap, which emerged only in 2023 when China first overtook the U.S., has now quadrupled in just one year. China’s adjusted Share grew 17.4%, while the U.S. fell 10.1%, marking its steepest decline in decades. Losses were sharpest in chemistry (−11.6%) and physical sciences (−10.6%), though the U.S. retains a narrow advantage in health and biological research. Other Western countries, including Canada, France, and the U.K., also saw declines of 9% or more.Experts describe the shift as structural, not cyclical. With a population four times larger than America’s, China now produces nearly twice as many STEM PhD graduates—projected 77,000 in 2025, compared with 40,000 in the U.S.—and employs more researchers than both the U.S. and the European Union combined. Although the report’s data predate Donald Trump’s January 2025 inauguration, analysts warn that his administration’s deep cuts to federal research budgets could further accelerate U.S. decline. “The United States has clearly crossed a threshold into actively abdicating our position as a global leader,” said Joanne Carney of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). AAAS CEO Sudip Parikh added, “If these cuts stand, the U.S. will no longer be in the global race for R&D leadership.” As U.S. collaboration with foreign partners wanes, China is strengthening ties across Asia. South Korea, Singapore, and others have posted double-digit gains, particularly in green technology and advanced materials, signaling a regional surge in scientific capacity. While some private U.S. funders have stepped in, experts warn they cannot offset federal pullbacks. “We are going through a national crisis,” said Caroline Wagner of Ohio State University. “It’s more than a malaise.” She added that research funding cuts, DEI crackdowns, and visa denials for foreign scholars “send a signal to global talent to look for opportunities elsewhere.” U.S. Data at Risk On November 3, 2025, the "Practical Significance" podcast of the American Statistical Association featured Nancy Potok , former chief statistician of the United States and CEO of NAPx Consulting, and Connie Citro , Senior Scholar at the National Academies’ Committee on National Statistics. The discussion focuses on the state of federal statistics, challenges faced by federal statistical agencies, and efforts to modernize the federal statistical system.Both guests expressed concerns about U.S. statistical systems at a crossroads with staff losses, hiring freeze, difficulty recruiting skilled professionals, and declining budgets under the current environment. Nancy Potok highlighted the need for modernization to stay relevant in a rapidly changing data environment, including addressing competition from other data sources and maintaining public trust. Connie Citro emphasized the labor-intensive nature of statistical agencies, the need for modernization, and the challenges of data sharing and blending data sets.Dr. Ji-Hyun Lee , Professor of Biostatistics at University of Florida, serves as 2025 ASA President. The Cato Institute’s October 8, 2025, discussion “ A Conversation with Former BLS Commissioners William Beach and Erica Groshen ” explored the challenges and importance of maintaining trust, accuracy, and modernization within the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).The conversation featured · Erica Groshen . Former Commissioner of Labor Statistics (2013-2017); and Senior Economics Advisor, School of Industrial and Labor Relations, Cornell University · William Beach . Former Commissioner of Labor Statistics (2019-2023); Executive Director, Fiscal Lab on Capitol Hill; and Senior Fellow in Economics, Economic Policy Innovation Center · Norbert Michel . Vice President and Director, Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives, Cato Institute Both former commissioners emphasized that the agency’s credibility hinges on its ability to produce data that is both reliable and timely. As Groshen put it, “They want two things: accurate … and they want it to be timely,” highlighting the constant balance between speed and precision in official labor reporting. Beach and Groshen explained that revisions to monthly job numbers, often criticized by the public, stem largely from the late submission of firm data rather than from methodological flaws. “The first revision of the preliminary number is mostly driven by late-reporting firms,” Beach clarified, underscoring that revisions are a feature of transparency, not evidence of manipulation. They also warned that political interference—even the perception of it—can undermine the BLS’s mission. “Trust is mission-critical for a statistical agency. You might as well not produce statistics if they’re not trusted,” Groshen said.The speakers voiced deep concern about staffing shortages and systemic neglect within the BLS, noting the agency is operating with 20 percent fewer staff and one-third of its top leadership positions vacant. Yet they also saw a potential opening for reform. “This administration is not worried about disruption,” Beach observed, suggesting that current upheavals could create “an opportunity … for really modernizing the statistical system.” The discussion closed on a cautious note: without adequate investment and protection from political pressure, the nation’s core economic data—essential for markets, policy, and public trust—faces growing fragility. October 2025 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Summary Posted Summary for the October 2025 APA Justice monthly meeting has been posted at https://bit.ly/43W4qyC . We thank these distinguished speakers for sharing their insightful remarks and updates: · Judith Teruya, Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus · Joanna YangQing Derman, Director, Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security Program, Advancing Justice | AAJC · Gisela Perez Kusakawa, Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) · Mike German , Retired Fellow, Liberty & National Security, Brennan Center for Justice · Margaret Lewis , Professor, Seton Hall University School of Law · Pat Eddington , Senior Fellow, Homeland Security and Civil Liberties, Cato Institute The October meeting brought together congressional, advocacy, academic, and policy leaders to discuss ongoing efforts to defend civil rights, research integrity, and democratic governance affecting Asian American and allied communities.Past monthly meeting summaries are posted at: https://www.apajusticetaskforce.org/library-newsletters-summaries News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/11/14 Film Screening and Discussion: Photographic Justice: The Corky Lee Story2025/11/25 Committee of 100 Conversations – “Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes” with Elaine Chao 2025/12/01 Cook County Circuit Court Hearing - Estate of Jane Wu v Northwestern University2025/12/01 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/12/08 Conversations, Recollections, Pioneers and Heros: Alice Young Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. # # # APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community. For more information, please refer to the new APA Justice website under development at www.apajusticetaskforce.org . We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF November 11, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #138 Oppose US Attorney Nomination; Racist Image; The China Trap; 8/1 Meeting Summary; More #138 Oppose US Attorney Nomination; Racist Image; The China Trap; 8/1 Meeting Summary; More Back View PDF August 22, 2022 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #283 10/7 Meeting; Firsthand Accounts; Chinese American Survey; McCarthyism; Dr. Min Wu; + #283 10/7 Meeting; Firsthand Accounts; Chinese American Survey; McCarthyism; Dr. Min Wu; + In This Issue #283 · 2024/10/07 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · Firsthand Accounts of the Harmful Effects of the China Initiative · C100 Unveils The 2024 State of Chinese Americans Survey · Dr. Min Wu Recognized with Top Faculty Honor · McCarthyism and the House Un-American Activities Committee · News and Activities for the Communities 2024/10/07 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, October 7, 2024, starting at 1:55 pm ET. In addition to updates by Nisha Ramachandran , ExecutiveDirector, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) and Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), confirmed speakers are: · Grace Meng , Member, U.S. House of Representatives; First Vice-Chair, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus · Gene Wu , Texas State Representative · Min Fan , Executive Director, U.S. Heartland China Association 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 . *****U.S. Congresswoman Grace Meng is serving her sixth term in the United States House of Representatives, where she represents New York's Sixth Congressional District. She returns to update us on the current state of Asian Pacific Americans.State Representative Gene Wu serves the people of District 137 in the Texas House. Rep. Gene Wu will urge the community to wake up to the threats of anti-Asian laws at the state and federal level. Min Fan introduced USHCA to us at the February 2024 monthly meeting. She returns to update us on an upcoming hybrid event "China in the Heartland: Building a Balanced Approach" at the University of Kansas, the 4th Annual U.S.-China Agriculture Roundtable in June, and related activities of USHCA. ***** Summary for the September 2024 APA Justice monthly meeting has been posted here: https://bit.ly/3zzWcjR . In addition to Nisha Ramachandran, Joanna YangQing Derman , and Gisela Perez Kusakawa who gave their updates about CAPAC, Advancing Justice | AAJC, and AASF respectively, we thank these invited speakers: · Christine Chen from APIAVote for her discussion to boost voter participation among AA and NHPI, and its efforts to intensify outreach through events, mailings, and phone banking while emphasizing early and mail-in voting, aiming to engage first-time voters, especially in battleground states. · Jane Shim from AALDEF for her discussion of the ongoing case of Dr. Yanping Chen , who is suing the government for leaking her personal information to Fox News , which falsely implied she was spying for China. AALDEF has filed an amicus brief supporting Dr. Chen’s privacy rights, emphasizing the harm caused by irresponsible media reporting and the need to protect Asian Americans from discrimination. · Sandy Shan from Justice Is Global led a discussion on a brief advocating for a progressive U.S.-China policy to replace the current confrontational approach, which fuels xenophobia and geopolitical tensions. Tori Bateman from the Quincy Institute proposes reforms to foster cooperation, address shared challenges, and promote global sustainability, especially during Congress's "China Week." Read past summaries of APA Justice monthly meetings at https://bit.ly/3kxkqxP Firsthand Accounts of the Harmful Effects of the China Initiative On September 25, 2024, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) posted a video (3:51) on X and Instagram, providing firsthand accounts of the harmful effects of the China Initiative, which "painted academics of Chinese descent as spies for the CCP, leading to the racial profiling and wrongful arrests of innocent researchers." Testimonies were made by Professors Gang Chen , Anming Hu , and Franklin Tao and Hong Peng , Professor Tao's wife. Watch the video on X: https://bit.ly/3zzfwxA and Instagram: https://bit.ly/4eeTHCH C100 Unveils The 2024 State of Chinese Americans Survey On September 25, 2024, the Committee of 100 (C100) unveiled the findings of its 2024 State of Chinese Americans Survey. The survey was conducted to help address the insufficient data necessary to inform and address ongoing discrimination, stereotypes, and misperceptions about Chinese Americans, and the many gaps in knowledge that remain about Chinese Americans’ political attitudes and behaviors.“Understanding the mental health, discrimination and political perspectives of Chinese Americans is essential to create inclusive and informed policies,” said Cindy Tsai , Interim President, Committee of 100. “These insights not only enrich political dialogue but also foster a more equitable society."According to the survey, about three quarters of Chinese American citizens (76%) are certain they will turn out to vote in November’s presidential election. A little less than half of Chinese Americans (46%) identify as Democrats, 31% Republicans, and 24% Independents.Chinese Americans have been targeted in a surge of both popular and policy-driven racism over the last decade. The COVID-19 pandemic precipitated a wave of anti-Asian and anti-Chinese hate across the country that endures at an elevated level, causing lasting and severe financial, social, health, and emotional harm across the Asian American population.Chinese Americans also face discrimination from federal and state policies. Many were falsely accused of espionage under the auspices of the China Initiative, further extending racist stereotypes of the population as perpetual foreigners loyal to Chinese national interests. While the codified racism of the China Initiative formally ended in 2022, many states have recently passed legislation prohibiting U.S. residents with Chinese citizenship from owning property. The Washington Post reported that the survey showed that 68% of Chinese Americans said they face at least one form of discrimination in an average month, while 65% said they think the state of U.S.-China relations negatively impacts how other Americans treat them. The survey also asked about mental health, and 43% of Chinese Americans said they felt depressed. A large majority — 81 percent — of Chinese Americans said they are “at least a little concerned” about rhetoric used by presidential candidates when talking about China or U.S.-China relations, and 61 percent said U.S. news media rhetoric on the subject “negatively affects how strangers treat them,” Read the Washington Post report: https://wapo.st/3XXTUo9 The South China Morning Post reported that nearly six in 10 Chinese Americans reported hearing about legislative efforts by many states and the US Congress to limit individuals who hold Chinese citizenship from owning houses, farmland and other stateside property. Of those who had heard about the legislation, two thirds thought it had a negative effect on how others treated them.“We were surprised at the large percentage of responses when it came to issues of mental health and wellness and how the relationship with the US and China impacts how Chinese-Americans are feeling discriminated against,” said Sam Collitt , a research and data scientist with C100. “We know there are issues related to shame and language barriers that prevent discussions from taking place,” said Collitt, adding that overall Asian Americans were 60 per cent less likely to seek mental health services than other racial groups. Chinese Americans express high levels of concern about the state of U.S.-China relations, the likely sources of poor bilateral relations, and the downstream effects of domestic policy discrimination and discriminatory political rhetoric. Despite this, many Chinese Americans are cautiously optimistic about the ability of the U.S. and China to cooperate on a number of issues. They identified areas where Washington and Beijing could, at the margin, improve ties, including student exchanges and in fighting climate change and infectious diseases.A majority of respondents said being Chinese and being American were very important to their identity.Read the South China Morning Post report: https://bit.ly/4do9g9Y NBC News reported that 54% of Chinese Americans felt that the current relationship between the U.S. and China has had a “somewhat negative” impact on how those of Chinese descent are treated. Another 10% said the current environment had a “very negative” effect on the group. Only about 3% felt that current relations between the two countries had a positive impact on the community. Almost two-thirds think that such contentious relations can affect how other Americans treat them.“Rhetoric and language is impacting relationships with how strangers treat them, acquaintances even treat them, co-workers and colleagues,” said Nathan Chan , a co-author of the study and an assistant professor of political science at Loyola Marymount University. “This is really infiltrating into the lives of everyday Chinese Americans.” Professor Chan pointed to policies like the controversial Trump-era surveillance program the China Initiative and the former president’s language around economic espionage. The “rhetoric is not doing any good for a large swath of Chinese Americans that are then being scapegoated or held under a suspicious lens.” Jo-Ann Yoo , who heads New York City-based Asian American nonprofit Asian American Federation, said that too often, language used by media has been imprecise, leading to “sweeping generalizations” about the Chinese community. Yoo said the study’s results reflect discussions she has heard in the local community. Citing discussions around the land bans and the looming TikTok ban, which was signed into law earlier this year in an effort to combat Chinese influence, Yoo said those in the heavily immigrant community are unsure of their safety amid contentious relations.C100 partnered with NORC at the University of Chicago to reach a sample of 504 Chinese American adults for the survey. Gordon H. Chang , Professor, Stanford University; Daphne Kwok , Vice President, Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Asian American & Pacific Islander Audience Strategy at AARP; and Jeremy Wu , PhD, Founder and Co-Organizer, APA Justice, serve on the Advisory Committee.Read the NBC News report: https://nbcnews.to/4doBjG2 Additional media reports:2024/09/25 AsAmNews: Belonging and discrimination weigh on Chinese Americans 2024/09/25 Bloomberg: Chinese Americans Face Racism, Mental Health Risks Amid Tensions 2024/09/25 AP: The Latest: Candidates try to counter criticisms in dueling speeches Read the C100 press release: https://bit.ly/47EQCcs , executive summary: https://bit.ly/3TIxPHG , and infographics: https://bit.ly/3N0fRfV Dr. Min Wu Recognized with Top Faculty Honor The University of Maryland (UMD) has selected Min Wu 吴旻 , Professor and Associate Dean of Engineering, as 2024 Distinguished University Professor—the highest appointment bestowed on a tenured faculty member. The title is a recognition not just of excellence, but of impact and significant contributions to the nominee’s field, knowledge, profession, and/or practice.According to the UMD announcement, Dr. Wu holds appointments in UMD’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Institute for Advanced Computer Studies, as well as leads the UMD Media, Analytics, and Security Team (MAST). She is a Fellow of the IEEE, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), and the National Academy of Inventors. Dr. Wu was elected to serve as president of the IEEE Signal Processing Society for 2024–2025, the first woman of color to be elected to this leadership role.Read the UMD announcement: https://bit.ly/4exf4in McCarthyism and the House Un-American Activities Committee According to Wikipedia, the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), was an investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives, created in 1938 to investigate alleged disloyalty and subversive activities on the part of private citizens, public employees, and those organizations suspected of having communist ties. It became a standing (permanent) committee in 1946, and from 1969 onwards it was known as the House Committee on Internal Security. When the House abolished the committee in 1975, its functions were transferred to the House Judiciary Committee.The committee's anti-communist investigations are often associated with McCarthyism, although Joseph McCarthy himself (as a U.S. Senator) had no direct involvement with the House committee. McCarthy was the chairman of the Government Operations Committee and its Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the U.S. Senate, not the House.In the wake of the downfall of McCarthy, the prestige of HUAC began a gradual decline in the late 1950s. By 1959, the committee was being denounced by former President Harry S. Truman as the "most un-American thing in the country today".HUAC hearings in August 1966 called to investigate anti-Vietnam War activities were disrupted by hundreds of protesters. The committee faced witnesses who were openly defiant.According to The Harvard Crimson :"In the fifties, the most effective sanction was terror. Almost any publicity from HUAC meant the 'blacklist'. Without a chance to clear his name, a witness would suddenly find himself without friends and without a job. But it is not easy to see how in 1969, a HUAC blacklist could terrorize an SDS activist. Witnesses like Jerry Rubin have openly boasted of their contempt for American institutions. A subpoena from HUAC would be unlikely to scandalize Abbie Hoffman or his friends." In an attempt to reinvent itself, HUAC was renamed the Internal Security Committee in 1969. On January 14, 1975, coinciding with the opening of the 94th Congress, the House Committee on Internal Security was officially disbanded. Its files and staff were subsequently transferred to the House Judiciary Committee on the same day. In July 1995, the National Archives and Records Administration published the Records of The House Un-American Activities Committee, 1945-1969, and The House Internal Security Committee, 1969-1976, which is available online at https://bit.ly/4gGw7Aq .Read Wikipedia on the House Un-American Committee: https://bit.ly/3N23NL1 News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events:2024/10/02 C100: Asian American Career Ceiling Initiative2024/10/06 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/10/07 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/10/08 Media Training for Election Season2024/10/10 China in the Heartland: Building a Balanced Approach2024/10/11 China and the World Forum2024/10/13 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/10/16 Rebuilding Trust in Science2024/10/20 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/10/25-27 Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the American Studies NetworkVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. Delaware OKs Asian American Studies and new AAPI commission According to AsAmNews , Delaware Governor John Carney signed two bills into law on September 26, 2024, making his state the seventh in the nation to integrate Asian American and Pacific Islander history into k-12 schools along with all other American histories. The other establishes a statewide Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage and Culture. Read the AsAmNews report: https://bit.ly/3TOaF2t 3. 2024 National Overview of AANHPI According to a Fact Sheet based on Census Bureau data created by the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) in collaboration with AAPI Data, the Asian American population was estimated to be around 24.2 million, including one race alone or in combination of other races. The top five ethnic groups are Chinese, Asian Indian, Filipino, Vietnamese, and Korean. About 75% are native born or naturalized citizens. The top five most populous states are California, New York, Texas, New Jersey, and Washington. Read the WHIAAPINH Fact Sheet: https://bit.ly/3Nokq45 4. APA Justice Newsletter Web Page Moved to New Website As part of its continuing migration to a new website under construction, we have moved the Newsletters webpage to https://www.apajusticetaskforce.org/newsletters . Content of the existing website will remain, but it will no longer be updated. We value your feedback about the new web page. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF September 30, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter