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Newsletter - #311 Stand w Asian Americans; Rights Tool Kit; Privacy at Risk; Trump Policies on Science+ #311 Stand w Asian Americans; Rights Tool Kit; Privacy at Risk; Trump Policies on Science+ In This Issue #311 · SwAA: Justice and Equality Through Law, Education, and Community · AALDEF: Immigrant Rights Toolkit · U.S. Personal Information and Privacy at Risk Abroad and at Home · WP : Trump Policies Sow Chaos, Confusion Across Scientific Community · News and Activities for the Communities SwAA: Justice and Equality Through Law, Education, and Community In the aftermath of the 2021 Atlanta spa shootings, where six Asian women were among the victims, Stand with Asian Americans (SWAA) emerged to combat anti-Asian hate and advocate for justice. In 2022, SwAA launched the Workplace Justice Initiative to address workplace discrimination, bias, and barriers that Asian Americans face in professional settings. Its mission is to protect and advance the rights of Asian Americans against discrimination at the workplace through three key activities: · Power of Law – SwAA provides legal support through a discrimination reporting portal, direct legal services, and a public relations strategy to raise awareness and advocate for workplace justice. · Education – The organization equips individuals and employers with human resources tools, educational workshops, and panels such as Shattering the Myth of Asian Passivity, Know Your Rights, and Leadership Empowerment to foster inclusion and leadership opportunities. · Community – SwAA supports mental health initiatives and amplifies stories to strengthen solidarity and resilience within the Asian American community. If you or anyone you know is experiencing racial discrimination at work or in business, you may reach out to SwAA for legal, education, and community support. SwAA's discrimination portal containing resources is here , and ways to support the SwAA mission here . Michelle Lee , President, General Counsel and Board Chair, and Brian Pang , Chief Operating Officer and Head of Partnerships will speak at the next APA Justice monthly meeting on March 3, 2025. AALDEF: Immigrant Rights Toolkit During the APA Justice monthly meeting on February 3, 2025, Bethany Li , Execuitve Director of Asian American Legal and Education Defense Fund (AALDEF), offered an Immigrant Rights Toolkit designed to inform individuals about their legal rights, particularly concerning expedited removal procedures. This toolkit is part of AALDEF's broader Immigrant Rights Program, which provides legal representation, policy advocacy, community education, and organizing support for Asian immigrants across various backgrounds. The program aims to promote humane and dynamic immigration laws and policies that uphold the dignity of all migrants. Here are some of the links to AALDEF's Immigrant Rights Toolkit : · Know your rights if you are detained and facing expedited removal (AALDEF) · Use this tool to request immigration documents to help prepare you against ICE (AALDEF) · Know your rights for dealing with ICE (Immigrant Defense Project) · Know your rights during an ICE check-in (Know Your Fight) · Know your rights if ICE comes to your workplace (National Day Laborer Organizing Network) · Know your rights as a worker, regardless of your immigration status (AALDEF) · Watch these videos about dealing with ICE in different scenarios (We Have Rights) · Print pocket cards to hand to ICE if they approach you (Immigrant Legal Resource Center) · Learn and stay updated on what the Trump Administration has done so far (Guttentag, Immigration Policy Tracking Project) U.S. Personal Information and Privacy at Risk Abroad and at Home According to an exclusive report by the Washington Post on February 7, 2025, security officials in the United Kingdom have demanded that Apple create a back door allowing them to retrieve all the content any Apple user worldwide has uploaded to the cloud, which if implemented would undermine Apple’s privacy pledge to its users. According to the report, the UK government has issued a "technical capability notice" to Apple under the Investigatory Powers Act, commonly known as the "Snoopers' Charter." The notice mandates that Apple create a backdoor to its encrypted iCloud services, enabling law enforcement agencies to access user data. Apple has consistently maintained that introducing such backdoors would compromise user privacy and global cybersecurity. In response to the UK's demand, Apple is reportedly considering discontinuing some of its services in the UK rather than compromising its encryption standards.Read the Washington Post report: https://wapo.st/3CHgF7U Here at home in the United States according to multiple media reports, the "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) under billionaire Elon Musk has gained access to databases at the Treasury , Education and Labor departments that contain sensitive data about Americans, such as Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and financial transactions. Federal officials have been terminated or forced to resign for protecting access to these critical data systems. Unions, students and public interest groups have filed lawsuits alleging the administration of violating privacy laws by allowing DOGE access to the databases. On February 6, 2025, Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia restricted access to a Treasury Department payments system that various DOGE surrogates had infiltrated at the direction of Elon Musk. In her ruling on Alliance for Retried Americans v. Bessent (1:25-cv-00313) , the judge stated that the defendants cannot “provide access to any payment record or payment system of records maintained by or within the Bureau of the Fiscal Service.” Tom Krause and Marko Elez , two DOGE-linked “special government employees” at the Treasury Department, were granted “read-only” access to Bureau of Fiscal Service systems “as needed for the performance” of their duties. According to The Washington Post on February 7, the Treasury Department is appointing Krause as assistant secretary, replacing David A. Lebryk , who resigned after opposing Krause’s efforts to access senstive government payment systems—a move Lebryk deemed illegal. Booz Allen Hamilton, a contractor running a threat intelligence center for the Treasury Department, reported that DOGE’s access to the payment network should be “immediately” suspended as it represented an “unprecedented insider threat risk.” Bloomberg later reported that the Booz Allen Hamilton's subcontractor had been dismissed.On February 7, 2025, the New York Times reported that U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer in the case of State of New York v. Donald J. Trump (1:25-cv-01144) issued an emergency order temporarily restricting access by DOGE to the Treasury Department’s payment and data systems, saying there was a risk of “irreparable harm.” Judge Engelmayer ordered any such official who was granted access to the systems since January 20 to “destroy any and all copies of material downloaded from the Treasury Department’s records and systems.” He also restricted the government from granting access to “special government employees.”Several members of Congress have publicly expressed concerns regarding Elon Musk's DOGE gaining access to the U.S. Treasury's federal payment systems. Congressman Bill Foster said in a February 3 statement , "Elon Musk is an unelected oligarch with no regard for national security, conflicts of interest, or ethical standards. Americans deserve answers as to why his team was given unrestricted access to the U.S. Treasury payment system, which gives them the ability to spy on U.S. treasury payments to private American citizens, as well as Musk's business competitors. This power grab is corrupt and unprecedented, and my colleagues and I are doing everything we can to put a halt to this." On February 7, 2025, District Court Judge John D. Bates denied the motion for a temporary restraining order in the case of American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations v. Department of Labor (1:25-cv-00339) . The AFL-CIO contends that granting DOGE access to Department of Labor systems could lead to conflicts of interest, especially concerning sensitive information related to investigations of Musk's companies, including Tesla, SpaceX, and The Boring Company. They argue that DOGE's involvement might compromise the integrity of these investigations and potentially expose confidential data. Judge Bates' ruling stated that the union did not demonstrate sufficient harm resulting from the Department of Labor's actions. The judge ordered that the parties shall file a proposed preliminary-injunction motion briefing schedule by not later than February 12, 2025. The Education Department case, University of California Student Assocation v. Carter (1:25-cv-00354) , is pending. The Univrsity of California Stucent Association is the official systemwide student advocacy organization representing over 285,000 students across all ten University of California campuses.Two groups of FBI agents have sued the Justice Department to block any public release of a list of thousands of employees who worked on investigations tied to President Donald Trump or the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. On February 6, 2025, U.S. District Judge Jia M. Cobb of the District of Columbia ordered the consolidation of Federal Bureau of Investigation Agents Assocation v. Department of Justice (1:25-cv-00328) and Does 1-9 v. Department of Justice (1:25-cv-00325) . On February 7, Judge Cobb issued a temporary restraining order (TRO), which had been mutually proposed by the parties. The TRO prohibits the government from publicly releasing any list before the court rules on whether to grant a preliminary injunction. The briefings for a preliminary injunction will be filed by March 21, 2025.As of February 9, 2025, the number of legal challenges to Trump administration actions reported by the Just Security Litigation Tracker has increased to 41.On February 7, 2025, the Washington Post reported the following summary of where Trump action court cases stand: WP : Trump Policies Sow Chaos, Confusion Across Scientific Community According to the Washington Post on February 6, 2025, President Donald Trump 's executive orders targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives within federally funded programs have led to significant concerns in the scientific community. The National Science Foundation (NSF) suspended grant disbursements, leaving researchers without salaries. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) removed materials on clinical trial diversity from its website, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) took down tools and data related to health disparities, including the Social Vulnerability Index and the Environmental Justice Index. These actions have disrupted ongoing research and raised fears about political interference in scientific endeavors. Dr. Sudip Parikh , CEO of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), expressed concern, stating, "The scientific community is deeply troubled by these developments, which threaten the integrity and progress of our research."On February 5, 2025, Dr. Parikh testified at a hearing of the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on The State of U.S. Science and Technology: Ensurig Global Leadership . His written testimony emphasized the importance of a strong and adaptable American science and technology enterprise, highlighting the role of research institutions, industry, and the workforce in driving innovation and prosperity. Dr. Parikh stressed that the U.S. faces challenges from accelerating technological change, existential threats to public health and security, and growing international competition, particularly from China. He called for a comprehensive approach to strengthening the U.S. science and technology sector, advocating for reduced inefficiencies, investment in workforce development, and strategic research commitments. He also warned against actions that undermine the scientific community, such as spending freezes or policies that alienate international talent. Dr. Parikh concluded by urging the U.S. to adapt to new global realities and secure its future leadership in science and technology.Part of his testimony says,"The American science and technology enterprise is strong, but its continued strength is not guaranteed. We must be proactive in implementing our vision by being open to change and disruption without dismantling our foundational principles and strengths."Through an enterprise that includes industry, academia, and sources of capital to scale, we have turned the discoveries of the past 80 years into technological innovations that have increased our prosperity and security."Many of the structures and institutions that have contributed to our achievements are outdated. They were the result of a vision after World War II that the investments in science and technology we had made during a time of war should be continued during a time of peace. Over generations, we have made substantial and sustained federal investments in fundamental research — much of it carried out at our universities, research institutes, and national laboratories where research and education take place side-by-side. Industry translated and scaled discoveries into technologies and products with intellectual property protections that incentivized continued innovation. It was a relatively simple vision with profound consequences. It created the modern world."But we are at a crossroads. "Three things are happening at once. First, the pace of change is accelerating so rapidly that the tools and strategies that brought us here are insufficient to ensure our future. Transformational technologies are reshaping our way of life. Second, we face existential threats to our health; food supply and water security; environmental resilience; energy production, utilization, and storage; and our overall wellbeing. Third, more than ever, we are competing with other nations —particularly China — that rival us in talent, infrastructure, and capital investment and that can put our economic prosperity and national security at risk. China trains more scientists and engineers than we do; files for more international patents than we do; publishes just as many highly cited scientific papers as we do; and is leading us in several critical research and technology areas. "I know for all those here today what the answer is: We want America to lead."The good news is that we have a suite of significant assets that our nation can leverage. "We must recognize that the enterprise as a whole — from federal investment to workforce to industry investment to tax and regulatory policy — is what differentiates our nation from all others. "In addition to these holistic recommendations, we must stop hurting our own enterprise with self inflicted wounds. Two examples illustrate the point. "First, while we must recognize the global competition and take it seriously, we must not demonize people or international collaboration in the process. Our colleagues of Chinese, Indian, and other immigrant backgrounds make up a substantial percentage of the American science and technology workforce. They are colleagues and friends and deserving of respect. We must ensure that our drive to compete does not alter our humanity. When we make America less welcoming to scientists who are immigrants or those who have been here for generations, we only hurt our own competitiveness and opportunity for prosperity. In addition, science is a global activity. When we close ourselves off to international collaboration, we lose visibility to advances made around the world and slow progress for everyone."Second, last week, the announcement of an abrupt spending freeze on science and technology funding broke trust and hurt the S&T enterprise. This is the kind of action that, even if brief, can have a lasting negative impact. Many scientists, particularly those early in their careers, live paycheck-to-paycheck. I was most saddened to hear from these scientists who began questioning whether they should even continue their scientific pursuits or switch careers. Scientists and engineers are resilient, and I have no doubt that most will persevere because they care deeply about solving problems and better understanding the world around them. But every time we stop and start, lose focus, break continuity across funding and intellectual property protections, we lose some of the next generation of science and technology talent and hurt America’s competitiveness. "The stakes are enormous, the necessary actions are clear, and the time is now."Read Dr. Parikh's testimony: https://bit.ly/40S7iug News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/02/10 Federal Employees: What are my whistleblower rights?2025/02/12 Federal Employees: How might my benefits be affected?2025/02/13 China Initiative: Impacts and Implications2025/02/13-15 2025 AAAS Annual Meeting2025/02/16 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/02/18 Protecting Our Organizations: 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Compliance Virtual Training2025/02/23 World Premier of "Quixotic Professor Qiu" with Xiaoxing Xi2025/03/02 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/03/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/03/12 MSU Webinar on China InitiativeVisit 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 February 10, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #359 Andy Phillips to Speak on 11/3; Dr. Wen Ho Lee; 6/2 Meeting Summary Posted; C.N. Yang+ #359 Andy Phillips to Speak on 11/3; Dr. Wen Ho Lee; 6/2 Meeting Summary Posted; C.N. Yang+ In This Issue #359 · Attorney Andy Phillips to Speak at APA Justice Monthly Meeting · Recalling the Case of Dr. Wen Ho Lee · Summary of June 2025 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Posted · In Memoriam: Chan Ning Yang (1922-2025) · News and Activities for the Communities Attorney Andy Phillips to Speak at APA Justice Monthly Meeting Attorney Andy Phillips , Managing & Founding Partner of Meier Watkins Phillips Pusch LLP, will speak at the upcoming APA Justice monthly meeting on November 3, 2025. He represents Dr. Yanping Chen 陈燕平 in Yanping Chen v. FBI (24-5050) . Dr. Chen is a naturalized U.S. citizen from China and longtime educator who founded the University of Management and Technology in Arlington, Virginia. She filed a Privacy Act lawsuit against the U.S. Departments of Justice, Defense and Homeland Security, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), after a 6-year investigation by the FBI into her past affiliations and immigration history concluded without charges in 2016. After the investigation closed, confidential information from the probe was leaked to media outlets, particularly Fox News reporter Catherine Herridge , which aired stories implying Dr. Chen was involved in espionage. Dr. Chen filed a lawsuit in December 2018 against the Departments of Justice, Defense and Homeland Security, as well as the FBI, asserting a coordinated violation of her privacy rights and focusing on the leak of protected investigation materials. In February 2024, a District Court held Herridge in civil contempt for refusing to disclose her source and imposed a fine of $800 per day—an order stayed pending appeal. The case has major implications for press freedom, racial equity, and privacy rights in national security investigations. APA Justice joined advocacy groups by filing an amicus brief led by Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), arguing that the treatment of Dr. Chen reflects broader issues of systemic bias against Chinese Americans. On September 30, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit affirmed the district court’s order holding Herridge in civil contempt for refusing to disclose her confidential source despite a valid subpoena. Andy Phillips’s practice focuses on counseling clients faced with unfavorable media coverage or other reputational attacks. He has years of experience representing clients in defamation lawsuits before state and federal courts across the country. He has litigated against many of the country’s most well-known media organizations, including Rolling Stone Magazine , The New York Times , CNN , and Fox News . Andy is one of only six attorneys in the United States to be ranked by Chambers for expertise in Plaintiff’s-side First Amendment litigation . 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 . Recalling the Case of Dr. Wen Ho Lee Dr. Wen Ho Lee 李文和 , a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Taiwan, was a senior nuclear scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), where he worked for more than 20 years developing computer codes used to simulate nuclear explosions. In the late 1990s, amid heightened concerns about Chinese nuclear espionage, the FBI and Department of Energy (DOE) began investigating possible leaks of nuclear-weapons data to China. Dr. Lee became a target largely due to his ethnicity.In 1999, the government indicted Dr. Lee on 59 felony counts for allegedly downloading and transferring classified files from secure to unclassified computers. During the investigation, government officials leaked information to the press portraying Dr. Lee as a potential spy. Major media outlets including New York Times , Washington Post , and Los Angeles Times widely published these allegations, effectively convicting him in the public eye before trial.By 2000, it became clear that the government lacked evidence of espionage or criminal intent. Dr. Lee spent nine months in solitary confinement before pleading guilty to a single count of mishandling restricted data; the remaining 58 charges were dropped. Federal Judge James A. Parker publicly criticized the government for its handling of the case, apologizing to Dr. Lee for his treatment and calling the investigation an embarrassment to the nation.Following his release, Dr. Lee filed a civil lawsuit under the Privacy Act against federal agencies and five major media organizations that had reported the leaked allegations. Brian Sun , now a partner at Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP, served as Lee’s lead attorney. Brian Sun framed the case as a crucial defense of civil liberties, privacy rights, and due process, arguing that government leaks had violated Lee’s rights and irreparably harmed his reputation. He successfully navigated complex issues involving media source protection and the disclosure of sensitive documents, ultimately securing a landmark settlement.In June 2006, the case was settled: the U.S. government paid $895,000, and the media organizations contributed $750,000 toward Dr. Lee’s legal fees, with no admission of wrongdoing. The settlement, guided by Brian Sun’s litigation strategy, reinforced the principle that government officials cannot use leaks to publicly convict individuals without evidence.On June 3, 2006, Brian Sun told the Los Angeles Times that the settlement provides “a measure of vindication and accountability.” “We believe the settlement will send a message to government officials that they should not engage in unlawful leaks about private citizens,” he said, “and journalists should be sensitive in reporting information that is divulged from officials who have an agenda.”As noted in the American Physical Society's “ Viewpoint: Wen Ho Lee’s Settlement ” on August 1, 2006, the case of Dr. Wen Ho Lee remains a landmark in the intersection of science, national security, civil liberties, and media responsibility. The APS analysis emphasized that while the settlement brought an end to the litigation, it left unresolved the deeper tensions between government secrecy, press freedom, and the protection of individual rights. It underscored how Dr. Lee's case became a cautionary tale—reminding both policymakers and the scientific community that the pursuit of security must never come at the cost of justice, due process, or human dignity. Summary of June 2025 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Posted Summary for the June 2025 APA Justice monthly meeting has been posted at https://bit.ly/48ABX4J . We thank these distinguished speakers for sharing their insightful remarks and updates: · Judy Chu , Chair Emeritus, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus; Member, U.S. House of Representatives · Judith Teruya , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus · Jiny Kim , Vice President of Policy and Program, Advancing Justice | AAJC · Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) · Ya Liu , Member, North Carolina House of Representatives · Juanita Brent , Member, Ohio House of Representatives · Edgar Chen , Special Policy Advisor, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) · Aki Maehara , Professor, Historian, East Los Angeles College Past APA Justice monthly meeting summaries are available at https://www.apajusticetaskforce.org/library-newsletters-summaries *****On April 29, 2025, Professor Aki Maehara , age 71, was riding his electric bicycle home in Montebello when a car struck him from behind. The driver shouted anti-Asian slurs before and after the collision. Professor Maehara believes he was targeted due to his academic work and previous threats he had received.The attack left Professor Maehara with serious injuries, including a concussion, fractured cheekbone, neck pain, and a lacerated elbow. The dental damage was particularly severe, requiring extensive and costly dental implant surgery. Professor Maehara returned to teaching at East Los Angeles College shortly after the incident. A GoFundMe was updated in August 2025, describing his need for a home health aide and major dental surgery.The Montebello Police Department is investigating the incident as a possible hate crime and attempted vehicular homicide. Some have criticized the police investigation, claiming key information from Professor Maehara was initially omitted from the report. As of October 2025, the department has not publicly identified any suspects in the case despite being "No. 1 priority" since May. In Memoriam: Chan Ning Yang (1922-2025) Chen Ning Yang (杨振宁) , one of the world’s most renowned theoretical physicists and a Nobel prize winner, died on October 18, 2025, in Beijing at the age of 103 after an illness.Born in Hefei, Anhui Province, China, in 1922, Yang received his early education in China before earning his bachelor’s degree from the National Southwestern Associated University in Kunming during wartime. He later pursued graduate studies in the United States, earning his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1948 under the mentorship of Enrico Fermi .Yang’s groundbreaking contributions reshaped modern physics. He and his collaborator Tsung-Dao Lee (李政道) proposed in 1956 that parity — long assumed to be conserved — could be violated in weak nuclear interactions. The theory was soon confirmed experimentally, leading to their shared Nobel Prize in Physics in 1957. Beyond parity violation, Yang made profound advances in statistical mechanics, gauge theory, and the Yang–Mills theory — a cornerstone of the Standard Model of particle physics.After teaching at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton University, Yang joined Stony Brook University in 1966, where he founded the Institute for Theoretical Physics (now named the C.N. Yang Institute for Theoretical Physics) and mentored generations of scientists. In 2003, Yang returned to China, joining Tsinghua University as an honorary professor and continuing to promote international scientific exchange.Known for his intellectual rigor and lifelong curiosity, Yang’s career spanned the era from wartime China to the quantum age, symbolizing the global nature of scientific inquiry. He inspired several generations of young people in both the United States and China to pursue science with passion and integrity. His legacy endures not only through his discoveries but also through his commitment to fostering dialogue between China and the world in science and education. News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/10/23 C100 Asian American Career Ceilings Initiative: Asian American Women in the Law2025/11/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/11/03 Advocacy 101 for Scholars, Scientists, and Researchers2025/11/20 Cook County Circuit Court Hearing2025/11/25 Committee of 100 Conversations – “Recollections, Pioneers and Heroes” with Elaine ChaoVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. In Memoriam: Jerome Cohen (1930-2025) Jerome A. Cohen , a pioneering scholar of Chinese law and a leading voice for human rights, died on September 22, 2025, at his home in Manhattan. He was 95.Born in New York City in 1930, Cohen graduated from Yale Law School, clerked for Chief Justice Earl Warren and Justice Hugo Black , and began his academic career at the University of California, Berkeley. Fascinated by China, he studied Mandarin in the early 1960s and went on to found the East Asian Legal Studies Program at Harvard Law School in 1964, the first of its kind in the United States.After Mao Zedong ’s death, Cohen joined Paul & Weiss, advising companies entering China and helping Chinese officials understand modern commercial law. In 1990, he joined New York University School of Law, where he mentored lawyers, judges, and human rights advocates from across Asia and became an influential voice in U.S.–China legal dialogue.Renowned for his intellect and integrity, Cohen defended persecuted lawyers and dissidents and never wavered in his belief that law could be a bridge to justice. His legacy endures through the institutions he built and the generations he inspired. # # # 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 October 23, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

APA Justice fully supports and is a partner with The Yellow Whistle Project , which officially launched on April 19, Patriots Day, 2021. The project was started by Dr. Agnes Hsu-Tang and her husband Oscar Tang, Li-En Chong, Ken Tan, Anne Martin-Montgomery, and Cassandra X Montgomery in response to the anti-Asian hate and violence. In nature, yellow signals the advent of spring, bringing hope, optimism, and enlightenment. In America, yellow has been weaponized against Asians as the color of xenophobia. The whistle is a symbol of self-protection and solidarity in our common fight against historical discrimination, anti-Asian violence, and racial profiling. It has a universal purpose - to signal alarm and call for help - for all Americans. We are whistleblowing to fight back against the stereotype that Asians are a silent minority. We shall not remain silent, because we belong! In Minnesota in early January 2026, community members once again sounded whistles and brought attention to federal immigration enforcement after the fatal shooting of Renee Good by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent in Minneapolis. Her wife, Becca Good, stated: “We had whistles. They had guns. ” These events sparked weeks of protests, in which residents used whistles to monitor federal enforcement activities and draw attention to concerns about excessive use of force. Learn more Free whistles are being distributed through a network of outreach partners in New York City and throughout the continental U.S. Priority will be given to 501(C)3 organizations with demonstrated strong community ties. Distribution is managed by regional hubs, including APA Justice. The supply of whistles has been increased from 100,000 to 200,000 and now 500,000. The campaign is turning into a movement and a platform beyond the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. On September 5, 2021, Axios reported on How the yellow whistle became a symbol against anti-Asian hate. Read article See Yellow Whistle activities happening throughout the country The Yellow Whistle Campaign Make a Difference

Newsletter - #51 "Is This Patriot Enough?"; National Day Of Action And Healing; Upcoming Events #51 "Is This Patriot Enough?"; National Day Of Action And Healing; Upcoming Events Back View PDF March 29, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Am I required to answer? Mostly, no. You are generally not required to answer FBI or police questions (except, e.g., if you are asked for identification while driving a vehicle). Do I have the right to consult an attorney first? Yes. You have a right to talk to an attorney. If an FBI agent or police officer asks to speak to you, tell him or her that you want to consult with an attorney first. If you want to talk to the FBI or police, your attorney can respond on your behalf to set up an interview. Can information I give to the FBI without an attorney be harmful? Yes. ANY information you give to an officer without an attorney, even if it seems harmless, can be used against you or someone else. Lying to a federal officer is a crime. Remaining silent is NOT a crime (except in limited situations when you can be required to identify yourself). Am I required to allow the officer into my home? You are NOT required to allow the officer into your home without a warrant. Ask to see the warrant. If the officer does not have one, you do not have to let him/her into your home. However, do not try to stop him/her if he forces his way into your home or office. Simply state that they do not have your permission to enter. Do I have the right to see a warrant if the officer says that they have one? Yes. If the officer says that they have a warrant for your arrest, you have a right to see the warrant. You must go with the officer, but you do not have to answer questions until you consult an attorney. What should I do if I am detained? If you are detained, you should ask for an attorney and remain silent. What are my rights at the airport? Learn about your rights at the airport here . Questioned by the FBI or police? This is a letter to persons who believe they might be contacted by their employer, a funder, or government officials regarding their relationship to the People’s Republic of China. This includes, for example, university professors who have received grants to support their academic activities; researchers in STEM fields working in the private sector; civil servants; and even U.S. military personnel. It also includes individuals regardless of citizenship; holding a green card, having naturalized, or even being a native-born citizen will not protect you from potential problems. The most important message here is: if you have any concerns at all, you should consult with a lawyer as soon as possible, preferably one with specialized expertise. Read full letter Why you need a lawyer Frank H. Wu President Designate, Queens College, The City University of New York KNOW YOUR RIGHTS The FBI and other agencies have been questioning people across the country based on their First Amendment activity and on their race, ethnicity or national origin. Protect yourself by knowing your rights. Learn more Read Frank Wu's letter

Newsletter - #182 Alien Land Bills; A Fresh Start? AANHPI History Act; Hinton/AI; Gang Chen NAS Fellow #182 Alien Land Bills; A Fresh Start? AANHPI History Act; Hinton/AI; Gang Chen NAS Fellow In This Issue #182 Latest Developments on Discriminatory Alien Land Bills A Fresh Start: Safeguarding People, Rights, and Research Amid US-China Competition Teaching Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander History Act Reintroduced Artificial Intelligence - Challenge of the 21st Century MIT Professor Gang Chen Elected Fellow of National Academy of Sciences Latest Developments on Discriminatory Alien Land Bills On May 14, 2023, U.S. Rep. Al Green and Haipei Shue , President of United Chinese Americans (UCA), appeared on MSNBC 's Politics Nation (video 7:28) hosted by Rev. Al Sharpton and spoke against discriminatory Texas and Florida alien land bills.Rep. Green announced the joint introduction with Rep. Judy Chu , Chair of Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, federal legislation to preempt state alien land laws. "States should not be in the business of deciding who can buy land based on citizenship," Rep. Green said. "States should not be allowed to develop foreign policy. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) is better suited for this." On May 13, 2023, the Texas Multicultural Advocacy Coalition (TMAC), with the support of Rep. Al Green , organized a Civil Rights Town Hall in Houston. The primary objective of the town hall was to unite multicultural organizations and individuals against the racist and xenophobic Senate Bill 147 and the state takeover of the Houston Independent School District (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.On May 13, 2023, UCA and partner groups organized a webinar to talk about the alarming developments of alien land bills in Florida and Texas, bringing together elected officials and community leaders from different states, whose courageous efforts have either stopped such bills or greatly reduced the harm such bills would cause. Five panelists told the story of how Chinese communities fight the discriminatory land bills in Texas, South Carolina, Kansas, Florida, and Georgia: What they did, how they did it, and the lessons learned.A recent count shows that at least 27 states have introduced such alien land legislations - a few have passed and most are pending or have failed under the current or expired legislative sessions. Subject to additional verification and validation, the 27 states are Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming. We seek your help as a crowdsourcing campaign for the most up-to-date information at your states about these legislative developments, which is expected to expand or continue in the future. Please let us know by sending your message to contact@apajustice.org A Fresh Start: Safeguarding People, Rights, and Research Amid US-China Competition The Hoover Institution, the Asian American Scholar Forum, and the Committee of 100 will hold an event on "A Fresh Start: Safeguarding People, Rights, and Research Amid US-China Competition" on Tuesday June 6, 2023, from 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm PT at Hauck Auditorium and on Zoom. Intensifying US-China competition has put American colleges and universities–and specifically researchers, scientists, and scholars of Asian heritage–under a microscope. Against a backdrop of rising anti-Asian hate, recent efforts to protect US technology and research have resulted in pain and mistrust and infringed on civil rights and civil liberties.In this event, leaders from Committee of 100, a non-profit organization of prominent Chinese Americans, and the Asian American Scholar Forum will join Hoover fellows to consider what went wrong, and explore how to work together to advance international collaboration and uphold civil rights and civil liberties while safeguarding America’s leadership in research, science, and technology and its other vital national interests.In November 2018, the Hoover Institution released a report titled "China's Influence & American Interests: Promoting Constructive Vigilance." It coincided with the launch of the now-defunct "China Initiative" by the Department of Justice under the Trump Administration.Register for the event in person or via Zoom at: https://hvr.co/44Y319A Teaching Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander History Act Reintroduced According to AsAmNews on May 12, 2023, U.S. Senator Mazie Hirano (D-HI) along with Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) have both reintroduced legislation in Congress to encourage the teaching of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) history in public schools nationwide.The Teaching Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander History Act would increase awareness of this history so that more students would become aware of the contributions of AANHPI to the United States. The Act falls short of mandating the teaching of this history. Nearly 20 states have mandated the teaching of AANHPI curriculum in their schools. However, many of these states have not included funding for this requirement-leaving some wondering how the requirement would be implemented.Read the AsAmNews report: https://bit.ly/3W0cyJk Artificial Intelligence - Challenge of the 21st Century Credit: https://bit.ly/42PnMT2 According to MIT Technology Review on May 2, 2023, Geoffrey Hinton is a pioneer of deep learning who helped develop some of the most important techniques at the heart of modern artificial intelligence (AI), but after a decade at Google, he is stepping down to focus on new concerns he now has about AI. Stunned by the capabilities of new large language models like GPT-4, Hinton wants to raise public awareness of the serious risks that he now believes may accompany the technology he ushered in. Hinton says that the new generation of large language models—especially GPT-4, which OpenAI released in March—has made him realize that machines are on track to be a lot smarter than he thought they would be. And he is scared about how that might play out. Read the MIT Technology Review report: https://bit.ly/42BkeEu According to the New York Times on May 1, 2023, Dr. Hinton’s journey from AI groundbreaker to doomsayer marks a remarkable moment for the technology industry at perhaps its most important inflection point in decades. Industry leaders believe the new AI systems could be as important as the introduction of the web browser in the early 1990s and could lead to breakthroughs in areas ranging from drug research to education.But gnawing at many industry insiders is a fear that they are releasing something dangerous into the wild. Generative AI can already be a tool for misinformation. Soon, it could be a risk to jobs. Somewhere down the line, tech’s biggest worriers say, it could be a risk to humanity.Read the New York Times report at https://nyti.ms/3M5czqR The good, bad, and ugly of nuclear science were arguably the biggest challenge of humankind for the 20th century. Artificial intelligence may be its equivalent in the 21st century. We asked ChatGPT : What is the Sherry Chen Legal Defense Fund? The answer: The Sherry Chen Legal Defense Fund is a fund established to support the legal defense of Sherry Chen , a former employee of the National Weather Service who was falsely accused of espionage in 2014. Chen, who is a Chinese-American, was accused of passing sensitive information to the Chinese government, but the charges were later dropped after it was revealed that there was no evidence to support the accusations.Following the charges, Chen faced significant legal fees and other expenses associated with defending herself against the false accusations. To support her legal defense, the Sherry Chen Legal Defense Fund was established in 2014 with the goal of raising funds to help cover Chen's legal expenses.The fund was supported by a wide range of individuals and organizations, including members of the Asian American community, civil rights organizations, and others who were concerned about the impact of false accusations and racial profiling on individuals and communities.While the charges against Chen were eventually dropped, the case drew attention to broader issues of racial profiling and discrimination against Chinese Americans and other Asian Americans. The Sherry Chen Legal Defense Fund was an important initiative that sought to address these issues by providing support to Chen and raising awareness about the impact of false accusations and discrimination on individuals and communities. MIT Professor Gang Chen Elected Fellow of National Academy of Sciences On May 2, 2023, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) announced the election of 120 members and 23 international members in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. MIT Professor Gang Chen is among the scientists elected. According to a statement by the Asian American Scholar Forum, Dr. Chen is the Carl Richard Soderberg Professor of Power Engineering at the Department of Mechanical Engineering. He is a pioneer in nanoscale heat transfer and energy conversion. Dr. Chen’s work on cubic boron arsenide as a superior semiconductor was chosen as Physics World Top 10 Breakthrough in 2022. His directional solvent extraction and thermally charged batteries technologies were highlighted by the Scientific American as its annual top 10 World Changing ideas in 2012 and 2014, and his work on high performance thermoelectric materials won a R&D 100 award. Dr. Chen is an academician of Academia Sinica, a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a member of the US National Academy of Engineering. Dr. Chen was arrested in January 2021 and accused of failing to disclose ties to China under the now-defunct "China Initiative." It led to the "We Are All Gang Chen" movement in the Asian American and scientific communities. His case was dismissed in January 2022. Read more about Dr. Chen's case at: https://bit.ly/APAJ_GangChen Subscribe to The APA Justice Newsletter Complete this simple form at https://bit.ly/2FJunJM to subscribe. Please share it with those who wish to be informed and join the fight. View past newsletters here: https://bit.ly/APAJ_Newsletters . Back View PDF May 15, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

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

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Davis Lu Docket ID: 1:21-cr-00226 District Court, N.D. Ohio Date filed: Apr 1, 2021 On April 14, 2021, the Department of Justice announced the indictment of Davis Lu, 51, of Houston, Texas, with one count of damaging protected computers. The Defendant allegedly used his position as a software developer to execute malicious code on his employer's computer servers. Relatively modest losses of more than $5,000 resulted from the incident. Previous Item Next Item

Newsletter - #183 2/6 Meeting Summary; Alien Land Bills/Louisiana; NIH Director; Heritage Month Videos+ #183 2/6 Meeting Summary; Alien Land Bills/Louisiana; NIH Director; Heritage Month Videos+ In This Issue #183 2023/02/06 Monthly Meeting Summary Posted Latest Developments on Discriminatory Alien Land Bills Including Louisiana Monica Bertagnolli Nominated to Head NIH Heritage Month and Educational Videos/Events 2023/02/06 Monthly Meeting Summary Posted The February 6, 2023, APA Justice monthly meeting summary has been posted at https://bit.ly/42N0htX . We thank the following speakers for their updates and discussions: Nisha Ramachandran , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), provided updates from CAPAC Gisela Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), provided updates from AASF Les Wong , President Emeritus, San Francisco State University, and Frank Wu , President, Queen's College, City University of New York, provided updates on forming a network of Asian American university leaders Michele Young , Attorney, Michele Young Law; Member of Sherry Chen Legal Team was recognized for her historic achievements in the Sherry Chen case. Michele also shared her thoughts and reflections on Sherry's case and the civil rights and civil liberty concerns in the meeting Gene Wu , Member, Texas House of Representatives, led the discussion on Asian American groups and other communities across Texas building a coalition to rally against Texas Senate Bill 147 on "Relating to the purchase of or acquisition of title to real property by certain aliens or foreign entities." Video of his portion of the meeting is posted at https://bit.ly/3DVEdU6 (video 56:48) Latest Developments on Discriminatory Alien Land Bills Including Louisiana 1. CAPAC Chair Statement on Florida Law Banning Chinese Nationals from Purchasing Land, Need for Federal Legislation On May 15, 2023, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chair Rep. Judy Chu released the following statement:“I am incredibly outraged by the signing of SB 264 into law. This is the latest state-level effort to restrict the property ownership of Chinese home seekers, who are aspiring small business owners, students, and families seeking to build better lives for themselves here in America. In addition, SB 264 places a disproportionate burden on current Chinese homeowners who now must register their property with a state agency. And as a result of SB 264, Asian Americans living in Florida will now likely face undue suspicion when purchasing property, including potential racial profiling by realtors, lenders, and other professionals in the real estate industry.“The government’s scapegoating and stripping of the land ownership rights of Asian American communities are stains on our nation’s history. SB 264 repeats this shameful discrimination and further stokes current anti-Asian sentiment by equating Chinese people with certain immigration statuses as agents of the Chinese Communist Party. That is why I am currently working with CAPAC Housing Task Force Chair Rep. Al Green of Texas to introduce a bill to preempt at the federal level such discriminatory state laws, and reaffirm my commitment to ensuring the safety of our communities.”“Let me be clear—elected officials must be vigilant about addressing specific threats that foreign state-owned enterprises and entities, companies, and individuals with ties to the foreign government pose to our national security, but policies that target and profile individuals and communities because of their national origin, race, ethnicity, or immigration status, however, are discriminatory and wholly unconstitutional. They harken back to nativist anti-Asian alien land laws in the 19th and 20th centuries after Chinese immigrants first arrived here, and later, a xenophobic suspicion of Japanese Americans during World War II that also led to their blanket incarceration. I will continue to fight for the civil rights of our communities, including the right to purchase and own property, and stand up against all attempts to racially profile our communities.”Read the CAPAC Chair statement: https://bit.ly/3BvCUtk 2. Testimony of High School Senior Abigail Hu in Louisiana Legislature On May 15, 2023, High School Senior Abigail Hu testified in the Louisiana State Legislature against Louisiana House Bill 537 . This is a transcript of her testimony:"Good afternoon Honorable Chairman Miller and distinguished members of the committee,My name is Abigail Hu. I am a proud product of the Louisiana public school system and a recent high school graduate. I'll be attending college in the fall to study Education and Political Science, and I hope to come back to Louisiana to teach middle and high school in the future.My parents, Tony and Chloe, have been living in the US for over 22 years. They came here as young students with very little money, looking for an opportunity to work hard, get good jobs, and start a family.During the COVID-19 pandemic, my dad worked around the clock to help contain the spread of the virus in our city of New Orleans. My brothers and I volunteer regularly, coaching for the local children’s sports club, helping clean up our local park, and registering and canvassing voters in our area. I am incredibly grateful to belong to a country that is a fundamental part of who I am.To us, ownership and belonging are as important as the piece of paper that makes us citizens.House Bill 537 strips us of such rights—rights to owning a house, education, secured employment, rights to starting the kind of life we sacrifice so much for. It prevents stories like my family’s from ever coming to fruition.This bill tells us that we are not good Americans, we are not Americans deserving of protection under the law, we are not Americans that the legislators we elect care to serve. This bill tells us that we are Americans whose lives are pure political pawns, subject to the whims of the state and condemned to exist under a perpetual instability.I would like to take some time to address some of the remarks that were made by Representative Hodges. I believe the language in this bill continues to have an anti-immigrant, xenophobic, fearmongering undertone, regardless of how many amendments we make, it will continue to create suspicion against immigrants and immigrant families in the communities that they live in. It leaves us vulnerable to unlawful investigations, unlawful search and seizure, and loyalty tests by the state. Representative Hodges has also repeatedly said that it is not about the individual, but under this legislation, any individual can be perceived as connected to a "foreign adversary." If you want a more specific example, anybody who is Chinese can be perceived as "nefarious" and acting on behalf of what Representative Hodges calls the communist tyranny of China.The vagueness of this bill presents undeniable dangers to not only our Chinese American community, but to any group of people who could be ambiguously tied to what the legislation describes as foreign adversaries or governments. It brands us as enemies of a country that we love so deeply.This is a civil rights issue, and I urge that the committee to recognize its dire implications and reject the passage of HB 537 before it becomes a civil rights legislation." Monica Bertagnolli Nominated to Head NIH According to Reuters on May 15, 2023, the Biden administration said it intends to nominate cancer surgeon Dr. Monica Bertagnolli to lead the National Institutes of Health (NIH) following a 16-month search for a permanent successor to the agency's long-serving director Dr. Francis Collins, who stepped down in December 2021. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Bertagnolli will become the second woman to lead the NIH, the largest biomedical research agency in the world with a budget of $45 billion in 2022. NIH falls under the direction of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Read the Reuters report: https://reut.rs/3MvKzya 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 6 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 Heritage Month and Educational Videos/Events 1. White House Forum on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders On May 3, 2023, the White House celebrated Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with a community-wide program in Washington, DC. This historic forum on Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities features Biden-Harris Administration officials, groundbreaking artists, and trailblazers. Watch the video at https://bit.ly/3BwrPZ9 (video 4:35:34) 2. Exclusion: The Shared Asian American Experience According to a video produced by the 1990 Institute, America has been represented as an open society that welcomes immigrants to a land of opportunities. Many immigrants from Asia came to find a better life for their family, escaping from poverty, prosecution, colonialism, and other political atrocities. But America did not receive them with open arms. Throughout history, people from Asia have been excluded, discriminated against, subjected to violence, and prevented from becoming American citizens. Laws were passed that kept them from voting, owning land, marrying the person they loved, and seeing their relatives again. Though coming from different countries and cultures, the pioneering Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, Indians, Filipinos, and more Asians who arrived here each faced similar conditions of exclusion, which forged the beginnings of a common, shared Asian experience in America. This educational video takes you through exclusion experiences that Asians endured then and what they continue to face as Americans now. Watch the video at https://bit.ly/42I4BLq (video 17:24) 0:00 Introduction 0:50 19th Century and Prior 6:36 20th Century 13:03 1965 Immigration Act 3. "Between Black & White: Asian Americans Speak Out" premieres on PBS In honor of Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the Sirica Initiative announced its newest film collaboration with WNET/PBS Between Black & White: Asian Americans Speak Out is premiering Thursday, May 18, 2023.The conversation about race in America is often between Black and White, leaving Asian Americans out of the dialogue. Between Black & White: Asian Americans Speak Out is a three-part series about communities building bridges, confronting racism, discovering surprising connections, and fighting hate – together.To celebrate each episode's launch, three events will be hosted this month, featuring distinguished speakers including President of Queens College, Frank Wu ; media mogul Paula Madison ; and first Filipina American Rabbi Mira Rivera . Watch the Between Black & White trailer at https://bit.ly/3pKsZh1 (video 0:35) 4. AANHPI Heritage Month Celebration in Guangzhou, China Los Angeles-Guangzhou Sister City Association and Asia Pacific and American Network will sponsor the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2023 Gala at the Garden Hotel, Guangzhou, China, on May 27, 2023. The event honors Paula Williams Madison 's work on creating the Finding Samuel Lowe documentary and book and enlightening the public on the immigrant experience, family separation, and family connections, all common themes shared by Asian Americans. Paula Williams Madison and Luo Man Kwan will be keynote speakers. Subscribe to The APA Justice Newsletter Complete this simple form at https://bit.ly/2FJunJM to subscribe. Please share it with those who wish to be informed and join the fight. View past newsletters here: https://bit.ly/APAJ_Newsletters . Back View PDF May 18, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #252 5/6 Monthly Meeting; Impact of US-China Tensions; Beta Reviewers; Border Issues; CAPAC #252 5/6 Monthly Meeting; Impact of US-China Tensions; Beta Reviewers; Border Issues; CAPAC In This Issue #252 · 2024/05/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · AAPI Community Response to Rising Anti-Asian Hostility · Call For Beta Reviewers of China Initiative Web Page and Timecards · Chinese Students in US Tell of "Chilling" Interrogations and Deportations · Thirty Years of Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) · News and Activities for the Communities 2024/05/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, May 6, 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), two speakers will describe an upcoming forum with the Asian American and academic communities and the FBI in Houston, which will be co-hosted by TMAC and the Science and Technology Policy Program, Baker Institute for Public Policy, and Office of Innovation at Rice University. · Nabila Mansoor, President, Texas Multicultural Advocacy Coalition (TMAC); Executive Director, Rise AAPI · Kenneth M. Evans, Scholar in Science and Technology Policy, Baker Institute for Public Policy, Rice University We also welcome back · Rebecca Keiser , Chief of Research Security Strategy and Policy, National Science Foundation (NSF), returns to update us on the JASON report on Safeguarding the Research Enterprise , MacroPolo's Global AI Talent Tracker 2.0 , and related activities and development at NSF. 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 . AAPI Community Response to Rising Anti-Asian Hostility A panel of community leaders shared their experiences, discussed actionable steps that the AAPI community and its allies have taken, and explored future strategies to confront xenophobic challenges to the AAPI community in a morning session at the Committee 100 conference on April 19, 2024.Dr. Jeremy Wu , founder of APA Justice Task Force and a C100 member, delivered remarks to open the session, noting that Asian Americans have faced two deadly viruses in recent years - the coronavirus and the social injustice virus. Anti-Asian hostility is not new and racial profiling and xenophobia will not go away soon, he said. Community leaders and groups have been tirelessly combating discriminatory hostility and attacks on the AAPI community. We are a nation of immigrants. We value law and order, but we oppose encroachment on our civil rights and liberties under the guise of national security. We believe in U.S. democracy but stand against poor leadership, harmful policies, and rogue actors, he added. Our communities have responded with diverse strategies and actions, including advocacy, education, mobilization, coalition building, civic engagement, data collection, media collaboration, litigation, and a Yellow Whistle with the message of "We Belong." His presentation is posted here: https://bit.ly/3wbeWV7 Jennifer H. Wu , Founding Partner, Groombridge, Wu, Baughman, and Stone LLP, passionately advocated to help hate crime victims navigate both the criminal justice system and the broader parts of the recovery process where too often there is no script. She spoke about the impact of anti-Asian violence on victims and their families, including her personal experiences representing victims in NYC. In particular, she observed that she was a patent lawyer who became a civil rights lawyer because of the rising tide of anti-Asian violence. She was galvanized to action in working on the widely-publicized reports on anti-Asian violence by the Asian American Bar Association. She noted that prosecutors (District Attorneys) are elected positions but relatively few Asian Americans participate in the process of electing them and there are no Asian American District Attorneys in New York City. She concluded that individuals did not create these problems, but that we all need to come together to solve them. Edgar Chen, Special Policy Advisor, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, discussed meaningful involvement and participation in state and federal legislative advocacy efforts to combat alien land laws and other discriminatory bills. He observed that there were alternating historical cycles of physical violence against Asian Americans on the streets with codification of anti-Asian sentiment in Congress and state houses and that the community response must deploy a multi-prong approach which includes the elements of grassroots advocacy on the streets including rallies and protests, legislative engagement, and litigation in courts. In order to be effective, Chen argued, advocates must not only fight for the constitutional civil rights of Asian Americans, but must also muster strong economic arguments with empirical backing to demonstrate why discriminatory legislation is not only wrong, but damaging in other ways. Legislators who are blinded by bias will not be convinced by arguments about civil rights, but could be compelled to mitigate economic harms posed by these bills. Another strategy Chen discussed was cultivating strong working relationships with the media - first by being a trusted source of accurate information - which builds a rapport with journalists so that in addition to conveying timely factual background to assist them with their stories, your analysis and advocacy is more credible. Frank H. Wu, President, Queens College, offered candid comments on the importance of allyship and the difficulty of bridge building. He spoke about strategy and tactics. He pointed out that there is a consensus that discriminating against racial minorities is wrong, but distinguishing between citizens and aliens is normal (as in who can vote in elections), but the prejudice against Asian Americans includes the assumption they are perpetual foreigners, and, in any event, the bias toward Asian immigrants is about their racial background and not their citizenship. He discussed how coalitions succeed, such as in Texas, against alien land laws. Asian American itself brings together people whose ancestors fought wars amongst themselves. Finally, he discussed effective messaging, which needs to appeal to other Americans by invoking the ideals of democracy. Cindy Tsai , Interim President of C100, moderated the session, said "the session was an engaging blend of concepts and practical strategy. Anti-Asian sentiment is rising. It's important that the community understands the tools that are available to us to fight against discrimination and xenophobia. It was an honor to work with this panel of community leaders and activists." Call For Beta Reviewers of China Initiative Web Page and Timecards Although the Department of Justice formally ended the China Initiative in 2022, there have been repeated efforts to revive it and such attempts are anticipated to persist in 2024.As a US government national-security program created to address economic espionage, the China Initiative disproportionately targeted Asian Americans and academic communities for administrative errors and harmed academic freedom and open science.The legacy of the China Initiative is an integral part of American history, and its lessons and repercussions must not fade from memory. Failing to acknowledge its impact could pave the way for its recurrence, perpetuating injustices, racial profiling, stigmatization, harm to U.S. leadership in science and technology, and government overreach.As part of the efforts to revamp its website, APA Justice has developed a webpage and 12 timecards to cover the China Initiative from its launch in November 2018 to its announced end in February 2022. During the month of April, we went through an alpha review with key stakeholders and partners. Their feedback is being studied for implementation. We anticipate the completion of this process in the second half of May, at which point we plan to start a beta review. The goal of beta review is to gather feedback on the product's content, performance, usability, and overall user experience in real-world conditions.We are calling for up to 10 volunteers of diverse backgrounds to help us conduct the beta review. Our vision of the eventual web page and timecards on the China Initiative is an open and free resource available for advocacy, research, and education. If you are interested and ready to contribute to this important public and community service initiative, 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 . Chinese Students in US Tell of "Chilling" Interrogations and Deportations According to the Guardian on April 20, 2024, scientists at America’s leading universities complain of stalled research after crackdown at airports as tensions with China rise. The Chinese embassy in Washington said more than 70 students “with legal and valid materials” had been deported from the US since July 2021, with more than 10 cases since November 2023. The embassy said it had complained to the US authorities about each case.The exact number of incidents is difficult to verify, as the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency does not provide detailed statistics about refusals at airports. Testimonies have circulated on Chinese social media, and academics are becoming increasingly outspoken about what they say is the unfair treatment of their colleagues and students.“The impact is huge,” says Qin Yan , a professor of pathology at Yale School of Medicine in Connecticut, who says that he is aware of more than a dozen Chinese students from Yale and other universities who have been rejected by the US in recent months, despite holding valid visas. Experiments have stalled, and there is a “chilling effect” for the next generation of Chinese scientists.“It is very hard for a CBP officer to really evaluate the risk of espionage,” said Dan Berger , an immigration lawyer in Massachusetts, who represents a graduate student at Yale who, midway through her PhD, was sent back from Washington’s Dulles airport in December, and banned from re-entering the US for five years. “It is sudden,” Berger said. “She has an apartment in the US. Thankfully, she doesn’t have a cat. But there are experiments that were in progress.” Academics say that scrutiny has widened to different fields – particularly medical sciences – with the reasons for the refusals not made clear. X Edward Guo , a professor of biomedical engineering at Columbia University, said that part of the problem is that, unlike in the US, military research does sometimes take place on university campuses. “It’s not black and white … there are medical universities that also do military. But 99% of those professors are doing biomedical research and have nothing to do with the military.” But “if you want to come to the US to study AI, forget it,” Guo said.The increased scrutiny comes as Beijing and Washington are struggling to come to an agreement about the US-China Science and Technology Agreement, a landmark treaty signed in 1979 that governs scientific cooperation between the two countries. Normally renewed every five years, since August it has been sputtering through six-month extensions. Following years of scrutiny from the Department of Justice investigation into funding links to China, and a rise in anti-Asian sentiment during the pandemic, ethnically Chinese scientists say the atmosphere is becoming increasingly hostile.“Before 2016, I felt like I’m just an American,” said Guo, who became a naturalized US citizen in the late 1990s. “This is really the first time I’ve thought, OK, you’re an American but you’re not exactly an American.”On March 14, 2024, The Washington Post reported anecdotal stories on Chinese students and academics facing extra scrutiny entering the U.S.Read the Guardian report: https://bit.ly/3WmhlqT . Read the Washington Post report: https://wapo.st/43LZfju Thirty Years of Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) CAPAC was established on May 16, 1994. Congressman Norman Y. Mineta , one of the founders of CAPAC, became its first Chair (1994-1995). Since then, the Caucus has been led by four other prominent Asian American, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Members of Congress: Congresswoman Patsy Mink of Hawaii (1995-1997), Congressman Robert A. Underwood of Guam (1907-2001), Congressman David Wu of Oregon (2001-2004), and Congressman Mike Honda of California (2004-2011). The Caucus is currently led by Congresswoman Judy Chu , who became CAPAC Chair in February 2011. As AANHPI Heritage Month began on May 1, 2024, CAPAC held a press conference to mark the 30th anniversary of its founding and to highlight the vast contributions of the AANHPI community to the United States, summarized recent CAPAC achievements, and charted a path forward for AANHPIs across the country. Announced speakers included Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-33), Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), Rep. Mark Takano (CA-39), Rep. Ted Lieu (CA-36), Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Rep. Ami Bera , M.D. (CA-06), Rep. Ro Khanna (CA-17), Del. Sablan (NMI-AL), Rep. Barbara Lee (CA-12), Rep. Al Green (TX-09). CAPAC is made up of 76 Members of Congress in both the House of Representatives and Senate who advance the interests of the AANHPI community. With over 70 racial and ethnic groups speaking over 100 languages, the AANHPI community includes over 23 million people and is the fastest-growing racial or ethnic group across this past decade.Read the CAPAC press statement: https://bit.ly/4dlsQEO . Visit the CAPAC website at https://capac-chu.house.gov/ White House Proclamation on AANHPI Month, 2024 On April 30, 2024, President Joe Biden issued "A Proclamation on Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month, 2024."The Proclamation said in part, "This month, we celebrate the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) communities, whose ingenuity, grit, and perseverance have pushed our great American experiment forward."Racism, harassment, and hate crimes against people of AA and NHPI heritage also persist — a tragic reminder that hate never goes away; it only hides. Hate must have no safe harbor in America — that is why I signed the bipartisan COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, which makes it easier for Americans to report hate crimes, and I also hosted the first-ever White House summit against hate-fueled violence. "Our Nation was founded on the idea that we are all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives. We have never fully realized this promise, but we have never fully walked away from it either. As we celebrate the historic accomplishments of AA and NHPIs across our Nation, we promise we will never stop working to form a more perfect Union."Read the White House Proclamation: https://bit.ly/4djMAZC Read the AP News report about the history and evolution of the AANHPI Heritage Month: https://bit.ly/3UnZDjZ News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2024/05/02 AAGEN 2024 Executive Leadership Workshop2024/05/04 Corky Lee's Asian America: Fifty Years of Photographic Justice Book Tour2024/05/05 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting 2024/05/06 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2024/05/13-14 2024 APAICS Legislative Leadership Summit2024/05/14 2024 APAICS: 30th Annual Awards Gala2024/05/14 Serica Initiative: 7th Annual Women's Gala dinnerVisit https://bit.ly/45KGyga for event details. Back View PDF May 2, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #220 Biden-Xi Summit/QI Letter; Dr. Yanping Chen; Section 702; "Global Women Forum"? News+ #220 Biden-Xi Summit/QI Letter; Dr. Yanping Chen; Section 702; "Global Women Forum"? News+ In This Issue #220 · Biden-Xi Summit and Quincy Institute Open Letter · Latest Development of The Case of Dr. Yanping Chen 陈燕平 · Alarm Over Section 702 Surveillance Program · Is It a "Global Women Forum" When There Is No Asian Woman? · News and Activities for the Communities Biden-Xi Summit and Quincy Institute Open Letter This is a special invited report by Juan Zhang , Editor, US-China Perception Monitor/ 中美印象, Carter Center The highly anticipated Biden-Xi summit took place on November 15, 2023, on the sidelines of the APEC summit in San Francisco, California. Many experts believe the significance of this meeting lies in the fact that it will prevent further deterioration of the bilateral relationship and possibly lead to a reset of the relationship between the two countries before the upcoming U.S. presidential elections.Before the meeting, 34 U.S. civil society and professional organizations issued an open letter urging the leaders to have “a cordial and productive discussion.” The letter expressed concerns over the current dangerous trends in Sino-American relations. APA Justice was a signatory to the letter. The organizations who signed the letter represent “a wide range of American constituencies with direct stakes in the future of the U.S.-China relationship.” “Continued hostile rhetoric from prominent figures in both the United States and China contributes to this alarming deterioration of relations,” the letter further stated. Dr. Yawei Liu , founding editor-in-chief of the U.S.-China Perception Monitor at The Carter Center, is also a signatory to the letter. Dr. Liu recounted the role of President Jimmy Carter and his Chinese counterpart Deng Xiaoping in finding ways to put aside differences and cooperate almost 45 years ago.“That legacy is endangered now,” he continued, saying both countries appear on a path that could lead to conflict and confrontation.Read the full report by The Hill : Farmers, academics, advocates urge Biden, Xi to calm US-China tensions . Takeaways from the Summit The White House released a readout after the meeting, framing the meeting as “candid and constructive.” Two leaders discussed “a range of bilateral and global issues, including areas of potential cooperation and exchanged views on areas of difference”, the statement pointed out. The two sides reached agreements on several key areas that include curbing the production of illicit fentanyl and resuming military-to-military communications, which was suspended after then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi ’s visit to Taiwan. Rick Waters, former diplomat and managing director of Eurasia Group’s China practice, pointed out in GZERO Daily a fentanyl deal would be key for Biden’s reelection campaign. Fentanyl is a dangerous drug that has become a leading cause of death among young Americans.Taiwan remains the biggest point of contention. It is also the most important issue that China wants to discuss at the summit. Analysts warned that Taiwan could become a flash point that might trigger a conflict between the two countries.Both sides expressed their positions on Taiwan. President Xi Jinping told President Joe Biden that the United States needed to take “concrete actions” to reassure China that it still stands by its stated policy of not supporting Taiwanese independence. President Biden emphasized the One China policy has not changed. Biden also reiterated that the U.S. opposes any unilateral change of the status quo. What’s next? Can this year’s summit successfully manage and stabilize this relationship? This is a million-dollar question. While many experts agree that it is constructive and positive that the top leaders from both countries talk to each other, they do not think that this summit would become a turning point for the troubled bilateral relationship. When the two leaders met last year on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Indonesia, both sides had a similar goal: to stabilize the bilateral relations. But the balloon incident earlier this year derailed that goal. The rest of this year would see further U.S. export control, arms sales to Taiwan, and military maneuvers in the South China Sea. Let’s hope leaders on both sides agree that they need to do everything to prevent their fierce rivalry from veering into conflict. Latest Development of The Case of Dr. Yanping Chen 陈燕平 According to AP , a federal judge in Washington is weighing whether to hold in contempt a veteran journalist who has refused to identify her sources for stories about Dr. Yanping Chen , a Chinese American scientist who was investigated by the FBI but never charged. The judge previously ordered former Fox News reporter Catherine Herridge , who now works at CBS , to be interviewed under oath about her sources for a series of stories about Dr. Yanping Chen. Dr. Chen, who was investigated for years on suspicions she may have lied on immigration forms related to work on a Chinese astronaut program, has since sued the government, saying details about the probe were leaked to damage her reputation. But after Herridge refused to divulge to Chen’s lawyers how she acquired her information, the scientist’s attorneys are asking U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper to hold the reporter in contempt — a sanction that could result in steep monetary fines until she complies. It’s not clear when the judge might rule on Chen’s request to hold Herridge in contempt. The judge acknowledged the stakes in an August decision that forced Herridge to be interviewed, writing, “The Court recognizes both the vital importance of a free press and the critical role that confidential sources play in the work of investigative journalists like Herridge.” But Cooper said that “Chen’s need for the requested evidence overcomes Herridge’s qualified First Amendment privilege in this case.”Courts have recognized that journalists have a limited privilege to keep confidential their sources, allowing reporters to block subpoenas in the past. But judges in some cases, like Herridge’s, have found that privilege can be outweighed by the need for the information if the person seeking the source has failed to find it through other means.Read the AP report: https://bit.ly/3QEHfSe . Read the story of Dr. Yanping Chen: https://bit.ly/APAJ_Yanping_Chen Alarm Over Section 702 Surveillance Program According to WIRED , more than 60 groups advocating for Asian American and Pacific Islander communities are pushing the US Congress to reform the Section 702 surveillance program as Senate leaders move to renew it. A coalition letter expressing strong opposition to including a short-term reauthorization of Section 702 in a continuing resolution or any other "must-pass" legislation was sent to all members of Congress on November 14, 2023. The coalition calls for members of Congress to consider the concerns seriously and to reject any short-term reauthorization of Section 702. Failure to do so would perpetuate a system that unjustly targets Asian Americans and subjects them to unwarranted surveillance. "Section 702 and related surveillance authorities have been misused to spy on Americans, including but not limited to protesters, journalists, campaign donors, and members of Congress. The consequences of such misuse have had a profound impact on our Asian American community, resulting in wrongful targeting, unjust surveillance, and devastating tolls on careers, livelihoods, and reputations. This disproportionate targeting has fostered a climate of fear among Asian Americans and their families, causing anxiety about being stopped, monitored, or investigated while engaging in everyday activities. These issues not only raise significant concerns about civil liberties and civil rights, but also underscore the need for substantial reform," the letter said. "The inclusion of a short-term reauthorization in larger 'must-pass' bills would undermine the democratic process, run counter to the will of Congress, and disregard the concerns of the American people. Such an approach could also imperil the long-term viability of Section 702 by alienating members who are willing to engage in constructive negotiations for meaningful reforms," the letter also said.Concerned individuals may sign on to the opposition of warrantless surveillance here: https://bit.ly/3EFkg3R . A community briefing on Section 702 has been tentatively scheduled for December 12, 2023. Read the coalition letter: https://bit.ly/47gXxaO . Read the WIRED report: https://bit.ly/47wdFVz . Is It a "Global Women Forum" When There is No Asian Woman? On November 14, 2023, The Washington Post hosted an all-day event named Global Women's Summit, featuring "women from around the world galvanizing innovation and change." However, according to Nancy Chen , President of Chinese American Women in Action (CAWA), noted that none of the 44 women speakers and 2 men from around the U.S. and part of the world are of Chinese and East Asian ancestry. In an email to Sally Buzbee , executive editor of the Washington Post and one of the organizers for the Global Women’s Summit, Chen wrote "I am reaching out to you as the executive editor of the Washington Post and one of the organizers for the Global Women’s Summit. "It's astonishing that the Washington Post trumpets its Global Women's Summit with 44 women speakers and 2 men from around the U.S. and part of the world but omits and excludes American and other women who are of Chinese and East Asian ancestry. Basically, you have ignored almost one quarter of the female population in the world while touting this as a 'global' women’s summit. Our exclusion—either domestically or internationally—harkens back to the colonial era of the past two centuries when Asian women were excluded by the Page Act and later the Chinese Exclusion Act in the United States, and Asian countries were divided up amongst European powers. "By any measure, women of East Asian ancestry are equally shaking up the systems of power in government, entertainment, tech, business and medicine, but are apparently not enough to be recognized by Washington Post decision-makers. There is no shortage of distinguished and nationally-recognized women leaders—Women like Tammy Duckworth or Mazie Hirono in government, Michelle Yeoh or Sandra Oh in entertainment, Kim Ng in sports management, Dr. Leana Wen in medicine, Helen Zia in civil rights, Ellen Pao in technology, Celeste Ng , Maya Lin and more. You could have looked as close by as AARP, one of Global Summit's leading sponsors, and its Vice President of DEI Daphne Kwok whose career has spanned the civil rights, government and nonprofit sectors. It speaks volumes of the mindset of the Washington Post that East Asian American women leaders are invisible in this 'global summit.' "Chinese American Women in Action (CAWA) was founded a year ago amid anti-Asian racism during the pandemic in order to increase recognition and civic engagement for women in our community. This slight by the Washington Post is yet another reminder of the work ahead of us, our daughters and our granddaughters to belong and to be seen and heard. "We ask that you and the Post do better." Read Nancy Chen's letter: https://bit.ly/49ygHuu News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2023/11/16 C100 Forum Debate: Has the Chinese Economy Slowed Down Permanently, Temporarily, or It Depends?2023/11/18 Inaugural Jimmy Carter Conversation on U.S.-China Relations2023/11/18-19 National API Elected Officials Summit2023/11/19 Rep. Gene Wu 's Weekly Town Hall meeting2023/11/26 Rep. Gene Wu 's Weekly Town Hall meeting2023/12/03 Rep. Gene Wu 's Weekly Town Hall meetingVisit https://bit.ly/45KGyga for event details . 2. Survey on Racism and Anti-Asian Hate According to AsAmNews , nearly 9 out of 10 Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders polled, or 86 percent, say racism is a serious problem in the United States. Half of those say they’ve been discriminated against based on their race and 16 percent say they’ve been a victim of a hate crime.Those are the results of a new survey conducted by APIA Data and AP/NORC.Another 34% of AAPI adults believe they’ve been subjected to verbal harassment, racial slurs or have been on the receiving end of threats of physical violence.Surveys were conducted online and via telephone in English, the Chinese dialects of Mandarin and Cantonese, Vietnamese, and Korean. 1,178 Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders aged 18 and older living in the United States participated. The margin of sampling error is +/- 4.2 percentage points.Read the AsAmNews report: https://bit.ly/40E2R5M Back View PDF November 16, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter