Newsletter - #203 Reminder: Sign-on Letter! March on Washington; State Restrictions; Listening Session #203 Reminder: Sign-on Letter! March on Washington; State Restrictions; Listening Session In This Issue #203 Reminder: Invitation to Sign Letter to President Biden Urging Renewal of US-China Protocol on Scientific and Technological Cooperation See You at the "March on Washington" on August 26 NYT: Spreading State Restrictions on China Show Depths of Distrust in the U.S. AASF Community Listening Session with the Department of Defense Reminder: Invitation to Sign Letter to President Biden Urging Renewal of US-China Protocol on Scientific and Technological Cooperation Stanford University Professors Steven Kivelson and Peter F. Michelson issued the following letter calling for faculty members and scholars at U.S. institutions of higher learning to co-sign a letter to President Joe Biden to renew the US-China Protocol on Scientific and Technological Cooperation. Read the letter here: https://bit.ly/3KP6wXG Sign on to the letter here: https://bit.ly/3qGWC3r WHEN: Before Noon PDT on Thursday, August 24 APA Justice has created this web page to track the continuing development: https://bit.ly/3E9NmI8 Media reports: 2023/08/23 Reuters : US seeks extension to controversial science agreement with China 2023/08/23 Voice of America : US Seeks to Extend Science, Tech Agreement With China for 6 Months 2023/08/23 NBC News : Biden resists pressure from lawmakers and seeks short extension to key China science pact 2023/08/22 The Guardian : Warnings of scientific ‘suicide’ as US-China research collaboration hangs in balance See You at the "March on Washington" on August 26 United Chinese Americans (UCA) has issued a statement to urge the Chinese American and AANHPI communities to join the "March on Washington" in Washington DC on Saturday, August 26, 2023. The statement reads:"Sixty years ago, Dr. King delivered his immortal speech 'I have a dream' at Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC."Sixty years later, Chinese Americans are joining Americans of all ethnicities and background to march again for justice and equality. We march now not just to commemorate but to realize the dream!"The Civil Rights Movement of the sixties has seared in the memory of Americans, but the mission is far from being completed. With racial profiling China Initiative, Chinese exclusion land bills in many states, and growing mistrust toward our community, now is the time for Chinese Americans to call for the civil rights movement of our generation."As a proud partner of this historic march to continue the dream, UCA cordially invites you to join this historical event. Let’s march to renew our pledge to build a truly inclusive and pluralistic democracy! Let’s march to relive the spirit of 60’s and for our shared dream! Will you join us this Saturday in Washington DC?"Register for the event: https://tinyurl.com/March-on-Washington-August-26 ." Thanks to the support of the Committee of 100 and The Yellow Whistle ™, APA Justice will help to distribute yellow whistles on site. Use the whistle to amplify the voices of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. Participants are urged to wear yellow color clothing. YELLOW is beautiful. Let us take the YELLOW back. We shall not remain silent, because WE BELONG™. Participants who wish to help distribute the yellow whistles should send a request to contact@apajustice.org . ENTRANCE March participants will enter on 17th St. between Independence and Constitution, Ave. ONLY. See the March Route map above. WEATHER & HYDRATION We anticipate the August summer heat during this event. We ask that you access participation based on your health history. Please bring water, hydrate, and summer cooling items for your safety; some will also be available on-site. We ask that you RECYCLE all water bottles using the recycling bins around the mall. MARCH ROUTE Marchers will begin lining up on Lincoln Circle NW and proceed South on 23rd St. crossing through the median onto the Southern portion of Independence Ave (see map above). They will march to West Potomac Park, serving as the dispersal point. Marchers will be routed to DC Metro locations, including Farragut West and North, Federal Triangle, and Smithsonian. Anyone not marching must exit the memorial and head to their transportation.Current Weather Forecast: According to local radio WTOP , organizers expect tens of thousands of visitors to take part in this year’s march at the Lincoln Memorial. The event is led by the Rev. Al Sharpton , Martin Luther King III and his wife, Andrea Waters King. According to an invitation by the Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), Dr. King's iconic "I Have a Dream" speech resonated with all those seeking justice beyond racial divides. This historic event's relevance extends to the scholar community, which also faces difficult challenges ahead. Recognizing the participation of scholars in the march highlights the interconnected struggles against inequality. It underscores the importance of collaboration among diverse groups in the fight for justice and equality, reminding us that our collective efforts transcend boundaries. 2023/08/23 AP News : At March on Washington’s 60th anniversary, leaders seek energy of original movement for civil rights 2023/08/23 NBC News : The March on Washington's core ideas resonate 60 years later 2023/08/23 USA Today : ‘Tell ’em about the dream, Martin!’: Memories from the crowd at MLK’s March on Washington National Archives: Official Program for the March on Washington (1963) Library of Congress: The March on Washington NYT: Spreading State Restrictions on China Show Depths of Distrust in the U.S. According to the New York Times on August 21, 2023, at a moment when Washington is trying to reset its tense relationship with China, states across the country are leaning into anti-Chinese sentiment and crafting or enacting sweeping rules aimed at severing economic ties with Beijing.The measures, in places like Florida, Utah and South Carolina, are part of a growing political push to make the United States less economically dependent on China and to limit Chinese investment over concerns that it poses a national security risk. Those concerns are shared by the Biden administration, which has been trying to reduce America’s reliance on China by increasing domestic manufacturing and strengthening trade ties with allies.But the state efforts have the potential to be far more expansive than what the administration is orchestrating. They have drawn backlash from business groups over concerns that state governments are veering toward protectionism and retreating from a longstanding tradition of welcoming foreign investment into the United States.The restrictions coincide with a resurgence of anti-China sentiment. While Washington may see a relationship with China as a necessary evil, officials at the state and local levels appear determined to try to sever their economic relationship with America’s third-largest trading partner.One of the biggest targets has been Chinese landownership, despite the fact that China owns less than 400,000 acres in the United States, according to the Agriculture Department. That is less than 1 percent of all foreign-owned land.One of the most provocative restrictions has been championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, a Republican who is running for president. In May, Mr. DeSantis signed a law prohibiting Chinese companies or citizens from purchasing or investing in properties.But the legislation is written so broadly that an investment fund or a company that has even a small ownership stake from a Chinese company or a Chinese investor and buys a property would be violating the law. Business groups and the Biden administration have criticized the law as overreach, while Republican attorneys general around the country have sided with Mr. DeSantis. The Florida legislation, which targets “countries of concern” and imposes special restrictions on China, is being challenged in federal court. A group of Chinese citizens and a real estate brokerage firm in Florida that are represented by the American Civil Liberties Union sued the state in May, arguing that the law codifies and expands housing discrimination. The Justice Department filed a “statement of interest” arguing that Florida’s landownership policy is unlawful.Read the New York Times report in both English and Chinese 切断与中国经济联系？美国多州“反中”情绪渐涨: https://nyti.ms/3sibK7M Watch also NBC News report " Backlash grows over Chinese companies purchasing land in U.S. " (video 3:12) AASF Community Listening Session with the Department of Defense The Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) will host a scholar community listening session with the Department of Defense (DoD) on August 30, 2023, starting at 7:00 pm ET. The session provides a platform where scholars can ask questions and engage in dialogue. The guest speaker is Bindu Nair , Department of Defense Director of Basic Research. This is a unique opportunity to offer feedback and learn more about new and developing policies at the DoD. The listening session will cover " Policy for Risk-Based Security Reviews of Fundamental Research " issued by the DoD on June 8, 2023. The event is closed to the media and will not be recorded.Read the AASF announcement: https://bit.ly/44o4apu . Register for the event: https://bit.ly/3E6Rs43 Back View PDF August 23, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Reflecting on Prof. Gang Chen’s Case & Looking Ahead to the Future of the China Initiative 2022 Gang Chen Acquittal Sunday, January 30, 2022 On January 30, 2022, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), Advancing Justice| AAJC, APA Justice, and the Brennan Center for Justice co-hosted a webinar titled "Reflecting on Professor Gang Chen's Case and Looking Ahead to the Future of the China Initiative." The goal of this webinar is to examine the attempted prosecution of Prof. Chen in order to challenge the injustices resulting from the Justice Department’s “China Initiative.” We hope to educate lawyers, journalists, policy makers, academic leaders, and community members about the harmful impacts of the “China Initiative,” so that they can better contribute to the effort to bring the initiative to an end. Webinar 20220130G.jpg Previous Item Next Item

Newsletter - #213 TX/FL Land Bills Alerts; Affirmative Action; 3/6 Meeting Summary; AAUC Community Hub #213 TX/FL Land Bills Alerts; Affirmative Action; 3/6 Meeting Summary; AAUC Community Hub In This Issue #213 · Alert: Texas State Senator Lois Kolkhorst Introduced Senate Bill 51 · Florida's Chinese Community Calls for Reform, Repeal of Law that Limits Property Ownership · Race-Based Admissions and the Supreme Court: An Asian American Perspective · 2023/03/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Summary Posted · AAUC Launches Asian American Pacific Islander Community Hub · News and Activities for the Communities Alert: On October 9, 2023, Texas State Senator Lois Kolkhorst introduced Senate Bill (SB) 51 relating to the purchase of or acquisition of title to real property by certain aliens or foreign entities. She was previously the primary sponsor of the discriminatory Texas alien land bill SB 147. Read the SB51: https://bit.ly/3ROl7qJ . Read the LegiScan tracking report: https://bit.ly/45r9B7V . Florida's Chinese Community Calls for Reform, Repeal of Law that Limits Property Ownership According to NPR/WMFE , Florida’s Chinese community held a town hall meeting on September 26, 2023, to call for the repeal or reform of Senate Bill (SB) 264, a law that limits real estate purchase or ownership for some foreign nationals.Over 100 people attended the virtual meeting organized by the Florida Asian American Justice Alliance (FAJAA), which included local and national attorneys, activists, legislators, real estate buyers, sellers, and Florida residents on work and student visas. Most were of Chinese descent, and many said they are already living under the consequences of SB 264.“This bill has made a serious impact on the Asian community in general. It honestly feels like we are all being treated differently,” said Yuyuan Zhang , an Orlando real estate agent born and raised in China. Zhang said she holds a green card and lives in Orlando with her husband, a U.S. veteran, and their three young children. They have lived in Central Florida since 2016. Zhang is an only child. She said her parents like to travel from China to visit her and their only grandchildren as much as they can. Due to the pandemic, however, it’s been three years. The family was excited in the summer of 2022 when Zhang’s parents decided to buy and build a new home in Orlando so they could stay comfortably nearby during long visits. Construction on the house was about halfway through, Zhang said, when SB 264 went into effect, and they were forced to abandon the project. Zhang’s parents are Chinese nationals, not U.S. citizens or residents, and live in China. They are banned from owning a home for themselves in Florida.For Ethan Hu , a 28-year-old data analyst in Orlando, the law presents another complication. He lives a long drive away from his work office, which was no problem while the company had employees working remotely. However, that policy changed, and Hu was considering buying a condo in downtown Orlando to be closer to work — then SB 264 became a factor. Even with his H-1B work visa, Hu said buying property feels uncertain and difficult because of all the risks involved. “If the first version of the bill comes true, I’d no longer be able to stay here. I’d be forced to find another job,” Hu said. “I think I’m allowed to own one property for myself, so yeah, there is a chance for me to stay here, but things are getting worse because they are changing every day. Before that, America was the dream land to chase your dreams and fight for your freedom.” Clay Zhu is one of the leading attorneys who filed a federal lawsuit against SB 264. He said the verbiage in the law is much too broad and vague for compliance, and that an “honest mistake” could easily land an individual on some felony charges. “Let’s assume the validity of SB 264, how does an average person comply with it? There are many practical difficulties for people to figure out what is prohibited and what is not,” Zhu said.Orlando-based Attorney Melissa Vickers argued Section 7 of the law is blatantly discriminatory and violates the 14th Amendment as well as HUD’s Fair Housing Act, which prohibits the discrimination of someone trying to buy housing in the U.S. based on their race, nationality, color, religion, sex, gender, marital status, or disability. “This law alone opens you up for the possibility of having to do jail or prison time, which is extremely scary, for just purchasing a home — not doing anything illegal, not trying to do anything illegal — just for purchasing a home in Florida,” Vickers said.Rep. Fentrice Driskell , Florida House Minority Leader, and Florida State Rep. Anna Eskamani discussed the chances of getting the law either reformed or repealed during the next legislative session. “Now that the consequences are felt, it provides more ammunition, if you will, to try to change the current statute,” Eskamani said. "What's become clear with this policy is that it was pushed forward based on fear, it is not actually based on any fact. It is not going to keep us safe. It does not stop any type of espionage."Read the NPR/WMFE report: https://bit.ly/46id4Xm Dangerous laws are being introduced at the state and federal level right now that use "national security" as an excuse to discriminate against immigrants from China. In Florida, for example, Governor DeSantis has banned many Chinese immigrants from buying a house in much of the state – a move that is both unconstitutional and unfortunately, not new.Take one simple step to tell Congress NO to discriminatory land laws: https://bit.ly/3qRsFOh Race-Based Admissions and the Supreme Court: An Asian American Perspective WHEN: Thursday, October 12, 2023 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm ET WHAT: Webinar on Race-Based Admissions and the Supreme Court: An Asian American Perspective HOST: Committee of 100 MODERATOR: Amy Qin. National Correspondent, The New York Times SPEAKERS: · Gordon H. Chang, Senior Associate Vice Provost for Under Graduate Education and the Olive H. Palmer Professor, Stanford University · Sally Chen, Education Equity Policy Manager, Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA) · John C. Yang, President and Executive Director, Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC) | AAJC DESCRIPTION: In late June, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its ruling in two high-profile cases on race-conscious college and university admissions policies. This is the third time in the last two decades that the nation’s highest court has heard cases that challenge long-standing attempts to increase diversity on college campuses. The Court’s finding that these policies are unconstitutional will have significant implications on the Asian American community, including how Asian American students should prepare for the college application process. This panel will discuss various aspects of the historical context surrounding affirmative action, why affirmative action is relevant to the Asian American community, and what the specific case law means for Asian Americans today. REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/3LUzOot 2023/03/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Summary Posted After delays due to a backlog, the summary for the March 2023 APA Justice monthly meeting has been posted at https://bit.ly/46ogYy1 We thank the following speakers for their updates and discussions: · Nisha Ramachandran, Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), on the targeting of CAPAC Chairwoman Judy Chu by GOP members of Congress who questioned her loyalty to the U.S. due to her being of Chinese American origin; the nomination of Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su as the next Labor Secretary; and concerns about alien land laws restricting the property ownership rights of individuals from specific countries being introduced in states across the country · John Yang 杨重远, President and Executive Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC, on the negative impact of rhetoric and conspiracies arising from the uncertainties of the U.S.-China relationship; Julie Su nomination; and education equity · Gisela Kusakawa, Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), on preparing for the AANHPI Heritage month; work with federal grant agencies and universities on policies, procedures and disclosures; monitoring incidents of border interception/questioning of AAPI scholars and scientists and their family members; concerns about increase of rhetoric targeting Chinese students in higher education institutions; and the addition of Professor Xiaoxing Xi as a new member of AASF · Peter Toren, Attorney at Law; Member of Sherry Chen Legal Team as he reflects on Sherry Chen's historic settlement. On May 9, 2015, when the New York Times broke the story about Sherry Chen, Peter was quoted: “They came across a person of Chinese descent and a little bit of evidence that they may have been trying to benefit the Chinese government, but it’s clear there was a little bit of Red Scare and racism involved.” Peter was the first attorney retained by Sherry in her lawsuit against the U.S. government and was an integral part of the Sherry Chen Legal Team that eventually won a settlement with the largest settlement amount paid to an individual by the U.S. Department of Commerce. APA Justice recognizes Peter's outstanding commitment and achievement. · Dr. Helen Shih, a leader of RiseAAPI-Texas, reported on 5 rallies in Texas that were organized by the AAPI community to protest SB 147 in 5 weeks. Grace Meng 孟昭文, Member of U.S. Congress, shared Democratic leadership’s condemnation of attacks on Congresswoman Judy Chu. She emphasized the importance of allyship between CAPAC and groups such as the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), as well as the communities they represent. Rep. Meng encouraged the AAPI community to continue to push for the inclusion of AAPI, African American, Jewish, and Latino history to feed a more holistic understanding of our shared American story. Rep. Meng also shared progress on the National AAPI Museum Study Bill signed into law by President Biden in June 2022 and her current work to finalize the Commission to explore the feasibility of establishing, maintaining, funding, and operating such a facility in Washington, D.C. as a potential part of the Smithsonian Institution. Baimadajie Angwang 昂旺, New York Police Department Officer and John Carman, Attorney for Officer Angwang provided an overview of the injustice faced by Officer Angwang when he was wrongfully accused to be a spy for China under the now-defunct "China Initiative." Officer Angwang shared his personal experience of spending six months in jail while not allowed to meet with his lawyer or family members. Officer Angwang had served as a Marine in Afghanistan and the Army Reserve. He became NYPD Officer after returning from Afghanistan. All charges against him were dismissed in January 2023, but he had not been reinstated by NYPD. Innocent citizens with Chinese nexus became scapegoats as a result of the government’s racial targeting with the backdrop of increasing U.S.-China tensions. Officer Anwang called on elected officials, community leaders, and civil rights advocates to take actions to stop the government from using profiling and discriminatory tactics William Colton, New York State Assembly member (District 47) remarked on Officer Anwang’s case and called for needed actions. Read the March monthly meeting summary: https://bit.ly/46ogYy1 . Read past monthly meeting summaries: https://bit.ly/3kxkqxP . The August 2023 monthly meeting summary is scheduled for release in a special edition on Friday, October 13, 2023. Work on the October meeting summary is in progress. The May monthly meeting summary is still backlogged at this time. AAUC Launches Asian American Pacific Islander Community Hub Asian American Unity Coalition (AAUC) has launched a website known as Asian American Pacific Islander Community Hub at https://bit.ly/3FbmpEu . According to Dr. S.K. Lo, Founding and current President of AAUC, "the purpose of the AAPI Community Hub is to connect, collaborate and empower the AAPI community. This project collects relevant information that are important and relevant to the community and have it available to the community at large."A signature product of the Community Hub is a current list of 14,631 AAPI organizations located in the U.S., supported by an interactive map powered by Esri, summary statistics, and pie and bar charts. By drilling into the Washington DC area as an example, the map shows approximately 800 organizations. At the most granular level and by clicking on an individual dot on the map, a window appears with information about the name and address of the organization, as well as its purpose, type of organization, asset, revenue, and website if one is available. Visit the interactive map at https://bit.ly/3rDcGnw . The Community Hub covers additional shared information and services. 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: 2023/10/12 Expert Panel on Open Data for Racial Equity 2023/10/12 C100 Webinar - Race-Based Admissions and the Supreme Court Court: An Asian American Perspective 2023/10/12 The FBI and Chinese Americans - From the Investigation and Defense Frontline 2023/10/15 State Legislature 101 Training 2023/10/15 Rep. Gene Wu's Weekly Town Hall Meeting 2023/10/22 Rep. Gene Wu's Weekly Town Hall Meeting 2023/10/25-26 President's Advisory Commission Meeting Visit https://bit.ly/45KGyga for event details. 2. Law360 Report on Professor Franklin Tao's Appeal According to Law360 , the Tenth Circuit appeared skeptical of the government's argument that former University of Kansas (KU) Professor Franklin Tao's "failure to informer his employer he was pursuing a job in China was relevant to federal grant funding decisions, with one judge citing a 'failure of evidence.'"A three-judge panel heard Professor Tao's appeal to vacate his conviction for making a false statement on a conflict-of-interest form to KU. The paperwork was never submitted on any grant research applications to the Department of Energy or the National Science Foundation. Read the Law360 report: https://bit.ly/3FaHIWU . The audio portion of the hearing is available here: https://bit.ly/46dOxmc (2:24:52) starting at around 1:45:08. Read Professor Tao's case at https://bit.ly/3fZWJvK and visit his GoFundMe page: https://gofund.me/5bf4adbe Back View PDF October 9, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #349 9/8 Meeting; Revamped Website; CT AG William Tong Remarks; Intro of FALA; Litigations+ #349 9/8 Meeting; Revamped Website; CT AG William Tong Remarks; Intro of FALA; Litigations+ In This Issue #349 · 2025/09/08 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · APA Justice Launches Revamped Website · Remarks by Connecticut Attorney General William Tong · Introduction of Federation of Asian Professor Associations · Latest on Litigations Against Trump's Executive Actions · News and Activities for the Communities 2025/09/08 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held on Monday, September 8, 2025, starting at 1:55 pm ET. The meeting is postponed one week because September 1 is Labor Day, a federal holiday. In addition to updates from: · Judith Teruya , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) · Joanna YangQing Derman , Program Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC · Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) We are honored by and welcome the following distinguished speakers: · Rosie Levine , Executive Director, U.S.-China Education Trust (USCET) · Cindy Tsai , Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Committee of 100 (C100) · Bob Sakaniwa , Director of Policy and Advocacy, APIAVote · Thu Nguyen , Executive Director, OCA National Center Rosie and Cindy return to announce the launch of a series of webinars co-hosted by C100, USCET, and APA Justice. The dual mission of C100 is to promote the full participation of Chinese Americans in all aspects of American life and to advance constructive relations between the U.S. and Greater China. The mission of the US-China Education Trust (USCET) is to promote US-China relations through education and exchange for China's next-generation leaders by fostering greater mutual understanding of the US and China.Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) is the nation’s leading nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to engaging, educating, and empowering Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities to strengthen and sustain a culture of civic engagement. Bob will update us on APIAVote's plans and activities as we approach the November election.Founded in 1973, OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates is a 501(c)(3) national member-driven nonprofit based in Washington, D.C. with 35+ chapters and affiliates across the U.S. The 2025 OCA National Convention was held in Seattle, Washington, July 24 - 27, 2025. Thu returns to update us on OCA's latest plans and activities.The virtual monthly meeting is by invitation only. It is closed to the press. If you wish to join, either one time or for future meetings, please contact one of the co-organizers of APA Justice - Steven Pei 白先慎 , Vincent Wang 王文奎 , and Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org . APA Justice Launches Revamped Website Effective August 28, 2025, APA Justice has launched its redesigned website: https://www.apajusticetaskforce.org/ . Visitors to the previous site will be automatically redirected. The new site offers a sharper focus on APA Justice’s mission, improved organization, and a forward-looking design ready for the integration of AI tools that will expand accessibility and understanding.This revamp was led by Vincent Wang , Co-Organizer of APA Justice, together with two interns: Charlotte Ding , a recent Cornell University graduate in Computer Science, and Ryan Zhao , a junior at the University of Texas at Austin majoring in Computer Science. Highlights of the New Website The redesigned site features a streamlined structure for easier navigation across key issue areas. It is built to be dynamic and will continue to evolve and improve. Racial Profiling · The China Initiative · Attempts to Revive The China Initiative · FBI & Law Enforcement · Chinese Exclusion Act · McCarthyism Rights & Fairness · Birthright Citizenship · Warrantless Surveillance Social Justice · Alien Land Laws · Impacted Persons Activities · Monthly Meetings · Newsletters · Yellow Whistle Campaign · Community Calendar News · News Archive on APA Justice Issues Resources · Know Your Rights · Library · COVID-19 Resources · Who Is Chinese American? · APA Heritage Month · Asian American History · Report Hate Incidents About · History and Mission of APA Justice What’s Next? APA Justice is also exploring the development of AI tools and a chatbot to help users more easily navigate and engage with the site’s content.We welcome your feedback. Please send comments and suggestions to: contact@apajustice.org . Remarks by Connecticut Attorney General William Tong William Tong 湯偉麟 is the Attorney General of the State of Connecticut and the first Chinese American ever elected to serve as Attorney General in any state in the union. He is also the first Chinese American—and first Asian American—elected to any state office in Connecticut's history. During the APA Justice monthly meeting on May 5, 2025, AG Tong emphasizes the significance of recent achievements for the AAPI community, particularly Chinese Americans, acknowledging that such progress came far too late. He highlights the persistent issues of xenophobia, racism, and scapegoating that target Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. He also challenges harmful stereotypes portraying AAPI individuals as quiet, non-confrontational, and lacking leadership. A key point is the community’s limited political power—a reality often overlooked. He underscores the urgent need for increased AAPI representation and leadership across public and private sectors. He points out the political progress of the South Asian community within the broader AAPI group, noting its stronger voice and greater representation, including members of Congress, a governor, and the Vice President. In contrast, the East Asian community, particularly Chinese Americans, has lagged in political representation. He underscores this disparity by pointing out his own milestone as the first Chinese American elected as Attorney General only in 2018 and currently the highest-ranking Chinese American state official—emphasizing how few such leaders exist. He discusses the lack of political power and representation for Chinese Americans, emphasizing that when the community is targeted, there are very few voices to speak up—and even fewer that are actually heard. He stresses the importance of speaking out, especially on critical issues like birthright citizenship, which is foundational for many Asian Americans. He argues that if more AAPI leaders held power, they could both defend the community and help prevent discrimination. He highlights ongoing challenges, including being seen as perpetual foreigners and the rise in anti-Asian hate, but affirms that the AAPI experience is deeply American, not foreign. Speaking from Connecticut, he shares historical examples—like Joseph Pierce , a Chinese American Civil War soldier, and Yung Wing , the first Chinese American Yale graduate and lawyer—to highlight the long-standing presence and contributions of Chinese Americans in U.S. history. He challenges the misconception that the community only arrived in recent decades, emphasizing that many Chinese Americans have deep roots in the country. Whether fleeing hardship or seeking opportunity, their story is not foreign or recent—it's a longstanding and truly American story. AG Tong closes by sharing an incident involving Amara Walker, a part-Korean CNN journalist who faced racist attacks despite her public status. Walker’s statement, “I’m as American as Korean barbecue,” resonated deeply with the speaker, who relates similarly to American cultural identity through food like egg rolls and pork fried rice. The talk stresses the importance of telling AAPI stories to highlight their deep roots in America and affirm their rightful place in the country. He condemns discrimination against Asian academics and scientists as not only wrong but an attack on their identity. Ultimately, he calls for a critical mass of voices to stand together against such attacks—emphasizing unity and collective strength to better protect the community. A video recording of Attorney General William Tong’s talk is available at https://youtu.be/vXDx013lmwA Introduction of Federation of Asian Professor Associations Another distinguished speaker from Connecticut at the APA Justice monthly on May 5, 2025, was Haifan Lin 林海帆 , President, Federation of Asian Professor Associations (FAPA); Eugene Higgins Professor of Cell Biology, Yale University. Haifan Lin was elected as the inaugural president of the Federation of Asian Professor Associations (FAPA) in 2024. FAPA was formed to protect the academic rights of AAPI faculty amid growing threats to academic freedom and due process, especially during heightened U.S.–China tensions. The unjust targeting of Chinese American scientists underscored the need for collaboration rather than isolation. Several Asian faculty associations from accredited academic institutions across the U.S. came together with a shared mission to seek fairness and justice. FAPA is not a membership organization for individuals, but a national umbrella organization designed to coordinate and amplify these efforts toward a more just and inclusive academic future. FAPA’s missions are: · To promote open collaboration in education, research, scholarship, and professional development. · To advocate for and safeguard academic freedom, legal rights, and career advancement opportunities for its members. Since forming its leadership team in October 2024, FAPA has established itself as a legally sound, independent nonprofit organization. It has streamlined governance, built a skilled volunteer team, partnered with Yale Law School for legal guidance, officially incorporated in Delaware on February 16, 2025, and is currently finalizing its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status. FAPA has also launched several key initiatives: · Conducted a nationwide wellness survey—led by the Columbia University Asian Faculty Association—to assess the climate and mental health of Asian faculty. · Hosted public forums with leaders such as Azad Ranjanali from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and Ambassador Gary Locke to elevate the voices of Asian American scholars. · Advocated for due process protections in federal investigations, particularly in cases involving foreign affiliations, and submitted policy recommendations to OSTP that balance national security with civil liberties. · Publicly supported scholars such as Professor Xiaofeng Wang of Indiana University, whose termination—lacking transparency—raises serious legal and ethical concerns. · Launched the Synergy newsletter to inform and connect the growing community. FAPA's work goes beyond advocating for Asian faculty; it is about protecting the integrity of American academia. Racial profiling, political pressure, and the erosion of due process harm not only individuals but the entire academic system. Marginalizing any group puts others at risk, stifles innovation, and deprives students of mentors and role models. FAPA believes that diversity is not just a value—it is a strategic asset. Defending that asset is a collective responsibility. FAPA calls for unity in building a more just academic future. It continues to partner with key organizations and invites faculty associations, administrators, students, and allies to join in efforts to drive policy change, share best practices, and support colleagues under threat—emphasizing that we are stronger when we stand together. In the words of FAPA's founding message: Diversity is our strength, and synergy is our power .A video recording of Professor Haifan Lin’s talk is available at https://youtu.be/oho2pPBXECg Latest on Litigations Against Trump's Executive Actions As of August 27, 2025, the number of lawsuits against President Donald Trump 's executive actions reported by the Just Security Litigation Tracker has grown to 383 with the following summary: · Case Closed in Favor of Plaintiff: 0 · Blocked: 24 · Temporarily Blocked: 77 · Blocked Pending Appeal: 18 · Temporarily Blocked in Part; Temporary Block Denied in Part: 11 · Temporary Block Denied: 39 · Not Blocked Pending Appeal: 36 · Awaiting Court Ruling: 147 · Case Closed: 22 · Misc: Transferred: 2 · Case Closed/Dismissed in Favor of Government: 7 Among the recent developments is: United States of America v. Russell (D. Md.). Case: 1:25-cv-02029. A Trump-appointed federal judge, Judge Thomas Cullen , dismissed the administration’s lawsuit against all 15 sitting and senior judges of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. The administration had challenged Chief Judge George L. Russell ’s court-wide order imposing temporary pauses on deportations when petitioners file habeas corpus claims. Calling the case “unprecedented and unfortunate,” the court found that the District Court judges have sovereign and judicial immunity, and that the suit was a violation of separation of powers. Judge Cullen said the litigation was “novel and potentially calamitous” and that the government should have appealed in the relevant cases instead. The administration quickly filed an appeal . News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/09/06 The 2025 Asian American Youth Symposium2025/09/08 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/09/08 Committee of 100 Conversations – “Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes” with Janet Yang2025/09/09 China Connections — Chinese Encounters with America: Profiles of Changemakers Who Shaped China2025/09/16-17 2025 AANHPI Unity Summit 2025/09/23 Committee of 100: Is Deglobalization Inevitable?Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. # # # APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community. For more information, please refer to the new APA Justice website under development at www.apajusticetaskforce.org . We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF August 29, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Gee-Kung Chang 張繼昆 Docket ID: 1:21-cr-00109 District Court, N.D. Georgia Date filed: Mar 18, 2021 Date Ended: Apr 14, 2025 Robert Fisher , Partner at Nixon Peabody, was the defense attorney for MIT Professor Gang Chen 陈刚 . He spoke at the APA Justice monthly meeting on May 5, 2025, and introduced Professor Gee-Kung (GK) Chang 張繼昆 , whom Robert also represented with colleague Brian Kelly . Rob said this is a critical time for the country and for the Asian American community. Although the China Initiative was officially ended, similar prosecutions are still occurring—particularly targeting professors, scientists, and professionals with ties to China. Rob explained that GK was accused of wire fraud based on allegations that he and a colleague from ZTE conspired to misuse J-1 visa students, supposedly having them work at ZTE while being paid by Georgia Tech. However, the defense pointed out that, even according to the government’s own account, the students were working at Georgia Tech. The indictment was fundamentally flawed—it failed to allege that the financial component was the actual object of the fraud. As a result, the court dismissed most of the charges, leaving only one remaining. That final charge—visa fraud—was also challenged. GK had no role in the visa application process, and Georgia Tech had never provided training on compliance or rules regarding foreign collaboration. Without knowledge or training, there could not have been intent to defraud. Eventually, the government dropped the last remaining charge. GK was fully exonerated after a four-year ordeal under the era of the China Initiative. GK's case highlights a broader issue: many professors were once encouraged to collaborate with China, only to later face prosecution as political attitudes shifted. These retroactive investigations have damaged careers and chilled academic collaboration, especially within the Asian American community. Professor GK Chang shared his personal account of a harrowing legal ordeal during the May 2025 APA Justice monthly meeting. Quoting his written statement titled "From Injustice to Integrity: A Journey Through Fire," GK told his story that "I stand before you today, not as a victim of injustice, but as a witness to the power of integrity, forged in the fiercest fires of adversity. My journey was never just about reclaiming my freedom — it was about turning pain into a higher purpose, one that lights the way for those still suffering injustice." GK was born in China in 1947, moved to Taiwan as a baby during the Chinese Civil War, and came to the U.S. in 1970 for graduate studies in physics. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of California, Riverside in 1976 and became a U.S. citizen in 1981. With 23 years of experience in industry—including leadership roles at Bell Labs, Bellcore, Telcordia, and OpNext—GK became a pioneer in optoelectronic integration and fiber-optic communications, holding over 50 patents. He received multiple awards, including the R&D 100 Award and the Bellcore President’s Award. In 2002, he joined Georgia Tech as an Eminent Scholar Chair Professor. There, he led major NSF-sponsored research on fiber-wireless networks that laid the foundation for 5G and 6G technologies. He advised 30 Ph.D. students, published over 500 papers, and earned Fellow honors from IEEE and the Optical Society of America. He was recognized as a distinguished alumnus of National Tsing Hua University and received Georgia Tech’s Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award. On March 24, 2021, GK’s life was changed forever when nine federal agents arrested him at home without warning, accusing him of conspiracy and wire fraud under the now-defunct “China Initiative.” Despite his clean record and decades of academic and industry contributions, he was publicly indicted without prior notice. Though released on a low bail, the arrest devastated his personal and professional life. The media portrayed him as guilty, his reputation collapsed, and colleagues and friends distanced themselves, leaving him isolated and emotionally shattered. Despite being wrongfully indicted, GK stood firm, relying on his values, family, and a few loyal allies. Through careful review of over a million pages of documents with his legal team of Rob Fisher and Brian Kelly, he uncovered major flaws in the case against him: factual inaccuracies, missing evidence, and prosecutorial misconduct. The charges lacked legal grounding and were based partly on the testimony of a disgruntled former student. The government misunderstood academic norms and pursued the case without proof of intent, fraud, or personal gain—revealing a deeply flawed and unjust prosecution. Faced with multiple plea offers, including one to plead guilty to a single misdemeanor, GK refused to admit guilt for a crime he did not commit. He chose to fight on despite financial strain. A pivotal moment came in August 2023, when a prosecutor admitted in court that GK had not gained any money from the alleged offenses—contradicting the indictment’s claims. This crucial fact had been withheld from the grand jury, exposing serious prosecutorial misconduct and strengthening his case for vindication. The case shifted dramatically after the court dismissed 9 of the 10 charges on March 1, 2024. Empowered by this decision, GK demanded a speedy trial under the Sixth Amendment, confident of full vindication. However, the emotional strain took a serious toll: he suffered a heart attack in May 2024 and underwent emergency surgery. As he recovered, his focus turned not just to clearing his name, but reclaiming his dignity. The ordeal was nearing its end, but had already come at a profound personal cost. The final charge was dismissed on April 14, 2025, through a motion filed by the prosecutor and approved by the judge, fully exonerating GK without a trial. Yet, the long-awaited freedom brought no joy. After four years of legal battles, he was left emotionally scarred, physically worn, and financially depleted. Professionally, the damage was irreversible—four crucial years of innovation and contribution at the peak of his career were lost forever. Despite the pain, the ordeal brought GK clarity and a renewed sense of purpose. He emerged not only as a survivor but as a seeker—of truth, justice, and understanding. His faith in the justice system was shaken, as he came to see its vulnerability to error, bias, and ambition. He now believes that justice does not automatically protect the innocent and must be actively pursued with courage and conviction. Upholding what is right requires strength, even in the face of overwhelming adversity—because justice is never guaranteed, only earned. Quoting Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. , GK concluded his statement by stating: "I share my testimony, 'A Journey Through Fire,' not for sympathy, but as a warning—and as a beacon. "To those suffering similar injustice: "You are not alone. "And by standing together, "we can help ensure that no one else must endure this tribulation again." References and Links 2025/05/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting: GK Chang and Robert Fisher (video 19:00 2025/05/05 Gee-Kung Chang: 20250505 GK Chang, A Journey Through Fire, revised July 19, 2025 .pdf Download PDF • 218KB 2025/04/15 Law360: Judge Ends 'China Initiative' Prosecution Of Ex-Ga. Tech Prof 2021/03/24 DOJ: Georgia Institute of Technology professor charged with Visa and wire fraud Previous Item Next Item

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Newsletter - #286 Research Security; Stanford Faculty Letter; McCarthyism Today; HUAC & CCP Committee; + #286 Research Security; Stanford Faculty Letter; McCarthyism Today; HUAC & CCP Committee; + In This Issue #286 · Ground Research Security in Science, Not Speculation · Stanford Faculty Letter to Congress Opposing Revival of China Initiative · McCarthyism: Tracing Roy Cohn to Today's Political Climate · House Un-American Activities Committee and Select Committee on CCP · News and Activities for the Communities Ground Research Security in Science, Not Speculation On September 27, 2024, the Baker Institute at Rice University published a policy brief titled "Ground Research Security in Science, Not Speculation."According to the policy brief, international collaboration is essential for advancing science, innovation, and tackling global challenges like climate change and public health. However, geopolitical tensions, particularly between the U.S. and China, have prompted new U.S. research security policies aimed at protecting intellectual property and federally-funded research from undue foreign influence. These policies, such as the 2021 National Security Presidential Memorandum 33 (NSPM-33) and the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, focus on preventing espionage and intellectual theft but have also raised concerns about over-securitization, stifling openness in scientific exchange, and discouraging global talent.It is argued that while research security is necessary, the current lack of data and empirical evidence behind these policies risks undermining American scientific leadership and economic competitiveness. The chilling effect on U.S.-China collaborations and the fears expressed by U.S. scientists of Chinese descent highlight the potential for a brain drain and harm to the U.S.’s reputation as a global leader in science.To maintain scientific leadership, experts recommend that U.S. research security policy be grounded in evidence, uphold democratic values such as academic freedom, and avoid discriminatory practices. Standardizing research security across federal agencies, fostering international cooperation, and promoting research on security risks are essential steps for ensuring the protection of U.S. research while maintaining its openness and global competitiveness. In particular, Federal lawmakers should continue building on recent actions by Congress, the White House, and federal agencies to: · Stop all attempts to reinstate the China Initiative . Research security policy should adhere to the statutory language in the CHIPS and Science Act specifying that implementation should “be carried out in a manner that does not target, stigmatize, or discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, ethnicity, or national origin.” · Standardize research security policy and implementation across federal agencies . OSTP, federal funding agencies, and intelligence and national security agencies all need to establish common, transparent, and publicly-accountable research security practices. These practices should incorporate a due process mechanism and ensure objective evaluation, an appeal process, and consistent application of any corrective measures. · Promote “research on research security” to provide an empirical basis for new and existing policy . Data and analysis addressing the nature, scope, and scale of research security threats should inform future decision-making. Research security activities should also be identified, traced, and evaluated for effectiveness. · Improve research training for administrators, academic scientists, and industry leaders . Outreach and education about research security, especially in the academic sector, will improve compliance with policy and responsible international collaborations. · Develop an international community of practice for research security . Broad international collaboration on research security activities will help establish best practices, effective policy, and the wide adoption of common values of openness, transparency, impartiality, respect, and fairness. Read the Baker Institute's brief: https://bit.ly/3TXf5Ed Stanford Faculty Letter to Congress Opposing Revival of China Initiative On October 8, 2024, a group of over 165 Stanford faculty members sent an open letter to U.S. Congressional leaders to strongly oppose legislation that would reinstate the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) China Initiative. They specifically oppose H.R. 1398, which would revive the initiative in all but name, and request the removal of language from the House report accompanying H.R. 9026, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2025” that directs the DOJ to reinstate the initiative.On September 8, 2021, a group of 177 Stanford University faculty members sent an open letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland , requesting that he terminate the Department of Justice's "China Initiative." More than 3,100 faculty members of over 240 institutions from all 50 states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico endorsed the Stanford letter or sent their own letters. In February 2022 when the DOJ terminated the China Initiative, there was acknowledgement “that this [China] initiative is not the right approach to meet the threat in the coming years." Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matthew Olson said, “Instead, the current threats demand a broader approach.” The China Initiative was not the right approach then and it is not the right approach now.The letter emphasizes that while espionage and intellectual property theft are serious concerns, the China Initiative has been harmful to U.S. science and technology, especially affecting Asian American scholars and international students. The faculty members argue that the initiative disproportionately targets academia and discourages the flow of valuable international talent, particularly from China. They cite a National Academy of Sciences report, International Talent Programs in the Changing Global Environment , showing that the U.S. has been losing scientific talent since 2018, a trend accelerated by the China Initiative.The letter calls for a new approach that fosters international collaboration and talent, rather than pushing talented individuals towards rival nations. It concludes by urging Congress to welcome brilliant minds from around the world and maintain the U.S. as a beacon for freedom and opportunity, rather than being driven by fear. "We should strive – consistent with our history and our beliefs – to be the 'shining city upon a hill' that welcomes the brightest, most ambitious and dedicated students, scientists, and engineers from around the world. We should not be driven by fear and inadvertently push these talented people towards our rivals. If there is to be a 'China Initiative', let it be one designed to make clear how much we appreciate the influx of STEM talent from China and our dedication to their success in the United States. And for all, we must insiston the responsible and ethical conduct of research," the letter concludes.On October 8, 2024, the Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) issued a strong statement in support of the Stanford faculty letter. Faculty members or senior staff at a US university are invited to endorse the letter to the leadership of the U.S. House and Senate at https://bit.ly/4eXkWBw . An update will be sent to Congress.Read the Stanford faculty letter: https://bit.ly/4dCVC2P McCarthyism: Tracing Roy Cohn to Today's Political Climate According to Wikipedia, Roy Cohn served as Chief Counsel for Senator Joseph McCarthy from 1953 to 1954. Roy Cohn played a major role in McCarthy's anti-Communist hearings. After Joseph Welch , an attorney for the Army, confronted McCarthy during the Army–McCarthy hearings of 1954 with the line, " Have you no sense of decency, sir? ", public opinion began to turn against McCarthy, leading to McCarthy's censure by the U.S. Senate, and the eventual end of the era.After resigning from McCarthy's staff, Roy Cohn had a 30-year career as an attorney in New York City. His clients included Donald Trump from 1973 to 1985.According to an audio book titled " Ruthless: How Donald Trump and Roy Cohn's Dark Symbiosis Changed America " read by investigative journalist Marie Brenner , Roy Cohn and Donald Trump first met in 1973 when Donald Trump was still trying to make a name for himself as a real estate developer while fighting federal discrimination charges against his family's business. After their chance meeting at a Manhattan disco, Roy Cohn went to work defending Trump, starting a business and personal association that endured in various forms until Roy Cohn's death in 1986.“You knew when you were in Cohn’s presence you were in the presence of pure evil,” said lawyer Victor A. Kovner , who had known him for years. Roy Cohn’s power derived largely from his ability to scare potential adversaries with hollow threats and spurious lawsuits. And the fee he demanded for his services? Ironclad loyalty. According to Marie Brenner, more than legal representation, Roy Cohn offered Donald Trump a way of seeing the world - and the opportunities for seeking advantage within it - that still inform Donald Trump's approach to politics and governing today.2018/08/21 Marie Brenner: Ruthless: How Donald Trump and Roy Cohn's Dark Symbiosis Changed America (audio book)2017/06/28 Vanity Fair : How Donald Trump and Roy Cohn’s Ruthless Symbiosis Changed America The Apprentice Movie On October 11, 2024, The Apprentice movie will premiere in theaters.According to BBC , ABC News (Australian) , Entertainment Weekly , New Yorker , and multiple media reports, The Apprentice is a shrewd and darkly amusing tragicomedy that dramatizes Donald Trump 's rise to fame and fortune in the 1970s and 80s. While the movie begins with a disclaimer that many of its events are fictionalized, the former president has threatened to take legal action.In the movie, Donald Trump is first seen as a young man in the early 1970s. He works for the New York real estate company run by his cold and condescending father Fred Trump , knocking on doors and collecting rent from his impoverished tenants, but he dreams of opening a luxury high-rise hotel near Central Station. The only snag is that the company is being sued over its racial profiling of potential renters. "How can I be racist when I've got a black driver?" splutters Fred Trump.Enter Roy Cohn in the movie, a notoriously vicious and unscrupulous lawyer who catches Donald Trump's eye in a swanky members club. Donald Trump is spellbound by Roy Cohn's rudeness, his contempt for his opponents, and his three rules for success: always attack , never admit to any wrongdoing , and never admit defeat . The fact that he is so open about using blackmail only adds to his lustre in Donald Trump's eyes. Roy Cohn could be the encouraging father figure that Donald Trump has always lacked. Media reports: 2024/10/05 ABC News (Australia) : Donald Trump didn't want The Apprentice released before the US election. It's coming to cinemas this week 2024/09/24 PBS : ‘All About the Fight’: How Donald Trump Developed His Political Playbook 2024/05/22 Yahoo News : Who Was Roy Cohn and What Was His Relationship With Donald Trump? 2023/06/17 NPR : Trump has had a lot of lawyers but still longs for his wartime consigliere 2020/06/18 Men's Health : You Can Blame Roy Cohn for Donald Trump’s Political Rise 2020/03/05 AllThatsInteresting : Roy Cohn, The Man Who Taught Donald Trump Everything He Knows 2019/09/19 Politico : The Final Lesson Donald Trump Never Learned From Roy Cohn 2019/03/12 History : Roy Cohn: From ‘Red Scare’ Prosecutor to Donald Trump’s Mentor House Un-American Activities Committee and Select Committee on CCP According to ChatGPT, both the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) and the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) have operated in environments marked by national security fears, whether related to communism or China. Both are seen as necessary by some to protect U.S. interests, but they also raise concerns about overreach, civil liberties, and the potential targeting of specific groups. How the Select Committee on CCP operates in the long term will determine whether it follows in the controversial footsteps of HUAC or finds a more balanced approach to addressing national security.These are the key comparisons as identified by ChatGPT: 1. Mandate and Focus on Perceived Threats · HUAC (1938-1975): Established to investigate alleged disloyalty and subversion by citizens, public employees, and organizations suspected of communist ties. HUAC became a symbol of the broader anti-communist movement during the Cold War, heavily focusing on domestic threats and instilling fear of communist infiltration in American society. · Select Committee on CCP (formed 2023): Created to address national security risks posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), with a focus on China’s influence on U.S. politics, technology, economy, and its potential espionage activities. Its attention is on China’s global ambitions and their potential impact on U.S. national security. 2. Political and Ideological Motivation · HUAC : Driven by Cold War fears, HUAC’s activities were motivated by concerns over communism infiltrating American society. It fueled political battles, often targeting individuals based on suspicion rather than solid evidence of subversive activities. · Select Committee on CCP : While framed around national security, this committee reflects broader U.S. geopolitical concerns about China’s rise as a global power. It fits into a larger narrative portraying China as a primary economic and political adversary, raising questions about how much of its focus is based on security versus political rivalry. 3. Targeting of Specific Groups · HUAC : Its investigations led to scrutiny of specific groups like Hollywood, academia, labor unions, and government employees. Many individuals were blacklisted, losing their reputations and careers, even without formal charges. HUAC’s activities were widely criticized for fueling xenophobia and violating civil liberties. · Select Committee on CCP : While not yet reaching the level of persecution seen under HUAC, there are concerns that its focus on China could contribute to racial profiling and discrimination against Chinese Americans and other Asian communities. Critics warn that heightened political rhetoric could stoke anti-Asian sentiment, mirroring the fear and suspicion created by HUAC’s investigations. 4. Impact on Civil Liberties and Democratic Principles · HUAC : The committee was widely condemned for disregarding due process, leading to accusations of civil rights violations. Many individuals were subpoenaed, questioned, and blacklisted without sufficient evidence, creating a culture of fear and repression. · Select Committee on CCP : In its early activities, there are already concerns that its focus on Chinese influence could infringe upon civil liberties, particularly for Chinese Americans. The potential for increased surveillance, academic restrictions, and suspicion of people based on ethnic or national background echoes the repression seen during HUAC’s operations in the McCarthy era. 5. Public Sentiment and Scapegoating · HUAC : At its peak, HUAC capitalized on the public’s fear of communism, often scapegoating individuals as part of a larger anti-communist fervor. Many reputations and livelihoods were destroyed due to unfounded accusations. · Select Committee on CCP : The committee's formation comes at a time of increasing anti-China sentiment in the U.S., driven by economic competition, national security concerns, and technological rivalry. Critics argue that this environment risks scapegoating individuals and businesses with ties to China, reminiscent of the McCarthy era's unfounded accusations. 6. Legacy and Long-Term Consequences · HUAC : The long-term legacy of HUAC is one of overreach, fearmongering, and suppression of dissent. Its actions had lasting consequences for civil liberties in the U.S., contributing to a culture that discouraged free speech and mistrusted dissenting opinions. · Select Committee on CCP : The committee’s long-term impact remains to be seen, but if its actions prioritize security at the expense of openness and collaboration, it could similarly harm U.S. democratic values. There is also concern that its focus on China could strain relations with Chinese Americans and weaken international cooperation, just as HUAC left a divisive legacy in American politics. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events:2024/10/10 Cato Surveillance Week2024/10/10 China in the Heartland: Building a Balanced Approach2024/10/11 China and the World Forum2024/10/11 Reverse Brain Drain: A Threat to U.S.Technological Leadership2024/10/13 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/10/16 Rebuilding Trust in Science2024/10/20 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/10/25-27 Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the American Studies Network2024/10/26 Common Ground and Banquet2024/10/27 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/11/03 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall MeetingVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. Dr. Mark Xu to Lead IRS Statistics of Income Division On October 7, 2024, U.S. Chief Statisitician Dr. Karin A. Orvis aanounced that Dr. Weihuan "Mark" Xu just joined the Internal Revenue Service, as the new Director of Statistics of Income (SOI). SOI operates with an annual budget of approximately $40 to $47 million. It is recognized as one of the 13 leading federal statistical organizations in the U.S., responsible for gathering, analyzing, and publishing data related to tax returns and financial activities. Dr. Mark Xu is a seasoned Senior Executive with experience leveraging data science, AI, and advanced analytics to drive strategic decision-making and policy formulation. His expertise in economics, statistics, and leadership has yielded transformative results in both federal statistical and program agencies. His experience includes managing large, diverse teams and fostering collaboration and innovation in complex environments. He is a champion of data-driven decision-making, spearheading initiatives using big data, machine learning, and AI to enhance program efficiency and inform policy.Prior to joining IRS, Mark served as Director of the Resource Inventory and Assessment Division at U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Mark holds a Ph.D. and MA in Economics from the University of Washington, with advanced training in data science, machine learning, and AI. Mark has received multiple awards, including a USDA Secretary’s Honor Award in 2024. 3. USHCA Event Today and Professor Franklin Tao At the APA Justice monthly meeting on October 7, 2024, Min Fan , Executive Director of the U.S. Heartland China Association (USHCA), reported that Professor Franklin Tao will return to the University of Kansas (KU) and recognized at "The Heartland - Building a Balanced Approach" Forum in Lawrence, Kansas, on October 10, 2024, starting at 7:00 pm CT.This event, presented by the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics at KU in partnership with USHCA and KU’s Department of Political Science, is supported by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and local Chinese American scholars.Join the event in person or online to engage in discussions on building a balanced approach to U.S.-China relations and to show solidarity and support for Professor Tao’s reinstatement at KU: https://bit.ly/3zkTyhT .To learn more about Professor Tao’s story, visit: https://bit.ly/3y8SBsm . A summary of the October 7 APA Justice meeting is being prepared at this time. 4. Drs. Chen, Hu, Tao, and Xi Honored by 2024 American Courage Award According to the Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) on October 3, 2024, four distinguished Asian American scholars—Drs. Gang Chen , Anming Hu , Franklin Tao , and Xiaoxing Xi —received the prestigious 2024 American Courage Award from Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC. The award celebrates their resilience, leadership, and steadfast commitment to Asian American freedom and civil rights in the face of adversity. Past recipients have included the Honorable Julie A. Su , the Honorable Mazie K. Hirono , Vanita Gupta , Japanese American MIS Veterans , and other courageous Americans and immigrants. The first recipient of the American Courage Award was Dr. Chang-Lin Tien in 1997. Dr. Tien was the first Asian American to head a major research university in the U.S., serving as Chancellor of the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Tien was Dr. Chen's PhD advisor. Read the AASF announcement: https://bit.ly/4eSLwfa 5. APA Justice Newsletter Web Page Moved to New Website As part of its continuing migration to a new website under construction, we have moved the Newsletter webpage to https://www.apajusticetaskforce.org/newsletters . Content of the existing website will remain, but it will no longer be updated. We value your feedback about the new web page. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF October 10, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - Dcember 2025 Monthly Meeting Summaries Dcember 2025 Monthly Meeting Summaries 2025/12/01 APA Justice Monthly Meeting APA Justice Meeting – Monday, 2025/12/011:55 pm Eastern Time / 10:55 am Pacific Time 1. Updates from CAPAC Speaker: Judith Teruya, Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Judith.Teruya@mail.house.gov [not on record] 2. Update from Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC Speaker: Joanna YangQing Derman, Director, Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security Program, Advancing Justice | AAJC, jderman@advancingjustice-aajc.org · Advancing Justice | AAJC: Anti-Profiling, Civil Rights & National Security Program Joanna provided a policy update covering several key areas. She noted that AAJC continues to monitor developments related to the China Initiative and ongoing negotiations in the Commerce, Justice, and Science appropriations process, particularly with the extended January 30 deadline. On the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Joanna reported that both chambers have passed their versions of the bill and that AAJC has submitted its official letter to House and Senate Armed Services leadership. She highlighted the Rounds Amendment (No. 3810) as a major area of concern because it would broaden Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) reviews of foreign purchases of certain agricultural lands. She emphasized that AAJC is in active discussions with Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) and others on the Hill to ensure civil rights safeguards are reflected in the final bill. Joanna also addressed Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s recent proclamation labeling The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) a “foreign terrorist organization” and “transnational criminal organization.” She stressed that AAJC views this as “an attempt to weaponize state power against a religious minority” and is working with interfaith and civil rights partners to oppose discriminatory actions. She noted that CAIR has already filed a federal lawsuit in response. She closed by expressing AAJC’s appreciation for the APA Justice community and said the organization looks forward to sharing a full 2025 wrap-up in the new year. 3. Update from Asian American Scholar Forum Speaker: Gisela Perez Kusakawa, Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), gpkusakawa@aasforum.org [not able to attend] 4. Update from Chinese American Citizens Alliance Speaker: Kin Yan Hui, National President, Chinese American Citizens Alliance Kin Yan Hui was recently elected to be National President of the Chinese American Citizens Alliance (C.A.C.A.), He previously served as National Executive Vice President from 2023 to 2025 and as National Vice President for Membership from 2017 to 2023. He is also a Past President of the San Antonio Lodge. In his hometown of San Antonio, Kin serves as the Zoning Commissioner for the City of San Antonio’s District 6, representing 165,000 residents. He also sits on the Bexar County Civil Service Commission. A retired civil servant with over 35 years of service in the U.S. Department of the Air Force, Kin concluded his career in 2017 as Chief Engineer for four Air Force Cyber Weapon Systems. In that role, he led a team of more than 75 engineers and technical professionals developing and acquiring advanced cyber capabilities for the Air Force. Kin holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Houston, a Master of Arts in Management from Webster University, and was an Executive Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University. In his remarks, Kin offered a detailed overview of the organization’s 130-year history, its national footprint, and his vision for strengthening its role in the Chinese American community. Opening with characteristic humor—“As a good bureaucrat, I have to have PowerPoint slides, so please put up with that”—Kin set a collegial tone before walking the audience through C.A.C.A.’s mission: “to practice and defend Chinese American citizenship and to preserve our cultural and historical heritage, because without historical and cultural preservation, we are not a people.” Kin traced C.A.C.A.’s roots to 1895, when it was founded in San Francisco as the Native Sons of the Golden State. By 1915, it had reorganized under its current name and expanded nationally. He highlighted several moments of historic significance, including the organization’s advocacy for repealing the Chinese Exclusion Act, testimony before Congress in the 1940s, efforts that led to the War Brides Act and Chinese Alien Wives Act, and more recent achievements such as the 2012 Congressional Statement of Regret and the 2018 Congressional Gold Medal awarded to Chinese American World War II veterans. The medal project, Kin recalled, was a challenge—“It was during COVID, and we were having a very difficult time doing that”—but C.A.C.A. persisted and continues to locate families who were unaware of their eligibility. C.A.C.A. today includes 20 lodges and roughly 3,000 members, historically concentrated along the West Coast but growing rapidly in the South and Southwest. Kin emphasized that while the national board provides guidance and resources, “a lot of the work that’s being done is really at the lodge level.” His vision for the future focuses on restoring prominence, strengthening impact, and ensuring relevance nationwide. Conversations with community leaders, he noted, have helped sharpen that mission: “Not just for the C.A.C.A., but for the greater Chinese American community at large.” To support this vision, Kin outlined strategic goals: empowering lodges, improving messaging and partnerships, increasing membership, and defending birthright citizenship. Membership development will include a new pipeline, service recognition programs, and a youth advisory council—critical, he noted, because “we are all volunteers, with no paid staff, so we must appreciate every minute we get from volunteers.” On birthright citizenship, Kin recounted internal skepticism from some members who believed constitutional rights were secure. His response was grounded in risk management: “The risk may be low, but the severity is so high that we have to address it.” C.A.C.A. will establish a dedicated project team to prepare for and respond to potential policy threats. Kin concluded by reaffirming C.A.C.A.’s long-standing role and future direction: “I just want to introduce the organization…and give you a glimpse into what we are planning to do in the next two years.” He expressed gratitude for the chance to connect with allied organizations and strengthen shared commitments to civil rights, community empowerment, and cultural preservation. 5. Updates from American Civil Liberties Union · Speaker: Patrick Toomey , Deputy Director, National Security Project, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Patrick returned to provide an in-depth briefing on two major areas of ongoing ACLU litigation: the challenge to Florida’s discriminatory housing law (SB 264) in Shen v. Simpson, and the national-security–related litigation surrounding the federal government’s use of the Alien Enemies Act. Both issues, he noted, remain of high importance to Asian American communities and immigrant-rights advocates across the country. Patrick began by reminding the audience that the ACLU is engaged in a wide range of immigration and civil rights litigation, including work related to birthright citizenship, which had been referenced earlier in the meeting. For purposes of this briefing, however, he focused on the two cases in which he is personally involved. I. Shen v. Simpson – Florida’s SB 264 Housing Restrictions Patrick first summarized developments in Shen v. Simpson, a challenge to Florida’s SB 264, a law that restricts property ownership by immigrants from China and six other “countries of concern.” The law prohibits non-citizens and non-green-card-holders from these countries from buying property in large parts of Florida, with only narrow exceptions. The ACLU—together with AALDEF, CALDA, the DeHeng Law Firm, Quinn Emanuel, and the ACLU of Florida—represents four individual Chinese immigrant plaintiffs and a real estate company that serves primarily Chinese clients. On November 4, 2025, a divided panel of the Eleventh Circuit declined to issue a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of SB 264, which Patrick described as “disappointing.” Much of the decision turned on the court's ruling that the plaintiffs lacked "standing" to challenge the law's main restriction on property purchases. However, he highlighted an important clarification in the ruling: the court narrowed the law’s application and found that it does not apply to certain Chinese immigrants who live in Florida and intend to remain there indefinitely. That clarification, he explained, provides meaningful—but limited—relief to affected communities. He emphasized the broader context. SB 264 echoes a long history of “alien land laws” targeting Asians and other immigrant groups under the guise of national security. The ACLU views the law as part of a nationwide resurgence of discriminatory state-level property restrictions, which mirror policies from the early 20th century. Looking ahead, Patrick explained that next steps remain uncertain. The Eleventh Circuit must first issue a formal order returning the case to the district court. Once that occurs, the ACLU and the state defendants will submit a status update proposing a schedule for next steps in the case. He assured the audience that updates will be provided as the litigation team decides how to move forward in light of the Eleventh Circuit's decision. II. Alien Enemies Act Litigation Patrick then turned to the ACLU’s ongoing challenges to the federal government’s use of the Alien Enemies Act, a 1798 statute allowing deportation of nationals from countries with which the U.S. is at war. In March of this year, he explained, the government used the Act to deport hundreds of Venezuelan nationals. These individuals were transported first to El Salvador and detained in the notorious “Terrorism Confinement Center,” before later being transferred to Venezuela. These individuals had no opportunity to contest their designation or removal under the AEA. 1. The Fifth Circuit Case (for individuals still in the U.S.) The ACLU represents Venezuelan nationals who remain in the United States and continue to face potential deportation under the Act. In June, the ACLU argued the case before a three-judge panel of the Fifth Circuit, which issued a 2–1 decision ruling the government’s use of the Act unlawful. The government then requested an en banc hearing before the full Fifth Circuit, which was granted. Briefing is underway, and oral argument is scheduled for late January. Because the case raises significant questions about executive power and wartime authorities, Patrick noted that Supreme Court review is likely. Importantly, deportations under the AEA are currently paused while the litigation proceeds. 2. District Court Litigation in Washington, D.C. (for individuals already deported) A second challenge focuses on those who were removed in March with no due process. The ACLU is seeking a new preliminary injunction that would allow deported individuals the opportunity to bring habeas and due-process claims that they were unable to pursue before being transported out of the country. Toomey noted that this group was deported “under cover of darkness,” without notice, hearings, or the ability to consult counsel. These cases, he stressed, raise profound constitutional questions about due process, wartime authority, and the treatment of immigrant communities. Both remain active and will likely continue into 2026. Conclusion Patrick closed by encouraging attendees to stay engaged as litigation moves forward. He invited follow-up questions through the chat or by email and reaffirmed the ACLU’s commitment to defending the civil rights and liberties of immigrant communities targeted by discriminatory laws and emergency powers. The outcomes of these cases, he noted, will have significant implications for Asian American communities, Venezuelan immigrants, and the broader legal landscape governing immigration enforcement. 6. Update from National Asian Pacific American Bar Association Speaker: Edgar Chen , Special Advisor, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) Edgar Chen, Special Policy Advisor for the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), provided an overview of NAPABA’s recent annual convention and the organization’s broader civil-rights–focused work. He began by thanking APA Justice for the opportunity to share updates and participated in discussion of Florida’s SB 264 during the Q&A. Edgar explained that NAPABA represents more than 80,000 Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students across the United States, with additional Canadian affiliates. Each year, NAPABA convenes members in a different host city for its annual convention. The 2025 gathering took place in Denver, Colorado, and was NAPABA’s second-largest convention ever, with over 2,800 attendees. He noted that last year’s Seattle convention reached a record 3,400 attendees and featured Governor Gary Locke as an opening speaker. Edgar highlighted several elements of the Denver convention that intersect with current civil rights issues. Responding to earlier panel discussion about the federal Community Relations Service (CRS), he noted that CRS — often called “the nation’s peacemakers” — has historically had four directors of Asian American descent: Grand Lum, Rose Ochi, Justin Locke, and Julius Nam. Grand Lum participated in a Denver panel on alternative dispute resolution. Edgar also connected other speakers’ points to NAPABA’s recent work, noting, for example, that NAPABA included the Congressional Gold Medal for Chinese American WWII veterans as part of its 2018 lobby-day agenda. NAPABA’s continuing legal education offerings at the convention spanned more than 43 breakout sessions covering emerging and specialized practice areas, including artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, healthcare law, tariffs, and even Asian American leadership in the outdoor and skiing industries — a nod to the Colorado setting. From this broad program, Edgar emphasized several civil rights sessions that were most relevant to the APA Justice audience. These included programming on birthright citizenship, such as a reenactment of the landmark Wong Kim Ark case; discussions about discrimination against Pacific Islander women; sessions addressing sexual violence; and a program on language access in the wake of the recent rescission of the Clinton-era executive order guaranteeing federal language-access services. The convention also explored book bans and the erosion of intersectional identities in public education and discourse. Edgar personally moderated a panel on immigration enforcement featuring Greg Chen of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. He summarized the panel’s key conclusion: the central issue currently shaping immigration outcomes is “discretion,” particularly the growing use of negative discretion across U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and other parts of the federal immigration system. He stressed that, beyond ICE, these shifts have implications for refugees, asylum seekers, and vulnerable communities — especially in the context of the recent shooting in Washington, D.C., which has further intensified national debate over immigration policy and public safety. The convention also featured a major plenary session with Justice Goodwin Liu of the California Supreme Court and Ajay Mehrotra of the American Bar Foundation. They discussed the “Portrait Project,” a data-driven analysis of AANHPI representation in the legal profession and the barriers that impede career advancement. The research identifies three persistent barriers: lack of mentorship, limited networking infrastructure, and insufficient development of soft skills that are rarely taught in law school but crucial to professional success. Edgar emphasized that first-generation lawyers in particular face challenges in navigating these unwritten rules of the legal profession, and that part of NAPABA’s mission is helping to close these gaps. He also noted that NAPABA honored several Trailblazers this year, including Committee of 100 member Alan Tse and Rutgers Law Professor Rose Cuison-Villazor, both widely recognized for their leadership and contributions to civil rights and legal scholarship. The convention concluded with a gala featuring an in-depth conversation between actor Rich Ting and journalist Katie Fang — a session Edgar described as especially compelling. Looking ahead, Edgar announced that the next NAPABA convention will take place in Los Angeles, where attendance could reach 5,000 members. He invited APA Justice participants and interested community members to follow upcoming announcements about the 2026 program. 7. Q&A and Discussions 8. Next Meeting The next monthly meeting will be held on Monday, January 5, 2026, starting 1:55 pm ET/10:55 am PT Back View PDF December 1, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

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

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