July 17, 2019 On July 17, 2019, law.com published a commentary titled: “Daily Dicta: Prosecutions Don’t get much More Pathetic Than This Case Against a Louisiana Scientist.” “This case” refers to the prosecution of Dr. Ehab Meselhe , a prominent Egyptian American professor of the Department of River-Coastal Science and Engineering at Tulane University. There is a second defendant in the case, Mr. Kelin Hu (胡克林) , a computer scientist and research assistant professor at Tulane University who is a U.S. permanent resident born in China. Both men were charged by the U.S. government for conspiracy and attempt to steal trade secrets (a computer simulation program that models how the Mississippi River Delta might evolve due to environmental changes and projects the impact of proposed restoration efforts) and to commit computer fraud and abuse on May 29, 2019 (case number 3:19-cr-00061). According to a media report , Mr. Hu was dramatically escorted from the Water Institute of the Gulf building by Baton Rouge police officers and FBI agents. After the U.S. government admitted that “it cannot meet its burden of proof in this matter” on July 15, the case was dismissed by the Louisiana Middle District Court. “I was a federal prosecutor for 20 years in New Orleans, and I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Dr. Meselhe's lawyer. FBI Director Christopher Wray has testified in Congress on July 23 that The FBI has over 1,000 investigations open into attempted intellectual property theft, nearly all of them involving Chinese. Previous Next Another Bungled Economic Espionage Prosecution

Newsletter - #281 Rejecting China Consensus; Balanced Policies; Alarm on Anti-Asian Laws; Newsletters; + #281 Rejecting China Consensus; Balanced Policies; Alarm on Anti-Asian Laws; Newsletters; + In This Issue #281 · The Case Against the China Consensus · A Program for Progressive China Policy · China in the Heartland: Building a Balanced Approach · Anti-Asian Laws in America - Past, Present, and What's Coming · APA Justice Newsletters Web Page Moving to New Website · News and Activities for the Communities The Case Against the China Consensus Jessica Chen Weiss is David M. Lampton Professor of China Studies at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, a Senior Fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute Center for China Analysis, and a former member of the U.S. State Department’s Policy Planning Staff.In Jessica Chen Weiss's latest article on Foreign Affairs on September 16, 2024, "The Case Against the China Consensus," she critiques the prevailing U.S. approach to China, emphasizing open-ended competition without a clear definition of success.Weiss argues that bipartisan rhetoric increasingly treats China as an existential threat, pushing aside nuanced debate and overshadowing diplomatic and cooperative opportunities. She warns that such a zero-sum mindset risks escalating tensions, including a potential conflict over Taiwan, and could undermine U.S. values and interests. "If policymakers overplay competition with Beijing, they risk more than raising the likelihood of war and jeopardizing efforts to address the many transnational challenges that threaten both the United States and China. They also risk setting the United States on a path to what could become a pyrrhic victory, in which the country undermines its own long-term interests and values in the name of thwarting its rival," wrote Weiss.Instead, Weiss advocates for a balanced strategy that combines credible deterrence with diplomacy, economic integration, and cooperation on shared global challenges. She stresses the importance of pragmatic engagement and avoiding policies that isolate the U.S. from Chinese innovation and global supply chains. As for the issue of Taiwan, Weiss wrote, "deterrence, particularly in the Taiwan Strait, can be achieved only with the backing of strong diplomacy that combines credible threats and credible assurances. And both deterrence and prosperity require some degree of economic integration and technological interdependence." The article highlights the need for a strategic recalibration in U.S.-China relations, focusing on coexistence rather than dominance, and emphasizes the risks of overplaying competition, which could harm both nations' long-term prosperity and security. "U.S. policymakers should seek a more durable basis for coexistence, striking a careful balance to ensure that efforts to address the real threats from China do not undermine the very values and interests they aim to protect, " Weiss wrote.In her article, Weiss especially pointed out the negative impact of deteriorating bilateral relations on Chinese Americans. She wrote, "People born in China or of Chinese descent should not be categorically treated as a fifth column in the United States; the diaspora has been a hotbed for resistance, which is precisely why the Chinese Communist Party is so bent on monitoring and intimidating it. And if the United States were to go so far as to enact bans or visa restrictions on the basis of national origin, it would compromise the very principles of nondiscrimination and equality before the law that embody the American ideal "Read the Foreign Affairs article: https://fam.ag/3TzhV21 . Juan Zhang , editor at US-China Perception Monitor, contributed this report. A Program for Progressive China Policy During the APA Justice monthly meeting on September 9, 2024, Sandy Shan , Director, Justice Is Global, and Tori Bateman , Director of Advocacy, Quincy Institute, gave a joint presentation on Quincy Institute Brief #62 , "A Program for Progressive China Policy." Sandy Shan began the discussion by highlighting the urgency for a constructive U.S. policy toward China. She emphasized the need to move away from the current confrontational and hawkish stance, which has exacerbated tensions between the two nations and fueled xenophobia against Asian and Asian American communities in the U.S. The forum took place as the House launched “China Week,” underlining the timeliness of the conversation.The Quincy Institute brief was authored by Jake Warner and co-produced by Justice Is Global and the Institute for Policy Studies. It reflects five years of dialogue among progressive groups, drawing on the expertise of specialists in climate, labor, peace, and Asian Pacific American communities. The brief seeks to address gaps in current U.S. policies, dominated by nationalist and militaristic rhetoric, by offering a more thoughtful framework for dealing with China's rise.The brief acknowledges legitimate concerns about China’s actions, including its human rights record and the impact of its policies on American workers. However, it warns that a confrontational approach risks empowering authoritarian forces in both the U.S. and China while undermining broader progressive goals like global economic equity and environmental sustainability. Instead, the brief advocates for a policy that reduces geopolitical tensions and promotes shared prosperity.Tori Bateman expanded on this framework, describing the Quincy Institute’s transpartisan focus on foreign policy. She expressed concern about the growing hawkish rhetoric on Capitol Hill, especially during "China Week." Tori emphasized that while many bills address real issues, they often fail to solve underlying problems and instead increase tensions. The Quincy Institute is engaging with lawmakers to promote a more balanced approach, urging Congress to focus on areas like climate cooperation and educational exchanges instead of exclusionary policies. A summary for the September 2024 monthly meeting is being prepared and will be posted at https://www.apajustice.org/ after review by the speakers. Past monthly meeting summaries are available at https://bit.ly/3kxkqxP .Read the Quincy Institute brief at https://bit.ly/3T2XJVY China in the Heartland: Building a Balanced Approach On October 10, 2024, the U.S. Heartland China Association (USHCA) and the Kansas University (KU) Department of Political Science will co-host a hybrid event on "China in the Heartland: Building a Balanced Approach."As China’s influence grows around the world, skepticism in the United States grows in tandem with it. Evidence of this is seen throughout the Heartland of America, where anti-China legislation and rhetoric have grown over the years. Professor Jack Zhang of the KU Department of Political Science will be joined by Susan Thornton , Vice Chair of the U.S. Heartland China Association and a retired senior U.S. diplomat with decades of experience in Eurasia and East Asia, and Kyle Jaros , an associate professor at the University of Notre Dame, for a discussion on building a balanced approach for relations with China.In June 2024, the 4th Annual U.S.-China Agriculture Roundtable was held in China for the first time. Co-organized by USHCA and multiple Chinese partners, the broad-based bilateral agricultural platform drew senior leaders spanning government, trade, business, education, and think tanks from both countries to convene around the theme: Global Food Security and Agricultural Cooperation. Major American agriculture players and producers of soy, rice, corn, sorghum, dairy, and beef from 9 different states were among those who traveled to China to participate.First launched in 2021, the annual U.S.-China Agriculture Roundtable honors three legendary agriculture scientists who made significant contributions to our world: Norman Borlaug , Yuan Longping , and George Washington Carver . USHCA launched the first U.S.-China Agriculture Roundtable virtually with the belief that U.S.-China cooperation is essential for our planet to successfully deal with the critical global challenges of our time. The 4th Annual U.S.-China Agricultural Roundtable reinforced the ongoing agriculture partnership between China and the U.S. while elevating the importance of collaboration to tackle global challenges through sustainable practices, technological innovation, and educational exchanges. Amid global food security concerns, this collaboration serves as a vital demonstration of international cooperation to enhance global food stability and foster understanding. Given both the U.S. and China’s pivotal roles as leading agricultural producers, consumers, and importers, sustained dialogue between the two nations is crucial for shaping resilient food systems and protecting food security worldwide.The in-person portion of the October 10 event is at the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, 2350 Petefish Drive, Lawrence, KS 66045. Watch the event online at https://bit.ly/3zkTyhT . Min Fan , Executive Director of USHCA, has accepted our invitation to speak at the next APA Justice monthly meeting to be held on Monday, October 7, 2024, starting at 1:55 pm ET. Anti-Asian Laws in America - Past, Present, and What's Coming On September 8, 2024, Texas State Representative Gene Wu hosted a Town Hall on "Anti-Asian Laws in America - Past. Present, and What's Coming." During the Town Hall, State Rep. Gene Wu outlined the resurgence of anti-Asian and anti-immigrant laws, particularly targeting Chinese and Japanese communities, in states like Texas. He referenced a history of such laws, dating back to the late 1800s, which banned immigrants from owning property, participating in business, and obtaining citizenship. Though many of these laws were repealed by the 1960s, new legislation in Texas and other states mirrors these discriminatory laws, signaling a renewed threat to Asian Americans.State Rep. Gene Wu emphasized that current laws echo historical patterns, portraying Asian immigrants as spies or traitors without evidence. Project 2025, a comprehensive conservative policy document that focuses heavily on China, mentions China 800 times compared to Russia’s 100 mentions. Project 2025 seeks to impose restrictions on Chinese nationals and Asian Americans, particularly in areas of land ownership, business, and education.The community was urged to wake up to this threat, as these new legislative efforts have already been introduced in multiple states. For instance, Texas has established new committees solely to push bills that restrict Chinese land ownership and educational access, following a broader national trend. This is compared to past laws that targeted Japanese Americans during World War II, even when most were U.S.-born citizens. The urgency is underscored by Project 2025's broader intent to reshape national security policy with a disproportionate focus on China, while impacting Asian Americans domestically.State Rep. Gene Wu has accepted our invitation to speak at the next APA Justice monthly meeting to be held on Monday, October 7, 2024, starting at 1:55 pm ET.Watch State Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall: https://bit.ly/4edgbDV (50:44). Read his presentation: https://bit.ly/3ZzweHR APA Justice Newsletters Web Page Moving to New Website As part of its continuing migration to a new website under construction, we are moving 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 . News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events:2024/09/23 Media Training for Election Season2024/09/23 President's Advisory Commission on AANHPI Public Meeting 2024/09/25 C100: State of Chinese American Survey 2024 2024/09/25-26 APAICS Technology Summit2024/09/26 White House Initiative AA& NHPI Policy Summit2024/09/27 The War for Chinese Talent in America: The Politics of Technology and Knowledge in Sino-U.S. Relations2024/09/29 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/10/02 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 ApproachThe Community Calendar has moved. Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. Committee of 100 Next Generation Leaders Program Class of 2025 Committee of 100, a non-profit organization of prominent Chinese Americans, announced that applications are now being accepted for the 2025 Next Generation Leaders (NGL) class. The 2025 NGL class will be announced and spotlighted at Committee of 100's 2025 Conference & Gala, which will take place in Los Angeles in April 2025. Launched in 2014, Committee of 100's NGL program convenes an exceptional group of change-makers and rising leaders from diverse sectors, leveraging a collective sense of service and purpose to elevate the impact of each individual. Currently, there are over 200 NGL alumni across a multitude of sectors who make up a vibrant and diverse network. Individuals who demonstrate a remarkable history of professional and personal excellence and are between 25-40 years old are encouraged to apply. To apply for the Committee of 100 Next Generation Leaders Class of 2025, click here . Answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) can be found here . The deadline to submit applications is January 10, 2025 at 5:00 pm Eastern Time. 3. Incoming and Outgoing Executive Directors of WHIAANHPI Helen Beaudreau has been appointed as the incoming Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI), succeeding Krystal Ka‘ai , who held the position since May 2021. Back View PDF September 23, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #351 C100-USCET-APA Justice Webinar Series; "Domicile;" Deportations; SCOTUS Ruling Alarm;+ #351 C100-USCET-APA Justice Webinar Series; "Domicile;" Deportations; SCOTUS Ruling Alarm;+ In This Issue #351 · C100-USCET-APA Justice Joint Webinar Series Announced · Just Security : DOJ’s Arguments Regarding Domicile and Unauthorized Immigrants · Deportations in Georgia and Missouri Echo Another Era in California · Supreme Court Ruling Raises Alarm Over Racial Profiling · News and Activities for the Communities C100-USCET-APA Justice Joint Webinar Series Announced At the APA Justice monthly meeting on September 8, 2025, moderated by Co-organizer Vincent Wang 王文奎 , Cindy Tsai 蔡欣玲 , Executive Vice President and General Counsel of the Committee of 100 (C100), and Rosie Levine 卢晓玫 , Executive Director of the U.S.-China Education Trust (USCET), announced the launch of a new webinar series co-hosted by C100, USCET, and APA Justice . The series, Global Tensions, Local Dimensions: Navigating the United States–China Relationship , will examine how U.S.–China relations directly affect Chinese Americans and the broader AAPI community. Rising geopolitical tensions have fueled racial profiling, policy challenges, and community concerns—underscoring how global dynamics translate into local realities. The series seeks to foster dialogue, deepen understanding, and empower communities by convening voices from policy, academia, advocacy, and civic life. The first of three sessions will take place via Zoom on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at 8 PM ET . It will feature Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch 張之香 , the first U.S. ambassador of Asian descent and USCET’s founder and executive chair, in conversation with Ambassador Gary Locke 骆家辉 , Chair of C100, former U.S. ambassador to China, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce, and former governor of Washington. They will be joined by Professor Jessica Chen Weiss 白潔曦 , David M. Lampton Professor of China Studies at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). The discussion will highlight the historical role of people-to-people exchanges in shaping the U.S.–China relationship and the risks posed today as educational and cultural ties shrink amid heightened tensions. Importantly, it will also examine the impact on Asian American communities—especially Chinese Americans—who increasingly find themselves caught in the crossfire of U.S.–China relations. Please mark your calendars . Additional details will be shared in the forthcoming summary of the monthly meeting. Just Security : DOJ’s Arguments Regarding Domicile and Unauthorized Immigrants On September 8, 2025, Just Security published " Taking Stock of the Birthright Citizenship Cases, Part III ," the third of a series of articles concerning the ongoing challenges to the legality of President Donald Trump ’s Executive Order No. 14160 (the “Citizenship Order”), which declares that two categories of persons born in the United States to foreign nationals are not birthright citizens.The DOJ contends that a child born in the United States is not "subject to the jurisdiction thereof" unless the child is "domiciled" in the U.S. at the time of birth. This argument seeks to exclude children born to foreign nationals who are not domiciled in the U.S. from automatic citizenship.However, the article critiques this stance, highlighting that the Supreme Court's decision in United States v. Wong Kim Ark (1898) established that birthright citizenship is not contingent upon domicile. Justice Horace Gray 's opinion in Wong Kim Ark 黄金德 emphasized that the Citizenship Clause grants citizenship to all persons born in the U.S., regardless of their parents' domicile, as long as the parents are not foreign diplomats or enemy forces. The DOJ's reliance on domicile is viewed as a misinterpretation of the Court's ruling.The article also addresses the DOJ's assertion that a newborn's "primary allegiance" must be to the U.S. to be considered "subject to the jurisdiction." This concept of "primary allegiance" is criticized for lacking historical or legal support and for being inconsistent with the principles established in Wong Kim Ark.In conclusion, the article argues that the DOJ's arguments regarding domicile and primary allegiance are legally unfounded and do not align with established constitutional interpretations of birthright citizenship.Read the full Just Security article here: https://bit.ly/42cPDPi . Read background and timeline visualization of the Birthright Citizenship issue here: https://www.apajusticetaskforce.org/birthright-citizenship . Deportations in Georgia and Missouri Echo Another Era in California According to multiple outlets including AP News , BBC , CNBC , PBS , TIME , and Washington Post . federal agents conducted the largest single-site immigration raid in U.S. history at Hyundai’s Ellabell, Georgia facility on September 4, 2025, arresting 475 workers—more than 300 of them South Koreans. At least 10 Chinese nationals, three Japanese, and one Indonesian were among the remaining workers who had been restrained in handcuffs and ankle chains at their arrest.The Georgia plant is home to South Korean companies Hyundai and LG Energy Solution, which are building a battery manufacturing plant together. The $7.6 billion Hyundai plant employs more than 1,200 people. The company began building its manufacturing plant in 2022 and started making electric vehicles less than two years later, making the plant one of the largest economic developments in the state.Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent Steven Schrank declared all were “illegally present in the United States.”Immigration lawyer Charles Kuck disputed that claim, saying most were engineers and equipment installers on short-term B-1 business visas, “never longer than 75 days,” and that it would take “three to five years to train someone in the U.S.” to perform the same work. Advocates described drones, helicopters, and military vehicles, with one worker recalling: “We felt like we were being followed as animals.”The raid triggered diplomatic fallout. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun called it “a very serious matter,” and lawmaker Cho Jeongsik warned it could undermine Korean investment. Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) and Georgia’s Congressional Delegation jointly condemned the operation as “senseless actions [that] rip apart families, hurt the economy, and undermine the trust of our global partners.” The South Korea government has arranged a charter plane to bring home 316 of its detained nationals on September 10, but President Donald Trump temporarily delayed the repatriation to explore whether they could stay in the United States to educate and train American workers. The raid halted construction of the Hyundai-LG battery plant, raising concerns about U.S. manufacturing competitiveness. Experts argue the U.S. lacks a visa pathway for highly specialized foreign workers needed to install advanced equipment and train American staff. Critics say the crackdown undermines Trump’s economic agenda by discouraging investment and costing future U.S. jobs, while labor advocates highlight Hyundai’s history of labor violations. The plant’s $7.6B future is now uncertain.The Asian American community responded to the Hyundai raid and deportation with outrage, condemnation of the federal tactics, and solidarity with immigrant workers. Advocacy groups like Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta denounced the raid as "absolutely abusive," pointing to heavily armed agents, threats, and shackling of workers.Activists collaborated across Asian and Latino communities to criticize corporations like Hyundai for exploiting immigrant labor and to organize "Know Your Rights" workshops and support networks for families affected by the incident. The raid has also sparked fear and concern within the community, with some Korean nationals being deported and business owners worrying about the economic impact and potential exodus of residents. Separately, on September 8, KCBD reported that Donna Brown , a 58-year-old Irish legal permanent resident in Missouri, was detained by ICE over a $25 bad check written a decade earlier—an offense she had repaid and served probation for. Married with children and grandchildren, she has lived in the U.S. nearly 50 years. Her husband, veteran Jim Brown , called the detention “egregious,” saying “you don’t arrest 58-year-old grandmothers.”According to Reuters , Stephen Miller , the architect of Trump's immigration crackdown, in May demanded that the leaders of ICE ramp up deportations, setting a goal of 3,000 daily arrests.From global corporations to small family farms, the Georgia and Missouri cases reveal how sweeping deportation tactics and quotas ripple across lives and communities. They highlight not only the economic and diplomatic costs of such enforcement, but also the human toll. Together, they force a reckoning with whether America will uphold its identity as a nation of immigrants—or abandon it in the name of political expediency. According to the LA Times , Trump immigration raids mirror violent 1800s purges that forcibly expelled Chinese immigrants from Northern California using mob tactics.In Smith River, California, the grave of Dock Rigg (born Oo Dock ), a Chinese immigrant who lived from about 1850–1919, quietly memorializes a dark chapter of U.S. history. Dock was one of the few Chinese allowed to remain in Del Norte County after violent 1880s purges that expelled hundreds of Chinese residents across Northern California, part of the era’s Chinese Exclusion laws. Working as a cook and ranch hand, Dock lived largely in isolation but was remembered as kind and humorous. His headstone, placed decades after his death, symbolizes both his perseverance and the respect of his community. Today, cities like Eureka, San Jose, and San Francisco are formally acknowledging and memorializing historic anti-Chinese violence, while groups like Humboldt Asians & Pacific Islanders in Solidarity (HAPI) recover and honor the stories of individuals like Dock. Supreme Court Ruling Raises Alarm Over Racial Profiling According to AsAmNews and the Guardian , a deeply controversial U.S. Supreme Court decision on September 8, 2025, has reignited fears of racial profiling across immigrant communities in Los Angeles and beyond. In a 6–3 ruling, the Court lifted restrictions on federal immigration patrols, allowing agents to resume “roving stops” that may take into account factors such as race, language, occupation, or location. While ethnicity alone cannot be the sole basis for a stop, critics argue the decision effectively opens the door to widespread discrimination. Civil rights groups immediately condemned the ruling. Advocates warned that it undermines constitutional protections and normalizes targeting of individuals based on appearance or perceived background. The ACLU of Southern California called the decision a “devastating step backward,” while local immigrant rights coalitions described it as a green light for harassment. Asian American leaders were quick to highlight that while Latino communities are often the most directly impacted, the threat extends across all immigrant groups. Asian Americans Advancing Justice called the ruling “dangerous,” stressing that it strips away hard-won protections and will subject U.S. citizens and immigrants alike to fear and intimidation. The AAPI Equity Alliance warned of a “terrorizing” effect that could isolate families, harm businesses, and destabilize community life. At its core, the ruling underscores the intimate connection between immigration enforcement and civil rights. As one advocate noted, “This isn’t just about who is undocumented. It’s about who looks or sounds foreign—and that’s all of us.” News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/09/16-17 2025 AANHPI Unity Summit 2025/09/17-18 24th Annual Constitution Day2025/09/23 Committee of 100: Is Deglobalization Inevitable?2025/10/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/10/16 Bridging Nations: The Power of People-to-People Exchange in U.S.-China Relations2025/10/23 C100 Asian American Career Ceilings Initiative: Asian American Women in the LawVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. In Memoriam: David Baltimore (1938-2025) David Baltimore (March 7, 1938 – September 6, 2025) was an American molecular biologist whose Nobel Prize–winning discovery of reverse transcriptase fundamentally altered our understanding of molecular biology and retroviruses—and laid the groundwork for advances in cancer and HIV research.Baltimore served as a prominent academic leader, including as president of Caltech (1997–2006) and Rockefeller University, and forming the Whitehead Institute, where he served as founding director (1982–1990). He emerged as a persuasive public voice on scientific ethics, recombinant DNA oversight, and policies surrounding AIDS, genome editing, and biotechnology. A celebrated mentor and institutional builder, Baltimore received many of science’s highest honors—he won the U.S. National Medal of Science (1999) and the Lasker Award (2021), among others—and trained generations of scientists whose contributions continue to shape biomedicine.He died of cancer at home in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, on September 6, 2025, at age 87. He is survived by his wife, Alice S. Huang , and their daughter. # # # 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 September 12, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #265 Meeting Summaries; OSTP Guidelines; Scientists Speak Up; CAPAC and AASF Updates; + #265 Meeting Summaries; OSTP Guidelines; Scientists Speak Up; CAPAC and AASF Updates; + In This Issue #265 · June and July 2024 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Summaries Posted · Updates on OSTP Guidelines by Kei Koizumi · Observations and Remarks by Impacted Scientists · Updates from Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus · Updates from Asian American Scholar Forum · News and Activities for the Communities June and July 2024 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Summaries Posted Summary for the June 2024 APA Justice monthly meeting has been posted here: https://bit.ly/45Zilni . Summary for the July 2024 APA Justice monthly meeting has been posted here: https://bit.ly/3Wc9NX0 . We extend our heartfelt thanks to the speakers who shared their valuable insights and reports during our monthly meetings, including regular speakers: · Nisha Ramachandran , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), nisha.ramachandran@mail.house.gov · Joanna YangQing Derman , Director, Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security Program, Advancing Justice | AAJC · Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), gpkusakawa@aasforum.org and invited speakers and commentators: · Tam Dao , Assistant Vice President for Research Security, Office of Research Security, Rice University · Haipei Shue , President, United Chinese Americans · Anming Hu , Professor, University of Tennessee at Knoxville · Kei Koizumi , Principal Deputy Director for Science, Society, and Policy, Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), The White House · Neal Lane , Senior Fellow, Baker Institute; Former Director of OSTP; Former Director, National Science Foundation · Xiaoxing Xi , Laura H. Carnell Professor of Physics, Temple University · Gang Chen , Carl Richard Soderberg Professor of Power Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology · Karla Hagan , Senior Program Officer, Staff Director for National Science, Technology, and Security Roundtable, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering,and Medicine Updates on OSTP Guidelines by Kei Koizumi In August 2021, the White House tasked OSTP with setting clear rules for research security and researcher responsibility. It charged OSTP with protecting America’s research security while ensuring policies do not fuel xenophobia or prejudice. As part of the OSTP effort, the NSF commissioned two studies by JASON, an independent group of scientists with unique expertise that advises the U.S. government on national security matters related to science and technology. · 2024/03/21 JASON Report: Safeguarding the Research Enterprise · 2021/08/10 White House: Clear Rules for Research Security and Researcher Responsibility o Protect America’s Security and Openness; Be Clear; Ensure Policies Do Not Fuel Xenophobia or Prejudice · 2019/12 JASON Report: Fundamental Research Security During the July 1 APA Justice monthly meeting, Kei Koizumi , Principal Deputy Director for Science, Society, and Policy, Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), The White House, was hoping to share the final version of a research security standards document requested by Congress and outlined in a presidential memorandum. This document aims to provide universities and Federal research agencies with clear guidelines on running research security programs. Unfortunately, its release has been delayed.Kei remains hopeful that it will be released in the coming days, offering clarity to the Asian American research community and universities on how to maintain an open, international, collaborative research enterprise in the U.S. while protecting against foreign government exploitation.A key element of this document is the longstanding prohibition against actions that exacerbate anti-Asian bias or prejudice. Implementing the final guidance will be a collaborative effort for all of us. Meanwhile, Congress is considering legislation that would force the Department of Justice to reinstate the China Initiative. In addition, OSTP is reviewing proposals in draft intelligence and national defense bills that would prohibit citizens of certain countries, specifically the People's Republic of China, from visiting or working in Federal and national laboratories, regardless of their visa or visitor status.The administration will oppose this legislation, as it did with reinstating the China Initiative in last year’s Appropriations Bill.This is where our community must play defense against some harmful ideas circulating in Congress. With this being an election year, opposing bad legislation is even more challenging than usual.Kei is grateful that Dr. Neal Lane and a coalition hosted the FBI Forum and that the National Academies will soon complete its important work on research security through the Roundtable.Kei is also eager to hear from us, particularly at the state level. He is concerned about bills and laws in various states that restrict Asian Americans, especially Chinese Americans, from buying property or impose extra screening to participate in academic environments at many state universities.Read Kei's comments in the July 1 monthly meeting summary: https://bit.ly/3Wc9NX0 . UPDATE: On July 9, 2024, the White House OSTP released Guidelines for Research Security Programs at Covered Institutions. The 10-page Guidelines is posted here: https://bit.ly/3xQgRzj . ".... federal research agencies should implement research security policies in a way that treats everyone equally under law, without xenophobia, prejudice, or discrimination, a principle reinforced by the CHIPS and Science Act. The law also requires that research security activities be carried out in a manner that does not target, stigmatize, or discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, ethnicity, or national origin," the Guidelines said. REMINDER: The National Science, Technology, and Security Roundtable Capstone Workshop will be held on July 16-17, 2024, in Washington DC and virtually. For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3z0PnY7 . Register to attend the workshop: https://bit.ly/3VirGle . Observations and Remarks by Impacted Scientists Professor Xiaoxing Xi is a naturalized American citizen who has lived and worked in the U.S. for 35 years. On May 21, 2015, the U.S. government charged Professor Xi for scheming to violate a non-disclosure agreement by sharing U.S. company technology with Chinese entities. Professor Xi committed no crime and was supported by affidavits from leading scientific experts, as well as one of the inventors of the U.S. company technology himself. On September 11, 2015, the government dropped all charges against Professor Xi without an apology or explanation. With support of ACLU, Professor Xi and his family filed a civil lawsuit against the U.S. government in 2017. He is the recipient of the 2020 Andrei Sakharov Prize, a distinguished honor within both the human rights advocacy and scientific communities. Professor Xi joined the meeting from Europe, where he gave a slide presentation on his personal experiences as an impacted scientist. He recounted the traumatic events of May 2015, when armed FBI agents raided his home, held his wife and daughters at gunpoint, and arrested him for a crime he did not commit. This ordeal had a profound and lasting impact on his career and his family's lives, as well as on Professor Gang Chen and others who were also falsely charged by the Department of Justice (DOJ).Many of these cases were dropped, although it is rare for the DOJ to drop cases. In his presentation to the OSTP community briefing in January 2022, Professor Xi attributed the problem to policies that diminish the U.S.'s ability to attract talent and fuel xenophobia against Asian Americans. He highlighted that the FBI Director referred to Chinese scientists and academics as "non-traditional collectors," suggesting they act as spies without formal training on behalf of the Chinese Government. This term, used during Congressional testimonies, portrays anyone with connections to China as a “whole-of-society” threat to the U.S. Professor Xi believes this is the root cause of the cases targeting Chinese scientists.In the spirit of rebuilding trust with the FBI, as seen in the June 6 Forum in Houston, Professor Xi suggests that the FBI Director and leadership should publicly affirm that “ all Chinese scientists are not non-traditional collectors ” and should not label them as suspected spies. This is essential to restore trust.There have been persistent attempts to reinstate the China Initiative. As long as the assumption that Chinese scientists are suspected of espionage prevails, the China Initiative is still active, leading to more such activities.In February 2023, the DOJ established the Disruptive Technology Strike Force to enforce export control laws and investigate and prosecute criminal violations of these laws. As more institutions are added to the entity list, interactions with scientists from these institutions will increase. These Chinese institutions include the Institute of Physics, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and the University of Science and Technology, which are equivalent to Caltech and MIT in the U.S. In March 2023, Science Magazine asked the OSTP Director, Dr. Arati Prabhakar , if Chinese-born scientists working in the United States have been unfairly persecuted as agents of the Chinese Communist Party and are owed an apology from the government. Dr. Prabhakar responded, "I’m not in a position to comment on that. I don’t know enough about it." This response raised concerns about policymakers' commitment to addressing the plight of scientists. Dr. Prabhakar has since provided additional clarifications, and Science Magazine has updated its story.However, Dr. Prabhakar has repeatedly stated that "the world has changed." This statement gives Professor Xi a clear perspective on the direction of U.S. Government science policy, despite reports and recommendations from the scientific community on how to protect U.S. technology from China.For example, in September 2022, the National Academies released a report on Protecting U.S. Technological Advantage. It emphasized that in today’s interdependent, global innovation system, the greatest threat is the potential weakening of the U.S. innovation ecosystem. Protecting and strengthening this ecosystem is more important than protecting specific technologies, which can be ineffective and self-damaging.The innovative ecosystem requires openness and the ability of the U.S. to attract scientists from around the world.The 2024 JASON report also emphasizes openness and transparency. It advises the National Science Foundation (NSF) to adopt a dynamic approach for identifying potentially sensitive research topics as they arise, rather than maintaining a comprehensive list of sensitive areas. The NSF should proceed with caution before adding access or dissemination controls to grants or contracts. But that is not what the policy makers, including the White House, are doing. The CHIPS and Science Act includes provisions that prohibit Federal funding for participants in malign foreign talent recruitment programs sponsored by countries of concern, with a definition codified as 42 USC 19237 (4). This situation creates a chilling effect, where people, including Professor Xi, may avoid collaborating with scientists from China for fear of being considered part of a malign foreign talent recruitment program and being barred from Federal funding. In two February 2024 documents, OSTP provided guidelines on a long list of international collaborations not considered part of a foreign talent recruitment program, including memberships in the Royal Society, sabbaticals at University of Oxford or McGill University, and receiving the Nobel Prize. However, it did not clarify whether sabbaticals in China or memberships in the Chinese Academy of Sciences would be considered part of a malign foreign talent recruitment program. Professor Xi seeks clarification in the new OSTP guidelines expected to be released soon.Can a scientist collaborate with China? NSF Director Sethuraman Panchanathan stated in a post on X, “By working together with our international like-minded partners to strengthen and scale collaborations … we will supercharge powerful global innovation ecosystems.”So, openness has conditions. While we want openness and collaboration with like-minded partners, this does not extend to people from countries of concern. The Deputy Secretary of State recently expressed a desire to see more Chinese students studying humanities and social sciences in the U.S., but not particle physics. He suggested that students from India could fill the gap in science studies.The message from policymakers is clear: no collaboration with scientists in China and no Chinese students in STEM. This stance contradicts the recommendations of the National Academies report and the JASON report.A possible explanation is the OSTP Director’s response to Science Magazine: "The world has changed." The U.S. and China, once at peace, are now at war. These conflicts include trade wars and geopolitical wars in technology, which have been ongoing and could escalate to military wars. During the last major conflict with an Asian country, the U.S. government interned 120,000 Japanese persons. We are now at war with China. We are now at risk of similar internment. Labeling all Chinese scientists as suspected spies is akin to suggesting that Japanese Americans during WWII signaled incoming warplanes from Japan. This underscores the importance of ongoing efforts by allies in OSTP, the scientific community, and interactions with the FBI, CAPAC, and Congress to push back and prevent a repeat of such internment. Persistent mistrust and xenophobia against Chinese and Asian American scientists are fueled by policies and rhetoric that unfairly label them as spies. Professor Xi calls for a change in these policies, advocating for a more inclusive and supportive environment that values the contributions of all scientists, regardless of their ethnic background, as the scientific community has already recommended.In conclusion, Professor Xi underscored the importance of openness and international collaboration in maintaining the United States' leadership in science and technology. He criticized restrictive policies that hinder collaboration with scientists from China and warned against the long-term damage such policies could cause to the nation's innovation ecosystem. Professor Xi’s presentation is posted at https://bit.ly/3W3SN5f . His remarks are included in the July meeting summary: https://bit.ly/3Wc9NX0 . ***** Gang Chen , Carl Richard Soderberg Professor of Power Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, joined the meeting from Taiwan, expressing his gratitude to Professor Xi for his courage in speaking out and to Kei Koizumi and Neal Lane for their insightful comments. Professor Chen, himself a victim of the misguided China Initiative, finds it disheartening to witness persistent efforts to reinstate the initiative, whether under its original name or disguised under a different one. He emphasized the findings of the National Academies report, which highlighted that the greatest threat to the U.S. is the weakening of its innovation ecosystem. The China Initiative and similar U.S. policies have driven away many talented individuals, diminishing the country's appeal not only to researchers of Chinese origin but to scientists in general. The CHIPS and Science Act's definition of a malign foreign talent program is so broad that it could potentially label many CEOs of major U.S. companies as participants in such programs. There is widespread uncertainty about how these rules will be applied, but those in academia feel particularly targeted. Many are afraid to attend conferences or give seminars in China. Universities share this fear as well. A faculty member recounted to Professor Chen that during a visit to his family in China, he asked a University Security Officer if he could meet his colleagues and friends at a local university. The officer suggested holding the meeting off-campus, highlighting the tense atmosphere. Such policies are detrimental to scientific exchange and ultimately harm the U.S. innovation ecosystem. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), an intergovernmental organization with 38 member countries, has been tracking new researchers by country every year. Before 2018, the U.S. consistently gained new researchers each year, with over 2,000 new researchers in 2018 alone. However, since then, the trend has reversed, and by 2021, the U.S. experienced a net loss of new researchers. This trend is strong evidence of the damaging effect of the China Initiative. Professor Chen's remarks are included in the July meeting summary: https://bit.ly/3Wc9NX0 . Updates from Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus During the June APA Justice monthly meeting, Nisha Ramachandran , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), reported that May, the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, was likely the busiest month of the year for CAPAC. She was pleased to have met many of us during this time.Congress is gearing up for a busy legislative summer, particularly in the House. The Agriculture Committee has begun the mark-up of the next Farm Bill. The appropriations process is also underway, moving towards mark-ups after members submitted their priorities. In addition, the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is in progress.CAPAC is closely monitoring civil rights issues for Asian Americans, especially regarding research security and land and property ownership. There are efforts to reinstate the China Initiative, which CAPAC is actively tracking. Nisha encouraged everyone to stay vigilant and collaborate with CAPAC members on these issues across various committees. She expressed special thanks to Asian American Scholar Forum and Advancing Justice | AAJC for their partnerships.Nisha also mentioned a Bloomberg article about students being turned away at Dulles Airport and other ports of entry, highlighting this growing issue. CAPAC is tracking these developments and needs the community’s support to balance all interests.Finally, June is National Immigrant Heritage Month, and CAPAC will be uplifting immigrant stories throughout the month.As Nisha was about to provide an update from CAPAC during the July monthly meeting, she was called away. Casey Lee , Policy Director for CAPAC, stepped in to report on a critical issue closely monitored by CAPAC. The Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Bill for fiscal year 2025 underwent its subcommittee markup. According to the Appropriations Committee’s press release, the China Initiative is included once again in the accompanying report language for the bill. The legislative process will proceed to a full committee markup, scheduled for July 9. CAPAC, along with many of our champions such as Rep. Grace Meng , will ensure it is monitored very closely.We are once again witnessing an attempt to revive the China Initiative in Congress. CAPAC will continue to oppose this effort. Casey encouraged the community to reach out to CAPAC with any questions and expressed appreciation for the advocacy and voices present at the monthly meeting. Updates from Asian American Scholar Forum During the July APA Justice monthly meeting, Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), highlighted the ongoing engagement of AASF with the White House, Congress (particularly CAPAC), and various Federal agencies, emphasizing the contributions of Asian American scholars to American society. This engagement has garnered nearly 400 million potential views through its news coverage. AASF's top priority is ensuring that issues facing Asian American scholars remain at the forefront for national leaders.Not all AASF activities are publicly visible; some occur behind closed doors, such as roundtable discussions with the National Science Foundation and university leaders. These efforts include a briefing to the Department of Homeland Security Subcommittee on Foreign Malign Influence in Higher Education, contributing to their recent subcommittee report. AASF anticipates another significant effort with Federal agencies will soon be made public.AASF consistently recommends greater transparency, clarity, and ongoing feedback from the Asian American scholar community to Federal agencies. Their efforts aim to change perspectives within the Federal government, media, and public while also building a community. AASF aims to establish a permanent non-profit organization to protect the rights of Asian American scholars and celebrate their excellence and contributions.On July 27, 2024, AASF will co-host the inaugural Asian American Pioneer Medal Symposium and Ceremony with Stanford University. This public event will also feature roundtables and listening sessions with Federal government representatives on July 28. Distinguished speakers, including Nobel Laureates Steven Chu and Randy Shekman , Turing Award Laureate Raj Reddy , former Stanford President John Hennessy , and industry leader Eric Yuan , will participate. CAPAC Chair Judy Chu will open the Symposium and ceremony. Register for the Symposium and Ceremony here: https://bit.ly/3XLApPN . In addition, AASF is co-hosting a Presidential Town Hall with APIAVote and other partners in Philadelphia on July 13, ahead of the upcoming November elections. The House passed the National Defense Authorization Act on June 14, which includes provisions related to research security, potentially restricting collaboration for researchers and universities receiving Department of Defense (DOD) funding. AASF will focus on the conferencing stage as the Senate considers its version of the bill next.Regarding the Appropriations Bill, AASF is leading efforts with nearly 50 organizations, including APA Justice, to oppose restrictive language in this must-pass bill. They will closely monitor the July 9 markup session. AASF is also promoting the Youth Ambassador Science Video Competition, encouraging participation to highlight the involvement of the next generation in their efforts. Visit the AASF website and subscribe to the AASF newsletter at AASF .Gisela reported on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and AASF's commitment to ensuring that Asian American scholars have a voice by monitoring the bill and gathering feedback from AASF members and the Asian American scholar community on issues like research security. AASF is keeping a close eye on HR 1398, the Protect America’s Innovation and Economic Security from the CCP Act, which attempts to revive the China Initiative and increase scrutiny of the scholar community. AASF plans to make a strong statement highlighting the exhaustive attempts by the House to reinstate the China Initiative, emphasizing the need for Congressional members to reconsider these efforts. This is crucial for the Asian American scholar community and the country, which benefits from the contributions of immigrant talent in science and technology. Gisela can be reached at gpkusakawa@aasforum.org . News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2024/07/11-12 National AAPI Leadership Summit2024/07/13 APIAVote: Presidential Town Hall, Philadelphia PA2024/07/15 APIAVote: RNC Convention, AAPI Briefing &Reception, Milwaukee, WI2024/07/16-17 National Science, Technology, and Security Roundtable - Capstone2024/07/17 C100 Career Ceiling Summit: Creating a Level Playing Field2024/07/25-28 Leadership Convention by NAAAP (National Association of Asian American Professionals) 2024/07/27-28 Asian American Pioneer Medal Symposium and CeremonyThe Community Calendar has moved. Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. Committee of 100 Career Ceilings Summit: Creating a Level Playing Field WHAT: Committee of 100 Career Ceilings Summit: Creating a Level Playing Field WHEN: July 17, 2024, 11:00 am - 2 pm ET WHERE: Webcast HOST: Committee of 100 MODERATOR: Peter Young , Chair of the Initiative and Committee of 100 Member DESCRIPTION: · 11:10 am ET: Fireside Chat ( Ngan Nguyen , Senior Vice President, Global Diversity & Talent Management, Citi) and Open Discussion: “The Future of DEI: Can it Pivot?” · 12: 30 pm ET: Keynote Speech: “Lessons Learned” ( Cecilia Stanton Adams , CEO of The Diversity Institute) · 1:00 pm ET: Town Hall Discussion: “Breaking Through Career Ceilings: Choices and Solutions” ( Adrian Kwok , Associate Partner, McKinsey, Co-Head of the Asian DEI Group and Frank Wu , President, Queens College, Leading expert on Asian American Career Ceilings) REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/3WgevmT 3. New Book: "The War for Chinese Talent in America" A new book authored by Dr. David Zweig , has just been released with the title of "The War for Chinese Talent in America: The Politics of Technology and Knowledge in Sino-U.S. Relations."Dr. Zweig is Professor Emeritus, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), Distinguished Visiting Professor of Taipei School of Economics and Political Science, National Tsinghua University, Taiwan, and Vice-President of the Center for China and Globalization (Beijing). He was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard in 1984-85. For 15 years, he directed the Center on China’s Transnational Relations at HKUST.To overcome their “brain drain,” some developing countries employ the “Diaspora Option,” encouraging their overseas nationals to use the knowledge they gained abroad to help their motherland. Since the mid-1990s, China’s party/state has vigorously used an extensive array of programs and incentives to persuade ethnic Chinese living in America to transfer their technological knowhow back home. Many Chinese working abroad facilitated this flow, some to strengthen their former homeland, others from self-interest. In 2018, the Trump Administration declared war on these efforts. Employing a McCarthy-like campaign called the “China Initiative,” the government investigated Chinese scientists across the U.S. Many individuals were arrested, only to have their cases dropped. Still, hundreds had their research disrupted or lost their jobs. This book documents China’s ‘no-holds-barred’ effort to access U.S. technology and America’s vigorous counterattack and its efforts to disrupt the transfer of U.S. technology to China. Six case studies include stories of unknown victims of that campaign whose cases were never made public. It highlights how the war has undermined Sino-American scientific collaboration and triggered the outflow of some top Chinese talent from America and back to China.For more information and to order the book, visit: https://bit.ly/45ZqFDz 4. New Book Chapter: "New Red Scare - The China Initiative" A chapter titled "New Red Scare - The China Initiative," authored by Steven Pei , Jeremy Wu , and Alex Liang , has just been released in the book "Communicated Stereotypes at Work."Steven Pei is an electrical engineering professor at the University of Houston. He is also Founding Chair of United Chinese Americans and a co-organizer of the APA Justice Task Force. Jeremy Wu retired from the U.S. federal government, He is Founder and Co-Organizer of the APA Justice Task Force, a Senior Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration, and a Member of the Committee of 100. Alex Liang was Fox International Fellow at the Australian National University. He is a second-year student at Harvard Law School.The FBI has a long history of surveillance of ethnic Chinese scientists in the U.S. McCarthyism, the Economic Espionage Act, and more recently the China Initiative were initiatives adversely impacting Chinese and Chinese Americans living in the United States. The cases of Qian Xuesen , Wen Ho Lee , Sherry Chen , and Xiaoxing Xi were the precursors and indicators of an implicit and explicit bias against Asian Americans questioning their “loyalty” to the United States. Why is it that time and again Chinese Americans are falsely accused of being spies for China? The stereotypes of Asian and Chinese scientists as “disloyal” stem from the perpetual foreigner trope. The key here is that most of them were U.S. citizens. They are as much an American as any other American, yet their “loyalty” is perceived as less trustworthy. This stereotype has harmful, life-altering consequences for them and their families.For more information and to order the book, visit: https://bit.ly/4c7v61x 5. Erratum On July 8, 2024, APA Justice newsletter Issue #264 misspelled the name of the President of the National Academy of Sciences. It should be Marcia McNutt . The corrected newsletter is posted here: https://bit.ly/4eWRZXa Back View PDF July 11, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #267 AASF/Stanford Symposium; AAAS Travels to China; NY Post Condemned; UCA Convention; + #267 AASF/Stanford Symposium; AAAS Travels to China; NY Post Condemned; UCA Convention; + In This Issue #267 · New York Post Retracted and Apologized · AASF: Asian American Pioneer Medal Symposium & Ceremony · Connecting Scientific Communities: AAAS Travels to China · 2024 United Chinese Americans Conference · News and Activities for the Communities New York Post Retracted and Apologized Community organizations across the nation and elected officials were outraged and demanded that the New York Post apologize for incorrectly reporting the man who shot former President Donald Trump and killed an innocent bystander was Chinese. The New York Post has issued the following retraction and apology:On July 15, 2024, the Committee of 100 (C100) released a public letter from its Chair Gary Locke to the New York Post executive editor Keith Poole . The letter criticizes the publication for inaccurately reporting that a Chinese man was responsible for an attempted assassination of former President Trump. The letter highlights the harm caused to the Chinese American community by such false claims, especially in the context of rising anti-Asian sentiment. C100 urges the New York Post to issue an apology, correct the error, and implement stricter editorial guidelines to prevent future misinformation. Read the C100 letter: https://bit.ly/4f6O22g According to Documented , several Chinese community representatives held a press conference at the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association in New York City's Chinatown to request a formal apology from the New York Post . “The story caused the Chinese American community additional harm,” said Lester Chang , the first and only Chinese Republican assemblyman representing Brooklyn’s 49th district, at the conference. He noted that political rhetoric has blamed Chinese Americans for the pandemic, adding, “In this current era of heightened anti-Asian hate, Chinese Americans and the Asian American community are already looking over their shoulders daily.” Cindy Tsai , Interim President and Executive Director of the Committee of 100, emphasized at the press conference that anti-Asian hate is not just a relic of the past during the pandemic, “We will also be asking our government officials to take anti-Asian hate seriously, as it is still very real today.”Chinese community activist Queenie Ho was one of the first to contact the New York Post after finding the error. She said that she felt scared when she first saw the news. “On Saturday, our community and country were shocked by an act of political violence that went against the values of all Americans. That’s why I was incredibly disappointed and disturbed during this highly emotional time,” said Councilmember Sandra Ung in a statement. “I believe the Post owes the Chinese and entire Asian American community an apology.”State Senator John Liu stated, “Falsely identifying the shooter as Chinese in the heat of an assassination investigation is dangerous to Asian Americans. The New York Post must own up to its mistakes and apologize for this disturbing lack of journalistic integrity.”“Accurate and responsible reporting is crucial, especially in sensitive cases that can have profound impacts on individuals and communities,” said Senator Iwen Chu , urging the publication to take measures to prevent such errors in the future. Councilwoman Susan Zhuang criticized the New York Post for not doing its due diligence and called the misinformation “reckless and dangerous.” She urged the publication to formally issue a retraction and apologize for the mistake. The Chinatown East Neighborhood Council is mobilizing its members to send letters to pressure the New York Post. The letter also condemns any act of political violence.“This reckless reporting, especially in today’s inflamed political climate, is dangerous to our communities,” tweeted Stop AAPI Hate, a national coalition aimed at addressing racism and discrimination affecting Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.“Dangerously irresponsible of @NYPost to wrongly claim the Trump shooter was a ‘Chinese man’ and then update the story without a correction notice,” tweeted the Asian American Journalists Association on X. Reuters did not include the New York Post report as part of its fact checks on July 16, 2024. Media Reports and Statements: 2024/07/17 NBC News: Trump assassination attempt live updates: U.S. learned of Iranian plot to kill Trump weeks before shooting 2024/07/16 Resonate: ‘Chinese Man’: Trump Shooter Misidentified by New York Post, Asian Americans Demand Apology 2024/07/16 South China Morning Post: Asian-American community angered by erroneous report that Donald Trump shooter was Chinese 2024/07/16 Reuters: We fact-checked some of the rumors spreading online about the Trump assassination attempt 2024/07/16 Documented: New York Post Falsely Claims “Chinese Man” Shot Trump, Chinese Communities Outraged 2024/07/15 星島日報: 多位參選人下一步具體行動未有共識 2024/07/15 United Chinese Americans: UCA Condemns the Attempted Assassination of Former President Trump and Calls on NY Post to Issue Public Apology to Chinese Americans 2024/07/15 NextShark Editorial: New York Post criticized for misreporting Trump shooter as 'Chinese man' 2024/07/15 Northwest Asian Weekly: Locke slams newspaper for incorrectly blaming Chinese man in Trump assassination attempt 2024/07/15 AsAmNews: Apology demanded from NY Post to Chinese Americans 2024/07/15 Committee of 100: Letter to the Editor, New York Post 2024/07/13 New York Post: Gunman behind attempted assassination on Trump had head blown off by Secret Service, sources say; rally-goer killed AASF: Asian American Pioneer Medal Symposium & Ceremony On July 27-28, 2024, the Inaugural Asian American Pioneer Medal Symposium and Ceremony, an event dedicated to celebrating and honoring the remarkable contributions of Asian American scholar pioneers, will be held at Stanford University. It is hosted by the Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF).The award ceremony on July 27 will feature prominent Asian American innovators that AASF featured in Project Pioneer with the National Science Foundation. These pioneers made fundamental contributions to our country from enabling WiFi everywhere to video calls with our loved ones. AASF hopes this work can change the narrative and stereotypes of Asian American scientists as perpetual foreigners and threats. This special occasion will bring together some of the most distinguished minds in the fields of energy, artificial intelligence, life sciences, and leadership. Nobel Prize laureates and Turing Award laureates will deliver keynote speeches and distinguished leaders will engage in fireside chats, providing a unique platform for intellectual exchange and inspiration. The event will also have Asian American pioneers such as Congresswoman Judy Chu , as well as representatives from the White House and multiple federal agencies. This year’s symposium furthers AASF’s efforts to lift up the Asian American scholar community on a national platform and bridge the different sectors of our society for the betterment of our country. AASF has shown that a community can self-organize to ensure that the door is open for Asian American scholars to be empowered and have a voice and representation.For more information and to register to attend, visit https://bit.ly/3XLApPN Connecting Scientific Communities: AAAS Travels to China In late May, a delegation from the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) led by Dr. Sudip Parikh , AAAS CEO and executive publisher of the Science family of journals traveled to Beijing, China to visit one of its international partners, the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST). The delegation included Bill Moran , publisher of the Science family of journals, Andrew Black , AAAS chief of staff and chief public affairs officer, and Dr. Kim Montgomery , AAAS director of international affairs and science diplomacy. Along with meetings with CAST, the AAAS delegation had the opportunity to meet with the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and Tsinghua University. It was an action-packed trip to the world’s second largest R&D spender that included discussions on the continued need for connections between the U.S. and Chinese scientific communities, especially at the basic research level.Read the AAAS report: https://bit.ly/463JoOs 2024 United Chinese Americans Conference United Chinese Americans (UCA) held its fourth United Chinese Americans (UCA) Conference in Washington D.C. on June 27-30, 2024.This year’s conference, themed “Embracing the New Civil Rights Movement,” attracted nearly 700 participants from across the United States. The event showcased the strength and voice of the Chinese American community and united their hopes and confidence for the future.The first day featured the “AANHPI Congressional Advocacy Day,” co-hosted by UCA and APAPA. Hundreds of participants, divided into over 50 groups, visited 283 congressional offices, representing more than half of the 425 House representatives. Each group detailed the issues facing the Chinese American community, focusing on real estate purchase restrictions for Chinese nationals, anti-Asian sentiments, and the inclusion of Asian American history in U.S. high school curricula.During the Capitol Hill reception, Congresswoman Grace Meng thanked UCA and APAPA members for their participation and highlighted the importance of incorporating Asian American history into U.S. high school curricula. Texas State Representative Gene Wu emphasized the negative impacts of real estate purchase restrictions on Chinese Americans and called for the Asian American community to unite and engage in politics actively. California Congresswoman Judy Chu noted that current visa restrictions on Chinese students and scholars severely hinder academic and technological exchanges between China and the United States. New Jersey Congressman Andy Kim urged everyone to vote and participate in public affairs to secure more rights for the Asian American community. The second and third days of the conference featured over 20 forums and more than 50 guests, providing attendees with engaging discussions and sharing sessions. At the opening ceremony, Erika L. Moritsugu , Deputy Assistant to the President & AANHPI Senior Liaison, Congressmen Ted Lieu , Gene Wu, and Maryland State Delegate Lily Qi were present to offer their congratulations. In his opening remarks, UCA President Haipei Shue addressed three unique challenges facing the Chinese American community: deteriorating US-China relations, worsening domestic political climate, and the new immigrant community’s lack of engagement in political and social life. He called for the community to unite, launch a new chapter in the Chinese American civil rights movement, and establish a nationwide coalition to tackle future challenges. The conference included five themed sub-conferences focused on youth, mental health, AAPI political action, community building and civic engagement, and entrepreneurship and career development.The highlight of the conference was the Awards Ceremony and Gala. Individuals and organizations with outstanding performance in community service and leadership were honored. The final day featured a large-scale “Walk for Civil Rights, Walk for Our Rights” event on the National Mall to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Read the summary of the 2024 UCA Conference: https://bit.ly/4f5UTt2 News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2024/07/16-17 National Science, Technology, and Security Roundtable - Capstone2024/07/17 C100 Career Ceiling Summit: Creating a Level Playing Field2024/07/25-28 Leadership Convention by NAAAP (National Association of Asian American Professionals) 2024/07/27-28 Asian American Pioneer Medal Symposium and Ceremony2024/08/04 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/08/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/08/19 DNC Convention, AAPI Briefing & Reception, Chicago, IL2024/09/01 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall MeetingThe Community Calendar has moved. Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. Book Chapter: "Asian Americans as 'the Perpetual Foreigner' under Scrutiny" A chapter titled "Asian Americans as 'the Perpetual Foreigner' under Scrutiny," authored by Frank Wu, was in a book "Race and Surveillance" published by the Cambridge University Press in 2023. Frank Wu is President of Queen's College, The City University of New York.Asian Americans play a prominent role in the state surveillance story, because Asian Americans play an ambiguous role in both international relations and domestic race relations.4 Although people of Asian descent have been arriving in the Americas since before the Civil War – Asian soldiers fighting on both sides of the internecine conflict – Asian immigrants and their American-born descendants, whatever their formal status and however assimilated, have been portrayed as “sojourners” only temporarily resident in the United States and likely to return to a homeland to which they have remained stealthily loyal. The persistent theme has been that Asians are inassimilable into American society, whether by biology, culture, or their own collective choices. The assumption that it is contradictory to be both Asian and American has been used, explicitly and implicitly, to justify discrimination against Asian Americans.For more information and to order the book, visit: https://bit.ly/3XWMD8t 3. Delaware SB 297 Passed Both State House and Senate According to LegiScan , Delaware Senate Bill (SB) 297 passed the State Senate on a vote of 21-0 on May 21, 2024, and the State House on a vote of 40-0 with one abstention on June 26, 2024. According to AsAmNews , Delaware will become the seventh state to require Asian American history if the bill is signed by the Delaware Governor John Carney . Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend , Senator Laura Sturgeon , Representative Sophie Philips , and Representative Bill Bush sponsored SB 297.Delaware joins Illinois, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Florida, and Wisconsin in passing legislation regarding Asian American history in classrooms.Read the LegiScan summary: https://bit.ly/4d13vPz . Read the AsAmNews report: https://bit.ly/3W3nxSL Back View PDF July 17, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #1 Reminder Of July 6 Meeting #1 Reminder Of July 6 Meeting Back View PDF July 5, 2020 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #215 C100 Visit; Senate Hearing on NIH Director; AAPI Voters Targeted; Andy Kim; AAUC Hub #215 C100 Visit; Senate Hearing on NIH Director; AAPI Voters Targeted; Andy Kim; AAUC Hub In This Issue #215 C100 Delegation Visits Washington DC Senate Hearing on NIH Director Nomination Asian Americans Say AAPI Voters are Targeted by New Laws Criminalizing Election Assistance Rep. Andy Kim Runs for New Jersey Senate Seat More on AAUC Asian American Pacific Islander Hub News and Activities for the Communities C100 Delegation Visits Washington DC A Committee of 100 (C100) delegation visited Washington DC on September 28-29, 2023. Highlights of the trip included meetings with · Rep. Rick Larsen, Co-Chair, U.S.-China Working Group · Daniel Kritenbrink, Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of State · Katherine Tai, U.S. Trade Representative · Erika Moritsugu, Deputy Assistant to the President and AANHPI Senior Liaison; Sarah Beran, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for China and Taiwan Affairs, National Security Council; and Jenny Yang, Deputy Director of the Domestic Policy Council for Racial Justice & Equity at the White House · Stapleton Roy, Former U.S. Ambassador to China and Robert Daly, Director of the Wilson Center's Kissinger Institute on China and the United States · Jill Murphy, Deputy Assistant Director of Counterintelligence, Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) · Senior Staff to U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell On September 28, C100 hosted a reception celebrating Mid-Autumn Festival with the co-hosts the US-Asia Institute and partners the Council on Korean Americans and the US-China Business Council on September 28, 2023. Joining the delegation in the reception were Congressman Rick Larsen, Congressional staffers, diplomats, and leaders in AAPI communities. C100 also co-hosted with the National Museum of Asian Art a private viewing of the exhibit: Anyang: China’s Ancient City of Kings on September 29, 2023. Read about the C100 visit and view a photo album at: https://bit.ly/3LYkTtk Senate Hearing on NIH Director Nomination On Wednesday, October 18, 2023, The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions will hold a hearing on the nomination of Dr. Monica Bertagnolli to be the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The hearing starts at 10 am ET in 430 Dirksen Senate Office Building, 50 Constitution Ave NE, Washington, DC. There will be no video broadcast for this event. Dr. Bertagnolli began work as the 16th director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) on October 3, 2022. https://bit.ly/4039K0c According to a Science report titled " Pall of Suspicion " on March 23, 2023, NIH’s “China initiative” led by Dr. Michael Lauer has upended hundreds of lives and destroyed scores of academic careers. NIH sent emails in 2018 asking some 100 institutions to investigate allegations that one or more of their faculty had violated NIH policies designed to ensure federal funds were being spent properly. Most commonly, NIH claimed a researcher was using part of a grant to do work in China through an undisclosed affiliation with a Chinese institution. Four years later, 103 of those scientists—some 42% of the 246 targeted in the letters, most of them tenured faculty members—had lost their jobs.In contrast to the very public criminal prosecutions of academic scientists under the now-defunct "China Initiative" launched in 2018 by then-President Donald Trump to thwart Chinese espionage, NIH’s version has been conducted behind closed doors.NIH’s data also make clear who has been most affected. Some 81% of the scientists cited in the NIH letters identify as Asian, and 91% of the collaborations under scrutiny were with colleagues in China.NIH is by far the largest funder of academic biomedical research in the United States, and some medical centers receive hundreds of millions of dollars annually from the agency. So when senior administrators heard Lauer say a targeted scientist “was not welcome in the NIH ecosystem,” they understood immediately what he meant—and that he was expecting action.Read the Science report: https://bit.ly/3ZbJL4B Asian Americans Say AAPI Voters are Targeted by New Laws Criminalizing Election Assistance According to the Milwaukee Independent on October 13, 2023, for a century, the League of Women Voters in Florida formed bonds with marginalized residents by helping them register to vote and, in recent years, those efforts have extended to the growing Asian American and Asian immigrant communities. But a state law signed by Governor Ron DeSantis in May would have forced the group to alter its strategy. The legislation would have imposed a $50,000 fine on third-party voter registration organizations if the staff or volunteers who handle or collect the forms have been convicted of a felony or are not U.S. citizens. A federal judge blocked the provision this week. But its passage reflects the effort by DeSantis, a Republican presidential candidate, and other GOP leaders to crack down on access to the ballot. Florida is one of at least six states, including Georgia and Texas, where Republicans have enacted voting rules since 2021 that created or boosted criminal penalties and fines for individuals and groups that assist voters. Several of those laws are also facing legal challenges. In the meantime, voting rights advocates are being forced to quickly adapt to the changing environment. Before the ruling in Florida, for instance, the League of Women Voters started using online links and QR codes for outreach. It removed the personal connection between its workers and communities and replaced it with digital tools that are likely to become a technological barrier.In states where penalties are getting tougher, the developments have sowed fear and confusion among groups that provide translators, voter registration help, and assistance with mail-in balloting — roles that voting rights advocates say are vital for Asian communities in particular. In a number of states, language barriers already hamper access to the ballot for a population that has been growing rapidly. Asian, Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander populations grew 35% between 2010 and 2020, according to Census data. The new laws in mostly Republican-led states are seen by many voting groups as another form of voter suppression. “It’s specifically targeting limited English proficiency voters, and that includes AAPI voters,” said Meredyth Yoon , litigation director at Asian Americans Advancing Justice in Atlanta.In Texas, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill in June that raises the penalty for illegal voting to a felony, upping it from a misdemeanor charge that was part of a sweeping elections law passed two years earlier. Alice Yi , who is Chinese American, used to help translate in Austin, Texas, but said the new law isn’t clear about whether good faith mistakes will be criminalized and worries that she could get into trouble by offering assistance.But voting rights supporters like Ashley Cheng — also in Austin — remain committed to reaching Asian voters, despite the threat of jail time. Cheng, the founding president of Asian Texans for Justice, recalls discovering her mother was not listed in the voter rolls when she tried to help her vote in 2018. They never found out why she wasn’t properly registered. Advocates say this highlights flaws in the system and illustrates how volunteers are essential to overcoming them. James Woo , the communications director at Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta, said he won’t even get his parents a drink of water while helping them with their ballots. “It’s simple things like that, which would have been like a conversation starter or just like helping them throughout the process, might be viewed as like something illegal I’m doing,” he said.Read the Milwaukee Independent report: https://bit.ly/3QfI44U Rep. Andy Kim Runs for New Jersey Senate Seat Rep. Andy Kim has announced his candidacy to become New Jersey’s next Senator. He would challenge incumbent Bob Menendez in the Democratic Senate primary next year. His entrance into the race came one day after federal prosecutors unsealed a staggering indictment against Menendez. Rep. Kim spoke at the APA Justice September 2021 monthly meeting. Prior to serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Kim worked as a career public servant. He served at USAID, the Pentagon, the State Department, the White House National Security Council, and in Afghanistan as an advisor to Generals Petraeus and Allen . Congressman Kim is a member of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC).Read Rep. Kim's remarks at the APA Justice September 2021 monthly meeting: https://bit.ly/3kg687M . Watch his remarks in video: https://bit.ly/3ki3jmI (48:00 starting at 15:07). More on AAUC Asian American Pacific Islander Hub On October 13, 2023, Dr. S.K. Lo , Founder and President of Asian American Unity Coalition (AAUC), provided additional information about its Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Hub. The first phase (beta version) of the AAPI Hub was launched at the AAUC National Unity Summit in September. The goal of the Hub is to connect different AAPI communities with shared information to empower each other through collaboration.The AAPI Hub now contains shared information that includes census data from previous work done by the ESRI nonprofit program team as the first prototype in 2020. The census data includes voting powerbase down to each congressional district showing different AAPI community representations. It can also be shown down to precinct level as the map is expanded. Different maps show racial representation of each state, county and district. However, these maps have not been updated.The work done in 2022-2023 mainly focused on developing a comprehensive database for the AAPI communities. It was decided that the AAPI communities would be best described by the nonprofit organizations that many belong and that public information are available. Currently the AAPI Hub displays nearly 15,000 AAPI nonprofit organizations in all 50 states with administrative records data from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The beta version of the AAPI Hub has these known limitations: 1. Incomplete data on all AAPI nonprofits which do not contain any of our search words that are commonly used to describe AAPI. To overcome this, AAUC relies on prior knowledge or crowd sourcing. 2. IRS data is updated monthly which needs to be updated correspondingly in the AAPI Hub. AAUC needs to develop a way to compare the filtered data with the new updated information using machine logic then manual determination. 3. Not all organizations have websites or Facebook pages or mission statements listed in their 990-return form. Often, AAUC can find the website through online search manually. The AAUC write-up also outlines the future directions of the AAPI Hub. Visit the AAUC AAPI Hub website: https://bit.ly/3FbmpEu . Read the AAUC write-up here: https://bit.ly/48SOGNI . Contact Dr. Lo at: sklo@asamunitycoalition.org News and Activities for the Communities 1. Community Calendar The APA Justice Community Calendar is located on the front page of the APA Justice website at https://www.apajustice.org/ . Upcoming Events: 2023/10/15 State Legislature 101 Training 2023/10/15 Rep. Gene Wu's Weekly Town Hall Meeting 2023/10/18 Senate Nomination Hearing of NIH Director 2023/10/22 Rep. Gene Wu's Weekly Town Hall Meeting 2023/10/25-26 President's Advisory Commission Meeting 2023/10/29 Rep. Gene Wu's Weekly Town Hall Meeting Visit https://bit.ly/45KGyga for event details. 2. 2023/11/16: C100 Forum Debate WHAT: Hybrid in-person and virtual event: "Has the Chinese Economy Slowed Down Permanently, Temporarily, or It Depends?" WHEN: Thursday, November 16, from 5:00pm - 6:15pm Eastern Time WHERE: J Conference Bryant Park, 109 W 39th St, New York, NY 10018 HOST: The Committee of 100 MODERATOR: Peter Young, CEO and President, Young & Partners, C100 member SPEAKERS: · Stephen Roach, Professor, Yale University · Dan H. Rosen, Partner and Co-Founder, Rhodium Group · Shang-Jin Wei, Professor, Columbia University DESCRIPTION: Will the world’s second-largest economy and a critical part of global trade and manufacturing rebound with a strong manufacturing cost position, large investments in technology and the advanced education of millions of students, a potential surge in consumer spending, and continued investments in infrastructure by the government? Or, will high levels of debt, an overbuilt real estate sector, increasing government controls of the economy and technology, a shrinking population, and growing dissatisfaction on the part of those in the 18 to 30 year age bracket stifle growth on a long-term basis? REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/3M0XcRd Back View PDF October 16, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #312 Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch, AAJC/AASF updates, Funding Freezes/Birthright Rulings; + #312 Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch, AAJC/AASF updates, Funding Freezes/Birthright Rulings; + In This Issue #312 · Remarks by Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch · Updates by Advancing Justice|AAJC and AASF · Judges Block Trump's Funding Freezes as Lawsuits Against His Orders Surge · Third Court Injunction Against Trump's Executive Order Ending Birthright Citizenship · News and Activities for the Communities Remarks by Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch is the Founder and Executive Chair of the US-China Education Trust . She was appointed by President George H.W. Bush to become the first Asian American ambassador in US history.Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch spoke at the APA Justice monthly meeting on February 3, 2025, She highlights the urgent need to address the impact of U.S.-China competition on Chinese and Asian American communities. Julia acknowledges the work of APA Justice and its advocacy efforts while emphasizing the necessity of a new initiative that brings together racial justice and foreign policy concerns. Julia notes that discussions on U.S.-China relations often overlook the lived experiences of Chinese and Asian Americans, who face increasing discrimination and scrutiny. By forming broader coalitions, she hopes to bridge the gap between national security concerns and racial justice efforts.Julia references historical instances of racial profiling, such as the Cox Report of 1999 and the wrongful prosecution of Wen Ho Lee , to illustrate how Chinese Americans have long been caught in the crosshairs of U.S.-China tensions. The China Initiative, initially launched under the Trump administration, further exacerbated fears by disproportionately targeting Chinese American academics and researchers. Despite past failures, Julia warns that Congress may seek to revive similar policies, reinforcing a dangerous precedent that equates ethnicity with suspicion. Julia also highlights Beijing’s efforts to exert influence on Chinese diasporas through United Front operations, which seek to blur distinctions between PRC citizens, diaspora Chinese, and Chinese Americans. These tactics, she argues, create further complications for Chinese Americans, who are unfairly perceived as foreign agents or political pawns. The result is an atmosphere of fear, scrutiny, and exclusion, where Chinese Americans must constantly prove their loyalty to the United States.The rise in anti-Asian hate during the pandemic has further deepened the community’s vulnerability. Many Chinese Americans have distanced themselves from U.S.-China policy discussions out of fear, choosing self-preservation over engagement. Julia stresses that this silence weakens the ability of Chinese and Asian Americans to advocate for their rights and contribute meaningfully to shaping U.S.-China relations. Without their voices, the United States risks losing a critical perspective that could help navigate this complex geopolitical rivalry in a way that upholds American values of inclusion and justice. Julia draws a direct link between historical and present-day discrimination, citing the 1982 murder of Vincent Chin as a tragic reminder of the consequences of racial scapegoating. Chin, a Chinese American, was beaten to death with a baseball bat by two white auto workers who blamed Japan for the decline of the U.S. auto industry. His murder, and the lack of justice that followed, underscore the persistent view of Asian Americans as perpetual foreigners. Julia also highlights the case of Sherry Chen, a Chinese American scientist wrongfully accused of espionage and fired from her job at the National Weather Service in 2014. Despite being exonerated, Chen’s case exemplifies how racial profiling continues to damage lives and careers. Her legal victory, including nearly $2 million in damages, was a rare but important step toward accountability. However, Julia warns that similar injustices will persist if structural biases are not addressed. USCET aims to create a dialogue that not only acknowledges Beijing’s actions but also holds Washington accountable for policies that harm Asian Americans. The initiative seeks to educate policymakers on the consequences of targeting Chinese Americans, encourage open discussions within the community, and guide the media in reporting on U.S.-China relations responsibly. Julia calls for collaboration between national security and racial justice advocates to tackle both the symptoms and root causes of discrimination against Asian Americans. In closing, she urges APA Justice and other advocacy groups to unite in a powerful coalition that demands the U.S. government address security concerns without endangering Chinese and Asian American lives. The United States, she insists, must meet the challenge of China without sacrificing the rights and dignity of its own citizens.A summary of the February 2025 APA Justice monthly meeting is begin prepared at this time. For past monthly meeting summaries, visit https://bit.ly/4hyOV4i Updates by Advancing Justice|AAJC and AASF During the APA Justice monthly meeting on February 3, 2025, Joanna YangQing Derman , Director, Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security Program, Advancing Justice | AAJC provided an update on AAJC's response to the numerous executive orders issued by President Trump since January 20. She stated that these orders aim to militarize borders, expand deportation and detention, punish immigrant advocacy groups and local governments, and misinterpret constitutional and immigration laws. In addition to the ongoing litigation over birthright citizenship, AAJC has partnered with the Washington Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and OCA to file a lawsuit challenging Trump's authority to strip citizenship from babies born in the U.S. to parents on temporary visas or who are undocumented. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, argues that the executive order violates the 14th Amendment and the Administrative Procedure Act. AAJC is also monitoring nearly a dozen new immigration-related laws in Texas, conducting a threat assessment to categorize them from problematic to extremely harmful. The organization is working closely with local partners to equip them with the necessary resources to oppose these laws effectively. These legislative measures are seen as a continuation of policies that restrict immigrant rights and increase enforcement actions at the state level. AAJC has been tracking Trump’s nominations for key government positions and has taken public stances opposing several appointees. The organization has actively opposed Kash Patel for FBI Director, Pam Bondi for Attorney General, and Russell Vought for Director of OMB. Despite their efforts, Pete Hegseth and Kristi Noem have already been confirmed as Secretary of Defense and DHS Secretary, respectively, though AAJC also opposed their nominations. AAJC remains deeply engaged in legal, legislative, and political advocacy efforts to counter policies they view as harmful to immigrant communities. They continue to collaborate with legal groups, assess the impact of new laws, and push back against controversial government appointments, ensuring that communities affected by these decisions have the support and representation they need. During the same meeting, Dr. Kai Li , Vice President, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), provided an update on key concerns and ongoing efforts. He highlighted worries about the Senate hearing on malign foreign influence, particularly remarks by Senator Risch suggesting that every Chinese student could be a spy. Kai noted that Cornell's recent survey on international students with respect to transnational aggression disagreed with the remarks. He warned that restricting student visas from China, especially for AI graduate students, could harm U.S. leadership in science and technology. He suggested conducting more surveys or studies to assess the actual prevalence of transnational aggression among Chinese students. AASF continues to work with federal agencies like the National Science Foundation (NSF) to address concerns about potential biases in new policies that may disproportionately affect Asian American faculty. This initiative, which began before January 20, remains active as long as agencies are engaged. The organization is helping facilitate outreach efforts to ensure fair treatment in research funding and academic policies.AASF remains focused on both protecting Chinese students from unjust scrutiny and advocating for Asian American faculty in federal policy decisions. They emphasize the need for data-driven approaches to better understand these issues and prevent discriminatory practices.A summary of the February 2025 APA Justice monthly meeting is begin prepared at this time. For past monthly meeting summaries, visit https://bit.ly/4hyOV4i Judges Block Trump's Funding Freezes as Lawsuits Against His Orders Surge As of February 13, 2025, the number of lawsuits against President Donald Trump 's executive actions reported by the Just Security Litigation Tracker has grown to 63.According to New York Times and multiple media reports, U.S. District Court Judge John J. McConnell Jr. in Rhode Island said on February 10, 2025, that the White House had defied his order to release billions of dollars in federal grants, marking the first time a judge has expressly declared that the Trump administration is disobeying a judicial mandate. Judge McConnell mandated the immediate restoration of billions of dollars in federal grants and loans that had been halted.“These pauses in funding violate the plain text of the T.R.O.,” Judge McConnell wrote. That earlier ruling ordered the administration not to “pause, freeze, impede, block, cancel or terminate” money that had already been allocated by Congress to the states to pay for Medicaid, school lunches, low-income housing subsidies and other essential services. These funds were intended for various programs, including early childhood education, pollution reduction, and HIV research. The judge's decision emphasized that the administration's broad categorization of the funding freeze lacked specific findings of potential fraud and violated the restraining order. The judge also made clear that White House officials were obligated to comply regardless of how they thought the case might conclude. Another order requiring that the disputed funds be released was issued by Judge Loren AliKhan of the District of Columbia. That case, National Council of Nonprofits v. Office of Management and Budget (1:25-cv-00239) , was filed by a coalition of nonprofits represented by Democracy Forward.According to the Washington Post and multiple media reports, on February 10, 2025, U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley for the state of Massachusetts granted a temporary restraining order for the case of Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. National Institutes of Health (1:25-cv-10338) , blocking the Trump administration from making drastic cuts to biomedical research funding in 22 states that banded together to sue. The judge ordered the National Institutes of Health (NIH) not to implement a funding change the agency had announced in the evening of Friday, February 7, which would dramatically reduce funding to universities and other research organizations for indirect costs related to research. The pause is to remain until otherwise ordered by the court. It only applies to the 22 states party to the lawsuit. A hearing is set for February 21, 2025. On February 10, 2025, university leaders announced that they were also suing to halt the cuts, with the lawsuit Association of American Medical Colleges v. National Institutes of Health (1:25-cv-10340) that has the potential to be more far-reaching because the organizations filing it have nationwide reach.A third lawsuit has been filed by organizations representing private and public universities inclduing the Assocation of American Universities (AAU), American Council on Education, and Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, the University of California system, and 12 private universities. On February 10, 2025, STAT News reported on that since Trump’s return to the White House, many researchers have raised concerns over the administration’s disruption of grant reviews and executive orders that ended federal support for programs that support diversity, equity, and inclusion. But at an institutional level, major universities have mostly been quiet and reluctant to directly oppose the administration. "Now that Trump is going after the fiscal lifeblood of these institutions, however, that seems to be changing," the STAT News report said. ***** During the APA Justice monthly meeting on July 11, 2022, MIT Professor Yoel Fink who co-authored a faculty letter that sparked the "We Are All Gang Chen" movement nationwide, emphasized the tort in standing complacent in the face of injustice by quoting Martin Niemöller (1892–1984), a prominent Lutheran pastor in Germany. "First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist. "Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist. "Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew. "Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me." Third Court Injunction Against Trump's Executive Order Ending Birthright Citizenship According to AP News , Reuters , and multiple media reports, U.S. District Judge Joseph N. Laplante in New Hampshire has issued a preliminary injunction blocking President Donald Trump 's executive order that sought to end birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S. to individuals residing in the country illegally. This decision marks the third such injunction against the order, following similar rulings by federal judges in Seattle and Maryland. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed the lawsuit, New Hampshire Indonesian Community Support v. Trump (1:25-cv00038) , leading to Judge Laplante's ruling, arguing that the executive order violates the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which has been consistently interpreted to guarantee birthright citizenship to those born on U.S. soil.According to the Just Security Litigation Tracker , ar least nine lawsuits have been filed against Trump's executive order ending birthright citizenship.On February 10, 2025, New York Times reported on Wong Kim Ark as " This Man Won Birthright Citizenship for All. " Today, the decision of United States v. Wong Kim Ark (1898) is the focus of debate over who can be an American. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/02/13 China Initiative: Impacts and Implications2025/02/13-15 2025 AAAS Annual Meeting2025/02/16 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/02/18 Protecting Our Organizations: 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Compliance Virtual Training2025/02/23 World Premier of "Quixotic Professor Qiu" with Xiaoxing Xi2025/03/02 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/03/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/03/12 MSU Webinar on China Initiative2025/03/16 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall MeetingVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine Held Town Hall and Offer Help to Feds U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner , both of Virginia, held a town hall on February 10, 2025, to address a variety of issues related to President Donald Trump 's executive actions. They have dedicated staff and set up these webpages to assist federal employees, including understanding their rights, filing complaints, and collecting stories about what they are experiencing. · Senator Tim Kaine's Resources for Federal Workers: https://bit.ly/4aVH0fa , (202) 224-4024 · Senator Mark Warner's Resources for Federal Employees: https://bit.ly/4jPaijz , 202-224-2023 3. Reuters: Boston Man Cleared of US Charges He Acted as Chinese Agent According to Reuters and multiple media reports on February 10, 2025, a jury found Litang Liang of Boston, a China-born U.S. citizen, not guilty of U.S. charges that he acted as an unlawful agent of China's government by supplying officials information about individuals, dissidents and groups in the local Chinese community. Lian, 65, was acquitted in federal court of charges in a case brought in 2023 that U.S. authorities had portrayed as part of their commitment to counter efforts by China's government to silence its critics abroad. # # # APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community. For more information, please refer to the new APA Justice website under development at www.apajusticetaskforce.org . We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF February 13, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #302 Thank you Judy Chu! Franklin Tao Sues KU; Birthright Citizenship; WP Cartoonist Quits #302 Thank you Judy Chu! Franklin Tao Sues KU; Birthright Citizenship; WP Cartoonist Quits In This Issue #302 · Thank You, Congresswoman Judy Chu! · Breaking News: Professor Franklin Tao Sues Kansas University · Birthright Citizenship, 14th Amendment, Wong Kim Ark, and More · Famed Cartoonist Quits Washington Post · News and Activities for the Communities Thank You, Congresswoman Judy Chu! During the APA Justice monthly meeting on Monday, January 6, 2025, Congresswoman Judy Chu , Chair Emeritus of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), delivered an inspiring New Year’s message to the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities. Rep. Chu was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2009, becoming the first Chinese American woman to serve in Congress. She is the longest-serving Chair of CAPAC, holding the position from 2011 to 2024. She succeeded Norman Mineta (1994–1995), Patsy Mink (1995–1997), Robert Underwood (1997–2001), and Mike Honda (2001–2011). As Rep. Chu transitions to the role of Chair Emeritus, Rep. Grace Meng has begun her tenure as the 6th Chair of CAPAC. Through her leadership and unwavering advocacy for the community, Rep. Chu has consistently championed the rights and well-being of AANHPI communities. Her impactful accomplishments include: · Leadership in Addressing Racial Profiling, Creating APA Justice, and Opposing the China Initiative : Rep. Judy Chu has been at the forefront of combating racial profiling, particularly in cases like Sherry Chen and Dr. Xiaoxing Xi , who faced wrongful accusations of espionage. She staunchly opposed the Trump administration's "China Initiative," which disproportionately targeted Chinese American scientists and researchers. Rep. Chu inspired the creation of APA Justice, a platform dedicated to addressing racial profiling, advocating for legal protection, and fighting systemic discrimination. · C ombating Anti-Asian Hate : In response to the alarming rise of anti-Asian hate crimes during the COVID-19 pandemic, Rep. Chu championed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act to enhance resources for combating hate crimes and improving their reporting and tracking. She also worked alongside community organizations to support victims and amplify public awareness, playing a key role in the national effort to confront and dismantle racial hatred. · Advancing Inclusion and Historical Reconciliation : As CAPAC Chair, Rep. Chu prioritized increasing AANHPI representation in government and leadership while addressing past injustices. She led the congressional resolution expressing regret for the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, acknowledging its long-standing harm and paving the way for historical reconciliation. Her dedication to inclusion and equity continues to shape a brighter future for AANHPIs across the nation. A summary of the monthly meeting is being prepared at this time. Breaking News: Professor Franklin Tao Sues Kansas University According to The Independent on January 6, 2025, Professor Feng "Franklin" Tao ( 陶丰) , who was targeted by the Trump administration's controversial "China Initiative," has filed a lawsuit against the University of Kansas (KU). The lawsuit alleges that KU improperly reported him to the FBI based on false claims from a disgruntled visiting student attempting extortion. Despite being acquitted in 2024, Professor Tao’s career, reputation, and well-being suffered lasting harm. The lawsuit also criticizes KU for exacerbating racial fears and discrimination under the pretext of national security concerns, calling for accountability for its actions. Notably, the now-defunct "China Initiative," intended to address alleged espionage threats by Chinese academics, faced widespread criticism for racial profiling and targeting Chinese Americans, many of whom were later cleared of wrongdoing. Efforts to reinstate the initiative are still ongoing in Congress.Filed on January 3, 2025, Tao v. University of Kansas (2:25-cv-02005) demands a jury trial. In his complaint, Tao, a distinguished chemist with over 210 peer-reviewed articles and three books, alleges that KU's actions violated contractual, legal, and ethical obligations. Recruited by KU in 2014 for a tenured position, Tao became the first academic arrested under the "China Initiative" in 2019. The lawsuit claims KU terminated him unlawfully, breaching a 2020 agreement to withhold employment decisions until after the criminal trial concluded. Despite his acquittal, KU has refused to reinstate him.Professor Tao further asserts that KU collaborated with the Department of Justice (DOJ) to surveil and prosecute him based on unsubstantiated accusations, provided misleading information to federal authorities, and failed to protect him against xenophobic fearmongering. The lawsuit argues that KU’s conduct reflects discriminatory practices and a betrayal of its commitment to academic rigor and innovation. Tao seeks accountability for the severe damage inflicted on his career, finances, and emotional health, and condemns KU’s role in perpetuating a "racist witch hunt." Read the Independent report: https://bit.ly/4a7mxDE . Read the APA Justice web page on Professor Tao: https://bit.ly/3y8SBsm Birthright Citizenship, 14th Amendment, Wong Kim Ark, and More During the Q&A session of the APA Justice monthly meeting on January 6, 2025, birthright citizenship emerged as a significant topic of concern for AANHPI communities.President-elect Donald Trump has repeatedly pledged to end birthright citizenship for children born to non-citizen or undocumented immigrant parents. He threatens an executive order or other unilateral action on Day 1 of his presidency, bypassing the constitutional amendment process required to alter the 14th Amendment.The 14th Amendment explicitly guarantees birthright citizenship through its Citizenship Clause: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside." This clause, originally designed to grant citizenship to freed slaves after the Civil War, has served as the foundation for birthright citizenship in the U.S., affirming that anyone born on U.S. soil is automatically a citizen, regardless of their parents' immigration status. Legal interpretation of “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” excludes certain groups, such as children of foreign diplomats or enemy occupiers, but includes children of undocumented immigrants.The landmark 1898 Supreme Court case United States v. Wong Kim Ark reinforced this principle. Wong Kim Ark , born in San Francisco to Chinese immigrant parents, was denied reentry to the U.S. after a visit to China. His case arose during a period of intense anti-Chinese sentiment, codified in laws like the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which severely restricted Chinese immigration and naturalization. Immigration authorities argued that his parents’ nationality disqualified him from U.S. citizenship. The Court ruled 6-2 in favor of Wong, affirming that birthright citizenship applies to all persons born on U.S. soil, regardless of their parents' nationality, provided they are not foreign diplomats or enemy combatants. This decision remains a cornerstone of U.S. citizenship law, underpinning the principle of jus soli (right of the soil). The decision has had lasting significance, serving as the legal basis for birthright citizenship in the United States. It remains a key precedent in debates over citizenship.According to the Pew Research Center , an estimated one million of the 4.3 million babies born in the United States in 2008 were the offspring of immigrants, about 340,000 of them by undocumented immigrants.The issue has resurfaced amid fears of heightened immigration enforcement and challenges to sanctuary city protections. According to the Voice of San Francisco report authored by John Trasviña , San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu has vowed to lead efforts to defend immigrants against expected rollbacks of rights and attacks on birthright citizenship. Trasviña led the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) as President and General Counsel and was Dean of the University of San Francisco School of Law. According to MSNBC on January 7, 2025, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong emphasized the vital role immigrants play in the U.S., citing his own humble background and upbringing. He asserted his commitment to upholding the Constitution against "demagoguery." Tong stated, "birthright citizenship is part of our essential character. It is the core of the American Dream." He vowed to rally fellow attorneys general to form a firewall to protect birthright citizenship and other immigrant rights. The same broadcast reported that on January 6, 2025, Pope Francis appointed Cardinal Robert W. McElroy , the former Bishop of San Diego, as the new Archbishop of Washington, D.C. Known for his outspoken defense of immigrants, Cardinal McElroy had said in 2016, when the Trump administration threatened massive deportations, "we must label this policy proposal for what it is — an act of injustice which would stain our national honor in the same manner as the progressive dispossessions of the Native American peoples of the United States and the internment of the Japanese." Famed Cartoonist Quits Washington Post According to CNN and multiple media reports, Ann Telnaes , a Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist for The Washington Post , resigned on January 3, 2025, following the newspaper's decision to reject her cartoon satirizing Jeff Bezos , the paper's owner, and other tech moguls. The cartoon depicted these billionaires kneeling before a statue of Donald Trump , symbolizing their efforts to gain favor with the incoming administration. On January 3, 2024, Talnaes posted an explanation of why she quit the Washington Post. She described how a cartoon criticizing billionaire tech and media executives was killed. This was the first time her cartoon was rejected due to its viewpoint, marking a concerning shift in editorial policy. The cartoon aimed at powerful figures, including Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos, who were seen as cozying up to President-elect Trump. The cartoonist leaves the Post, emphasizing the importance of holding the powerful accountable, stating the Washington Post's motto, "Democracy dies in darkness."On January 4, 2025, The Association of American Editorial Cartoonists condemned The Post’s decision, accusing the newspaper of “craven censorship” and “political cowardice.”“Editorial cartooning is the tip of the spear in opinion, and the Post’s cowering further soils their once-stellar reputation for standing up and speaking truth to power. We weep for the loss of this once great newspaper,” it said, calling on other cartoonists to finish Telnaes’ sketch and post it online in a show of solidarity. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/01/15 Master Class: Maintaining the Effectiveness of Organizational Equity Initiatives in the Current Environment2024/01/16 Master Classes: Asian American Career Lessons2025/01/19 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/02/02 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/02/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/02/13-15 2025 AAAS Annual Meeting2025/02/16 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting 2025/03/02 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/03/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. 2025 AAAS Annual Meeting The 2025 Annual of the American Association for the Advancement Science (AAAS) will be held in Boston on February 13-15, 2025. During the APA Justice monthly meeting on January 6, 2025, AAAS Chief Executive Officer Sudip Parikh reported that by tradition, the theme of the conference of "Science Shaping Tomorrow" was selected by the President of AAAS, Dr. Willie E. May , a distinguished chemist and research leader who serves as the Vice President for Research and Economic Development at Morgan State University. Dr. May served as the U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and as Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). According to Sudip, international collaboration is a key focus of the meeting agenda. Large delegations of scholars from countries such as China, India, Japan, and others are expected to engage in robust discussions on the state of science and global collaborations. The breakthrough of the year is a small-molecule drug for HIV that offers six months of protection against HIV transmission.Register for the 2025 AAAS Annual Meeting today: https://bit.ly/3C7Ai8M # # # APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community. For more information, please refer to the new APA Justice website under development at www.apajusticetaskforce.org . We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF January 8, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #174 4/3 Meeting; Texas SB 147; NYT Editorial; Arati Prabhakar; New Bills; Community News #174 4/3 Meeting; Texas SB 147; NYT Editorial; Arati Prabhakar; New Bills; Community News In This Issue #174 2023/04/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Opposing Texas SB 147 and Related Discriminatory Bills New York Times Editorial: "Who Benefits From Confrontation With China?" Disturbing Science Interview with OSTP Director Arati Prabhakar Two New Bills on TikTok and Beyond: The DATA Act and RESTRICT Act News and Activities for the Communities 2023/04/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held on Monday, April 3, 2023, starting at 1:55 pm ET. Confirmed speakers include: Nisha Ramachandran , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) John Yang 杨重远 , President and Executive Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC Gisela Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum Robert Underwood, Member, President's Advisory Commission on AANHPI; Former President, University of Guam; former Chair, CAPAC; Co-Chair of the United States Institute of Peace China-Freely Associated States Senior Study Group John Liu 刘醇逸 , Senator, New York State Senate Paula Williams Madison, Former Print and TV Journalist, Retired NBCUniversal Executive and GE Company Officer, Former Vice President of the Los Angeles Police Commission and Owner of The Africa Channel 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 . Opposing Texas SB 147 and Related Discriminatory Bills The UCA Action, a sister organization of the United Chinese Americans (UCA), is launching a media campaign against Texas Senate Bill 147 and other discriminatory bills in Texas. This campaign will soon come to the other states where similar bills have been introduced. According to UCA Action, this is a defining moment for our community as we seek equal protections under the law. This is an opportunity to join the Chinese American civil rights movement. The future of our community depends on each and every one of us rising up to this historic challenge. Visit the UCA Action website at: http://bit.ly/3G60QGg Federal Level of Texas SB147. On March 30, 2023, Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), along with Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama), introduced the Not One More Inch or Acre Act , legislation. The bill prohibits the purchase of public or private real estate by any Chinese citizen, Chinese Communist Party (CCP) entity, or CCP agent. It is essentially a federal version of Texas SB 147. New York Times Editorial: "Who Benefits From Confrontation With China?" According to an editorial published by the Editorial Board of the New York Times on March 11, 2023, America’s increasingly confrontational posture toward China is a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy that warrants greater scrutiny and debate.For most of the past half-century, the United States sought to reshape China through economic and diplomatic engagement. The Biden administration, by contrast, has shelved the idea that China can be changed in favor of the hope that it can be checked.The White House has moved to limit economic ties with China, to limit China’s access to technology with military applications, to pull back from international institutions where the United States has long sought to engage China and to strengthen ties with China’s neighbors. In recent months, the United States has restricted semiconductor exports to China, and it moved ahead with plans to help Australia obtain nuclear submarines. The administration also is seeking to impose new restrictions on American investments in certain Chinese companies. In treating China as a growing threat to American interests, it is acting with broad support, including from leading Republicans, much of the military and foreign policy establishments, and a growing portion of the business community.It is true that engagement with China has yielded less than its proponents hoped and prophesied. China also is demonstrating a greater willingness to engage in worrying provocations and sailing a balloon over the United States. Yet the relationship between the United States and China, for all its problems, continues to deliver substantial economic benefits to the residents of both countries and to the rest of the world. Moreover, because the two nations are tied together by millions of normal and peaceful interactions every day, there is a substantial incentive to maintain those ties and a basis for working together on shared problems like climate change. Americans’ interests are best served by emphasizing competition with China while minimizing confrontation. Chinese actions and rhetoric also need to be kept in perspective. By the standards of superpowers, China remains a homebody. Its foreign engagements remain primarily economic. China has been playing a much more active role in international affairs in recent years, but China continues to show strikingly little interest in persuading other nations to adopt its social and political values.There are also signs that China’s leaders are not united in supporting a more confrontational posture. It behooves the United States to reassure those who may be open to reassurance. America and China are struggling with many of the same challenges: how to ensure what President Xi Jinping has termed “common prosperity” in an age of income inequality; how to rein in the worst excesses of capitalism without losing its vital creative forces; how to care for an aging population and young people who want more out of life than work; how to slow the pace of climate change and to manage its disruptive impacts, including mass migration.The core of America’s China strategy, building stronger relationships with our allies, is sound policy. Over time, the United States ought to seek a greater alignment between its economic interests and other national goals. But the United States should not pull back from forums where it has long engaged China. Declining to support the World Trade Organization is a mistake. The construction of a rules-based international order, in which America played the leading role, was one of the most important achievements of the 20th century. It cannot be preserved if the United States does not continue to participate in those institutions. The Biden administration’s continuation of Trump-era restrictions on trade with China, and its imposition of a host of new restrictions, is also a dubious strategy.The confrontational turn also makes it harder for the United States and China to cooperate on addressing climate change and on other issues where national interests could plausibly align.Much of the shift in China policy has been justified as necessary for national defense. National security considerations can provide a legitimate rationale for limiting some types of trade with China. But it can also provide a legitimizing vocabulary for protectionist measures that are not in the interest of Americans. In the long term, the best guarantee of American security has always been American prosperity and engagement with the rest of the world.That’s true for China, too.Read the New York Times editorial: https://nyti.ms/3K2svJm 2003 Academy Award-Winning Best Documentary - The Fog of War THE FOG OF WAR is the story of America as seen through the eyes of the former Secretary of Defense, under President John Kennedy and President Lyndon Johnson , Robert S. McNamara . McNamara was one of the most controversial and influential political figures of the 20th century. In the documentary, he offered a candid and intimate journey through some of the most seminal events in American history. As leader of the world's most powerful military force during one of this nation's volatile periods, McNamara offers new and often surprising insights into the 1945 bombing of Tokyo, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the effects of the Vietnam War. THE FOG OF WAR won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature in 2003 In a preview of the documentary, McNamara was asked, "have you ever been wrong, sir?" At the end of the preview, McNamara said, "we saw Vietnam as an element of the Cold War, not what they saw it as a civil war. We were wrong." Watch the preview of THE FOG OF WAR: https://imdb.to/3JTpsED Disturbing Science Interview with OSTP Director Arati Prabhakar Arati Prabhakar was confirmed by the Senate to serve as the Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology (OSTP) on October 3, 2022. According to a report by Science on March 28, 2023, she laid out her vision for the $700-billion-a-year enterprise in her first extended media interview on March 24, 2023.The daughter of Indian immigrants who came to the United States when she was 3 years old, Prabhakar flagged a more diverse scientific workforce as another essential ingredient. But Prabhakar offered no olive branch to those scientists of Chinese ancestry who feel the U.S. government has unfairly targeted them in seeking to thwart China’s efforts to overtake the United States in science and innovation.Earlier on March 23, 2023, Science reported that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conducted its own version of the “China initiative” and has upended hundreds of lives and destroyed scores of academic careers. Michael Lauer , NIH Deputy Director for Extramural Research, led the NIH "China Initiative." He has also been a Co-Chair of the National Science and Technology Council's Subcommittee on Research Security, working closely with OSTP for the past two plus years.Also on March 23, 2023, a Science editorial called for the federal government to account for NIH's xenophobic program to harm Chinese scientists and cut off international scientific cooperation.In the original excerpt from the Science interview with Arati Prabhakar: Q: Do you think that Chinese-born scientists working in the United States have been unfairly persecuted as agents of the Chinese Communist Party and are owed some kind of apology from the government? A: I’m not in a position to comment on that. I don’t know enough about it. I don’t think it’s our role to determine precisely what happened in the past. … But the world has changed, and [China] has taken actions that are very concerning. And it’s very much our role to find a path forward for research security, one that treats people with respect but that also wrestles with this very tough issue. The subsequent revised excerpts from the Science interview with Arati Prabhakar: Q: Anything new on research security? A: It is one of the hardest issues that everyone is grappling with right now … because of the changes that have happened in the world, the competition that we’re in, and clear actions [by China] that are concerning. And there’s no place for xenophobia and people have to be treated fairly. Q: In that regard, do you think Chinese-born scientists working in the United States have been unfairly persecuted as agents of the Chinese Communist Party and are owed some kind of apology from the government? A: I’m not in a position to comment on that. I don’t know enough about [specific cases]. I don’t think it’s OSTP’s role to determine precisely what happened in the past. … [But] it’s very much our role to find a path forward for research security, one that treats people with respect but that also wrestles with this very tough issue. And we’re doing that work, because I think it has to get done. Note by Science: Update, 29 March, 5:10 p.m.: This story has been revised to include additional comments by Arati Prabhakar on research security and to clarify her response to a question about how Chinese-born scientists have been treated. For the many Chinese-born scientists who have been unfairly persecuted, their past sufferings are still their present and future that must not be ignored.Read the Science report: https://bit.ly/40rTbu3 Two New Bills on TikTok and Beyond: The DATA Act and RESTRICT Act According to a report by Lawfare on March 23, 2023, on February 24, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) introduced the Deterring America’s Technological Adversaries (DATA) Act , which would provide the president with more authorities to block transactions associated with the import or export of Americans’ “sensitive data” where there are national security risks. The bill quoted previous, public comments from FBI Director Christopher Wray , Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines , and CIA Director Bill Burns that they believe TikTok presents national security risks to the United States. On March 1, 2023, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) condemned the DATA Act, due to First Amendment concerns. Jenna Leventoff , senior policy counsel at ACLU, issued the following statement: “We’re disappointed that the House Foreign Affairs Committee voted to approve a bill that would effectively ban TikTok in the United States, in violation of Americans’ First Amendment rights. We urge legislators to vote no on this vague, overbroad, and unconstitutional bill.”On March 7, Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), along with 10 other senators, introduced the Restricting the Emergence of Security Threats that Risk Information and Communications Technology (RESTRICT) Act . It would authorize the secretary of commerce to review and prohibit certain transactions between persons in the U.S. and foreign adversaries, focused on information and communications technologies (ICTs) that pose risks to U.S. national security—put simply, investigating tech products and services that could pose national security risks. The bill did not name TikTok specifically, but it was clearly one of the companies in mind when the bill was written. According to a press release by ACLU on March 7, 2023, the RESTRICT Act would significantly expand the Executive Branch’s power to control what apps and technologies Americans can access, while limiting Americans’ ability to challenge those actions in court. It would also impose civil and criminal penalties for violating bans imposed pursuant to the legislation, which could be used against people attempting to evade a TikTok ban. Jenna Leventoff said in the press release, “the Senate bill would ultimately allow the Commerce Secretary to ban entire communications platforms, which would have profound implications for our constitutional right to free speech. If the Secretary uses this newfound power to ban TikTok or other communications platforms without evidence of overwhelming, imminent harm, it would violate our right to freedom of expression.”Read the Lawfare report: http://bit.ly/3ZqsaG1 1 . Republican Senator Rand Paul blocks bid to ban Chinese-owned TikTok . According to a report by Reuters on March 29, 2023, U.S. Republican Senator Rand Paul blocked a bid to fast-track a ban of popular Chinese-owned social media app TikTok, which more than 150 million Americans use, citing concerns about free speech and uneven treatment of social media companies."I think we should beware of those who use fear to coax Americans to relinquish our liberties," Paul said on the Senate floor. "Every accusation of data gathering that has been attributed to TikTok could also be attributed to domestic big tech companies.""If Republicans want to continuously lose elections for a generation they should pass this bill to ban TikTok -- a social media app used by 150 million people, primarily young Americans," Paul said on the Senate floor. "Do we really want to emulate Chinese speech bans?... We're going to be just like China and ban speech we're afraid of?" A small but growing number of Democrats and Republicans have raised concerns, citing free speech and other issues and have objected to legislation targeting TikTok as overly broad.Read the Reuters report: https://reut.rs/3nB8FNZ 2 . TikTok creators, some U.S. Democratic lawmakers oppose ban on app. According to a report by Reuters on March 22, 2023, TikTok creators and three U.S. Democratic Party lawmakers said they opposed any potential ban on the Chinese-owned short video sharing app that is used by more than 150 million Americans.Representatives Jamaal Bowman , Mark Pocan and Robert Garcia and TikTok creators called at a press conference in Washington for broad-based privacy legislation that would address all large social media companies. "Why the hysteria and the panic and the targeting of TikTok?" Bowman asked. "Let's do the right thing here - comprehensive social media reform as it relates to privacy and security." Creators talked about posting videos of baking cakes or selling greeting cards to TikTok followers. Some held up signs saying TikTok benefits small businesses. TikTok says 5 million businesses use the app.TikTok creator Jason Linton uses TikTok to share videos of his three adopted children in Oklahoma and has interacted with people around the world. "I am asking our politicians - don't take away the community that we've all built - a community that lasts, that loves," Linton said at the press conference. Pocan said a "xenophobic witch hunt" is motivating some in Congress to seek a TikTok ban. "Banning TikTok isn't the answer. Making sure Americans data is safe is," he said.Senator Ed Markey , a Democrat, said on the Senate floor that TikTok is a threat that needs to be addressed but it is not the only surveillance threat to young people. That position "is deliberately missing the Big Tech forest for the TikTok trees." Read the Reuters report: https://reut.rs/3TZoc67 News and Activities for the Communities On March 21, 2023, the 1882 Foundation presented The Summit Tunnel: Diversity and Pride in Building the American Nation, a film screening and reception event featuring film screenings and discussions with subject matter experts on the Summit Tunnel, a historic part of the Transcontinental Railroad constructed through the Sierra Nevada mountains by largely unrecognized Chinese workers. The Summit Tunnel is a critical cultural and historical site to Chinese Americans, but is threatened by graffiti defacement and a lack of preservation. Watch the video: https://bit.ly/3TXgJV8 (1:19:49) 2. The Data Delusion. On March 27, the New Yorker published a report on The Data Delusion. Jill Lepore , Professor of History at Harvard University, asks “What’s the price to humanity of uploading everything anyone has ever known onto a worldwide network of tens of millions or billions of machines and training them to learn from it to produce new knowledge?” The report goes through the history of data science, and examines the ways that humans have been collecting information—long before A.I. became the latest obsession. Even modern tools, with their bits and bytes of magic, have limits. It explores how ambitious endeavors in the field may eventually underwhelm us, and surveys the genius and folly of modern innovators. It turns out there is plenty of value left in older forms of knowledge. No one, after all, wants to sound like the disgraced cryptocurrency investor Sam Bankman-Fried, who declared in an interview last year, “I would never read a book.” Read the New Yorker report: http://bit.ly/3zluqUr Subscribe to The APA Justice Newsletter Complete this simple form at https://bit.ly/2FJunJM to subscribe. Please share it with those who wish to be informed and join the fight. View past newsletters here: https://bit.ly/APAJ_Newsletters . Back View PDF April 1, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #7 Houston Community Calls For Help; Responses To August 3 Questions #7 Houston Community Calls For Help; Responses To August 3 Questions Back View PDF August 5, 2020 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #214 Special Edition: Discrimination, Battle for Rights, Build Alliances, and Empowerment #214 Special Edition: Discrimination, Battle for Rights, Build Alliances, and Empowerment In This Issue #214 This is a special edition based on the APA Justice monthly meeting on August 7, 2023. A written summary of the meeting has been posted at https://bit.ly/3LWvQLK . · Updates on Florida Alien Land Bill (SB264) Lawsuit · On-The-Ground Reports about Court Hearing, Press Conference, and Protests · Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA) · Engagement and Empowerment - APIAVote Clay Zhu 朱可亮 , Founder of Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance (CALDA) and a lead attorney of the lawsuit against Florida's discriminatory alien land law known as Senate Bill (SB264), provided an update of the lawsuit and his anticipated next steps. Echo King 金美声 , Founder and President of the newly formed Florida Asian American Justice Alliance (FAAJA), described its moments of awakening and its continuing impactful grassroots activities against SB264, along with Dr. Shuang Zhao 赵爽 , Co-President of newly formed Yick Wo Institution and a public policy and political science professor at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Andy Wong , Managing Director of Advocacy, Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA), and Shanti Elise Prasad , Advocacy Manager, CAA, gave a joint presentation on the history and current activities of CAA that was founded in San Francisco in 1969 to protect the civil and political rights of Chinese Americans and to advance multiracial rights of Chinese Americans and multiracial democracy in the U.S. Christine Chen , Executive Director, introduced APIAVote as the nation’s leading organization focusing on building political power by increasing our community’s access to the ballot and overall voter participation. Christine outlined the need and how the communities can transform their activities and efforts into political power and representation.Together with Nisha Ramachandran , Executive Director of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Joanna Derman , Director of the Anti-Racial Profiling, Civil Rights and National Security Program at Advancing Justice | AAJC, and Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director of Asian American Scholar Forum, these speakers exemplify a growing movement to carry on time-tested missions and to combat new forms of discrimination for the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. By integrating their energy and resources to build additional allies nationwide, the presence and impact of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders will grow beyond current boundaries. Updates on Florida Alien Land Bill Lawsuit Clay Zhu reported that hearings on the emergency motion to stop the discriminatory Florida alien land law known as Senate Bill (SB) 264 were completed in July.On July 18, the Court heard both parties present their arguments. It was initially scheduled for one hour, but it actually lasted two. The judge was extremely well prepared and had many questions for both sides. It appears that the judge knows the importance and implications of this case and he is taking his time.Regardless of how the judge rules, Clay believes that the losing party will appeal. If Florida loses, it will appeal because the issue is important to the governor and his presidential campaign. "If we lose, we will one hundred percent appeal," Clay said during the meeting. The legal team is preparing for that possibility. The emergency appeal will go to the 11th Circuit Court based in Atlanta, Georgia, which is expected to be filed very shortly after the present judge issues a decision.It is typically a three-judge panel in contrast to one judge in the District Court now. The appeal will be heard and decided by the panel. Clay expressed appreciation for Florida Asian American Justice Alliance (FAAJA) organizing a rally in front of the Court House on July 18. It shows the unity and strength of our community. During the rally, Clay said, "if the Chinese people are not safe, nobody in this country is safe." On July 16, Clay gave a comprehensive presentation on his civil rights activities including the WeChat challenge. The event was hosted by FAAJA and broadcast by FCRTV 佛州华语广播电视台. Clay's presentation is available here: https://bit.ly/3OWbYdy (in Chinese). Video of the FCRTV broadcast is posted here: https://bit.ly/3Q9cTbi (in Chinese 2:05:26).According to Clay's presentation, the Trump Administration issued Executive Order (EO) 13943 on August 6, 2020 to ban WeChat, effective in 45 days. WeChat had over 19 million users in the U.S. at that time. Five lawyers led by Clay created the U.S. WeChat Users Alliance in two days. On August 21, 2020, a lawsuit was filed in the District Court in the Northern District of California. On September 19, 2020, the Court granted the plaintiffs' motion for a nationwide injunction against the implementation of EO 13943. “The loss of First Amendment freedoms, even for minimal periods of time, unquestionably constitutes irreparable injury,” the judge ruled. On June 9, 2021, the Biden Administration revoked EO 13943.Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance (CALDA) was formed after the WeChat ban was defeated.On May 8, 2023, Florida SB 264 was signed into law. On May 22, 2023, CALDA filed a lawsuit against the discriminatory alien land law. A CourtListener docket of the lawsuit is available here: https://bit.ly/43idmvB On-The-Ground Reports about Court Hearing, Press Conference, and Protests Echo King, Co-Founder and President of Florida Asian American Justice Alliance (FAAJA) gave a report on the newly formed FAAJA and its activities.April 19, 2023 was a very important day. Echo and about 100 of like-minded persons went to Tallahassee, capital of Florida, to protest the alien land bill prohibiting citizens from several countries of concern, especially targeting Chinese, Chinese citizens, and Chinese companies, from buying any type of real property with very narrow exceptions. They experienced firsthand the indifference of the legislative representatives. They were not listening.Echo put the blame on themselves for not paying attention to politics. Right outside the state capital building, they decided to establish FAAJA to fight for their own rights. Since April 19, FAAJA has turned up its volume on political awareness in the community. The FAAJA Board has 19 members, including attorneys, PhDs, professors, community leaders, and a successful business owner from all parts of Florida. It started three committees – civic engagement, user development, and political endorsement. In three short months, FAAJA has reached out and made its presence felt at events with Hispanic, Black, and other minority groups and mainstream organizations to build strong partnerships and back each other up, including the Juneteenth celebration. FAAJA has also been talking with AAPI organizations in Florida to build coalitions and promote important issues together, such as voting awareness. In the morning of the monthly meeting, FAAJA was interviewing a candidate who is running for the Florida House of Representatives. FAAJA strives to be actively engaged and get its voice heard at the state and local levels. On July 16, it hosted a webinar when Attorney Clay Zhu gave a presentation on the status of the Florida lawsuit. It has been working closely with Dr. Steven Pei to build allies. It provided a Freedom Ride with a busload of activists on their way from Orlando to Tallahassee to join the July 18 rally. Haipei Shue flew to Orlando and joined the Freedom Riders.The July 18 rally was a multi-racial, multi-state protest despite the 100-degree day. There was a long wait because the hearing was scheduled for one hour but lasted two. Over 80 persons from around the country joined and spoke at the rally. Dr. Pei and a number of people from Texas flew in and out the same day. A long list of diverse organizations including AAJC, APA Justice, CAA, C100, JACL, NAPABA, NFHA, NIAC, OCA, Stop AAPI Hate, UCA, LULAC, TMAC, Latino Justice, NAACP, and others showed their strong support.In addition to Ashley Gorski from ACLU, Anna Eskamani , an Iranian American member of the Florida House of Representatives, cleared her schedule for the day, spoke at the rally, and provided tremendous help all around. There was a lot of media coverage with about 16-17 media reports and interviews. Attorney Clay Zhu’s presentation, the Freedom Rider video, and related reports and pictures are posted at https://www.faaja.org/s-projects-side-by-side . Dr. Shuang Zhao followed Echo and gave a report on behalf of Yick Wo Institution, a new 501(c)4 nonprofit organization established in July 2023. Dr. Zhao lives in Alabama. She is a public policy and political science professor at the University of Alabama in Huntsville. Dr. Zhao and Yick Wo have been actively engaged in fighting discriminatory laws and supported FAAJA in Tallahassee. Yick Wo has a collection of researchers, university professors, and media experts to provide the general public with policy analysis to inform the Asian American community and the public about what is going on, what they can do, and how they can engage. Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA) Andy Wong, Managing Director of Advocacy, and Shanti Elise Prasad, Advocacy Manager, gave a joint presentation on the history and current activities of Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA). CAA was founded in 1969 to protect the civil and political rights of Chinese Americans and to advance multiracial rights of Chinese Americans and multiracial democracy in the U.S. During the 1960s, Chinese immigrant parents in San Francisco complained that their children were unable to follow classroom instructions in English. CAA founders helped these parents filed a class action lawsuit against education officials to get them to address the education needs in the public schools. The case ultimately went to the Supreme Court, which unanimously decided that the lack of supplemental language instructions in public schools for students with limited English proficiency was a violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Court determined that school districts are responsible for taking affirmative steps towards reaching the goal of providing equal education opportunities for all students. Today CAA is a progressive voice in and on behalf of the broader Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, advocating for a whole range of systemic change on issues from immigrant rights, language access, to racial and social justice. CAA provides direct services in the San Francisco Chinatown community where CAA is headquartered. CAA has a growing policy advocacy research and communications team looking at federal and state levels, as well as a Co-Founder of Stop AAPI Hate, which is a national coalition to address anti-AAPI racism in the US. Rising tensions between the US and China have resulted in increasing targeting and blaming of Chinese and other people of Asian descent as threats to U.S. security. This scapegoating based on national security has led to a slew of racist and xenophobic policymaking at the federal and state levels and even attacks on Asian members of Congress, including earlier this year against CAPAC Chair, Congresswoman Judy Chu . In the past few years, CAA has been calling attention to these developments and working actively to defeat them in close collaboration with partners and driving narrative change on how policy and rhetoric leads to direct harm against our community members. CAA’s work with Stop AAPI Hate has included leading the national response to President Biden's investigation into the origins of COVID-19 and what proactive measures the administration needed to take to reduce the risk of backlash against our AAPI communities. CAA released a national report entitled The Blame Game on how political rhetoric inflames anti-Asian scapegoating during last year's midterm elections and offered recommendations on putting an end to the alarming trend. CAA successfully lobbied Senate Judiciary Committee leaders to oppose Casey Arrowood ’s nomination to be the next US attorney of the Eastern District of Tennessee. It was a new effort that CAA has not made before. Casey Arrowood led the prosecution of Professor Anming Hu under Trump’s “China Initiative.” Defeating Arrowood’s nomination was quite a victory for accountability. For this year, CAA met with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Senator Menendez’s staff to express concerns about the pending China bill that includes provisions unfairly targeting and stigmatizing Chinese and other Asian Americans, working with partners such as AAPI Montclair in New Jersey. The Brennan Center, ACLU, and others have worked on FISA reform and been building support among the civil rights community for years. It is an important opportunity for the AAPI community to lean into this fight, given the widespread civil rights abuses with Section 702, including racial profiling and bias-based surveillance of Americans. Conversations are actively underway to engage in direct advocacy. CAA appreciates APA Justice for recently bringing together a number of partners to have these conversations and looks forward to engaging in this fight along with others. On land bans, we are all dealing with a fast, emerging threat. CAA and Stop AAPI Hate partnered with Texas organizations and leaders, such as Asian Texans for Justice, Rise AAPI, Woori Juntos, and many others, and successfully defeated Senate Bill 147. There were rallies, demonstrations, and even an advocacy day to express CAA opposition. There is still a chance that the governor may bring it back. CAA drafted and circulated a national petition, including hundreds from Texas that was delivered to key lawmakers in Texas. In Florida, CAA signed on to the amicus brief in support of the lawsuit against SB 264 brought forward by plaintiffs represented by ACLU, ACLU Florida, AALDEF, DeHeng Law Offices, CALDA, and others. CAA was glad to join a rally organized by FAAJA, Yick Wo, and community members in front of the Tallahassee courthouse to protest the state's alien land law and support the lawsuit against it.Moving forward, CAA is beginning to organize an evolving effort to continue and intensify the fight against the rise of anti-Asian scapegoating on the national and state levels, deepening relationships with many monthly meeting speakers and participants and happy to link arms with new partners and working alongside other marginalized communities. Some of the CAA goals and strategies are to defeat or overturn policies based on anti-Asian scapegoating at both the state and federal levels. The chief goal for CAA is to challenge and dismantle legislation that unjustly targets Asian communities based on a racialized and xenophobic premise of national security while also remaining nimble on emerging threats. CAA is focusing on alien land bills, thinking strategically which states to engage and which partners to build relationships in the land ban fight as state legislatures get started at the beginning of 2024. Another goal is to foster narrative transportation that disrupts state voting practices and to hold lawmakers accountable. Next is to mobilize supporters and community members to engage them in direct advocacy to build solidarity across marginalized groups, centering on impacted communities and storytelling of those who have been impacted in the past and present. Andy can be reached at andywong@caasf.org . Shanti can be reached at sprasad@caasf.org Engagement and Empowerment - APIAVote Asian Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) was first conceived in 1996 as a project at Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) to increase voter participation around election times, as Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) were not voting at the same levels as other communities. Christine Chen introduced APIAVote as the nation's leading nonprofit focusing on on building political power by increasing our community's access to the ballot and overall voter participation. With new organizations, leaders, and individuals energized to work on many issues such as alien land bills, this is an opportunity for us to integrate them into the APIAVote network and utilize our power of the vote. There are 29 current APIAVote partner states known as Alliance for Civic Empowerment.From 2010 to 2020, 49 states and the District of Columbia saw its AAPI population grow by double digits. The only exception was Hawaii where there is an AAPI majority. In recent years, APIAVote partners have been working in coalition with other communities in the redistricting process. Redistricting refers to the process of drawing electoral district boundaries. For the U.S. House of Representatives and state legislatures, redistricting occurs after each decennial census. A point of emphasis by Christine is that states that lost congressional seats, gains in the AAPI population prevented them from losing more seats. Growing population should translate into more community members registering and voting. 2020 saw a huge increase to nearly 60% of CPVA turnout for AAPIs (CPVA stands for Citizen Voting-Age Population). Before 2020, Christine used to say that half of her friends and families were not ready to turnout on Election Day. Despite the rapid growth, AAPIs are still lagging in voter turnout in comparison to the Black and White communities in the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections. For mid-term elections, AAPI registration has risen from 49.3% in 2006 to 61.5% in 2022 while turnout increased from 22.4% to 41.5% in 2022. They are still low compared to other communities. APIAVote strives to not only increase voter registration and turnout every four or two years, but also single year because of state and local elections. There are statewide elections in Virginia and New Jersey in 2023, as well as local elections such as mayor, city council, and education board elections in 13 states from Colorado to Texas.One area Christine focuses on is AAPI first-time voters. Political candidates in close elections look for newer voters and engage the AAPI community. In the 2022 mid-term elections, 6% of AAPI voters were first-time voters, double the overall rate of 3% for all voters.Moving vote share is a very difficult task. It requires continuous work to register voters. Christine provided snapshots of four states - Arizona, Florida, Georgia, and Texas - where alien land bills are being introduced or have passed state legislatures and the AAPI vote share is projected to increase. By working with existing and new partners, APIAVote strives to further increase both the voter registration and turnout rates in these and other states in 2024. APIAVote held an annual convening in July to begin strategic discussions on problematic and misinformation issues that may be weaponized against the AAPI communities due to tensions between the US and China. Coming out of the annual convening and her interactions with colleagues and allies, Christine reported that many are not fully aware or understand alien land laws, racial targeting, and political rhetoric are placing our communities in a difficult or threatening situation. An immediate task for Christine and APIAVote is to ensure that colleagues and allies are aware of the situation. It is even more important for AAPIs to register and vote, as well as to build more partners and allies. APIAVote plans to conduct the Norman Y. Mineta Leadership Institute regional trainings in the Fall and 2024. Christine urges new organizations to contact her if they wish to translate their activism into voter registration and turnout. Christine shared the APIAVote planned activities for 2023 and 2024. It includes a Presidential Town Hall meeting in Philadelphia on July 13, 2024, for which Christine is building an audience of about 1,500 community leaders. APA Justice will integrate these activities into the Community Calendar as more details become available. Christine can be reached at cchen@apiavote.org . Her full presentation package is available at https://bit.ly/45wE5Fg Back View PDF October 13, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter