Search this site

Newsletter - #322 4/7 Monthly Meeting; Texas Rallies; Litigations; NAPABA/ABA statements; AAPI History + #322 4/7 Monthly Meeting; Texas Rallies; Litigations; NAPABA/ABA statements; AAPI History + In This Issue #322 · 2025/04/07 APA Justice Monthly Meeting · 2025/03/29-30 Texas Tri-City Rallies · Latest on Litigations Against Trump's Executive Actions · NAPABA and ABA Statements on Rule of Law · C100 Updates Data on Laws Requiring The Teaching of AAPI History in School Curricula · News and Activities for the Communities 2025/04/07 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, April 7, 2025, starting at 1:55 pm ET.In addition to updates by Judith Teruya , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Joanna YangQing Derman , Program Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC, and Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), confirmed speakers are: · Mark Takano , First Vice Chair, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC); Member, U.S. House of Representatives · Erwin Chemerinsky , Dean, Jesse H. Choper Distinguished Professor of Law, University of California, Berkeley · Cindy Tsai , Interim President, Committee of 100 · X. Edward Guo , President, Asian American Academy of Science and Engineering (AAASE) 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 . Congressman Mark Takano will make his remarks via recorded video on unprecedented challenges to our communities.In a recent opinion published by the New York Times , Dean Erwin Chemerinsky raised an alarming question: "if Trump defies the Courts, then what?" He also commented on President Trump's unprecedented demands on Columbia University. Dean Chemerinsky will share his thoughts on these recent developments and more.The Committee of 100 (C100) is a nonprofit leadership organization of prominent Chinese Americans dedicated to advancing U.S.-China relations and promoting the full participation of Chinese Americans in American society. On April 25-26, 2025, it will host its annual conference and gala in Los Angeles to share insights on the state of Chinese Americans and the current and future condition of the U.S.-China relationship. Interim President Cindy Tsai returns to update us on recent developments with C100 and the annual event. Professor X. Edward Guo, Stanley Dicker Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Professor of Medical Sciences at Columbia University, is current President of Asian American Academy of Science and Engineering (AAASE). Professor Guo will introduce AAASE and comment on recent developments in higher education and research communities. 2025/03/29-30 Texas Tri-City Rallies Texas grassroots groups with support of diverse national organizations will hold rallies in all three major cities this weekend to oppose Alien Land Bills - Senate Bill 17 (SB17) and House Bill 17 (HB17): · Saturday, 3/29 at 11 a.m. Texas Capitol Grounds East Steps, Austin, TX · Sunday, 3/30 at 2 p.m. zTAO Marketplace, 2049 Coit Rd #300 , Plano, TX · Sunday, 3/30 at 2 p.m. 9015 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX In an open letter addressed to Texas state senators and representatives, the groups denounce SB17, HB 17 and similar legislation as unconstitutional and discriminatory, as they target individuals based on their national origin, infringing upon rights protected by both the U.S. and Texas constitutions. It further argues that such legislation could discourage foreign investment and talent, leading to economic drawbacks for the state. In addition, the letter highlights concerns that these bills conflate individuals with foreign governments, potentially penalizing those without political affiliations, and lack factual evidence to justify their implementation. The organizers warn that enacting these laws may foster discrimination against Asian and immigrant communities.Drawing historical parallels, the letter references the 59th Texas Legislature's 1965 decision to abolish "alien land laws," cautioning against repeating past mistakes. It concludes with a call to action for legislators to oppose these bills to uphold constitutional protections and promote inclusivity within the state. Read the coalition open letter posted by United Chinese Americans: https://ucausa.org/ and call your legislators in Texas.The Yellow Whistle™ with the message "We Belong" will be distributed at all three rallies in Texas. The Yellow Whistle Project was launched in April 2022 after an Asian woman was brutally attacked in anti-Asian hate incident in front of a building in New York when the doormen closed the door instead of intervening. The Yellow Whistle is a symbol of self-protection and solidarity in our common fight against historical discrimination and anti-Asian violence. The whistle is a simple gadget with a universal purpose—to signal alarm and call for help—for all Americans. We shall not remain silent, because WE BELONG™. Latest on Litigations Against Trump's Executive Actions As of March 27, 2025, the number of lawsuits against President Donald Trump 's executive actions reported by the Just Security Litigation Tracker has grown to 146 (3 closed cases). According to the New York Times Tracker , at least 53 of the court rulings have at least temporarily paused some of the administration’s initiatives.These are some of the latest developments: · Block on Alien Enemies Act Deportations Upheld . In a 2-1 decision, the federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., today denied the Trump administration’s request to lift the temporary restraining order against Trump's executive order invoking the Alien Enemies Act. The Plaintiffs led by ACLU, Democracy Forward, and the ACLU of the District of Columbia. have filed a Notice that they intended to file a new Motion for Preliminary Injunction on Friday, March 28, to incorporate “additional factual material so that there is a more complete record.” · Deportation of Columbia University Student Blocked . On March 24, 2025, U.S. District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald of the Southern District of New York granted Yunseo Chung 's attorneys a temporary restraining order, preventing her from being arrested or deported. Chung is a 21-year-old Columbia University student and legal permanent resident who has been involved in pro-Palestinian protests. She came to the U.S. with her family from South Korea at the age of 7. On March 27, TIME Magazine reported these other students targeted by Trump’s immigration enforcement over campus activism: Rumeysa Ozturk , a Turkish international student on a valid F-1 visa for her PhD studies at Tufts University in Boston, became the latest high-profile target of ICE after her arrest, which witnesses caught on video, outside her home in Somerville, Massachusetts, on March 26. Badar Khan Suri , an Indian citizen studying and teaching at Georgetown University on a valid J-1 visa, was detained by ICE on March 17. A lawsuit, Suri v. Trump (1:25-cv-00480) , has been filed in the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Virginia. Momodou Taal , a 31-year-old Cornell University graduate student and dual U.K. and Gambian citizen, had his student visa revoked on March 14 and now faces the threat of deportation. Mahmoud Khalil was arrested at his home by ICE agents on March 8, 2025, and remains in custody as of March 27 at a Louisiana detention facility. Khalil, a Palestinian, moved to the U.S. in 2022 to attend Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, completing his master’s degree studies in December 2024. He married an American woman—making him eligible for a green card—who is eight months pregnant with their first child. Preservation of Signal Records on Military Strikes Ordered . On March 25, 2025, American Oversight, a nonprofit watchdog organization, filed American Oversight v. Hegseth (1:25-cv-00883) against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other senior Trump administration officials, seeking a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) to prevent the deletion of critical national security communications related to a Signal group chat discussing U.S. military operations about a planned strike against Yemen's Houthis on March 11-15, 2025. Administration officials made apparently misleading or false claims that were contradicted by the Editor-in-Chief of the Atlantic . On March 27, Chief Judge James Boasberg of the District of Columbia ordered the Trump administration to preserve the Signal messages. The case raises serious concerns about potential violations of national security protocols and federal records laws. NAPABA and ABA Statements on Rule of Law On March 7, 2025, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) issued an advocacy update . It reaffirmed "[o]ur mission is broad. NAPABA is both a national civil rights organization and a preeminent bar association. We are the national voice for the AANHPI legal profession, promoting justice, equity, and opportunity for AANHPIs. We foster professional development, legal scholarship, advocacy, and community involvement."The NAPABA statement outlines significant legal and policy developments impacting the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community. The organization is closely monitoring threats to the rule of law, including government intimidation of judges, law firms, and federal attorneys. It highlights recent executive orders that have targeted major law firms and restricted their access to government buildings and officials. The report expresses concern over the dismantling of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across federal agencies, including the elimination of the White House Initiative on AANHPIs and restrictions on DEI programs in private institutions. NAPABA argues that these actions undermine fundamental rights, erode professional protections, and reverse decades of progress in ensuring equal opportunities for underrepresented communities. The NAPABA update also focuses on policy rollbacks affecting vulnerable populations. The revocation of Executive Order 13166, which previously mandated language access guarantees for limited English proficient individuals, creates uncertainty for AANHPI immigrants who rely on government services. The administration's restrictive immigration policies, including expanded expedited removal authority and curtailment of asylum rights, disproportionately impact immigrant communities. NAPABA further condemns recent executive actions targeting the LGBTQ+ community, stating that such measures promote discrimination and weaken legal protections. In response to these challenges, the organization reaffirms its commitment to defending civil rights, advocating for equal justice, and ensuring that marginalized communities are not left vulnerable to government overreach.Read the NAPABA statement: https://bit.ly/424d6Bl On March 26, 2025, NAPABA joined the American Bar Association and a coalition of bar organizations across the nation in the following statement to defend the rule of law and reject efforts to undermine the courts and the legal profession: "We endorse the sentiments expressed by the chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court in his 2024 Year End Report on the Federal Judiciary, '[w]ithin the past year we have also seen the need for state and federal bar associations to come to the defense of a federal district judge whose decisions in a high-profile case prompted an elected official to call for her impeachment. Attempts to intimidate judges for their rulings in cases are inappropriate and should be vigorously opposed.'"We support the right of people to advance their interests in courts of law when they have been wronged. We reject the notion that the U.S. government can punish lawyers and law firms who represent certain clients or punish judges who rule certain ways. We cannot accept government actions that seek to twist the scales of justice in this manner."We reject efforts to undermine the courts and the profession. We will not stay silent in the face of efforts to remake the legal profession into something that rewards those who agree with the government and punishes those who do not. Words and actions matter. And the intimidating words and actions we have heard and seen must end. They are designed to cow our country’s judges, our country’s courts and our legal profession."There are clear choices facing our profession. We can choose to remain silent and allow these acts to continue or we can stand for the rule of law and the values we hold dear. We call upon the entire profession, including lawyers in private practice from Main Street to Wall Street, as well as those in corporations and who serve in elected positions, to speak out against intimidation." If lawyers do not speak, who will speak for our judges? Who will protect our bedrock of justice? If we do not speak now, when will we speak? Now is the time. That is why we stand together with the ABA in support of the rule of law. "Read the ABA statement: https://bit.ly/43zP97z C100 Updates Data on Laws Requiring The Teaching of AAPI History in School Curricula On March 25, 2025, the Committee of 100 (C100) released updated data on its public policy research project that identifies and classifies state-level statutes, ongoing bills, and academic standards of K-12 curriculum pertaining to the study of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, as well as other non-white racial and ethnic groups. It includes an interactive map where users may select and filter among statutes, academic standards, and pending bills to meet their needs using the dropdown menus. As of March 25, 2025, · 12 states have statutes that require AAPI studies curriculum (no change since October 3, 2024 data) · 7 states are considering recently introduced bills that would require AAPI studies curriculum (an increase of 3 states since October 3, 2024 data) · 16 states have academic standards that require AAPI studies (an increase of 1 state since October 3, 2024 data) · 23 states have statutes that require ethnic studies curriculum (an increase of 1 state since October 3, 2024 data) · 12 states are considering recently introduced bills that would require ethnic studies curriculum (an increase of 9 states since October 3, 2024 data) · 37 states have academic standards that require ethnic studies (an increase of 4 states since October 3, 2024 data) · 6 states have no statutes, recently introduced bills, or academic standards that require or make optional AAPI studies or ethnic studies curriculum (a decrease of 2 states since October 3, 2024 data) Visit the C100 announcement and interactive map: https://bit.ly/4l351FE News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar 2025/03/29 No to Discrimination and Alien Land Bills - Austin, Texas2025/03/30 No to Discrimination and Alien Land Bills - Plano, Texas2025/03/30 No to Discrimination and Alien Land Bills - Houston, Texas2025/03/30 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/04/07 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/04/13 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/04/15 China Connections: A Conversation with Emily Feng2025/04/24-26 Committee of 100 Annual Conference and Gala2025/04/27 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/05/05 APA Justice Monthly MeetingVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. # # # APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community. For more information, please refer to the new APA Justice website under development at www.apajusticetaskforce.org . We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF March 28, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #8 United States V. Tao Amicus Brief Sign On Request #8 United States V. Tao Amicus Brief Sign On Request Back View PDF August 7, 2020 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #79 Letter To Judge; Letter To President; 2020 Census Results; 08/02 Meeting Summary #79 Letter To Judge; Letter To President; 2020 Census Results; 08/02 Meeting Summary Back View PDF August 25, 2021 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #209 7/3 Meeting Summary; Coalition Opposes Section 702; Meet Oscar and Agnes; Calendar #209 7/3 Meeting Summary; Coalition Opposes Section 702; Meet Oscar and Agnes; Calendar In This Issue #209 2023/07/03 Monthly Meeting Summary Posted National Asian American Coalition Opposes Reauthorization of Section 702 of FISA Without Major Reforms Science Editorial: Future Generations Are Watching Meet Agnes Hsu-Tang 徐心眉 and Oscar Tang 唐骝千 Community Calendar 2023/07/03 Monthly Meeting Summary Posted The July 3, 2023, APA Justice monthly meeting summary has been posted at https://bit.ly/46dE3CW . We thank the following speakers for their updates and discussions: Al Green , Member, U.S. House of Representatives; Member of the Executive Board and Chair of Housing Task Force, CAPAC, on affirmative action, multicultural advocacy coalition and unity, history of alien land laws and SB 147, Green-Chu Preemption Bill, March on Washington, and more Nisha Ramachandran , Executive Director, CAPAC, nisha.ramachandran@mail.house.gov , on affirmative action, alien land bills, and push back against legislations and amendments that are harmful to the civil rights and civil liberties of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), gpkusakawa@aasforum.org , on anti-Asian narrative, Friends of the National Asian Pacific American Smithsonian Museum, teach-in with Mike German at the Brennan Center to demystify the FBI, and in-person OCA National panel with Dr. Xiaoxing Xi Clay Zhu 朱可亮 , Partner, DeHeng Law Offices 德恒律师事务所; Founder, Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance (CALDA) 华美维权同盟, on motion for preliminary injunction, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart joining the Florida lawsuit pro bono, joint amicus brief 19 diverse groups, and statement of interest by the Department of Justice Scott Chang , Senior Counsel, National Fair Housing Alliance, on the history and purpose of NFHA, monitoring of state alien land bills, and possible lawsuit with longtime partners, Relman Colfax PLLC Edgar Chen , Special Policy Advisor, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, on the history and purpose of NAPABA, its advocacy efforts with local affiliates to combat new alien land laws as legal ambassadors and interpreters, caution against one-size-fits-all solution, critical local knowledge, holding legislators accountable, and appreciation for African American legislators in places like Alabama and Louisiana. Cindy Tsai 蔡欣玲 , Interim President and Executive Director, Committee of 100, on the history and purpose of C100, the importance of empowering local communities to address state and municipal laws prohibiting land purchases, guidebook and interactive map, standardized database of information and anti-Asian incident reports, the Yellow Whistle Campaign, and interactions with FBI field offices. Read the 7/3 meeting summary: https://bit.ly/46dE3CW . Read past monthly meeting summaries: https://bit.ly/3kxkqxP Correction from last issue of APA Justice newsletter : Scott Chang , an attorney for the National Fair Housing Alliance, said that NFHA and other organizations are still investigating and are likely to file a lawsuit against the discriminatory alien land law in Florida during the APA Justice monthly meeting on September 11, 2023 National Asian American Coalition Opposes Reauthorization of Section 702 of FISA Without Major Reforms On September 14, 2023, a coalition of 52 Asian American organizations wrote to Congress to oppose the renewal of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) unless significant revisions are put into place. The letter, led by Asian American Scholae Forum (AASF), Advancing Justice | AAJC, and Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA) and Stop AAPI Hate, wrote "with a sense of urgency and a shared commitment to safeguarding the principles of justice, equality, and privacy in our nation. As Asian Americans and allies, we understand all too well the perils of unchecked national security programs and the historical discrimination our community has endured. Our shared history serves as a poignant reminder of the dangers of racial profiling and prejudice in the name of national security. That is why we write to express our strong opposition to the reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act without comprehensive reforms.""Our community is no stranger to the dangers of unrestrained national security programs. The Asian American community has a long history of being treated as 'perpetual foreigners' and scapegoated as national security threats based on our race, ethnicity, religion, or ancestry. During World War II, over 120,000 U.S. residents of Japanese ancestry were incarcerated in remote detention camps in the name of 'national security' in what was one of the darkest stains in our nation’s history. The racist rationale behind this measure was concern that any people of Japanese descent, regardless of whether they were citizens or children, were more prone to acts of espionage or sabotage."Yet history continues to repeat itself from the treatment of Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim, and South Asian (AMEMSA) communities post 9/11 to the current hate, violence, and bigotry against Asian Americans. In the past decade, we have had programs within federal agencies that have raised concerns and fears that race, ethnicity, national origin, and/or religious beliefs were being used to profile and target Asian Americans, particularly Chinese American scientists, researchers, and scholars. This intensified under the now defunct Department of Justice’s 'China Initiative,' which created a chilling effect on the Asian American community who feared that once again they were being scapegoated as threats based on their race, ethnicity, and national origin. "The lesson from these abuses is clear: Without rigorous checks in place, national security and law enforcement officials may act based on prejudice rather than facts. The result is a system that fosters bigotry and leaves Asian Americans open to abuse and as collateral damage. Even to this day, we continue to be convenient scapegoats. "One such authority is Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which will expire at the end of this year unless reauthorized by Congress. Section 702 allows the government to acquire the communications of non-Americans located outside of the United States without a warrant. But this surveillance inevitably sweeps in Americans’ communications as well, which agencies such as the FBI, CIA, and NSA then search for—again without a warrant. The breadth and scope of this surveillance, which amounts to warrantless access to billions of communications, along with government agents’ “persistent and widespread” violations of the minimal privacy safeguards they are required to adhere to under Section 702, demonstrate that the law is in dire need of reform. " I. Section 702 Surveillance is Overbroad and Overused. " II. Government Officials Abuse Section 702 & Impact on Asian American Communities. " III. Section 702 Is in Dire Need of Reform. "The coalition calls for the communities to spread the word by using this social media toolkit https://bit.ly/3PcehZ6 with sample posts and graphics. They encourage your organization to amplify what is at stake for Asian Americans and why this fight matters to our community. The lead organizations will also develop materials, training, and other resources to support your organizations' direct engagement and advocacy to Congress on this issue.The Washington Post reported on the coalition letter on September 14, 2023. According to the report, the coalition demands that a warrant be required to access Americans’ data in a 702-related search and place new surveillance limits to only target people possessing “information of genuine intelligence value." Civil liberties groups recently met with National Intelligence Director Avril Haines and other intelligence officials, urging them to commit to a range of related reforms to the contentious spying power that is set to expire on December 31, 2023, unless it is reauthorized by Congress. Read the coalition letter: https://bit.ly/3LkEmnt . Read the Washington Post report: https://wapo.st/44Ss6lo . Science Editorial: Future Generations Are Watching According to a Science editorial, "in many ways, the current US scientific enterprise is the intellectual descendant of 87 scientists who gathered in Philadelphia 175 years ago to establish the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS, the publisher of Science ). They joined disparate, scattered scientific disciplines to identify and address key challenges of the day."Scientists have made extraordinary advances to improve lives around the world."The world is at a critical juncture. One path leads to ethical and transparent scientific collaboration with the potential to heal the sick, feed the hungry, and protect the planet. Another path leads to barriers that slow progress, distort scientific evidence, and even use science in harmful ways. Both futures are possible, but neither is inevitable. AAAS and the research community must make an active decision to engage in the former, or the latter vision may become the reality by default. AAAS must take a leadership role to cultivate an inclusive and mobilized global scientific community that enables and celebrates scientific excellence and science-informed decisions that lead to the first vision."AAAS is committed to advancing scientific achievement. An open and inclusive scientific enterprise is essential to confronting the world’s complex problems. "Scientists need the tools to participate and build trust in the communities where they live. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed cracks in the foundation of that trust and perpetuated polarization and misinformation in many countries."AAAS must also continue to ensure that the voice of science is heard in policy-making, so that relevant, solutions-oriented, and actionable evidence is clear and available to federal, state, and local decision-makers."Does the world still need an organization incorporating the whole scientific ecosystem? Now more than ever, science is essential to the decisions that will determine the prospects for future health, prosperity, and peace. The scientific enterprise and AAAS must help shape the next 175 years and not be bystanders as history unfolds before us. Future generations are watching."Author of the Science editorial is Dr. Sudip Parikh , chief executive officer of AAAS and executive publisher of the Science journals. ceo@aaas.org Read the Science editorial: https://bit.ly/45TdMuc Meet Agnes Hsu-Tang 徐心眉 and Oscar Tang 唐骝千 According to the New York Times on September 12, 2023, the New York Philharmonic had secured a $40 million donation from the financier Oscar L. Tang 唐骝千 , a co-chairman of its board, and his wife, Agnes Hsu‐Tang 徐心眉 , an archaeologist and art historian, the largest contribution to the endowment in the ensemble’s 181-year history. The Philharmonic, the oldest symphony orchestra in the United States, has been led by giants including Mahler , Toscanini and Leonard Bernstein .Tang, who has served on the Philharmonic’s board since 2013, said he hoped the gift would help usher in a “new golden age” under superstar maestro Gustavo Dudamel , who will take the podium in 2026, with a focus on music education and social change, as the Philharmonic works to connect with new audiences, especially young people and Black and Latino residents. Hsu-Tang, who has worked on international cultural heritage protection and rescue, advising UNESCO in Paris as well as the Cultural Property Advisory Committee under President Barack Obama , said "We support institutions that are game changers — that want to make changes, that act on changes — rather than institutions that were forced to make changes because of the pandemic,” she said. “This is not just a golden age for the New York Philharmonic. It’s a renaissance for New York, and it’s a renaissance for music, arts and culture.”Hsu-Tang, who also serves as chair of the board of the New‐York Historical Society, and Tang are among the city’s most prominent cultural philanthropists. In 2021, the Metropolitan Museum of Art announced that the couple had pledged $125 million to help rebuild its wing for modern and contemporary art, the largest capital gift in the museum’s history.After the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing, Tang teamed up with the architect I.M. Pei 貝聿銘 , the cellist Yo-Yo Ma 马友友 and others to establish the Committee of 100, a Chinese American leadership organization for advancing dialogue between the United States and China.Tang and Hsu-Tang have also championed efforts to fight racial discrimination. In early 2021, the couple founded the Yellow Whistle campaign to combat anti‐Asian hate, distributing 500,000 free yellow whistles emblazoned with the slogan “We Belong.” On Tuesday, the Philharmonic announced that Dudamel would come to New York in April for a festival celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Philharmonic’s Young People’s Concerts, which have helped introduce new generations to classical music. Dudamel, who had not been previously scheduled to appear this season, will lead the ensemble’s spring gala concert and participate in educational activities.Read the New York Times report: https://nyti.ms/3Rk4UJz Community Calendar APA Justice has launched a Community Calendar to track events and activities of interest to the Asian Pacific American, academic, and other communities. You can find it on the front page of the APA Justice website at https://www.apajustice.org/ . Mark Your Calendar: The Committee of 100 will hold its annual conference and gala in New York City on April 18-20, 2024. Upcoming Events: 2023/09/19 National Voter Registration Day 2023/09/20 Committee of 100 Asian American Career Ceilings: Voting and Representation National Science Foundation Listening Session 2023/09/21 Appeals Court Hearing of Feng "Franklin" Tao 陶丰 Appeal 2023/09/25-27 AAUC National Unity Summit 2023/09/27 1990 Institute: Teaching Asian American Narratives through Literature Visit https://bit.ly/45KGyga for event details. NOTE: Support Professor Feng "Franklin" Tao 陶丰, the first academic researcher to be prosecuted under the now-defunct "China Initiative," by attending the oral argument in Courtroom 2 of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals at 1823 Stout Street, Denver Colorado on Thursday, September 21, 2023, starting around 9:30 am MT. He is appealing one last count against him after all other charges were dismissed or acquitted. If you are not able to attend in person, you may watch it livestreamed through this link https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCz4oP87ziTjb7WpRwIGZf0g . Read about his case at https://bit.ly/3fZWJvK Back View PDF September 18, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Haizhou Hu Previous Item Next Item

Webinars APA Justice offers a curated collection of recorded discussions and presentations that explore critical issues affecting Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities and broader justice concerns. Featuring expert insights on topics such as the China Initiative, racial profiling, alien land laws, warrantless surveillance, and civil rights advocacy, these webinars provide historical context, policy analysis, and community perspectives. Explore series China Initiative US-China Relations Warrantless Surveillance 2020-2022 China Initiative The China Initiative webinar series highlights a critical set of conversations examining how the U.S. Department of Justice’s China Initiative disproportionately targeted Chinese American and Asian immigrant scientists, researchers, and scholars—often conflating national security fears with racial profiling and discriminatory practices. Capstone Town Hall: The End of The "China Initiative" Learn more >> 5. The Mistrial of Professor Anming Hu under the "China Initiative" Learn more >> 4. Legal Resources and Policy Advocacy - How to Combat Racial Profiling Under the “China Initiative” Learn more >> 3. Building Coalition Against “China Initiative” Discrimination - Fighting racial targeting of Asian Americans and communities of color, past & present Learn more >> 2. Policy Needs for U.S. Science and Scientists Learn more >> 1. The Human and Scientific Costs of The "China Initiative" Learn more >> US-China Relations APA Justice, the Committee of 100 (C100), and the US-China Education Trust (USCET) have come together to host a continuing joint webinar series focused on the intersection of U.S.–China relations and the civil rights and civil liberties of Asian American and immigrant communities. As geopolitical tensions increasingly impact domestic policies, public discourse, and community experiences, this series brings together thought leaders, legal experts, journalists, and advocates to examine emerging challenges, share informed perspectives, and explore constructive paths forward. 3. Geopolitics, Identity, and the Fight for Civil Rights Learn more 2. Bridging Nations: Global Competition for Talent & International Students Learn more 1. Bridging Nations: People-to-people Exchange in U.S.-China Relations Learn more Warrantless Surveillance APA Justice has hosted webinars on warrantless surveillance to examine its legal foundations, policy implications, and real-world impact on civil rights and civil liberties, especially on Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. These programs are designed to inform and engage the community on how surveillance authorities—often justified on national security grounds—can disproportionately affect Asian American and immigrant communities. These webinars aim to promote greater transparency, accountability, and informed public dialogue on the balance between security and constitutional protections. Mass Surveillance and the ICE Crackdown: What the AAPI Community Needs to Know Learn more Perils of Warrantless Surveillance: The Case for Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Reform Learn more All Webinars Mass Surveillance and the ICE Crackdown: What the AAPI Community Needs to Know Watch Read More A Dialogue Between the Academic & Asian American Communities and the FBI Watch Read More 3. Geopolitics, Identity, and the Fight for Civil Rights Watch Read More 2. Bridging Nations: Global Competition for Talent & International Students Watch Read More 1. Bridging Nations: People-to-people Exchange in U.S.-China Relations Watch Read More China Initiative: Past and Present 中国行动的前世今生 Watch Read More 2. Fair Housing Rights & Alien Land Laws: Challenges and Advocacy for the Asian American Community Watch Read More 1. From Past Prejudice to Present Policy: The Impact of Land Ownership Exclusion Laws on Diverse Communities Watch Read More 2. Historical Re-Hash - Alien Land Law and SB147 Watch Read More 1. A Call to Stop Senate Bill 147 and All Alien Land Laws Watch Read More Perils of Warrantless Surveillance: The Case for Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Reform Watch Read More Reflecting on Prof. Gang Chen’s Case & Looking Ahead to the Future of the China Initiative Watch Read More Capstone Town Hall: The End of The "China Initiative" Watch Read More 5. The Mistrial of Professor Anming Hu under the "China Initiative" Watch Read More 4. Legal Resources and Policy Advocacy - How to Combat Racial Profiling Under the “China Initiative” Watch Read More 3. Building Coalition Against “China Initiative” Discrimination - Fighting racial targeting of Asian Americans and communities of color, past & present Watch Read More 2. Policy Needs for U.S. Science and Scientists Watch Read More 1. The Human and Scientific Costs of The "China Initiative" Watch Read More

Newsletter - #205 9/11 Meeting; No to Discriminatory Laws; March on Washington; "A Life Well Lived;" + #205 9/11 Meeting; No to Discriminatory Laws; March on Washington; "A Life Well Lived;" + In This Issue #205 2023/09/11 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Tell Congress NO To Discriminatory Land Laws; Is China Really Buying Up U.S. Farmland? NPR Interview UCA on March on Washington Vigil Honors "A Life Well Lived" at The University of North Carolina News and Activities for The Communities 2023/09/11 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, September 11, 2023, starting at 1:55 pm ET. In addition to updates by Nisha Ramachandran , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC); John Yang 杨重远 , President and Executive Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC; and Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), confirmed and invited speakers include: Clay Zhu 朱可亮 (confirmed) , Partner, DeHeng Law Offices 德恒律师事务所; Founder, Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance 华美维权同盟, to report on the latest developments of the lawsuit against Florida's discriminatory alien land law Deborah Seligsohn (confirmed) , Senior Associate (non-resident), Center for Strategic and International Studies; Assistant Professor, Villanova University on the case for US-China Science and Technology Agreement (STA) https://bit.ly/3OMc8En Steve Kivelson (confirmed), Prabhu Goel Family Professor of Physics Luke Blossom Professor, Stanford University, on the joint letter with Professor Peter Michelson to President Joe Biden and members of the National Security Council on renewing the STA https://bit.ly/44xTNPX Sudip Parikh (invited) , Chief Executive Officer and Executive Publisher Science Family of Journals at AAAS, on moving open science, basic research, and US-China collaboration forward in today's environment. Ting Wu (invited) , Advisor, Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, Office of the Chief of Staff, The White House, on the letter to the President and more The virtual monthly meeting is by invitation only. If you wish to join, either one time or for future meetings, please contact one of the co-organizers of APA Justice - Steven Pei 白先慎 , Vincent Wang 王文奎 , and Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org On August 24, 2023, Stanford University Professors Steven Kivelson and Peter Michelson sent a letter to President Joe Biden and the Members of the US National Security Council to express their strong support for renewing the Agreement Between the United States and China on Cooperation in Science and Technology , which was signed by U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Chinese Premier Deng Xiaoping on January 31, 1979. Their letter was endorsed by over 1,000 faculty and scholars from many US universities including multiple Nobel Laureates, members of the National Academies, and of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Read the letter: https://bit.ly/44xTNPX . Read the APA Justice coverage: https://bit.ly/3E9NmI8 Tell Congress NO To Discriminatory Land Laws; Is China Really Buying Up U.S. Farmland? NPR Interview 1. Tell Congress NO To Discriminatory Land Laws On August 25, 2023, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) put out a call for the public to tell Congress: Say NO to Discriminatory Land Laws."Dangerous laws are being introduced at the state and federal level right now that use 'national security' as an excuse to discriminate against immigrants from China. In Florida, for example, Governor DeSantis has banned many Chinese immigrants from buying a house in much of the state – a move that is both unconstitutional and unfortunately, not new."This type of 'alien land law' should sound alarm bells for all of us. From the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, to the WWII incarceration of Japanese Americans, to the ongoing post-9/11 surveillance of Black and Brown communities – we’ve seen how such racist policies created under the guise of 'national security' are racist and used to scapegoat entire communities."We cannot allow history to repeat itself: Tell your Members of Congress to speak out against any law that falsely equates Chinese people with the Chinese government."Thanks to ACLU, take one easy step to tell Congress NO to discriminatory land laws at https://bit.ly/3qRsFOh 2. CNBC: Is China Really Buying Up U.S. Farmland? According to NBC News on August 26, 2023, state and federal lawmakers are pushing to regulate foreign ownership of U.S. real estate because of fears that Chinese entities are creating a national security risk by amassing swaths of U.S. farmland, some of it near sensitive sites.A review by NBC News of thousands of documents filed with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), however, shows very few purchases by Chinese buyers in the past year and a half — fewer than 1,400 acres in a country with 1.3 billion acres of agricultural land. In fact, the total amount of U.S. agricultural land owned by Chinese interests is less than three-hundredths of 1%.But the review also reveals a federal oversight system in which reporting of foreign ownership is lax and enforcement minimal. NBC News was able to review filings on foreign purchases and leases of agricultural land, meaning both farm and forestry land, from 35 states since Jan. 1, 2022. The vast majority of the transactions were European wind power companies leasing land from U.S. farmers to build wind turbines. One Italian wind company disclosed 40 new leases of farmland in just one rural Illinois county. The same company had leases in at least four other states.In those 35 states, NBC News found 11 purchases by Chinese entities that had been reported to the USDA from Jan. 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023.Several of the disclosures were not recent sales, and at least one was a repeat of a previous disclosure. Another was not reported to the government till it had been revealed in the media.Historically only about 3.1%, or 40 million acres, of the nation’s 1.3 billion acres of agricultural land has been owned by foreigners. Almost half of the foreign-owned land is forest. USDA records show that a third of the 40 million foreign-owned acres are held by Canadian interests, while Chinese interests hold less than 400,000 acres.In the name of national security, members of Congress have called for tougher laws to regulate foreign land purchases, criticizing existing efforts by the USDA to police disclosure.In late July, the Senate passed a ban on China, Russia, North Korea and Iran buying American agricultural land, but it’s unclear if the amendment will make it into the final defense spending bill that will go to a vote in Congress this fall.Read the NBC News report: https://cnb.cx/3sGWSAk 3. NPR: Slew of new landownership bills are reminiscent of anti-Asian Alien Land Laws On August 28, 2023, National Public Radio (NPR) talked with legal expert Edgar Chen , Special Policy Adviser for the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), about the recent slew of legislation aimed at restricting U.S. land ownership for Chinese citizens and businesses.The following are excerpts of his responses:"Fear of so-called malign influence by the Chinese Communist Party over American agriculture or fear that China will use land for spying purposes has often been cited as the basis for introduction of these bills. But to be clear, several of these bills, as introduced, also placed restrictions on the ability of ordinary Chinese citizens to purchase residential real estate, like condos."In Florida, a law recently enacted there would prevent persons from certain countries that are deemed adversaries to the U.S. from purchasing agricultural land, land near military bases or critical infrastructure and - so most habitable areas. And that would ban persons from countries like China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela or Cuba from doing so. But that Florida law has an entire separate section dedicated to restricting those from China. And that law even has higher penalties for those violating the Chinese section than for other sections. So there are felony provisions for violating the Chinese section of the Florida law and misdemeanors for the other sections."The Chinese spy balloon in February of this year doesn't help matters. That provided a tangible illustration of the ongoing geopolitical threat posed by China. But again, these laws that we've seen introduced do nothing to address that particular threat head on. I don't see how banning someone from buying a condo in the downtown area will address that particular threat."The problem is there is a false moral equivalency that equates ordinary Chinese citizens, even those with no ties to the Chinese Communist Party, as essentially being agents of those regimes. So these laws assume that if you immigrate from China, your loyalty is to China. And that's extraordinarily harmful to the broader Asian American community in this country."This country has already seen this movie before. We've experienced the discriminatory effects of these laws. The court that recently upheld the Florida law cited to a widely discredited 1923 precedent which contains language about those who are eligible for citizenship and therefore entitled to purchase property. And that 1923 Supreme Court precedent says that Natives of European countries are eligible. Japanese, Chinese and Malays are not. That is the type of case law that is being cited to. And as an Asian American and as a lawyer, I'm stunned that the court would continue to rely on a case that contains so much discriminatory reasoning. "As legal precedent, those alien land laws helped set the groundwork for the incarceration of Japanese Americans during the Second World War. So for the Asian American community, we have seen this. This slippery slope has already come and, we thought, gone."Listen to the interview and read the entire transcript at: https://n.pr/45Sa4k6 . Follow APA Justice coverage of Alien Land Bills at: https://bit.ly/43epBcl UCA on March on Washington According to a summary report on the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington by United Chinese Americans (UCA), several hundred members and partners joined the March at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC on August 26, including nine members of its Board of Directors. UCA made customized placards and banners such as "We Belong Here", "Against Asian Hate", "One Common Dream" and wore unified UCA T-Shirts. At the same time, as a symbol of anti-Asian hate, thousands of Yellow Whistles were distributed on the spot. The Yellow Whistles were described as "a symbol of self-preservation and solidarity in the fight against racism and anti-Asian violence," and feature a yellow color that "has been used as a symbol of hateful mentality against Asians." Haipei Shue 薛海培 , UCA President, was invited to have a cordial and in-depth conversation with Martin Luther King III and his daughter-in-law, Arndrea Waters King , and discussed the development of the American civil rights movement and cooperation.Haipei Shue remarked afterwards: "Today, I participated in the historic 60th anniversary March on Washington. I met with the King family and had a good talk. I expressed my gratitude from the Chinese community, telling them that without the March on Washington in 1963 and the vigorous civil rights movement in the 1960s, there would be no immigration law reform in 1965, and thus many Chinese would not be able to settle down in the United States today. I further told his family about the current difficult situation faced by the Chinese community such as the 'China Initiative' and the discriminatory alien land bills, as well as UCA outreach to various ethnic groups, including NAACP and the Jewish community. The King family is very interested in connecting with UCA to continue bilateral communications. The Chinese community was often absent in the past social and political movements in the United States. Today, more than 100 people from over ten states participated in this March with high visibility. It is a significant milestone worthy of everyone's pride! UCA calls for the launch of a new civil rights movement of our generation! Thanks again for the participation and concern of friends from far and near!" Steven Pei 白先慎 , Founding Chair of UCA, said, "Chinese Americans have a long history of civil rights movement, such as the Yik Wo v. Hopkins case in 1886." From participating in the previous March on Washington and building intercultural partnerships, advocating for the creation of racial studies, to participating in the Black Lives Matter protests, the Asian American community does not stop for civil rights for all. Early in the 2020 pandemic, UCA hosted a summit of Asian, Black and Jewish community leaders to discuss the challenges each community faces and ways to work together to address injustice. Chen Jian 陈健 , Founding Director of UCA came to the Lincoln Memorial early in the morning to provide logistical support. She said that "we Chinese Americans are facing various challenges at present. But we firmly believe that, as Martin Luther King Jr. conveyed, the dream of equality and justice must be inherited by each of us. This mission transcends skin color, transcends background, and is integrated into the veins of our great country. Let us work together to overcome difficulties and write a better and more inclusive future."Read the UCA report: https://bit.ly/47WGV9d . Read APA Justice's coverage of the 2023 March on Washington: https://bit.ly/3OVojxs Vigil Honors "A Life Well Lived" at The University of North Carolina According to the University of North Carolina (UNC) on August 31, 2023, thousands wore ribbons and lit candles at the Dean E. Smith Center service in memory of Zijie Yan 严资杰 , a brilliant, soft-spoken faculty member and nanoscience researcher killed in a campus shooting.The vigil at the Smith Center allowed the Carolina community to come together to process the fear and uncertainty caused by the shooting and resolve to be “Carolina Strong” in the wake of the tragedy.“His loss will be deeply felt by all those who knew him and loved him,” Chancellor Kevin M. Guskiewicz said to the mourners, who included Yan’s mother and two young children. “Dr. Yan left this world a better place for his brilliance, his commitment and the lives that he affected. That’s a life well lived and a life ended far, far too soon.”An estimated 5,000 faculty, staff, students and community members attended the vigil, and another 10,000 watched the livestream from the Smith Center. Many wore blue ribbons and held candles that were handed out at the Smith Center entrance. Music professors played somber selections on cello and violin as mourners filled the seats. Leah Cox , vice provost of equity and inclusion and chief diversity officer, reminded audience members of the mental health resources available for faculty, staff and students. “Let us never forget that we are truly one Carolina where hope always triumphs over fear, where inclusivity arises above difference,” she said.According to the South China Morning Post on August 30, 2023, a doctoral candidate Tailei Qi 齐太磊 , 34, was charged with first-degree murder and possession of a firearm on educational property. He was ordered held without bail until his next scheduled court appearance on September 18.Read the UNC report: https://unc.live/45BgVP4 . Read the South China Morning Post report: https://bit.ly/3PnoLGa United Chinese Americans (UCA) issued the following report in Chinese: 8月30日星期三晚，大约五千名北卡罗来纳大学（UNC）教堂山分校校园和社区成员，聚集在史密斯中心（Dean E. Smith Center）举行烛光守夜活动，纪念两天前在校园不幸遇害的严资杰教授。校长古斯基维奇（Kevin M. Guskiewicz）在讲话中表示，“所有认识他和爱他的人，都会对他的去世深感悲痛，严以他的才华、他的承诺以及他所带来的影响，让这个世界变得更美好，这样一个美丽的生命如此戛然而止，令人痛心。”音乐系教授演奏了大提琴和小提琴的忧郁音乐，陪伴在场的人们凭吊和追思。据报道，身为纳米科学研究人员，严是一位才华横溢、为人谦和的教授，有两个年幼的孩子。2005年在华中科大以计算机和材料工程本科双学位毕业后，严先后在纽约和芝加哥攻读硕士、博士和做博士后研究，2019年起在UNC担任副教授。他生前所在的艺术与科学学院、应用物理科学系系主任丁格曼斯（Theo Dingemans）回忆说，严是他见过的最友善的人之一，也是一位杰出的科学家，“他的研究计划突破了纳米科学的界限……我确信，这些研究最终将改变世界。”枪击案凶嫌齐太磊是严教授手下的博士在读学生，被控一级谋杀罪和在教育场所持有武器，不得保释，这两项罪名都是重罪，但目前对于动机尚没有确切的信息。根据2010年中国媒体的报道，他是河南省高考状元之一，家境拮据，父母务农，他在武汉大学读物理学，在进入UNC之前与路易斯安那州立大学获得材料科学与工程硕士学位。凶杀案引起华人社区的热议，有一些猜测是在背后存在长期的心理问题，呼吁学生注重精神健康并善用相关资源。 News and Activities for The Communities Mark Your Calendar - National API Elected Officials Summit API Coalition and Civic Leadership USA (CLUSA) will convene the Inaugural National API Elected Officials Summit on November 18-19, 2023, immediately following The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders Meeting. This summit aims to facilitate the exchange of experiences, ideas, and the establishment of enduring relationships geared towards mutual support. The event will be held at The Westin St. Francis Hotel, 335 Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94102. Hundreds of current Asian Pacific Islander (API) elected officials, representatives from APEC member countries and regions, and the world's top business AANHPI elected officials will participate in the event. Contact Andy Li, President of API Coalition and CLUSA, at andy.j.li@gmail.com or (860)-263-9540 for additional details. APA Justice has also posted the event at its newly created Community Calendar: https://bit.ly/45KGyga Back View PDF September 4, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #304 Arkansas Lawsuit Update; Meet Judith Teruya+; Legacies of Jimmy Carter; CJR Comment/WP #304 Arkansas Lawsuit Update; Meet Judith Teruya+; Legacies of Jimmy Carter; CJR Comment/WP In This Issue #304 · Latest Development on Arkansas Foreign Ownership Laws · Meet Judith Teruya - New Executive Director of CAPAC · The Legacies of Former President Jimmy Carter · CJR : Trump, the Public, and the Press · News and Activities for the Communities From Governor Gavin Newsom's Office - Get Help Today on LA Fires Californians can go to CA.gov/LAfires – a hub for information and resources from state, local and federal government. Individuals and business owners who sustained losses from wildfires in Los Angeles County can apply for disaster assistance: · Online at DisasterAssistance.gov · Calling 800-621-3362 · By using the FEMA smart phone application · Assistance is available in over 40 languages · If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service. Please share with your families, friends, and colleagues in the Los Angeles area. Latest Development on Arkansas Foreign Ownership Laws During the APA Justice monthly meeting on January 6, 2025, Professor Robert "Bob" S. Chang , Executive Director of Fred T. Korematsu Center for Law and Equality at the University of California Irvine School of Law, provided background and updates on the latest development on the Arkansas foreign ownership laws. With over 30 years in the legal academy, Bob has focused on anti-Asian discrimination in law, including alien land laws. He described his growing concern as these laws began to re-emerge in recent years, particularly with Florida’s 2023 law. Collaborating with legal scholars like Rose Cuison Villazor (Rutgers Law School) and Jack Chin (UC Davis Law School), and the law firm Foley Hoag, Bob worked on an amicus brief addressing the historical and discriminatory dimensions of these laws. Bob highlighted parallels between historical and contemporary laws targeting minority groups, emphasizing how national security concerns often serve as a “fig leaf” to justify discriminatory practices. Drawing from his experience advancing Fred Korematsu ’s legacy, he explained that the use of national security as a pretext is a recurring theme in American history. Alien Land Laws and Recent Litigation Bob detailed the recent rise of alien land laws, noting that approximately 20 states are considering or have implemented new versions. He provided specific insights into Arkansas, where two laws were passed in 2023: one restricting agricultural land ownership and the other targeting land associated with data centers. Though framed as addressing “countries of concern” per the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) list, evidence suggests these laws primarily target individuals and entities linked to China.Bob joined the Arkansas case after the complaint was filed, working with lead counsel Alexander Jones in the Little Rock office of Kutak Rock, and contributing a historical perspective to demonstrate the broader context and impact of such laws. Also joining in the case as co-counsel is Paul Hoffman , a clinical law professor at UC Irvine, along with several of the students in his civil rights clinic. Legal Strategies and Outcomes Bob discussed the legal strategies used to challenge these laws, including filing motions for a temporary restraining order (TRO) and a preliminary injunction. He humorously advised against filing such motions around Thanksgiving due to the intense workload, sharing that his team worked through the holiday to secure the preliminary injunction. Ultimately, the judge granted the preliminary injunction but based the decision on statutory claims of federal preemption without reaching the constitutional claims.The federal preemption claims relied on the Foreign Investment Risk Review Modernization Act (FIRRMA), emphasizing that land ownership related to national security is under federal, not state, jurisdiction. While this argument succeeded, Chang warned that changes in federal policy or administration could weaken this approach. Historical Lessons and Federal Advocacy Bob drew historical parallels to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, explaining how discriminatory state laws against Chinese immigrants in the 1870s led to federal legislation. He stressed the importance of proactive advocacy with organizations like APA Justice and engagement with groups like the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) to prevent discriminatory policies at the federal level. Ongoing and Future Litigation Bob highlighted the broader legal battle against alien land laws, noting active cases in multiple states. Arkansas just filed its notice to appeal the preliminary injunction, and similar cases in states like Tennessee and Florida are advancing through the courts. He underscored the importance of building strong coalitions and setting favorable legal precedents, as these cases may ultimately reach the U.S. Supreme Court. Conclusion Bob concluded by emphasizing the need for vigilance and collaboration to combat discriminatory laws effectively. He expressed his willingness to engage further with interested parties, both during the Q&A session and offline.A summary of the January 6 APA Justice monthly meeting is being prepared at this time. Meet Judith Teruya - New Executive Director of CAPAC During the APA Justice monthly meeting on January 6, 2025, Judith Teruya spoke on her first official day as the Executive Director of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) under Chairwoman Grace Meng . She acknowledged the longevity and importance of these efforts, stating, "You all have been doing this for a long time through a lot of different circumstances and different issues coming up in the community across the country." Judith introduced herself and highlighted her professional journey, which began in Congresswoman Meng’s office. During her tenure, Judith contributed to significant legislative achievements, including the “COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act”, the passage of the “AANHPI Museum Study Act”, and the creation of a commission to establish a “Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Museum”. Most recently, she served with the “White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI)” under Krystal Ka'ai ’s leadership before transitioning to her current role.Judith honored the legacy of CAPAC Chair Emeritus Judy Chu , acknowledging her transformative leadership over the years. Judith expressed her excitement about continuing CAPAC’s work and building upon its past achievements. Acknowledging the challenging political landscape ahead, she stated, "We know that the next couple of years are going to be a challenge. We know there are some challenging legislative battles that we have ahead of us in the House." Judith also referenced potential difficulties under a second Trump administration, noting, "We know from the first time around some of what we can expect... and so I really look forward to getting to work with you all." She emphasized the critical importance of ensuring that AANHPI communities are protected and actively involved in policymaking, saying, "Our communities must be seen, heard, and considered in the voices of policymaking, and not as an afterthought." Judith concluded by inviting collaboration and encouraging open communication, stating, "Please be in touch... I just look forward to getting to join you all monthly, moving forward.” Judith underscored her commitment to sustained engagement, listening to community concerns, and working together to address key issues impacting AANHPI communities.*****During the monthly meeting on January 6, Joanna YangQing Derman , Program Director of Advancing Justice | AAJC, provided a brief update on AAJC's opposition to the reauthorization of the House Select Committee on the CCP. She acknowledged that opposing this reauthorization was an "uphill battle," a reality confirmed by the recent passage of the rules package that reauthorized the Select Committee. Despite this setback, Joanna expressed gratitude to all the groups that joined AAJC's letter of opposition and reaffirmed AAJC's commitment to combating "harmful rhetoric and policies" that could lead to discriminatory backlash against the Asian Pacific Islander (API) community. She concluded by reaffirming further updates and actions in the weeks and months to come.*****During the same meeting, Dr. Kai Li , Vice President of the Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), highlighted AASF's efforts and upcoming initiatives, emphasizing its role as a leading voice for the Asian American scholar community. He noted concerns about the potential resurgence of the "Chinese Initiative," stressing its negative impact on civil rights, talent retention, and U.S. competitiveness in global talent. Kai discussed AASF’s ongoing research on talent retention. A previous analysis revealed a significant loss of talent in the U.S., exacerbated by a chilling effect stemming from investigations targeting Asian American scholars. To deepen their understanding, AASF is initiating a new round of data analysis with updated information through 2024, aiming to uncover the primary reasons behind this talent exodus.AASF is also launching a national survey to gather feedback on new policies from scholars of all backgrounds. This effort includes collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) to understand reactions among scientists. The survey aims to facilitate closer cooperation with federal agencies and provide insights for policymaking.Kai mentioned discussions with university lobbying offices in Washington, D.C., regarding shared concerns. They include: · Potential taxation of university endowments. · Penalties for universities perceived as misaligned with administration priorities. · Legislative proposals restricting access to educational and economic opportunities for students from specific countries, particularly China. · Issues such as visa revocations at borders and penalizations of individuals based on historical affiliations with entities now on restricted lists. Kai reported that at AASF’s Annual Symposium at Stanford University on July 25-27, 2024, in partnership with the NSF, six Asian American scientists were recognized for their groundbreaking contributions with inaugural Asian American Pioneer Medals. · Nasir Ahmed : Inventor of discrete cosine transform, enabling modern video conferencing. · Raj Reddy : Developer of continuous speech recognition technology. · Teresa Meng : Innovator in Wi-Fi communication. · Frank Chung : Creator of the power amplifier for prolonged phone use. · Hyungsup Choi : Pioneer in semiconductor memory technology. · Dawon Kahng and Simon Sze : Co-inventors of floating gate memory, the fathers of flash memory. Dawon Kahng also invented MOSFET, the fundamental technology for semiconductor chips. Simon Sze published a book considered as the bible for semiconductors devices. A summary of the January 6 monthly meeting is being prepared at this time. The Legacies of Former President Jimmy Carter Dr. Yawei Liu , Senior Advisor of the Carter Center, has been involved with the center for over 25 years. During the APA Justice monthly meeting on January 6, 2025, Yawei delivered an insightful talk reflecting on the life, values, and contributions of former President Jimmy Carter , emphasizing lesser-known aspects of his legacy.Yawei highlighted President Carter's humility, honesty, and integrity, noting that while his presidency (1977–1981) is often criticized, his post-presidential accomplishments elevated him to one of the most admired former presidents. Yawei emphasized President Carter's refusal to capitalize on his political status, stating, “He would not take a penny” from honorariums or his Nobel Peace Prize earnings, instead directing all proceeds to philanthropic causes. Yawei noted, “His income is his pension, the royalties from his 33 books, and the proceeds from his farm.”President Carter’s modest lifestyle was underscored with examples such as his return to Plains, Georgia, where he lived in a $170,000, three-bedroom home. Yawei remarked, “The house, along with its three-acre compound, is cheaper than the Secret Service Suburban parked outside.” Carter and his wife, Rosalynn , planned to be buried on this property. President Carter's Humanitarian Efforts The Carter Center led a global campaign to eradicate Guinea worm disease, reducing cases from 3.5 million in 1986 to just 11 in recent years. Yawei quoted President Carter’s lifelong wish: “I would like to see all the worms gone before I die,” acknowledging the near success of this effort.President Carter’s 33-year dedication to volunteering a week annually with Habitat for Humanity exemplified his commitment to grassroots humanitarian work. He also lent his reputation to "The Elders," a group of former global leaders mediating conflicts worldwide, significantly enhancing its credibility. Diplomatic Contributions Yawei shed light on President Carter’s underappreciated role in resolving the nuclear crisis on the Korean Peninsula in the early 1990s. His 1994 meeting with Kim Il-sung helped establish a framework for peace, which later administrations attempted to follow.President Carter’s pivotal role in normalizing U.S.-China diplomatic relations in 1979 was another focus. President Carter’s interest in China began in childhood, inspired by letters from his uncle, a merchant marine, and his awareness of Baptist missionary work in the region. His first visit to China in 1949 exposed him to the devastation of the civil war, deepening his understanding of the country’s challenges. Yawei emphasized the lasting benefits of President Carter’s work, noting that normalization turned East Asia into a global economic engine. Yawei concluded by quoting President Carter's 2018 op-ed, where he called for “courageous leadership” to prevent a U.S.-China cold war. President Carter advocated for continued engagement, arguing that policies initiated under President Richard Nixon and solidified during his presidency brought peace and prosperity to East Asia. Rejecting engagement outright, President Carter warned, was “ludicrous and absurd.” Yawei celebrated President Carter’s enduring legacy as a global humanitarian and diplomat, urging future leaders to uphold his principles of humility, service, and a vision for a peaceful, interconnected world.A summary of the January 6 monthly meeting is being prepared at this time. CJR : Trump, the Public, and the Press On January 6, 2025, the Columbia Journalism Review article, "Trump, the Public, and the Press," examines the dynamic between Donald Trump ’s presidency, media coverage, and the influence of billionaire ownership in journalism. It highlights Trump’s combative relationship with the press, noting his ability to bypass traditional media through rhetoric and direct communication. This strategy, combined with his attacks on "fake news," has eroded public trust in journalism. The article discusses the challenges faced by media outlets owned by billionaires like Jeff Bezos ( The Washington Post ) and Patrick Soon-Shiong ( Los Angeles Times ), emphasizing the tightrope they walk between perceived bias, commercial interests, and editorial independence. The piece observes that “the public’s trust in media has plummeted, exacerbated by political polarization and a president who weaponized distrust.” The article also explores the broader implications of billionaire ownership in journalism. It raises concerns about how ownership can shape editorial direction, subtly aligning coverage with owners’ business interests or avoiding topics that could provoke political or financial backlash. “When billionaires own the press, the line between public interest and private interest can blur dangerously,” the article warns. It urges journalists to remain steadfast in their commitment to accountability and truth-telling despite growing external pressures, particularly in an era rife with misinformation and political manipulation. "The truth may not matter to the wealthy owners and CEOs who are treating Trump as much like a pope as a president. But journalists must redouble our efforts to expose every conflict of interest, every lie, and every threat to democracy," the article concludes.The article was authored by Norman Pearlstine . He began his journalism career in the 1960s. He has served as managing editor at the Wall Street Journal ; editor in chief, chief content officer, and vice chairman at Time Inc .; senior adviser at the Carlyle Group; chief content officer at Bloomberg News ; and executive editor of the Los Angeles Times . Read the Columbia Journalism Review article: https://bit.ly/4afy2Jx In a related story on January 9, 2025, New York Magazine reported "It’s Open Season on the Washington Post ." The report delves into the internal struggles and controversies facing The Washington Post as it grapples with leadership changes, financial pressures, and declining morale. Under CEO Will Lewis , the paper has faced layoffs, shrinking subscriptions, and waning confidence in its editorial vision. Interim executive editor Matt Murray has acknowledged “choppy waters ahead” for the publication. Jeff Bezos ’s intervention in rescinding the editorial board’s endorsement of Kamala Harris reportedly led to 250,000 subscription cancellations, further intensifying internal discord. Ann Telnaes , a Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist who recently left The Post , highlighted frustrations with the changing culture of the newsroom. Telnaes had created a cartoon that was ultimately blocked from publication by the paper's leadership. Reflecting on her departure, Telnaes said, “It’s not just about one cartoon—it’s about the larger issue of whether The Washington Post is still willing to take a stand.” Her departure underscores broader concerns, as one staffer noted that The Post is increasingly seen as “a stepping stone rather than a destination.” These issues have cast a shadow over the Post ’s ability to retain its identity as a journalistic powerhouse.Read the New York Magazine report: https://nym.ag/4gax7vj News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events: 2025/01/17-03/15 2025 Asian American Stories Video Contest: My Gift to America2025/01/19 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/01/23 Community Reactions to the Trump Administration’s “Day One” Priorities2025/02/02 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/02/03 APA Justice Monthly Meeting2025/02/13-15 2025 AAAS Annual Meeting2025/02/16 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/03/02 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2025/03/05 APA Justice Monthly MeetingVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. 2. Erratum George Ping Shan Koo 顧屏山 was born in Changting, China, in 1938. It was incorrectly reported as Hong Kong in APA Justice Newsletter Issue #303 . # # # APA Justice Task Force is a non-partisan platform to build a sustainable ecosystem that addresses racial profiling concerns and to facilitate, inform, and advocate on selected issues related to justice and fairness for the Asian Pacific American community. For more information, please refer to the new APA Justice website under development at www.apajusticetaskforce.org . We value your feedback. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF January 17, 2025 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

Newsletter - #199 8/7 Meeting; Warrantless Surveillance; New Red Scare; Chen v FBI; Understanding FBI; + #199 8/7 Meeting; Warrantless Surveillance; New Red Scare; Chen v FBI; Understanding FBI; + In This Issue #199 2023/08/07 APA Justice Monthly Meeting Warrantless Surveillance - Section 702 of FISA Must Not Be Reauthorized Without Major Reforms The Case of Dr. Yanping Chen vs FBI, DOJ, DOD and DHS Reminder: Webinar on Understanding the FBI: Its Mission, Motivations, and Tactics News and Activities for the Communities 2023/08/07 APA Justice Monthly Meeting The next APA Justice monthly meeting will be held via Zoom on Monday, August 7, 2023, starting at 1:55 pm ET. In addition to updates by Nisha Ramachandran , Executive Director, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC); John Yang 杨重远 , President and Executive Director, Advancing Justice | AAJC; and Gisela Perez Kusakawa , Executive Director, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), speakers will include: Clay Zhu 朱可亮 , Partner, DeHeng Law Offices 德恒律师事务所; Founder, Chinese American Legal Defense Alliance 华美维权同盟, to report on the latest developments of the Florida lawsuit Echo King 金美声 , President, Florida Asian American Justice Alliance (FAAJA), to provide on-the-ground reports about the July 18 court hearing, press conference, and protests; and a brief report by Professor Shuang Zhao 赵爽 , Co-President, Yick Wo Institution 益和学会 Andy Wong, Managing Director of Advocacy, and Shanti Prasad , Advocacy Manager, Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA), to give a brief introduction of CAA and its recent roles and activities in alien land laws, warrantless surveillance/reauthorization of Section 702, anti-Asian hate, and related topics Christine Chen , Executive Director, to give a brief introduction of APIAVote, observations on the communities' reaction to the alien land bills/laws, the introduction of laws in some states criminalizing those who assist voters (AP report: https://bit.ly/3NM9z3s ), and plans for the upcoming 2024 election The virtual monthly meeting is by invitation only. If you wish to join, either one time or for future meetings, please contact one of the co-organizers of APA Justice - Steven Pei 白先慎 , Vincent Wang 王文奎 , and Jeremy Wu 胡善庆 - or send a message to contact@apajustice.org FCRTV Webinar on July 22, 2023 On July 22, 2023, Florida Chinese Radio Television (FCRTV) 佛州华语广播电视台 broadcast a webinar in Chinese. Titled 从微信禁令案到佛州地产限购法案，朱可亮律师讲解在美华人的维权之路和启发 (From the WeChat Ban Case to the Florida Alien Land Law, Attorney Zhu Keliang explains the road and inspiration of Chinese people in the United States to defend their rights), the featured speaker of the webinar was Attorney Clay Zhu 朱可亮. Watch the FCRTV video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOqobsVDX_A (2:05:26). Warrantless Surveillance - Section 702 of FISA Must Not Be Reauthorized Without Major Reforms On June 26, 2023, Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF), American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), APA Justice, Brennan Center for Justice, and the Committee of 100 (C100) co-hosted a webinar on "Perils of Warrantless Surveillance - The Case for Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Reform." Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal led off the webinar with opening remarks. Panelists were Gang Chen 陈刚 , Soderberg Professor of Power Engineering, MIT; Elizabeth Goitein , Senior Director, Brennan Center for Justice; Ashley Gorski , Senior Staff Attorney, ACLU; Brian A. Sun 孙自华 , Partner at Norton Rose Fulbright and C100 Board Member. The webinar was moderated by retired Judge Lillian Sing 郭丽莲 , California Superior Court. Section 702 of FISA was first enacted in 2008. The U.S. Constitution protects its people against unreasonable searches and seizures. However, under Section 702, the U.S. government engages in mass, warrantless surveillance of phone calls, text messages, emails, and other electronic communications between Americans and foreigners. Information collected under this law without a warrant can be used to prosecute and imprison people, even for crimes that have nothing to do with national security. Asian Americans, especially Chinese Americans and the immigrant and scientific communities, have been targeted for warrantless surveillance that led to wrongful and unjust prosecutions. They include Temple University Professor Xiaoxing Xi 郗小星 and possibly New York Police Department Officer Baimadajie Angwang 昂旺 . The current authority of Section 702 will expire on December 31, 2023. Congress has started debate on the reauthorization of Section 702. It is not the only tool being used to spy on American citizens without a warrant, which is in possible violation of the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution. A number of civil society organizations and national organizations have already weighed in and issued statements to oppose Section 702 reauthorization and warrantless surveillance unless there are major reforms. Subsequent to the June 26 webinar, a group of diverse national, state, and local organizations and individuals has been formed to plan for follow-up actions by the Asian American communities. A kickoff planning meeting was held on August 3, 2023.Watch the June 26 webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3k56a4KuSn0 . Read the APA Justice web page on Warrantless Surveillance: https://bit.ly/3O6T43Q The Case of Dr. Yanping Chen vs FBI, DOJ, DOD and DHS Dr. Yanping Chen 陈燕平 is a naturalized U.S. citizen born in China. She was a cardiologist and medical researcher with the Chinese astronaut program. She came to the U.S. in 1987 to study and earned a Master’s degree and a Ph.D. in Public Policy from George Washington University. She married a U.S. citizen, became a lawful permanent resident in 1993, and a U.S. citizen in 2001. In 1998, Dr. Chen founded the University of Management and Technology in Arlington, Virginia, to provide secondary and graduate education to working adults. More than 12,000 students have received degrees in the last 20 years.In 2010, Dr. Chen became the focus of a Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) investigation. After 6 years of investigation, Dr. Chen was told that no charges will be filed against her in 2016. However, confidential information from the investigation was allegedly leaked to Fox News in or around 2017. On December 21, 2018, Dr. Chen filed a privacy lawsuit against the FBI, Department of Justice, Department of Defense, and Department of Homeland Security.According to Voice of America on August 3, 2023, Judge Christopher Cooper of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a ruling that would force Catherine Herridge , then a journalist at Fox News and currently a CBS News correspondent, to participate in a deposition regarding the identity of her anonymous sources from her 2017 series of stories. In 2022, Dr. Chen subpoenaed Herridge and Fox News to try to determine the alleged leaker’s identity, but the journalist and news outlet rebuffed her efforts, citing First Amendment protections afforded to the press.But in Cooper’s ruling, he said Chen’s need for the evidence outweighed Herridge’s First Amendment privilege.According to the Washington Post on June 5, 2006, Wen Ho Lee 李文和 , a former nuclear weapons scientist who came under government suspicion of being a spy for China, settled a lawsuit over violation of his privacy rights and received $1.65 million from the government and five news organizations, including The Washington Post. Under the settlement, which was filed in U.S. District Court in Washington DC and cited in a joint statement by the five news organizations, Lee received $895,000 from the government for legal fees and taxes related to his lawsuit accusing the U.S. Justice Department and Energy Department of violating his rights under the Privacy Act by leaking information that he was under investigation for suspected espionage.The five news organizations -- the Washington Post , the New York Times , the Los Angeles Times , the Associated Press and ABC News -- agreed to pay Lee a total of $750,000 as part of the settlement.Read the Voice of America report: https://bit.ly/3OlJ5Gf . Read the Washington Post report : https://wapo.st/43YOM2N . Read the APA Justice web page on Dr. Yanping Chen : https://bit.ly/APAJ_Yanping_Chen Reminder: Webinar on Understanding the FBI: Its Mission, Motivations, and Tactics On August 10, 2023, the Asian American Scholar Forum will host a webinar on Understanding the FBI: Its Mission, Motivations, and Tactics, featuring Michael German. Mike is a fellow with the Liberty and National Security Program of the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University Law School, where his work focuses on counterterrorism, law enforcement, and intelligence reform. He previously served sixteen years as a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (1988- 2004), where he conducted criminal investigations and undercover operations. He is the author of “Disrupt, Discredit, and Divide: How the New FBI Damages Democracy“ (New Press, 2019). Register for the event at https://bit.ly/3pAMzwh News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Launches Community Events Calendar APA Justice has launched a Public Events Calendar on the front page of its website at https://www.apajustice.org/ . The new feature allows readers to view upcoming events with brief descriptions in one stop. Options are available to view the events by day, week, month, and agenda. We thank summer interns Charlotte Ding and Ryan Zhao for implementing this important functionality. 2. 2023/08/26 March on Washington On August 26, 2023, a 2023 March on Washington will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the historic March on Washington, organized by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders in 1963, to continue the fight for democracy, social justice and civil rights. Join the King family at the Lincoln Memorial to honor the past, acknowledge the present and march toward a future of progress and equality.Advancing Justice | AAJC is co-chairing this momentous event along with ADL, Human Rights Commission, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Legal Defense Fund, NAACP, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, National Council of Negro Women, National Urban League and UNIDOS. Read the Advancing Justice | AAJC announcement: https://bit.ly/3E2JUPP . Register to join the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Contingent at the 60th Anniversary of the March on Washington: https://bit.ly/3qjWTsY 3. Ji-Hyun Lee - 120th President of the American Statistical Association The American Statistical Association announced the election of Ji-Hyun Lee as its president. Her term begins January 1, 2025, with a one-year term as president-elect beginning January 1, 2024. Lee is believed to be the first person of Asian descent to serve in that capacity. "Understanding basic statistical and data literary is not only just important for students but is becoming increasingly crucial for everyone in the workforce," Lee said. "With the rapid growth of data-driven jobs and widespread use of data in the various sectors, data science and statistical education are vital for building a strong American workforce and maintaining competitiveness." Lee is a professor of biostatistics at the University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions and the University of Florida College of Medicine. She was on the board of directors for the Korean International Statistical Association from 2017 to 2022. Back View PDF August 6, 2023 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

A month after the launch of the China Initiative, a group of community leaders met with a senior FBI official and representatives at the FBI headquarters in Washington DC to convey concerns raised within the Chinese American community about the role of bias in its investigations, among other issues, in a futile attempt to establish a continuing dialogue to address the concerns. December 7, 2018 Table of Contents Overview FBI Headquarters Meeting FBI: “Non-Traditional Collectors” and “Whole-of-Society Response” 60 Minutes: “Collateral Damage” “Racial Profiling Harms Science” Links and References Overview On December 7, 2018, a group of community leaders met with a senior FBI official and representatives at the FBI headquarters to convey concerns raised within the Chinese American community about the concerns of bias in its investigations, among other issues. An attempt to establish a continuing dialogue with the FBI failed. Prior to the meeting, Asian American, civil rights, and scientific communities have already been expressing deep concerns about wrongful prosecutions of Chinese American scientists such as Sherry Chen and Xiaoxing Xi, as well as the broad brush rhetoric of “non-traditional collectors” against an entire group of students, professors, and scientists as a security threat to our country. FBI Headquarters Meeting The 90-minute meeting with a senior FBI official and representatives was held at the FBI headquarters. Attempts to establish a dialogue resulted in two monologues. On December 14, 2018, a public summary of the meeting was released: “The FBI stated that its mission is to protect all Americans, including Chinese Americans, while also highlighting national security threats and the political influence from foreign nations such as China. “The community leaders acknowledged the serious threat posed by trade secret theft within the U.S. where intellectual property has found its way to foreign nations, including China. They also expressed support for vigorous law enforcement action where wrongdoing occurs. At the same time, the community leaders spoke about the fear and suspicion created by certain actions by the FBI, particularly related to cases where apparent innocent parties were involved. “The 90-minute meeting at FBI headquarters was closed door, permitting for a frank and confidential conversation. Both sides expressed interest in a continuing dialogue. Community groups who want to dialogue with the agency can contact FBI field offices. Several already have held meetings or forums involving the FBI in Austin, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. According to the FBI, it has community outreach specialists in each of its field offices who regularly engage with the various communities they serve. “The community leaders attending the meeting were Robert Gee, Vice Chair, Washington DC Region, Committee of 100; Andrew Kim, Visiting Scholar, South Texas College of Law and Litigator, Greenberg Traurig; Aryani Ong, community advocate; Steven Pei, scientist and Honorary Chair of United Chinese Americans; and Jeremy Wu, retired government official." The community leaders brought these talking materials to the meeting: Robert Gee: Committee of 100 Letter to FBI Official Andrew Kim: Prosecuting Chinese “Spies:” An Empirical Analysis of The Economic Espionage Act Steven Pei: FBI Meeting Talking Points Jeremy Wu: FBI Meeting Talking Points After the China Initiative ended, the FBI San Francisco field office hosted a town hall meeting with community organizations in May 2022, beginning a process to restart a dialogue with the communities. FBI: “Non-Traditional Collectors” and “Whole-of-Society Response” According to Inside Higher Ed on February 14, 2018, FBI director Christopher Wray told the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence that American academia is naïve about the intelligence risks posed by Chinese professors, scientists, and students. His broad-brush testimony targets a whole group of students, professors, and scientists as a security threat due to their national origin and race. In addition, Wray said he and the FBI “view the China threat as not just a whole-of-government threat but a whole-of-society threat on their end, and I think it’s going to take a whole-of-society response by us. So it’s not just the intelligence community, but it’s raising awareness within our academic sector, within our private sector, as part of the defense.” “It is wrong to cast an entire group of students, professors, and scientists as a threat to our country based simply on where they come from,” said Patrick Toomey, a staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union, which has joined a lawsuit by a Chinese American professor, Xi Xiaoxing, who was wrongfully arrested for sharing secret technology with entities in China. “The United States has a proud tradition of international academic collaboration, which attracts the best and the brightest to our universities, fosters innovation and ultimately benefits all Americans,” Toomey said. “The FBI’s mind-set has already led to overzealous investigations of Chinese Americans, with disastrous consequences for those wrongly tarred with suspicion.” The term “non-traditional collector” is an updated version of “ thousand grains of sand ” which was used by FBI analyst Paul Moore during the wrongful prosecution of Dr. Wen Ho Lee more than two decades ago. In response to Wray’s remarks in the Senate Committee hearing, the Committee of 100 and a coalition of organizations wrote a joint letter to FBI Director Wray, requesting a meeting to “engage in positive dialogue to advance our nation’s ideals as well as its national security.” Wray never responded to the coalition letter. 60 Minutes: “Collateral Damage” On August 26, 2018, CBS 60 Minutes updated its nationwide broadcast of “ Collateral Damage .” It describes how innocent Chinese Americans are wrongly accused of espionage related crimes as the government steps up the fight against theft of U.S. trade secrets and intellectual property by China. The 60 Minutes program also has an online segment titled “ The Spy Who Wasn’t .” It describes the lasting impact on innocent Chinese Americans far beyond the heavy legal fees and dropped charges. Their finances, careers, reputations, emotions, and families are severely damaged if not totally ruined. “Racial Profiling Harms Science” On March 21, 2019, three major scientific organizations voiced their concerns about racial profiling by publishing an open letter titled " Racial Profiling Harms Science " in Science. The Society of Chinese Bioscientists in America (SCBA, 美洲华人生物科学学会), The Chinese American Hematologist and Oncologist Network (CAHON, 美国华裔血液及肿瘤专家学会), and The Chinese Biological Investigators Society (CBIS, 华人生物学者教授学会) represent the largest and a rapidly growing professional group for scientists, mostly of Chinese descent, in many biomedical disciplines. The letter expresses concerns about the recent political rhetoric and policies that single out students and scholars of Chinese descent working in the United States as threats to U.S. national interests. Jump to: Overview FBI Headquarters Meeting FBI: “Non-Traditional Collectors” and “Whole-of-Society Response” 60 Minutes: “Collateral Damage” “Racial Profiling Harms Science” A month after the launch of the China Initiative, a group of community leaders met with a senior FBI official and representatives at the FBI headquarters in Washington DC to convey concerns raised within the Chinese American community about the role of bias in its investigations, among other issues, in a futile attempt to establish a continuing dialogue to address the concerns. Previous Next 2. Attempted Dialogue with FBI Failed

Newsletter - #289 U.S. Heartland China Association Update and Event; Franklin Tao Speaks Out; Pandas; + #289 U.S. Heartland China Association Update and Event; Franklin Tao Speaks Out; Pandas; + In This Issue #289 · Update from US Heartland China Association · "China in the Heartland: Building a Balanced Approach" and the Case of Professor Franklin Tao · KSNT News: Professor Franklin Tao Speaks Out · Pandas are Here at the National Zoo in Washington DC · News and Activities for the Communities Update from US Heartland China Association Min Fan , Executive Director of the U.S. Heartland China Association, introduced USHCA to us at the February 2024 monthly meeting. Min Fan warmly invited meeting participants to join an upcoming hybrid event "China in the Heartland: Building a Balanced Approach" at the University of Kansas (KU) in Lawrence, Kansas. Former KU Professor Franklin Tao and his wife Hong Peng plan to attend and engage in discussions. This event has been in planning for over a year. It involved collaboration with local Chinese American scholars and the National Committee for U.S.-China Relations to ensure a meaningful exchange on pertinent topics. The emphasis is on fostering local engagement and informed debate around broader issues affecting the community.Min underscored the importance of having discussions about U.S.-China relations not just in Washington, D.C., but also in the Heartland. The U.S. Heartland China Association, a bipartisan organization founded by late Senator Adlai Stevenson III of Illinois originally under the name of Midwest U.S. China Association and currently chaired by Former Governor of Missouri Bob Holden , aims to promote stable U.S.-China relations to protect and advance the interests of the Heartland community, such as export market for our agricultural producers, global competitiveness of our businesses, talent attraction in our universities, and the cultural heritage of Chinese Americans In the Heartland. During this past summer, USHCA organized an agricultural delegation to China, which included members from rural areas who had never visited the country before. One delegate from Kentucky returned with a renewed perspective, expressing to his local trade association members and elected officials that China was nothing like the all-negative portrayals in the media. This experience illustrated the potential benefits of people-to-people exchanges in fostering better relations and understanding between the two nations. ( From Heartland to Mainland, reflections and insights , webinar replay) The trip was 100% funded by US Agriculture stakeholders. Min, who is the first Chinese American executive director of the organization, highlighted the scrutiny faced by Chinese Americans in leadership roles within nonprofits focused on U.S.-China relations. She is one of very few Chinese Americans leading a non-profit organization on U.S.-China relations. USHCA also faced political backlash and accusations of undue influence after sending a bipartisan delegation of six Heartland mayors to China ( Press Release , Video recap ). Despite the challenges, the organization continues to work closely with the State Department and other agencies to promote sub-national diplomacy and collaborative efforts around pressing issues like climate change. Min highlighted an upcoming event in Memphis, which aims to engage local partners, NGOs, and academics in a Yangtze-Mississippi Regional Dialogue about climate resilience, low carbon agriculture, and green transportation. This initiative seeks to promote balanced discussions in the Heartland, inviting broader community involvement and partnerships. The goal is to engage diverse local stakeholders in more informed conversations about U.S.-China relations and the future of Chinese Americans in this region. In closing, Min expressed gratitude for the opportunity to share insights with the broader community and emphasized the importance of ensuring that diverse voices are heard in discussions that shape the future. She called for continued collaboration and support to facilitate these critical dialogues and foster understanding among all stakeholders involved.A summary of the October 7 monthly meeting, including Min's update, is posted at https://bit.ly/48wdg7D . Farm Policy News: New US-China Trade War Could Cost Farmers Billions According to Farm Policy News on October 17, 2024, United States corn and soybean farmers could lose billions of dollars in annual production value if the US-China trade war induced new tariffs on agriculture products. The study found that “U.S. soybean farmers (could) lose an average of $3.6 to $5.9 billion in annual production value” while “U.S. corn farmers (could) lose an average of $0.9 to $1.4 billion in annual production value” depending on how China would respond to increased U.S. tariffs. “This burden is not limited to the U.S. soybean and corn farmers who lose market share and production value. There is a ripple impact across the U.S., particularly in rural economies where farmers live, purchase inputs, utilize farm and personal services, and purchase household goods,” the study said. The total economic contribution of soybean and corn production could drop between $4.9 billion and $7.9 billion annually, with the most heavily affected sectors including manufacturing and mining of crop protection, fertilizer products, and energy products, as well as real estate and transportation.Read the Farm Policy News report: https://bit.ly/4eR0yT8 "China in the Heartland: Building a Balanced Approach" and the Case of Professor Franklin Tao On October 11, 2024, Professor Jack Zhang of the University of Kansas (KU) Department of Political Science, joined by Susan Thornton , Vice Chair of the U.S. Heartland China Association (USHCA), and a retired senior U.S. diplomat with decades of experience in Eurasia and East Asia, and Kyle Jaros , an associate professor at the University of Notre Dame, for a discussion on building a balanced approach for relations with China. The event was hosted by USHCA and the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics at KU. Kyle Jaros began by discussing the surge in China-related legislation and other state-level policy actions, which increased to at least 110 or 115 between 2016 and 2023. Probably 25 to 30% of these proposals have been enacted into law. What started out as a handful of tangible concerns has morphed into something that is far more ominous in the minds of many. When asked about the China policies of the Trump and Biden administrations, Susan Thornton stated that one of the key challenges in U.S.-China negotiations is the political divide within the U.S. in Washington. It has often been politically advantageous for lawmakers to exaggerate or promote dramatic, threatening proposals to get attention. While the federal government generally takes a balanced approach in assessing the China threat, politicians have put a lot more emphasis on some aspects of the so-called China threat than are warranted. This overemphasis on the perceived threat from China could lead to unintended consequences, as highlighted by Jack Zhang. Many legislators, both at the national and subnational levels, may not realize that the bills they are drafting and voting on could have adverse effects. One major concern is the effort to revive the China initiative in Congress. The China Initiative was a Department of Justice program that tried to combat espionage and technology theft on university campuses and industry. There is a lot of evidence that the FBI racially profiled Chinese and Asian American researchers, damaged and ruined a lot of careers.During the Q&A session, Hong Peng reminded the audience that her husband, Franklin Tao was a KU professor who was wrongly prosecuted by the China Initiative . After five years of hard fighting by the Taos, the Tenth Circuit Court acquitted the last charge against Franklin on July 11 this year. Justice finally prevailed and Franklin was fully exonerated. The victory was bittersweet for the couple. This fight has cost Franklin nearly everything; the wrongful prosecution destroyed his career that he spent over 20 years building and spending almost 16 hours a day each day working in his lab. The total cost of his legal defense is over 2.3 million. They used up all their savings. They took money out of their retirement accounts, borrowed money from every single friend who could help, and they raised funds through GoFundMe. And currently, they still have over a million in debt.Hong Peng said “We can't choose where we were born and where we came from. But we really should not be scapegoated because of our country of origin. Twenty years ago, we came to the United States to pursue our American dream. We never imagined we would spend five years trapped in this nightmare.” Despite all this, Franklin Tao remained fully occupied, fully dedicated to his scientific work. He has published over 30 papers during those five years. And a few days ago, he had one of his papers accepted by Science . Unfortunately, even until today, he is still fighting to reinstate his faculty position. Hong wondered how the community could help a victim like Franklin to rebuild his career. Kyle Jaros commented that an idea very well worth considering: a kind of amnesty for anybody who was found in violation of minor academic regulations, for example, disclosure of foreign research relationships which was a widespread issue across academia.Compliance and information about compliance was something that academics were not being regularly informed of for a long period of time. And then suddenly there was a huge frame shift. And within a few years, universities very quickly started to ramp up attention to these rules, and then law enforcement got involved and decided to make criminal cases or even kind of national security cases out of what in many instances were very minor. Kyle Jaros hoped that Franklin Tao can make progress in restitution. Susan Thornton thanked Franklin Tao for seeing the whole process through to the end and the acquittal. It is important for our justice system, for our institutions, for our faith in our institutions, which she thinks is coming under a lot of fire in this country and around the world. "I think we owe you a debt of gratitude on that score. We've seen periods of overzealousness of this type in U.S. history before, and then we always must come back and reflect on our errors. More publicity, more shining a light, as you've done tonight by standing up and telling your story, is what we need for people to be aware of," she said. "I hope that this very difficult ordeal can somehow have some kind of silver lining or benefit both for you and your family because you deserve it, but also the contribution that you make to our institutional fabric."Watch the video: https://bit.ly/3UhjmT7 (1:19:06). Read the Franklin Tao story: https://bit.ly/3y8SBsm . Ken Lao contributed to this report. KSNT News: Professor Franklin Tao Speaks Out On October 20 2024, KSNT News Inside Kansas Politics featured former Kansas University Professor Franklin Tao , his wife Hong Peng , and Ron Barrett-Gonzalez , KSAAUP (Kansas Conference of American Association of University Professors) Committee A Co-Chair. The interview discussed Professor Tao's legal battle after being wrongfully accused of Chinese espionage under the Trump administration's China initiative. His conviction was overturned by a U.S. appeals court in July 2024. Tao shares his journey, including his academic background and the distressing circumstances surrounding his arrest. Professor Tao’s wife, Hong Peng, described the emotional toll the situation took on their family, highlighting the fear and desperation they faced. The couple endured significant financial damage. Her testimonies revealed the emotional toll the situation has taken on her family, with children experiencing significant distress.Professor Barrett-Gonzalez expressed deep concern over the university's handling of Professor Tao's case. He recalled the horror felt within the academic community when it was revealed that a specific ethnicity of researchers, particularly those of Asian descent, were being disproportionately targeted by the federal initiative. After Professor Tao was acquitted, Professors Barrett-Gonzalez and Rob Catlett, also KSAAUP Committee A Co-Chair, and other faculty members expected the KU administration to promptly reinstate him, recognizing the importance of justice and fairness in academia. However, to their disappointment, the administration opted not to take action, which Professor Barrett-Gonzalez argued is unfairly prolonging the distress for Professor Tao and his family. Professor Barrett-Gonzalez referenced similar cases where universities acted appropriately after faculty were acquitted. For example, Professor Anming Hu in Tennessee facing similar accusations was reinstated following a court ruling, as the university recognized the negative impact on its reputation. In contrast, Professor Barrett-Gonzalez criticized KU for failing to follow suit and reinstate Professor Tao. The discussions between Professors Barrett-Gonzelez and Catlett and university officials centered around what they considered clear violations of civil rights laws, particularly the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on nationality or ethnic origin. They highlighted how the 10th Circuit Court has recognized tenure as a property right, arguing that the university’s actions have violated Professor Tao's Fifth Amendment rights by not providing due process in his dismissal. Professor Barrett-Gonzalez asserted that this treatment reflects a broader ethical failure on the part of the university administration.In closing, Professor Tao underscored his continued dedication to research despite challenges, arguing that he has been wrongfully persecuted and calling for his immediate reinstatement to help restore the university's reputation. The segment concludes with a commitment to continue advocating for justice and fairness in the academic environment.Watch the KSNT News report: https://bit.ly/3YyWeSV (27:57). Professors Barrett-Gonzalez and Catlett spoke at the August 2024 APA Justice monthly meeting, a summary of which is posted here: https://bit.ly/3AHFSO1 Pandas are Here at the National Zoo in Washington DC According to Washington Post , CNN , and multiple media reports, two giant pandas, Bao Li and Qing Bao, both three years old, arrived at the National Zoo in Washington DC on October 15, 2024, after an absence of almost a year. They travelled on a specially chartered FedEx Boeing 777 cargo jet dubbed the “Panda Express.” They are here on a 10-year lease, and will make their public debut January 24, 2025, after a quarantine period. While born in Sichuan, Bao Li has deep familial roots in Washington. His mother, Bao Bao, was born a celebrity at the National Zoo in 2013 and returned to China four years later. His grandparents, Meixiang and Tian Tian, lived at the zoo for 23 years until their lease ended last year.“Panda Diplomacy” began with US President Richard Nixon ’s ice-breaking trip to Communist China during the Cold War. In June, the San Diego Zoo also received two giant pandas from China, which marked the first panda loans to the U.S. in two decades. On the same day Bao Li and Qing Bao arrived in Washington, On line livestream of "giant panda cam" from the San Diego Zoo was launched at https://bit.ly/4eRBVWu News and Activities for the Communities 1. APA Justice Community Calendar Upcoming Events:2024/10/24 Why Do Legislators Brawl? Lawmaking, Fist Fighting and Messaging in Taiwan 2024/10/25-27 Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the American Studies Network2024/10/26 Common Ground and Banquet2024/10/27 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/11/03 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/11/06 Asian American Women in Media and Music2024/11/10 Rep. Gene Wu's Town Hall Meeting2024/11/12 Threats to International Engagement and Academic Freedom2024/11/14 An Advice and Networking Event (Financial Services, Investing and Consulting)2024/11/15 AAASE Inaugural Annual Summit2024/11/15 Yangtze-Mississippi Regional DialogueVisit https://bit.ly/3XD61qV for event details. NOTE: Because the regular scheduled day falls on the eve of Election Day, we have moved the next APA Justice monthly meeting to Monday, November 18, 2024. 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 . 2. Summary of October 2024 Monthly Meeting Posted The October 2024 APA Justice monthly meeting summary has been posted at https://bit.ly/3BMUjB2 . We thank the following special speakers for their reports and updates: · Congresswoman Grace Meng gave her remarks that were covered in Newsletter #288 on October 21, 2024: https://bit.ly/4070ryi · Casey Lee , Policy Director of Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), provided an update on CAPAC on behalf of Nisha Ramachandran, Executive Director of CAPAC. She thanked Congresswoman Grace Meng and her team for leading efforts to prevent the reinstatement of the China Initiative in the FY 2025 appropriations bill. CAPAC remains committed to ensuring the AAPI community's voice is heard in key legislative processes, including the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Casey highlighted a recently released video featuring firsthand accounts of the racial profiling and wrongful prosecutions caused by the China Initiative, encouraging its wide distribution to raise awareness. She also acknowledged the collaboration with advocacy groups like AASF, AAJC, and CAA, emphasizing their role in shaping ongoing legislative negotiations to protect the community. · Gisela Kusakawa , Executive Director of Asian American Forum (AASF), expressed gratitude to Congresswoman Grace Meng for her leadership in opposing the reinstatement of the China Initiative and supporting the Museum of Asian Pacific American History. She highlighted AASF's success in gathering over 1,000 participants for its award ceremony, celebrating Asian American scholars, and emphasized AASF’s role in policy efforts and the museum’s establishment. Gisela also thanked Casey Lee and CAPAC for educating the public during "China Week," where scholars shared personal stories of facing discrimination. She praised AASF’s advocacy in recognizing civil rights icons and connecting university faculty with policymakers, urging continued community engagement to ensure Asian American voices are heard in shaping national policy. Gisela also mentioned AASF's collaboration with the NIH on transparency efforts and reiterated the importance of the community's involvement in policy discussions. · Min Fan , Executive Director of the U.S. Heartland China Association (USHCA), gave a report that is covered by today's newsletter. · Texas State Representative Gene Wu gave a report that was covered in Newsletter #288 on October 21, 2024: https://bit.ly/4070ryi Read the October APA Justice monthly meeting summary: https://bit.ly/48wdg7D . Read previous monthly meeting summaries: https://bit.ly/3kxkqxP 3. China and World Institute at Johns Hopkins University is Hiring Johns Hopkins University is seeking a Managing Director, China & The World Institute to play a pivotal role in the launch and growth of the new China and the World Institute at School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). The mission of the Institute is to bring greater rigor and reason to public and policy discussions on China, spearheading efforts to generate new knowledge and strategic insights to “get China right.” Working closely with and reporting to the inaugural Faculty Director, the Managing Director leads the strategic development, management, and advancement of the Institute, playing a critical role in building a leading center for interdisciplinary research, education, and public engagement on China's role in the world. It is also hiring an Academic Program Manager. Read more about these opportunities at https://bit.ly/40kgtES 4. APA Justice Newsletter Web Page Moved to New Website As part of its continuing migration to a new website under construction, we have moved the Newsletter webpage to https://www.apajusticetaskforce.org/newsletters . Content of the existing website will remain, but it will no longer be updated. We value your feedback about the new web page. Please send your comments to contact@apajustice.org . Back View PDF October 24, 2024 Previous Newsletter Next Newsletter

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