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Newsletter - #241 C100 Activities; Florida SB 264 Hearing; AANHPI Education Summit; Officer Angwang; + #241 C100 Activities; Florida SB 264 Hearing; AANHPI Education Summit; Officer Angwang; + In This Issue #241 · Committee of 100 Activities and Annual Conference/Gala · Appeals Court Hearing on Florida Alien Land Law SB264 · 2024 AA and NHPI Higher Education Leadership Development Summit · Update on NYPD Officer Angwang · News and Activities for the Communities Committee of 100 Activities and Annual Conference/Gala During the APA Justice monthly meeting on March 4, 2024, Cindy Tsai , Interim President and Executive Director, Committee of 100 (C100), reported on four primary C100 activities in addition to various ongoing collaborative activities with Asian American and other communities: · Interactive Map on Alien Land Bills. C100 has been tracking all the 2023 bills by state at https://bit.ly/3Hxta4B . It is currently in the process of creating another layer for the 2024 legislative session. With the basic structure in place, it is a matter of visualizing the data in an interactive map. Cindy emphasizes that while the national organizations are keeping an eye on these developments, it truly is those who are on the ground that will hear about it first. So as you hear about things that are coming out of your state, please share and verify with C100, which will in turn share it with the communities. C100 researcher Sam Collitt can be reached at scollitt@Committee100.org . · AAPI History and K-12 Curricula. C100 has in the last 2 years tracked and updated state-by-state analysis state bills that are available tools for the AAPI community to use as they advocate for AAPI education in schools. You do not need to have a stand-alone AAPI curriculum mandate to advocate to your school district for that type of education curriculum. Additionally, C100 converted its 2018 report on t he contributions of Chinese Americans into 5 middle school lesson plans. C100 is organizing teacher workshops over the summer. If you have interest in this area, please reach out to Cindy. C100 would love to provide these free materials to educators. · Next Generation Leaders Service Project. On March 6, C100 hosted a virtual webinar titled Breaking Career Ceilings and Feeling Comfortable in Your Own Skin. It was led by the C100 Next Generation Leaders Class of 2023. As a community, some of our parents taught us to keep our head down and assimilate. We are now seeing a new generation of people saying: I want to be the authentic me and still achieve and break the glass ceiling. · 2024 Annual Conference and Gala. The C100 annual conference and gala will be held in New York City on April 19, 2024. This year, C100 is doubling the number of curated sessions with three general sessions and two concurrent tracks — one on U.S.-China related topics and the other on key domestic AAPI issues —and will include more than 50 guest speakers, panelists and keynotes. The event will be topped off with a black-tie Gala celebrating the achievements and accomplishments from those in and around the AAPI community. For more information and registration, visit https://bit.ly/4ccKQkj Cindy can be reached at ctsai@committee100.org . A summary of the March 4 APA Justice monthly meeting is in progress. General Session · Debate: Will and Should Corporate DEI Activities Suffer the Same Fate as Affirmative Action? · The 2024 Elections and Their Impact on Asian Americans · Charting New Paths: Innovative Solutions to Asian American Issues Asian American Issue Track · Asian American Awareness Through Education · The Impact of U.S.-China Tensions on Asian Americans in Government · Asian American Career Ceilings – Findings and Solutions · AAPI Community Response to Rising Anti-Asian Hostility · U.S. National Defense Policies - Impact on Asian Americans and U.S. Competitiveness U.S.-China Issues Track · Perspectives on China by Former U.S. Ambassadors · Will the Chinese Economy Stagnate Like Japan's Did? · Foreign Direct Investment – Both Ways – What is Happening and Why? · U.S.-China Tech and Industrial Rivalry · Diplomacy Through Food and Culture Appeals Court Hearing on Florida Alien Land Law SB264 Following its ruling to temporarily halt the enforcement of the Florida alien land law known as SB 264 against two Chinese immigrants on February 1, 2024, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit will hold hearings in Miami, Florida, in the morning of April 19, 2024. It is one of three cases that will be heard by a three-judge panel. Location of the hearing is James Lawrence King Federal Justice Building, 13th Floor, 99 NE 4th St, Miami, FL 33132. The hearing is open to the public.Read the docket of the civil lawsuit of Shen vs Simpson: https://bit.ly/43idmvB . Read the ACLU statement on the February 1 Appeals Court decision: https://bit.ly/3Utx0Ub 2024 AA and NHPI Higher Education Leadership Development Summit WHAT : 2024 AA and NHPI Higher Education Leadership Development Summit WHEN: April 2, 2024, 8:30 am - 7:30 pm Pacific Time WHERE: In-person event, University of California, Berkeley - Martin Luther King Jr. Building, 2495 Bancroft Way Berkeley, CA 94704 HOSTS: White House Initiative on AA and NHPI; U.S. Office of Personnel Management DESCRIPTION: The one-day summit will focus on cultivating and transforming leaders in their careers within the higher education space. Together, we will engage in curated professional development topics that address challenges that Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AA and NHPIs) face in the higher education workplace, and bring together a rich community of administrators, staff, and faculty who are leading by example – whether it be as part of an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI), Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institution (ANNHSI), or at other degree-granting institutions (including trade and technical schools). REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/3Vncrco Update on NYPD Officer Angwang According to a report by Documented on March 13, 2024, Baijmadajie Angwang , a New York Police Department (NYPD) officer and ethnic Tibetan immigrant from China, was fired by NYPD on January 29, 2024.Angwang’s case is part of a wave of prosecutions of Chinese immigrants living in the U.S. under the umbrella of the now-defunct "China Initiative," the first country-specific enforcement program in the history of the Department of Justice (DOJ). It targeted mainly scholars and scientists and had gained a reputation for being racially biased and ineffective. An analysis by the MIT Technology Review at the end of 2021 found that only about a quarter of the defendants were charged for violations against the Economic Espionage Act, while many others faced integrity issues, such as failing to reveal their affiliations with research institutes in China in grant applications. On September 21, 2020, a handful of FBI agents pointed M4 rifles at Angwang's head and handcuffed him in front of his wife and 2-year-old daughter at his home on Long Island. He spent six months in solitary confinement at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where he was only allowed two individual one-hour meetings with his family and lawyer.In January 2023, after Angwang's lawyer John Carman reviewed classified evidence at the U.S. district court in Brooklyn, prosecutors abruptly dropped the charges against Angwang. The dismissal came with a vague note citing newly discovered evidence.Carman, expressing skepticism, believed Angwang's ethnicity played a role in his arrest, noting the weak evidence against him. As a defense lawyer for nearly 30 years, Carman has observed an increase in Chinese clients in federal criminal cases over the past five years. NYPD continued its internal investigation against Angwang based on the dropped federal charges, and, later, terminated his employment. “Most internal investigations based on court cases would be dropped after the court cases are dismissed,” said Angwang, who worked as a community affairs officer at the 111th precinct in Queens before he was arrested. “It’s hard to believe in the city most welcoming to immigrants, they’d treat a new immigrant cop like me in this way.” He had also served as a US Marine in Afghanistan. “The financial burden, the toll on your mental health. Even when your charges are dropped, the impact on your family and your career is far from over,” said Haipei Shue , president of United Chinese Americans, a civil rights organization that has supported Chinese scientists.The NYPD official file on Angwang's termination is posted here: https://bit.ly/3THjLOX .Angwang's termination by the NYPD has not been reported by mainstream media. Read the Documented report: https://bit.ly/3TkslSl . Read Anywang's story: https://bit.ly/3RIqXId . News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2024/03/24 Committee of Concerned Scientists Annual Meeting 2024/03/25 C100: Asian American Career Ceiling Challenges in Broadcast News2024/03/26 Rally Opposing Florida SB 8462024/03/28 CSIS: U.S.-China Scholarly Recoupling: The Path Forward2024/04/02 2024 AA and NHPI Higher Education Leadership Development Summit2024/04/07 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/04/08 APA Justice Monthly MeetingVisit https://bit.ly/45KGyga for event details. 2. CSIS: U.S.-China Scholarly Recoupling: The Path Forward WHAT: U.S.-China Scholarly Recoupling: The Path Forward WHEN: March 28, 2024, 9:00 - 10:00 am Eastern Time WHERE: WebcastHOST: Center for Strategic and International StudiesMODERATOR: Scott Kennedy, Senior Adviser and Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics, CSISPANELISTS: · Scott Rozelle, Co-Director, Stanford Center on China's Economy and Institutions · Deborah Seligsohn, Assistant Professor, Villanova University · Yu Tiejun, President, Institute of International and Strategic Studies, Peking University · Xie Tao, Dean and Professor, School of International Relations and Diplomacy, Beijing Foreign Studies University · Zhang Ran, Associate Professor, Peking University DESCRIPTION: Over the last two years, the Trustee Chair has led an initiative to avoid U.S.-China scholarly decoupling and restore ties amongst scholars, students and institutions. In 2023, CSIS and Peking University co-hosted a pair of conferences with participation from leading experts from both countries that examined the obstacles to scholarly ties and steps that could be taken to overcome these challenges and create a stronger foundation for renewed ties. This event centers around the release of a major report with contributions from over two dozen of the project participants. REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/4aaCKGV 3. Racially Profiled for Being A Scientist: A Discussion of the US DOJ's China Initiative WHAT: Racially Profiled for Being A Scientist: A Discussion of the US DOJ's China Initiative WHEN: April 17, 2024, 4:30 - 6:00 pm Eastern Time WHERE: In-person event; Press Hall, 1st floor lobby, New York University HOST: New York University Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human DevelopmentMODERATOR: Hua-Yu Sebastian Cherng, Vice Dean for Research and Equity, NYU SteinhardtPANELISTS: · Daniel Tam-Claiborne, Executive Director, Serica Initiative · Gisela Perez Kusakawa, Executive Director, the Asian American Scholar Forum · Frank Wu, President, Queens College DESCRIPTION: A discussion of the China Initiative, a Trump-era - but potentially revived - effort "inciting widespread fear of racial profiling for Asian Americans across the country." REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/3THMOlt 4. Serica Initiative: AAPI Women's Gala 2024 WHAT: AAPI Women's Gala 2024 WHEN: May 14, 2024 WHERE: In-person event, Tribeca 360, New York City HOST: Serica Initiative DESCRIPTION: An event that celebrates the remarkable journeys of women who embody the essence of our theme, "Strength Unveiled: A Celebration of Women's Success Through Resilience and Perseverance." It honors the achievements of women with significant ties to Asia—be they from the AAPI community, other parts of Asia, or those who have significantly contributed to bridging cultures and fostering inclusion across continents. REGISTRATION : https://bit.ly/3PxI4fJ 5. Lunar New Year A Holiday In The State Of Washington According to Seattle Times , Governor Jay Inslee signed legislation on March 13, 2024, officially making Lunar New Year a recognized legislative holiday in the state of Washington. The bill’s sponsor, State Representative My-Linh Thai , D-Bellevue, proposed it as part of an effort to promote inclusion of Asian Americans earlier this year. The bill passed the House on January 31 with a vote of 96-1 and on February 28 it unanimously passed the Senate with a 96-0 vote. Washington now joins Colorado and California , which mark Lunar New Year as an official, but unpaid, holiday. In recent years, New York state and Philadelphia began recognizing it as a public school holiday, and U.S. Rep. Grace Meng , D-N.Y., reintroduced a proposal to make Lunar New Year a federal holiday . Lunar New Year celebrations include Tết in Vietnam, Seollal in Korea and Spring Festival in China. Because the holiday is based on the lunar calendar, it does not fall on a set day and floats between January and February. Lunar New Year is generally a 15-day celebration. More than 900,000 Washingtonians identify as Asian, about 12% of the state’s population and about 20% of King County’s population, according to 2020 census data. Read the Seattle Times report: https://bit.ly/3PtCY3Y Back View PDF March 20, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

3 scientists were ousted by MD Anderson Cancer Center over concerns about Chinese conflicts of interest. April 19, 2019 On April 19, 2019, the Houston Chronicle and Science jointly reported that 3 scientists were ousted by MD Anderson Cancer Center over concerns about Chinese conflicts of interest, the first such publicly disclosed punishments since federal officials directed some institutions to investigate specific professors in violation of granting agency policies. MD Anderson took the actions after receiving e-mails last year from the National Institutes of Health, the nation’s largest public funder of biomedical research, describing conflicts of interest or unreported foreign income by five faculty members. The agency, which has been assisted by the FBI, gave the cancer center 30 days to respond. The departures follow an unprecedented Houston gathering last summer at which FBI officials warned Texas academic and medical institution leaders of the threat, particularly from insiders, and called on them to share with the agency any and all suspicious behavior and information. On April 25, 2019, the United Chinese Americans (UCA), a nationwide nonprofit and nonpartisan federation and a community civic movement, released a statement to raise concerns for Chinese American scientists as collateral damage in the crossfire between the United States and China due to deteriorating relations, including five appeals to address the current situartion. This was reported by the Houston Chronicle on April 29, 2019, expressing "grave concern" that ethnically Chinese scientists have become "collateral damage in the crossfire" of deteriorating U.S.-China relations. 3 scientists were ousted by MD Anderson Cancer Center over concerns about Chinese conflicts of interest. Previous Next Chinese Scientists Ousted from MD Anderson Cancer Center

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

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

Newsletter - #325 Rep. Mark Takano; Birthright Citizenship; "Hands Off!"; Xiaofeng Wang; Litigations; + #325 Rep. Mark Takano; Birthright Citizenship; "Hands Off!"; Xiaofeng Wang; Litigations; + In This Issue #325 · Remarks by Rep. Mark Takano at APA Justice Monthly Meeting · Birthright Citizenship: Legal, Historical, and Civic Resistance to EO · Nationwide "Hands Off!" Rallies · China Initiative 2.0? The Case of Professor Xiaofeng Wang · Latest on Litigations Against Trump's Executive Actions · News and Activities for the Communities Remarks by Rep. Mark Takano at APA Justice Monthly Meeting Rep. Mark Takano, First Vice Chair of Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) in the 119th Congress, opened the April 7, 2025, APA Justice monthly meeting with a recorded video message, now available at https://bit.ly/3R595Yv (2:23).In his remarks, Rep. Takano strongly condemned the Trump administration’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act—a law historically used to incarcerate Japanese Americans, including members of his own family, during World War II. He expressed deep concern that this authority is now being used to deport individuals without due process, warning that such actions edge the nation toward a constitutional crisis. He criticized the Justice Department’s refusal to provide transparency regarding those detained or deported, which has left families in anguish and non-citizen residents in fear. Rep. Takano further warned that these abuses are part of a broader pattern of civil liberties violations, particularly targeting the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community. He cited disturbing policies such as the revival of the discredited China Initiative, attacks on birthright citizenship, and the promotion of racial suspicion. These actions, he said, are aimed at silencing and sidelining those who do not "agree, act, or look like" those in power. Reaffirming his commitment to justice, Rep. Takano pledged to use his voice and platform to defend vulnerable communities and urged APA Justice and its allies to continue their advocacy. He welcomed input from the meeting that could support CAPAC’s work and broader community efforts.Rep. Takano’s office can be contacted at Takano.Press@mail.house.gov or 202-225-2305. A summary of the full April 2025 APA Justice monthly meeting is currently in preparation. Birthright Citizenship: Legal, Historical, and Civic Resistance to EO On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump issued Executive Order 14160, seeking to revoke birthright citizenship for certain children born in the United States. The move triggered swift and widespread legal opposition. States, civil rights organizations, and advocacy groups, promptly filed multiple lawsuits, asserting that the order violates the Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment and defies mor than 125 years of established legal precedent, most notably the Supreme Court's landmark 1898 decision in United States v. Wong Kim Ark . 1. Trump Administration's Retcon 特朗普政府的重塑 Edgar Chen 陳春品 served for a decade at the U.S. Department of Justice, including as Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division, in the Office of Legislative Affairs, and as senior trial attorney leading investigations and civil and criminal cases against suspected human rights violators. Among his previous work, he was Policy Director for the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association and continues to advise the organization on combating anti-Asian hate crimes and discrimination. Chris M. Kwok 郭文 is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in Asian American studies at Hunter College.On March 28, 2025, Edgar and Chris published an article for the Just Security Litigation Tracker on legal challenges to actions taken by the Trump administration. Titled " The Trump Administration’s 14th Amendment Retcon: ‘Wong Kim Ark’ Does Not Limit Birthright Citizenship ," the article argues: "It was no coincidence that President Donald Trump announced on the campaign trail that he would seek to end birthright citizenship via executive order on the heels of the 125th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Wong Kim Ark. For well over a century, Congress, the courts, the executive branch, and the American public have understood and adhered to the principle set forth by the Court in 1898 that U.S. citizenship is automatically conferred to anyone born in the United States (except the children of diplomats and occupying foreign powers). Trump’s Executive Order No. 14160, however, distorts the Wong Kim Ark decision, apparently in the belief that the Court’s language provides a blueprint to limit birthright citizenship only to the children of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (“LPRs” or green card holders). Not so. To retcon Wong Kim Ark’s parents as the equivalent of current day green card holders is both legally and historically mistaken."Read the full article: https://bit.ly/4chB1SA 陳春品（Edgar Chen ）在美国司法部任职十年，期间曾担任刑事司助理司法部长的法律顾问、立法事务办公室成员，并担任高级审判律师，主导对涉嫌侵犯人权者的调查以及民事和刑事案件的处理。在此之前，他曾担任全美亚太裔律师协会的政策总监，并持续为该协会提供建议，协助应对反亚裔仇恨犯罪和歧视问题。 郭文 (Chris M. Kwok) 是亨特学院亚裔美国人研究的兼职助理教授。2025年3月28日，陳春品和郭文在《Just Security Litigation Tracker》上发表了一篇关于法律挑战特朗普政府政策的文章。标题为《特朗普政府重塑《第十四修正案》—《黄金德案》并未限制出生公民权》，文章主张："特朗普总统在竞选期间宣布，他将通过行政命令终止出生公民权，这一决定恰逢美国最高法院在《美国诉黄金德案》（United States v. Wong Kim Ark）判决125周年之际。这绝非巧合。在过去一个多世纪里，美国国会、法院、行政部门和公众都一直遵循并承认该案确立的原则，即在美国出生的人（除外交官及外国占领国的子女外）都自动获得美国公民身份。然而，特朗普签署的第14160号行政命令（Executive Order No. 14160）曲解了《黄金德案》的裁决，似乎认为该判决提供了一种限制出生公民权的法律依据，使其仅适用于美国公民和合法永久居民（即“LPR”或“绿卡持有者”）的子女。但事实并非如此。将黄金德的父母错误地“重塑”（retcon）为现代绿卡持有者，既不符合法律，也不符合历史事实。"阅读APA Justice的张涓全文翻译: https://bit.ly/3FYgQx1 2. Timeline Visualization: Past and Present on Birthright Citizenship With few exceptions (such as children of foreign diplomats), anyone born on U.S. soil automatically becomes a U.S. citizen at birth. Birthright citizenship grants automatic citizenship to individuals born within a country's territory, regardless of their parents' nationality or immigration status. In the United States, it is enshrined in the 14th Amendment of the Constitution, which states: "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside." Despite its deep-rooted history, President Donald Trump issued an executive order in January 2025 attempting to strip birthright citizenship, bypassing the constitutional amendment process. APA Justice's Jeremy Wu and Madeleine Gable have created a timeline visualization of 39 stories that traces the historical background, legal struggles, and ongoing battles surrounding this fundamental right. With exceptions of the Native Americans and Pacific Islanders, the United States is a nation built and prospered by immigrants. Some came earlier than others. Some came more willingly than others. But we all belong to this nation. Watch the timeline visualization in 2D or 3D: https://bit.ly/4hvY4L4 3. Amicus Briefs Filed with Supreme Court According to the New York Times on April 4, 2025, immigrant groups and leaders of 22 Democratic-led states pushed back sharply against the Trump administration’s request that the Supreme Court lift a temporary nationwide ban blocking the president’s order to end birthright citizenship for the children of undocumented immigrants and foreign residents.Three federal courts, in Massachusetts, Maryland and Washington State, have blocked the Trump executive order while litigation proceeds. · Casa Inc. v. Trump (8:25-cv-00201) @Maryland. “There is nothing ‘modest’ about the government’s request for emergency relief in this case,” according to the brief filed on behalf of two immigrants’ rights groups, CASA Inc. and the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project. If the justices granted the government’s request, the challengers argued, “chaos would ensue.” Supreme Court Case Number is 24A884. · State of Washington v. Trump (2:25-cv-00127) @Washington. The Plaintiffs emphasize in a brief that the injunction upholds over 125 years of constitutional precedent under the Fourteenth Amendment and warn that lifting it would cause profound and irreversible harm to fundamental rights, risking statelessness for newborns and violating core democratic principles. They urge the Court to preserve the injunction while appeals proceed. Supreme Court Case Number is 24A885. State of New Jersey v. Trump (1:25-cv-10139) @Massachusetts. A number of attorneys general of Democratic-led states filed a brief that said lifting the nationwide block would allow the administration “to strip thousands of American-born children of their citizenship, in every state or at least in 28 states, while these challenges proceed — even if doing so would contravene settled nationwide precedent.” Supreme Court Case Number is 24A886. 4. APA Justice Monitors Continuing Developments APA Justice has developed a web page to cover the Birthright Citizenship issue at https://bit.ly/3CNjtR1 . It currently covers: · What is Birthright Citizenship? · Donald Trump Executive Order · Why Protect Birthright Citizenship? · Timeline Visualization · Historical Context · Related Media · Legal Battles · Summary Readers are encouraged to visit the website and send their suggested edits and additions to contact@apajustice.org . Nationwide "Hands Off!" Rallies According to AP News , AsAmNews , CNN , Washington Post , and multiple media reports, on April 5, 2025, " Hands Off! " demonstrations were organized for more than 1,200 locations in all 50 states by more than 150 groups, including civil rights organizations, labor unions, LBGTQ+ advocates, veterans and elections activists. According to AP News , hundreds of thousands of protesters across the United States participated in "Hands Off!" rallies, expressing opposition to President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk . The demonstrations, spanning from New York to Alaska, were fueled by concerns over the administration's policies and Musk's involvement in government affairs, particularly through the "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE). Protesters voiced fears about government downsizing, potential privatization of public services, and the overreach of Musk's influence in public policy. These nationwide protests underscore a growing public apprehension regarding the direction of current governmental actions and the roles played by influential private individuals in shaping policy decisions. According to CNN , the "Hands Off!" protests unfolded across all 50 U.S. states and globally, including London and Paris. Florida Rep. Maxwell Frost spoke at a rally in Washington DC, urging people to take action by protesting, donating to mutual aid, participating in direction action and focusing on legislative strategies. “Throughout human history, authoritarians, they’re never satisfied with the power they have, and so they test the bounds, they push the limits, they break the law, and then they look at the public to see if they’re quiet or if they’re loud,” said Rep. Frost.According to the Washington Post , tens of thousands of protesters gathered in front of the Washington Monument to oppose President Donald Trump and adviser Elon Musk 's policies, including the dismantling of federal agencies and the imposition of sweeping tariffs. Speakers like Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) criticized the administration for economic downturns and authoritarian tendencies. There is no future with a president who has “the politics of Mussolini and the economics of Herbert Hoover... Our founders wrote a Constitution that does not begin with ‘We the dictators,’ the preamble says ‘We the people,’” Rep. Raskin said , holding signs condemning the administration. “No moral person wants an economy-crashing dictator who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.” The White House postponed spring garden tours due to the anticipated size of the protests. AsAmNews published a collection of pictures of Asian Americans participating at the "Hands Off! protest in St. Paul, Minnesota. China Initiative 2.0? The Case of Professor Xiaofeng Wang According to multiple media reports, Xiaofeng Wang 王晓峰 , a prominent cybersecurity professor at Indiana University Bloomington (IUB), was terminated from his position on March 28, 2025—the same day that FBI and Department of Homeland Security agents searched his residences in Bloomington and Carmel, Indiana. The university has not publicly disclosed the reasons for his dismissal.As of now, neither Professor Wang nor his wife, Nianli Ma —a systems analyst at the university—have been arrested or charged with any crimes. Their attorney confirmed that the couple is safe and unaware of any pending criminal charges.The American Association of University Professors' Bloomington chapter has criticized the university's handling of Professor Wang's termination, asserting that it violated due process and university policies. Professor Wang had recently accepted a position at a university in Singapore prior to his dismissal from IUB.The specific reasons behind the federal investigation remain undisclosed, and the search warrants have been sealed. Efforts have been made to unseal these documents to gain clarity on the situation. According to Indiana Public Media , Professor Wang is represented by Attorneys Jason Covert and Jackie Bennett Jr. of Taft Law .APA Justice is monitoring developments in Professor Wang’s case: https://bit.ly/42tbPVR Latest on Litigations Against Trump's Executive Actions As of April 8, 2025, the number of lawsuits against President Donald Trump 's executive actions reported by the Just Security Litigation Tracker has grown to 178 (4 closed cases). These are some of the latest developments: · According to AP News , on April 7, 2025, the Supreme Court ruled in a sharply divided 5-4 decision that the Trump administration can proceed with deporting Venezuelan migrants under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act -- so long as each individual receives a court hearing prior to removal. The decision stems from President Trump's classification of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua as an "invading force" in J.G.G. v. Trump (1:25-cv-00766) . TheCourt's conservative majority also determined that legal challenges must ve filed in Texas rather than Washington, D.C. In response, ACLU has filed an emergency lawsuit seeking a new temporary restraining order in a different court, consistent with the Court's ruling, to prevent immediate deportations and ensure due process protections. · Attorneys general from 21 states, led by Rhode Island, have filed a federal lawsuit State of Rhode Island v. Trump (1:25-cv-00128) to block President Trump’s March 14 executive order to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and six other federal agencies. The plaintiffs argue the order violates both the Constitution and the Administrative Procedure Act by bypassing Congress and abruptly defunding programs without due process. The suit notes that 85% of IMLS staff were placed on leave, grants were rescinded, and no public explanation was offered. The states are seeking an emergency injunction to restore agency functions and prevent irreparable harm to public services and interstate programs. · The New Civil Liberties Alliance, funded by conservatives Leonard Leo and Charles Koch , has filed suit against Trump's use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs on Chinese imports. The group argues that this action is unlawful, as the IEEPA was not designed for tariffs and the power to impose them lies with Congress. The lawsuit, Emily Ley Paper Inc v. Trump (3:25-cv-00464) , contends that IEEPA was never intended for economic tariffs and that such powers rest with Congress. The suit is supported by Simplified, a Florida-based importer, and underscores growing unease among business leaders and even some Republicans about the economic fallout of Trump’s tariff policies. The plaintiffs also challenge the administration’s attempt to link the tariffs to the fentanyl crisis, arguing that the rationale is pretextual. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar 2025/04/13 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/04/14 State of Play Virtual Town Hall2025/04/15 China Connections: A Conversation with Emily Feng2025/04/22 Scholars Not Spies: Fighting for International Academic Workers’ Rights in an Era of Rising US-China Conflict2025/04/24 CHINA Town Hall: The First 100 Days: President Trump's China Policy2025/04/24-26 Committee of 100 Annual Conference and Gala2025/04/27 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/05/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/05/06 Asian American Careers - How to Build Your Personal Network, including Through Strategic AlliesVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. Discover China 2025: Summer Youth Exchange to the Greater Bay Area Founded in 2019, US-Sino Culture Exchange Consortium (USCEC) 美中文化促进会 is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering mutual friendship and cultural exchanges between the United States and China. Its mission encompasses four key objectives: · Promoting people-to-people cultural exchanges between China and the United States. · Supporting the development of local U.S. artists. · Promoting traditional Chinese cultural arts. · Safeguarding and advancing the well-being of Chinese Americans. As part of its activities to build lasting connections between the people of the United States and China, USCEC will host a 9-day immersive program titled "Discover China 2025: Summer Youth Exchange to the Greater Bay Area." Total cost is $980 which includes round trip air, visa applications, local accommodations, local transportation, guided tours, and workshops. Application deadline is April 18, 2025. WHAT : Discover China 2025: Summer Youth Exchange to the Greater Bay Area WHEN : June 16-24, 2025 WHERE : Greater Bay Area, China HOST : US-Sino Culture Exchange Consortium (USCEC) 美中文化促进会 DESCRIPTION : A 9-day immersive program for American youth (18-38) to explore China's innovation, culture, and academic exchanges. PROGRAM ITINERARY: https://bit.ly/3R51XLH APPLICATION : https://bit.ly/42nvOUG (deadline April 18, 2025) 3. 2025/04/24 China Town Hall: President Trump's China Policy Each year, the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations (NCUSCR) hosts a nationwide town hall, inviting three keynote speakers and broadcasting through their partner network. This year's online event will be held on April 24, starting at 6:30 pm ET. The topic is "The First 100 Days: President Trump's China Policy," featuring: · Ryan Hass , Director, John L. Thornton China Center, Brookings Institution · Matthew Turpin , Visiting Fellow, Hoover Institution · Lingling Wei , Chief China Correspondent, The Wall Street Journal As part of the town hall, there will also be in-person discussions hosted by local network partners.In Atlanta, the Carter Center’s China Focus Initiative, in partnership with NCUSCR, Emory University’s Asia Global Collective, and China Research Center, will feature Jeremy Goldkorn , Editor of the China Week, and Editorial Fellow, ChinaFile, as the keynote speaker. His talk will be on “China in the Age of American Isolation.” The in-person event will be held at Emory University, Math and Science Center, Room E208, in Atlanta, with door opening at 5:15 pm ET. Register for the in-person event: https://bit.ly/3Ym8vJI . Register for the virtual event: https://bit.ly/4lCTyNA In Washington DC, the US-China Education Trust, in partnership with NCUSCR and Young China Watchers, will feature Sean Stein , president of the US-China Business Council, as the keynote speaker. The in-person event will be held in Room 505, Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University in Washington DC, starting at 5:30 pm ET. For more information and to register for the events, visit https://bit.ly/42tDaGn # # # 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 . 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Newsletter - #400 400 Issues Later: Still Building Community, Advocacy, and Voice #400 400 Issues Later: Still Building Community, Advocacy, and Voice In This Issue #400 Still Building Community, Advocacy, and Voice We celebrate the 400th issue of the APA Justice Newsletter by reflecting on the journey that began with our first issue on July 5, 2020. What started as a modest community publication during a period of uncertainty and upheaval has grown into an enduring platform for information, dialogue, advocacy, and historical record.It was a time to honor the many contributions of Asian Pacific Americans to the United States, but it was also a time of extraordinary challenge. As the nation confronted the COVID-19 pandemic, Asian Pacific Americans fought on two fronts. Our medical professionals and researchers battled the coronavirus, while our communities faced a surge in anti-Asian hate amid the climate surrounding the China Initiative.The launch of the Newsletter also marked the continued evolution of APA Justice. What began in the fall of 2015 as a response to concerns raised by Representative Judy Chu gradually evolved from a platform connecting elected officials, individuals, and community organizations into a broader, sustainable ecosystem dedicated to addressing racial profiling and advancing justice, fairness, and civil rights for Asian Pacific Americans.Beginning with approximately 300 subscribers, the Newsletter soon became one of the three integrated pillars of APA Justice’s core activities, alongside our Monthly Meetings and Website, while webinars further amplified critical issues, community concerns, and public dialogue. Four hundred issues later, the APA Justice Newsletter remains grounded in the same mission: to build community, amplify voices, document history, and advocate for a more just and inclusive society. I. Looking Back: Why the Newsletter Was Started The APA Justice Newsletter was launched during a period of growing uncertainty and concern for many Asian Pacific Americans, particularly within academic, scientific, and immigrant communities. In 2020, public debate surrounding the China Initiative, national security investigations, and U.S.-China tensions increasingly intersected with concerns about racial profiling, civil liberties, and equal treatment under the law.Many in the community worried about wrongful prosecutions and investigations, the erosion of academic freedom, and the chilling effect these developments could have on scientific research, international collaboration, and public discourse. At the same time, the rise in anti-Asian discrimination and hate incidents during the COVID-19 pandemic intensified fears and underscored the need for stronger community engagement and public education.Against this backdrop, the APA Justice Newsletter was created to provide timely and reliable information, thoughtful analysis, and a trusted platform for discussion. The goal was not only to report developments, but also to help connect a growing network of advocates, academics, attorneys, scientists, journalists, students, and community leaders working to promote fairness, due process, and civil rights. The Newsletter also sought to amplify Asian American voices that were often underrepresented or misunderstood in mainstream conversations. By sharing articles, statements, webinars, legal developments, and community perspectives, it became a centralized resource for those seeking both information and solidarity during a turbulent period.Over time, the Newsletter evolved into an ongoing historical record of a consequential era for the Asian Pacific American community — documenting not only challenges and controversies, but also resilience, advocacy, collaboration, and civic engagement. II. What We Cover — And Why It Matters Many of the challenges facing Asian Pacific Americans today are not entirely new. From the Chinese Exclusion Act, Alien Land Laws, Japanese American incarceration, to Cold War-era Red Scare loyalty investigations, Asian Pacific Americans have repeatedly faced suspicion, exclusion, and unequal treatment during periods of national anxiety. In recent years, many of these historical patterns have reemerged in modern forms — through racial profiling, politicized investigations, surveillance concerns, and renewed questions about citizenship, belonging, and civil rights.Against this backdrop, the APA Justice Newsletter has focused on three intersecting areas: combating racial profiling, protecting rights and fairness, and advancing social justice through community engagement and advocacy. A. Combating Racial Profiling A central focus of the Newsletter has been the China Initiative, attempts of its revival, and the broader climate of modern-day McCarthyism surrounding scientists, researchers, and Asian American communities. The Newsletter closely followed cases involving individuals such as Anming Hu , Franklin Tao , and Gang Chen , highlighting concerns about racial profiling, wrongful investigations, due process, and law enforcement overreach.The Newsletter also amplified investigative reporting, congressional oversight, and independent reviews that exposed systemic flaws and bias in the implementation of the China Initiative. Through case updates, webinars, and public education, APA Justice sought to support impacted individuals while advocating for greater accountability and civil rights protections. B. Protecting Rights and Fairness The Newsletter has consistently addressed broader threats to constitutional rights and equal treatment under the law, including opposition to warrantless surveillance and support for birthright citizenship. APA Justice viewed these debates not as isolated policy disputes, but as part of a larger struggle to ensure that Asian Pacific Americans and other communities are afforded the same protections and freedoms guaranteed to all Americans.Through advocacy campaigns, legal resources, webinars, and partnerships with organizations including Asian American Advancing Justice | AAJC, Asian American Scholar Forum, Committee of 100, and U.S.-China Education Trust, the Newsletter helped mobilize public engagement and strengthen community response to civil liberties concerns. C. Driving Social Justice Beyond reporting on problems, the APA Justice Newsletter has sought to strengthen civic participation, community solidarity, and collective action. The Newsletter publicized advocacy campaigns, sign-on letters, town halls, webinars, and “know your rights” programs designed to inform and empower communities.Examples included promoting the “We Belong” Yellow Whistle anti-hate campaign, supporting voter engagement and multilingual outreach efforts, and connecting impacted individuals with legal and community resources. By bringing together advocates, academics, attorneys, journalists, elected officials, and community leaders, the Newsletter helped build a broader network committed to justice, fairness, and democratic engagement. III. Beyond the Newsletter: Building an Ecosystem As APA Justice evolved into building a sustainable information and community ecosystem, the Newsletter, Monthly Meetings, Website, and Webinars each reinforce and complement one another. Together, they provide timely information, deeper analysis, community dialogue, historical documentation, and opportunities for collaboration, advocacy, and public education. A. APA Justice Monthly Meetings The APA Justice Monthly Meetings provide a unique forum for open and candid discussions on current events, civil rights concerns, public policy, and community issues. Featuring regular leaders the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Asian American Advancing Justice | AAJC, and Asian American Scholar Forum, as well as invited speakers, the meetings bring together attorneys, academics, scientists, journalists, policymakers, and community leaders for substantive updates and strategic discussions.To encourage frank dialogue, meetings are generally by invitation only and conducted off the record unless speakers authorize public sharing. These conversations frequently identify emerging issues, shape future webinars, inform newsletter coverage, and strengthen collaboration across organizations and communities. Written summaries are later posted on the APA Justice Website to preserve key discussions and developments. B. APA Justice Website The APA Justice Website at https://www.apajusticetaskforce.org/ serves as the organization’s public archive and resource center, preserving and organizing years of reporting, advocacy, and educational materials. The Website complements the Newsletter by providing broader access to articles, stories, case updates, event announcements, webinar recordings, community statements, and historical documentation.As the Newsletter captures ongoing developments, the Website helps preserve institutional memory and provides a centralized source of information and reference materials. C. Webinars and Public Discussions APA Justice webinars, frequently co-hosted with partner organizations, extend these discussions to broader public audiences by bringing together legal experts, journalists, academics, policymakers, civil rights advocates, and community organizations to examine critical issues in greater depth.Webinars have addressed topics including civil rights, U.S.-China relations, scientific research, immigration, media narratives, academic freedom, racial profiling, and constitutional protections. The webinars foster partnerships with allied organizations and create opportunities for public education, community engagement, and informed dialogue. Since October 2025, APA Justice has partnered with the Committee of 100 and U.S.-China Education Trust on a continuing webinar series examining the intersection of U.S.-China relations and the civil rights and civil liberties of Asian American and immigrant communities — bringing these conversations to broader public audiences as geopolitical tensions continue to shape life at home. Together, the Newsletter, Monthly Meetings, Website, and Webinars form an interconnected platform for APA Justice to inform, connect, document, and mobilize the community while preserving important historical records on issues affecting Asian Pacific Americans and broader community concerns. IV. Recognition of Our Staff Members To conduct these activities and pursue our ambitious goals, we are very fortunate to be supported by a small but talented staff who contribute day in and day out: Charlotte Ding, Product Developer Charlotte Ding recently graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. She joined APA Justice in 2023 as an intern working on web design and content management. She has stayed with the organization since then, continuing work on the website and taking on new initiatives involving project management and digital content strategy. Charlotte has also worked as a software engineer on a research project with UCSF Law, developing an AI negotiation platform to explore AI’s ability to perform complex reasoning. Madeleine Gable, Communications Associate Madeleine Gable is a rising senior at New York University, studying International Relations, Economics, and Chinese. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, she developed a global perspective from an early age, beginning her study of Mandarin in elementary school and later studying abroad in Shanghai during college. Outside the classroom, she is involved in student government, a professional law fraternity, and enjoys exploring New York. Her work with APA Justice allows her to integrate her skills in research, writing, and policy analysis into her commitment to community advocacy and social justice. Ryan Zhao, Web Developer Ryan Zhao is a pre-med senior majoring in Computer Science at the University of Texas at Austin. Interested in the cutting-edge of healthcare and tech, he has researched machine learning methods for cancer characterization and leads a machine learning team at UT's biggest Neurotechnology and BCI organization. Ryan's involvement with APA Justice has enabled him to bridge his technical and social interests by supporting the documentation and dissemination of important Asian American issues. Outside of his academic and professional work, he enjoys the piano and playing sports such as soccer and golf. The Team Behind Every Issue Every issue of the APA Justice Newsletter reflects the collective efforts of a dedicated team and community committed to our mission. What began as a small grassroots effort has grown into a sustained platform because of the time, talent, trust, and support of countless individuals over the years. One of our inside jokes is that APA Justice Co-Organizers serve as both "CEO and janitor" — and everything in between. There are no regular work hours in grassroots community work. Behind every meeting, webinar, newsletter issue, website update, and advocacy campaign are countless hours of coordination, editing, outreach, troubleshooting, planning, and follow-up. What sustains this work is a shared belief that we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us and have an obligation to help build the path for those who come after us. V. A Peek Into the Future — Expanded Webinars, AI, and the Work Ahead As we mark 400 issues, we are energized by what lies ahead. The challenges facing Asian Pacific American communities are evolving rapidly — and so are the tools and partnerships available to meet them. Expanding Our Webinar Series. Building on our continuing webinar series with the Committee of 100 and U.S.-China Education Trust, we intend to expand this partnership, broaden the topics we address, and reach new audiences across the country. Future webinars will continue to examine civil rights, academic exchange, immigration policy, constitutional protections, and the evolving U.S.-China relationship — always grounded in the lived experiences of our communities. Harnessing Artificial Intelligence. We are actively exploring how AI can strengthen our work — from more accessible tools for community education to enhanced search and navigation of our growing archive of newsletters, webinar recordings, and advocacy materials on the APA Justice Website. Our goal is to make the institutional memory we have built over the years more discoverable and useful for advocates, researchers, journalists, and community members. We will approach this work thoughtfully, ensuring that AI serves our mission of fairness and justice rather than introducing new forms of bias or exclusion. As a first step, we have launched a ChatBot pilot on our Newsletter and McCarthyism web pages. It is a work in progress, and we invite you to take a look and share your feedback with us at contact@apajustice.org . Growing Our Team and Our Network. Sustaining and expanding this work requires people as much as platforms. We are actively recruiting two part-time staff members, ideal for college students or early-career professionals, to support our expanding activities. If you — or someone you know — combines a commitment to civil rights with skills in communications, research, writing, or technology, we hope you will reach out to us at contact@apajustice.org . Every person who joins this effort strengthens the entire community we serve. VI. A Word of Gratitude - Please Support Our Work Four hundred issues would not exist without you. To our readers who have forwarded newsletters, shared webinar links, written letters, signed petitions, testified at hearings, and simply showed up — thank you. To our donors whose generosity has made this work sustainable year after year — thank you. You are not a passive audience; you are co-authors of this record.APA Justice is a strategic, powered-by affiliate of the Committee of 100. Your tax-deductible contribution directly sustains the Newsletter, Monthly Meetings, Webinars, and Website that serve our community. If this work has informed, connected, or empowered you, we ask you to invest in its future at https://bit.ly/DonateAPAJustice or scan the QR code above. Donations of any size make a difference — and every contribution is a vote of confidence in the work ahead.Here is to the next 400 issues — and to the more just and inclusive society we are building together. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2026/06/17 Voting Barriers for AA & NH/PI Women2026/06/23 Under the Microscope: The Cases Targeting America's Scientists, Scholars & Researchers in 20262026/06/27-28 From Crisis to Coalition: Lessons from the Front Lines in Minneapolis/St. Paul2026/06/28-07/01 UCA: 2026 Chinese American Convention2026/07/04 Unveiling of Mabel Ping-Hua Lee Mural2026/07/06 APA Justice Monthly MeetingVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. AASF: Under the Microscope: The Cases Targeting America's Scientists, Scholars & Researchers in 2026 WHAT : Under the Microscope: The Cases Targeting America's Scientists, Scholars & Researchers in 2026 WHEN : June 23, 2026, 1:30 PM ET WHERE : Webinar HOST : Asian American Scholar Forum Moderator: Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Esq. Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum Speakers: · Rob Fisher , Esq. Partner, Nixon Peabody · Justin Sadowsky , Esq. Legal Director, Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance (CALDA) · John Sandweg , Esq. Partner, Nixon Peabody · Brian Sun , Esq. Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright · Clay Zhu , Esq. President, CALDA DESCRIPTION: This discussion will feature leading attorneys examining the evolving landscape of government investigations targeting researchers, the intersection of criminal defense, immigration and employment law, and the particular pressures faced by scholars, researchers, and scientists of Chinese descent. The panel will explore what has changed since the China Initiative and what echoes remain. This conversation speaks directly to AASF's ongoing work to protect our communities, strengthen the U.S. research ecosystem, and ensure that policies support innovation and create a welcoming environment for our community. Whether you are a researcher navigating these challenges, an educator confused about the changing norms, a student seeking more resources, or a community member invested in protecting civil rights, this webinar offers essential insights and practical information. REGISTRATION : https://bit.ly/4e5ASEv # # # 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 feed Back View PDF June 12, 2026 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #268 Franklin Tao Speaks; Brain Drain; Research Collaboration Decline; Sheila Jackson Lee + #268 Franklin Tao Speaks; Brain Drain; Research Collaboration Decline; Sheila Jackson Lee + In This Issue #268 · The Injustice and Ordeal of Professor Feng "Franklin" Tao · Reverse Brain Drain? Exploring Trends among Chinese Scientists in the U.S. · Nature : China–US research collaborations are in decline · Remembering Sheila Jackson Lee · News and Activities for the Communities The Injustice and Ordeal of Professor Feng "Franklin" Tao On July 11, 2024, Professor Feng "Franklin" Tao was cleared of the final charge against him under the now-defunct China Initiative. He and his wife have accepted an invitation to speak at the next APA Justice monthly meeting on August 5, 2024.Professor Tao was the first academic scientist indicted under the China Initiative on August 21, 2019. As a tenured associate professor at the Kansas University (KU), he conducted research on fundamental studies of catalysis for chemical transformation, promotion of energy efficiency, and environmental sustainability. On June 24, 2020, the government charged him with a second superseding indictment, bringing the total to ten counts including wire fraud and false statements against Professor Tao. These charges were unrelated to espionage or the transfer of sensitive information to China.The case against Professor Tao started from fabricated allegations by a disgruntled visiting scholar. After failing to extort Professor Tao for $300,000, she later admitted to the FBI that she had hacked into his email account to fish for "evidence" and then used phony aliases to submit fabricated complaints to both KU and the FBI.Before the jury trial, the government voluntarily dropped two charges. The trial on the remaining eight counts began on March 21, 2022. The jury acquitted four counts and convicted him on the other four counts. On September 20, 2022, U.S. District Court Senior Judge Julie Robinson acquitted the three wire-fraud counts. Only a false statement count was left. On January 18, 2023, Judge Robinson sentenced Professor Tao to no jail time, no fine, and two years of probation for the remaining false statement conviction. The district court terminated the probation early in February 2024.Professor Tao appealed the conviction of the last count in February 2023. On July 11, 2024, the 10th Circuit Appeals Court ruled in a 2-1 vote that reversed the conviction of making a false statement, clearing all charges imposed on Professor Tao.The acquittal of the last of the 10 original charges marked the end of Professor Tao's five-year ordeal of criminal persecution, initiated by racial profiling under the China Initiative. Despite not being tried for espionage or the transfer of sensitive information to China, his faculty position was terminated in January 2023. He expects KU should reinstate him.While Professor Tao's innocence has now been confirmed, the process has had a tremendous impact on his finances, career, reputation, and family.APA Justice has closely tracked Professor Tao's case from the beginning. The Asian American communities were mobilized to fully support Professor Tao.The media was engaged. Amicus brief was submitted. Funds were raised for his legal defense. Turnout rallies were organized.APA Justice has compiled the details of Professor Tao's ordeal into a web page. It is still a work in progress, but it is available for public review here: https://bit.ly/3y8SBsm . If you wish to attend the August 5 APA Justice monthly meeting or provide feedback to the web page, please send a message to contact@apajustice.org . 2024/07/23 Press Conference on Professor Franklin Tao WHAT: Press Conference WHO: Professor Franklin Tao, his wife, his lawyer, Peter Zeidenberg, Members of Congress, representatives from Asian American civil rights and scientific organizations WHEN: July 23, 3:00 pm to 3:30 pm ET WHERE: Cannon House Office Building, Room 454, Capitol Hill, Washington DC Reverse Brain Drain? Exploring Trends among Chinese Scientists in the U.S. According to an update by the Stanford Center on China's Economy and Institutions (SCCEI) on July 15, 2024, along with native-born Chinese Americans, Chinese immigrants have become a large and visible demographic group in American science, technology, and engineering. However, the pressure of potential federal investigations since the 2018 launch of the "China Initiative" by the U.S. Department of Justice has provided scientists of Chinese descent in the U.S. with higher incentives to leave and lower incentives to apply for federal grants.While most China-born, U.S.-based scientists intend to stay in the U.S., the number leaving has steadily increased. After the Department of Justice implemented the "China Initiative" in 2018, departures increased by 75%, with two-thirds of the relocated scientists moving to China.Surveyed scientists of Chinese descent in the U.S. report anxiety and new difficulties in pursuing their research, with 61% considering leaving the U.S. and 45% avoiding federal grant applications.The update says U.S. science will likely suffer given the loss of scientific talent to China and other countries. Read the SCCEI update: https://stanford.io/3zQOf9P . Nature : China–US Research Collaborations are In Decline According to Nature on July 19, 2024, scientists have been warning that political tensions between China and the United States, combined with the pandemic, have affected research collaborations between the two countries. But it takes time for evidence of this sort of decline to accumulate in research databases. The latest evidence comes from an analysis conducted by Springer Nature ’s team in China. They found that in 2022, the total number papers co-authored by researchers from China and their international peers declined for the first time since 2013.The proportion of research papers with Chinese and international co-authors has been falling for even longer. At its peak, in 2018, 26.6% — roughly 110,000 articles — of China’s output in the InCites database was co-authored with international colleagues. By 2023, the proportion of the country’s articles with international peers had dropped by 7.2%, despite China’s overall number of articles almost doubling to 759,000 over the same period.The drop in internationally co-authored papers is mainly due to China’s declining share of papers published with US researchers, which fell by 6.4% between its peak in 2017 and 2023 — the largest decline of any country included in the analysis. The findings were presented at the Zhongguancun Forum in Beijing on April 25.The decline in US-China collaborations echoes findings from a 2022 analysis conducted for Nature, which found that the number of researchers with dual US and China affiliations on research articles in Elsevier’s Scopus database had fallen by more than 20% between 2019 and 2021. The crackdown under the China Initiative resulted in several scientists being arrested over their ties to collaborators or institutions in China, and has stoked fear among researchers of Chinese descent. Since then, the US government has adopted a range of policies focused on tightening research security. And in July 2023, the Chinese government implemented its revised counter-espionage law, which broadened the definition of what constitutes spying.The crackdown on perceived foreign interference in both the United States and China is making researchers more cautious about collaborating. Restrictive policies and the climate of fear could end up driving talent away from certain countries and fields, leading to a “brain drain and a loss of valuable human capital.” The faltering collaborative ties between the United States and China could also result in the countries pursuing the same types of research separately, increasingly prioritize domestic interests over international cooperation, which could make scientific research a more nationalistic endeavor.Read the Nature report: https://go.nature.com/4cP5h6O . Remembering Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee Texas congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (pictured in red above) died in Houston on July 19, 2024, at the age of 74. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee was a force in American politics. Born in Queens, New York, she was appointed a municipal court judge in Houston in 1987. She won a place on Houston's City Council two years later. In 1994, she defeated incumbent Congressman Craig Washington in the primary for a solidly Democratic seat. She won the general election that November. She was only the fourth member to represent the district since it was redrawn to represent Houston, following Barbara Jordan , Mickey Leland , and Washington. She wound up holding it for nearly 30 years, longer than all three of her immediate predecessors combined.Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee was a local, national and international humanitarian, who fought for racial and criminal justice. She was a fierce champion of the peopleIn March 2020, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee expressed outrage at the uptick in violence against Chinese Americans and pleaded for the President to cease and desist from calling the Coronavirus the Chinese Virus. "Violence directed against individuals on the basis of their race, religion, national origin, gender, or sexual orientation is disturbingly prevalent -- and poses significant threats to the Chinese American community during this worldwide pandemic. Domestic terrorism is growing, and these words and attacks only create increasing fear in a time when our nation should be unified and stand together," she said in statement. On February 11, 2023, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee wore the "We Belong" Yellow Whistle and joined hundreds of protesters marching through Houston's Chinatown in opposition to SB 147 - a proposed law that would prohibit Chinese citizens from owning property in Texas. She carried the banner with Texas Representative Gene Wu , Congressman Al Green , and Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner , insisting to complete the entire march. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee also spoke on the stage . "No to SB 147, because the Statue of Liberty has not fallen, and the American flag is still standing," she said. "Stop the Asian hate. Stand for the American flag."We mourn the passing of Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee and the loss of a true friend of the Asian American community. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2024/07/23 Press Conference on Professor Franklin Tao2024/07/25-28 Leadership Convention by NAAAP (National Association of Asian American Professionals) 2024/07/27-28 Asian American Pioneer Medal Symposium and Ceremony2024/08/04 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/08/05 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/08/19 DNC Convention, AAPI Briefing & Reception, Chicago, IL2024/09/01 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/09/19-20 AANHPI Unity SummitThe Community Calendar has moved. Visit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. Back View PDF July 23, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #387 4/6 Meeting; CHR: 50 Years of Support; Ohioans Opposed HB1; C100 Survey; No Kings; + #387 4/6 Meeting; CHR: 50 Years of Support; Ohioans Opposed HB1; C100 Survey; No Kings; + In This Issue #387 · 04/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · NASEM/CHR: 50 Years of Support for Colleagues under Threat · Ohioans Overwhelmingly Opposed the State’s Alien Land Bill at March 17 Hearing · C100: The Perpetual Foreigner Stereotype · 03/28 No Kings Day · News and Activities for the Communities 04/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held on Monday, April 6, 2026, starting at 1:55 pm ET. In addition to updates from: · Judith Teruya , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) · Joanna YangQing Derman , Program Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC · Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) We are honored to welcome the following distinguished speakers: · Eric Zheng , President, American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai · Susan A. Thornton , Vice Chair, U.S. Heartland China Association · Susan Shirk , Research Professor; Director Emeritus, 21st Century China Center, University of California, San Diego Although the Trump-Xi summit has been postponed to May 14-15, 2026, U.S.-China relations remain the most consequential global issue of our time — with profound implications for trade, education, international exchange, and the well-being of Chinese Americans, Asian Americans, and immigrant communities nationwide. This meeting will bring together some of the most informed voices on these issues for a timely and wide-ranging conversation. The virtual monthly meeting is by invitation only. It is closed to the press. If you wish to join, either one time or for future meetings, please contact one of the co-organizers of APA Justice - Vincent Wang 王文奎 and Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org . ***** Eric Zheng is President of AmCham Shanghai, the largest American chamber of commerce in Asia Pacific. Prior to his current role with AmCham Shanghai, Eric had a successful career with AIG including serving as President & CEO of AIG China. Eric has been active in several non-profit and charity organizations. He is a member of Committee of 100 and currently serves as Chair of Committee of 100 Greater China Region. Eric will focus on “Opportunities and Challenges in China: An On-the-Ground Perspective of American Companies.” Susan A. Thornton is a retired senior U.S. diplomat with almost three decades of experience with the U.S. State Department in Eurasia and East Asia. She is currently Vice Chair of the U.S. Heartland China Association and a Senior Fellow and Visiting Lecturer in Law at the Yale Law School Paul Tsai China Center. She is also the director of the Forum on Asia-Pacific Security at the National Committee on American Foreign Policy and a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. Susan will offer observations about subnational and citizen diplomacy including education and other people-to-people exchanges. Susan Shirk is a research professor at the UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy and director emeritus of its 21st Century China Center. She is one of the most influential experts working on U.S.-China relations and Chinese politics. She is also director emeritus of the UC Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation (IGCC). Susan will speak about the current state of US-China relations, focusing on the now-delayed leaders’ meeting. NASEM/CHR: 50 Years of Support for Colleagues under Threat In the early 1970s, leaders and members of the National Academy of Sciences mobilized to support Andrei Sakharov , who faced persecution in the USSR for his pro-democracy and human rights advocacy. This effort to defend Sakharov and other at-risk scientists led to the establishment of the Committee on Human Rights (CHR) in 1976. On December 15, 2025, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) produced a video featuring Helen Zia 謝漢蘭 , author and human rights activist, and Gang Chen 陈刚 , Professor of Power Engineering at MIT. The video highlights how wrongful targeting of scientists—especially Asian American researchers— repeatedly undermines both human rights and the integrity of science. Helen Zia recounts the case of Wen Ho Lee 李文和 , Taiwanese American nuclear scientist at the Los Alamos National Laboratory who was falsely accused of espionage, held in harsh solitary confinement, and later released with a judicial apology—an episode she argues reflects treatment that “would be called torture” elsewhere. Similar patterns persisted decades later. Professor Chen describes his 2021 arrest under the China Initiative for routine academic collaborations, calling it “a year of living in hell” before charges were dropped. He warns the initiative created a “tremendous chilling effect,” with surveys showing widespread fear among Asian American scientists and many reconsidering research careers or leaving the U.S. These cases offer a broader historical context of suspicion toward Chinese Americans, while emphasizing the critical role of scientific solidarity. Support from the scientific community helped challenge false accusations and defend affected researchers. The central message is clear: silence enables injustice, while speaking out is essential. As Professor Chen concludes, collective advocacy is vital because “if we do not speak out, it could happen to any of us.” In recognition of its 50th anniversary, CHR hosted a virtual event on March 24, 2026. It was moderated by CHR Chair Martin Chalfie , Nobel Laureate and University Professor at Columbia University. The CHR also launched a short film highlighting the story of colleagues who have themselves come under threat and the importance of responding to rights abuses. Scientists pursue truth, yet their work can challenge powerful interests—creating risks not only for individuals but for the integrity of science itself. Dr. Chalfie said, when researchers are targeted, it discourages bold ideas and open inquiry. Defending threatened scholars is therefore part of the profession’s core responsibility. Since 1976, CHR has bridged the human rights and scientific communities, advocating globally for scientists facing abuses ranging from harassment to imprisonment. Andreas Georgiou , who worked to produce “reliable, credible and trustworthy official statistics” for Greece, faced intense political backlash and multiple prosecutions, reflecting how even technical truth-telling can provoke retaliation. His experience underscores the broader risks faced by professionals committed to integrity. CHR’s work—supported by thousands of academy members—demonstrates the power of solidarity. As CHR Vice Chair Dr. Andrea J. Liu noted, “The value of voicing support is immeasurable…to know that your community is behind you is incredibly important.” Protecting human rights ultimately safeguards the conditions necessary for science to thrive: freedom of thought, open collaboration, and the courage to pursue truth. Visit https://nap.nationalacademies.org/chr-50/our-work.html to learn more about the work of CHR. Watch the video on Helen Zia and Gang Chen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83iQBnAS5mA (9:23). Watch the 50 Years of the Committee on Human Rights film at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iITtDXiECk (7:43) Ohioans Overwhelmingly Opposed the State’s Alien Land Bill at March 17 Hearing The Ohio House Public Safety Committee held its fourth hearing on March 17, 2026, on House Bill 1 (H.B. 1), titled “Ohio Property Protection Act.” This is one of the alien land bills or laws tracked by the Committee of 100 that would restrict land or property ownership based on national origin, potentially violating federal and state laws, especially the U.S. Constitution and the Fair Housing Act. The hearing once again drew a full room and highlighted the overwhelming and consistent public opposition to the bill. Testimony breakdown is as follows: · 102 in opposition · 7 in support · 3 as interested party Not a single Ohio resident testified in support of H.B. 1 - only seven (7) testimonies were submitted in support of the legislation, five (5) of which came from out‑of‑state special‑interest groups. In contrast, opposition testimony came from 95 Ohio residents, one member of the legislature, and six community and civil‑rights organizations. Details of the testimonies can be found here . Proponents Fail to Demonstrate Security Rationale Supporters of H.B. 1 failed to show how the bill protects Ohioans or addresses national security risks. Their testimony: · Relied on unsubstantiated claims and anecdotes against lawful residents and visa holders. · Cited isolated incidents in other states with no relation to home ownership. · Offered no evidence linking immigrants in Ohio to national security threats. · Did not explain with evidence how the legislation would address any real security concerns. · Linked illegal immigration and border concerns to individual home buyers and businesses owners who are here legally in the United States. Broad Legal, Economic, and Civil Rights Concerns Opponents of H.B. 1 emphasized that the bill: · Discriminates on the basis of national origin. · Wrongfully punishes those that follow the law. · Conflicts with the U.S. Constitution and the Fair Housing Act. · Damages Ohio’s reputation as a fair, welcoming, and business‑friendly state, and the most innovative and entrepreneurial state in the Midwest. · Defines “critical infrastructure” so broadly that it would effectively restrict property ownership by lawful residents across the state — see attached the critical infrastructure zone map. This is a complete ban on home ownership in the state and a level of government overreach unprecedented in Ohio. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine vetoed a measure similar to H.B. 1 in the state budget in 2023. · Ohio Capital Journal: Critics, supporters spar over bill restricting foreign land ownership in Ohio · The Blade: Ohio bill banning 'foreign adversaries' from buying land nearing House vote C100: The Perpetual Foreigner Stereotype On March 25, 2026, the Committee of 100 hosted a webinar on “The Perpetual Foreigner Stereotype” and released the second of four reports in this year’s State of Chinese American Survey (SOCA). The webinar was moderated by Katie Soo , Trustee of the Asia Society Global Board of Trustees and Board Chair of Asia Society Southern California, and joined by Dr. Teresa Hsu , Founder and Executive Director of SPEAK (Supportive Place for Empowering Asian Americans & Kins) and Dr. Vivien Leung , Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Santa Clara. The March 2026 report outlines the pervasive impact of the “perpetual foreigner” stereotype, or the perception of a racial or ethnic group as outsiders. According to the South China Morning Post and AsAmNews , the SOCA survey finds that more than half of Asian Americans experience “assumed foreignness” on a regular basis, including being asked where they are “really from” or complimented for speaking English well. The study also shows that this experience occurs at similar rates among both U.S.-born and foreign-born individuals, indicating that such perceptions are driven largely by race and appearance rather than immigration status. The findings underscore that Asian Americans are more likely than any other racial group to be viewed as outsiders, with 55% reporting regular experiences of being treated as foreign—far higher than other groups surveyed. In addition, a majority report experiencing some form of everyday discrimination on at least a monthly basis. In terms of consequences of these experiences. The “perpetual foreigner” stereotype is associated with increased psychological distress, anxiety, and a diminished sense of belonging. Researchers also note that such experiences can discourage civic and political participation, contributing to broader concerns about representation and inclusion. These findings reinforce a central concern for the Asian American community: despite long-standing contributions and deep roots in the United States, many continue to be perceived as outsiders. Addressing this challenge remains critical to advancing full inclusion and equal participation in American society. 03/28 No Kings Day According to AP News , Fox , New York Times , NPR , Washington Post , and multiple media reports, the third "No Kings" nationwide protests on March 28, 2026, drew massive crowds across all 50 U.S. states, with more than 3,000 events organized to oppose the Trump administration’s executive overreach, immigration policies, and military actions. Demonstrators broadly expressed concerns about the state of American democracy, citing immigration crackdowns, rising costs, and expanding foreign conflicts. Participation spanned both urban and rural America—from New York City to Driggs, Idaho, a town of fewer than 2,000 residents in a state where Trump won 66% of the vote in 2024—underscoring the movement’s geographic reach. Organizers noted that roughly two-thirds of rallies took place outside major metropolitan areas, including in conservative-leaning states such as Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Utah, South Dakota, and Louisiana, as well as in politically competitive suburbs in Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Arizona. The movement has also expanded globally, with demonstrations reported in at least 15 countries, including Italy, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Australia, and Japan, amid international concern that U.S. military actions could escalate into a broader conflict. The flagship event was held in St. Paul, state capital of Minnesota, with over 100,000 protesters. Protesters held up a massive sign on the Capitol steps that read, "We had whistles, they had guns. The revolution starts in Minneapolis." Prominent Political Leaders included Senator Bernie Sanders , Governor Tim Walz , Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan , Attorney General Keith Ellison , U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar , and St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her . Bruce Springsteen performed his protest anthem "Streets of Minneapolis," written in response to the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti , along with performances and appearances by Joan Baez , Robert de Niro , Jane Fonda , Tom Morello , and Maggie Rogers . Labor and advocacy leaders were also present in droves. Watch the No Kings video of the St. Paul flagship event at https://www.nokings.org/ (4:09:05). Mayor Her’s speech starts at around 2:08:20. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2026/04/03 The China Debate We’re Not Having: Politics, Technology, and the Road Ahead 2026/04/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting 2026/04/08 Perspectives on Careers in Arts and Entertainment 2026/04/14 Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes - Anla Cheng 2026/05/04 APA Justice Monthly MeetingVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. # # # APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community. For more information, please refer to the new APA Justice website under development at www.apajusticetaskforce.org . We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF March 30, 2026 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #125 BIA Kicked Off/Open Letter; March for Racial Justice; Updates on Tao/Xiao; NBER Paper #125 BIA Kicked Off/Open Letter; March for Racial Justice; Updates on Tao/Xiao; NBER Paper Back View PDF May 16, 2022 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #193: 7/3 Meeting; Affirmative Action; Florida Law; Pew Study; Rice Names AVPs; More #193: 7/3 Meeting; Affirmative Action; Florida Law; Pew Study; Rice Names AVPs; More In This Issue #193 REMINDER: 2023/07/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Affirmative Action in College Admissions: What Have We Won? What Have We Lost? DOJ Says Florida Law is Unconstitutional Relatively Few Asian Americans Say They’re Well-informed About Asian History In The U.S. Rice University Names AVPs for Research Security, Technology Transfer News and Activities for the Communities Back View PDF July 3, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #239 3/4 Monthly Meeting; China Initiative; Anti-China Academic Panic; US-China STA; More #239 3/4 Monthly Meeting; China Initiative; Anti-China Academic Panic; US-China STA; More In This Issue #239 · 2024/03/04 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · Second Anniversary of Termination of the China Initiative · "The Anti-China Academic Panic is Hurting America" · US-China Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement · News and Activities for the Communities 2023/03/04 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, March 4, 2024, starting at 1:55 pm ET. In addition to updates by Nisha Ramachandran , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC); Joanna YangQing Derman , Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC; and Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), invited and confirmed speakers are: · Arati Prabhakar (invited), Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), The White House · Cindy Tsai, Interim President and Executive Director, Committee of 100 · X. Edward Guo, President, Asian American Academy of Science and Engineering (AAASE); Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Department Chair, Columbia University 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 . AAU Letter to OSTP Director Arati Prabhakar On February 14, 2024, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) announced the release of two memoranda aimed at supporting a secure and fair research ecosystem in the United States: 1. On Policy Regarding Use of Common Disclosure Forms , OSTP outlines guidelines on the use of common disclosure forms for federal agencies to use when evaluating proposals. These will help the government identify conflicts of commitment and potential duplication with the work of foreign governments. 2. On Guidelines for Federal Research Agencies Regarding Foreign Talent Recruitment Programs , the OSTP guidance provides a definition of foreign talent recruitment programs, guidelines for federal employees regarding foreign talent recruitment programs, and guidelines for individuals involved in malign foreign talent recruitment programs in federal projects. During the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology hearing on February 15, 2024, a letter from the Association of American Universities (AAU) to OSTP Director Arati Prabhakar was submitted for record. This is a link to the AAU letter: https://bit.ly/49qi2CV Second Anniversary of Termination of the China Initiative February 23, 2024, marks the second anniversary of the termination of the China Initiative. The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) issued a statement applauding the anniversary. Prior to the program’s termination, Members of the CAPAC met with Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation officials to express concerns about the program, including its use of racial profiling and the resulting harms it caused the Asian American community. CAPAC Chair Rep. Judy Chu , First Vice-Chair Rep. Grace Meng , Whip Rep. Ted Lieu , and members Rep. Pramila Jayapal , Rep. Andy Kim , Rep. Jamie Raskin , and Rep. Linda Sánchez commented on the anniversary. Read the CAPAC statement: https://bit.ly/49p3DHl In a separate statement, the Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) remarked that the termination of the China Initiative is "a critical step in the right direction to addressing serious concerns of racial profiling and discrimination against Asian American scholars, particularly those of Chinese descent. While a crucial step, we must remain vigilant and work to ensure the ‘China Initiative’ is not reinstated. AASF, along with coalition partners, had been at the forefront of successful advocacy efforts to end the ‘China Initiative’, ensuring that the Asian American scholar community had a seat at the table and lifting their voices. Most recently, AASF led with coalition partners of nearly 50 organizations in opposing a recent proposal to reinstate it in the House version of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations bill, H.R.5893." Gisela Perez Kusakawa , AASF Executive Director, Dr. Yasheng Huang , AASF Founding President, and Dr. Kai Li , AASF Founding Vice President, commented in the statement. Read the AASF statement: https://bit.ly/49HsHJX "The Anti-China Academic Panic is Hurting America" In an opinion published by The Hill on February 16, 2024, Princeton University Professor Rory Truex highlights the case of a Chinese Ph.D. student with pseudonym " Meng Fei ," who faced detention and deportation upon returning to the U.S. Despite having valid visas and no ties to espionage, Meng and other Chinese students were subjected to suspicion and exclusion under policies like Trump-era Presidential Proclamation 10043. The author argues that such treatment mirrors authoritarian tactics and undermines America's competitiveness in science and technology.The now-defunct "China Initiative" aimed at combating intellectual property theft. "FBI field offices were instructed to go out and find cases of Chinese espionage on American campuses, and FBI Director Christopher Wray began touting the number of ongoing investigations. But these cases rarely produced evidence of actual espionage, instead centering around fraud, often when U.S.-based researchers failed to properly disclose affiliations with Chinese entities on federal grant forms," Professor Truex opined, "But fraud is not espionage. And after three years of unfettered investigations, the China Initiative only turned up a handful of cases of anyone actually stealing something on a university campus. The narrative that 'Chinese students and scientists are nefarious spies' was a bust." Yet, it perpetuated a harmful narrative of Chinese students and scientists as spies. While the initiative was rolled back due to pushback from the scientific community, there are efforts to revive it in Congress, as well as the enactment of a Florida law restricting collaboration with Chinese institutions. Professor Truex emphasizes the importance of Chinese students to the U.S. research enterprise, citing their significant contribution to doctoral degrees in science and engineering and their retention in the American workforce. He concludes by saying, "our national overreaction to the 'threat' of Chinese scientists should be considered one of the most inhumane and counterproductive policies of this new era of U.S.-China strategic competition. Unless we change the narrative and treat Chinese students and scientists with respect, America will simply be pushing them away, harming our own interests and accelerating China’s scientific development." Read Professor Truex's The Hill opinion: https://bit.ly/3SUPzhE US-China Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement On February 27, 2024, after six month extension by the Biden Administration in August, the US-China Science and Technology Agreement (STA) is set to expire. Nature has reported that while both sides would like to renew the agreement, it may once again delayed to settle new terms and conditions requested by both sides.On February 14, 2023, the US-China Perception Monitor conduced an interview with Dr. Denis Simon to discuss the past, the present, and the future of the STA. Dr. Simon is an American scholar who has studied and shaped the agreement since its initial signing. He talked about the agreement’s strengths, weaknesses, and impacts since 1979. Serving in roles such as Executive Vice Chancellor of Duke Kunshan University and Director of Penn State’s Program on U.S.-China Technology, Economic and Business Relations, Dr. Simon has both led and lived U.S.-China cooperation initiatives. He explains the possible actions the Biden administration can take and warns of their consequences otherwise.Read the US-China Perception Monitor report: https://bit.ly/49QPsL3 News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2024/02/27-28 President's Advisory Commission on AA and NHPIs Meeting and Solicitation for Oral and Written Comments2024/02/28 WHI: Community Engagement Event2024/02/28 Maryland Ways and Means Committee Hearing on HB 13632024/02/29 CAMDC Deadline for Essay Contest2024/03/03 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/03/04 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/03/24 Committee of Concerned Scientists Annual Meeting Visit https://bit.ly/45KGyga for event details. 2. Maryland Ways and Means Committee to Hold Hearing on HB 1363 On February 28, 2024, starting at 1 pm ET, the Ways and Means Committee of the Maryland State Assembly will hold a hearing on House Bill (HB) 1363 titled "Education - Public Schools - Asian American History Curriculum Requirement." According to LegiScan , this is a summary of HB 1363: "Requiring the State Board of Education to develop curriculum content standards for a unit of instruction on Asian American history in public schools in the State; requiring each county board of education to implement the Asian American history curriculum content standards in each public school in the county beginning in the 2025-2026 school year; and requiring each county superintendent of schools to ensure compliance with the Act." The bill is sponsored by Delegates Kriselda Valderrama and Chao Wu . Maryland residents may testify in person or via zoom, or submit written testimony. They must register to testify on Monday, February 26 between 8:00am and 6:00pm on the My MGA page. These are two helpful videos to help with the process: · How to Create and Use My MGA Account: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9jimPsqTVo (3:02) · How To: Submit Testimony to the Maryland General Assembly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkqPS89F9X0 (3:13) Read more about Maryland's HB 1363: https://bit.ly/3OVa0tz . Learn more about the Maryland General Assembly: https://bit.ly/3TbWOTV 3. C100: Asian American Career Ceiling Challenges in Broadcast News WHAT : Asian American Career Ceiling Challenges in Broadcast News WHEN: March 25, 2024, 5:00 - 6:00 pm Eastern Time WHERE: Webinar HOST: Committee of 100 MODERATOR: Peter Young, Chair of the Initiative and C100 Member SPEAKER : Richard Lui, Journalist and News Anchor, MSNBC and NBC News; C100 Member DESCRIPTION: This is the thirty-fourth Committee of 100 Asian American Career Ceilings Initiative webcast that will feature a fireside chat on the topic of “Career Ceiling Challenges in Broadcast News” featuring Richard Lui, Journalist and News Anchor, MSNBC and NBC News. REGISTRATION: https://bit.ly/3OXs7PP Back View PDF February 26, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

A Dialogue Between the Academic & Asian American Communities and the FBI 2024 FBI Dialogue, Hybrid Event Thursday, June 6, 2024 In 2022, the Department of Justice ended its China Initiative — a strategy to counter Chinese espionage and threats to U.S. research security — after academic and civil rights groups raised concerns about bias and damage to the United States' scientific enterprise. Since then, however, reports of border entry issues have increased for Chinese academic researchers and graduate students. This event brings together Jill Murphy, deputy assistant director of counterintelligence at the FBI, and the leadership of the FBI’s Houston field office for a dialogue with members of the academic and Asian American communities. It will examine gaps between federal science and technology policy and its implementation — particularly in the context of law enforcement at the U.S. border. It will also explore the possibility of establishing a regular communication channel between the academic and Asian American communities with FBI field offices. 20240606 FBIForum4.jpg 20240606 FBIForum6.jpg 20240606 FBIForum7.jpg 20240606 FBIForum5.jpg 20240606 HoustonForumPosterDraft.jpg 20240606 Forum with FBI Program.jpg Previous Item Next Item