Policy and litigation updates from Advancing Justice - AAJC

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Stronger Together

As we enter into spring, Advancing Justice | AAJC continues to advocate for policies critical to Asian American communities across the country, from mobilizing our youth to take action to defend diversity and support affirmative action on college campuses nationwide or denouncing xenophobic rhetoric that result in backlash against our communities, to pushing back on harmful immigration policies or encouraging people on how to take action as a bystander when witnessing harassment.

By taking action, you can help shed light on what is at stake and advocate for equity, racial justice, and protection for all communities. We will continue our journey to build power, knowing that our communities are stronger together as we work towards creating a safer, more inclusive world for all.

EVENTS

Bystander Intervention Training

Bystander Intervention to Stop Anti-Asian/American and Xenophobic Harassment: Thursday, April 27, 2023 at 3pm ET

Stay updated on our upcoming trainings here.

ADVANCING JUSTICE - AAJC IN THE NEWS

In an interview with CGTN, President and Executive Director John C. Yang shares: "The reality is that we do have political tensions with the Chinese government and that continues to have repercussions and a backlash against the Chinese American and Asian American communities here. Unfortunately, we are probably going to continue to see this [anti-Asian hate] for the next year or more."

Marita Etcubañez, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives, had this to say in an interview with USA Today: “The five D’s encourage people to prioritize showing care for the person facing the harassment rather than the person causing the harassment. We often hear from people that it’s not the harassment that causes the hurt but the inaction of people standing around.”

Take Action

Calling All Student Advocates
to Defend Diversity!

In the next few months the Supreme Court will decide the future of affirmative action. As we continue our advocacy for race-conscious admissions, it is vital that students are front and center in the fight to defend diversity. To support students, Advancing Justice | AAJC is excited to launch two different opportunities for students to get involved.

Apply to be an Affirmative Action Ambassador! Students will lead and attend cohort strategy meetings, collaborate with peers from across the country, receive strategic communications training, and work with experienced policy and communications professionals to advocate for race-conscious admissions policies. Program schedule will work around students' schedules. Students will be compensated for their time and expertise.
Apply for the Affirmative Action Project Stipend! This grant opportunity is for student groups and organizations who are interested in hosting a campus or community mobilization to express support for affirmative action. The project stipend ranges from $1,000 - $5,500. To apply, download the application here and email the proposal to [email protected].

The deadline to apply for the ambassador program and the project stipend is Wednesday, April 12.

Policy & Advocacy Updates

Photo Credit: AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

Advancing Justice | AAJC Condemns
Use of Xenophobic and Anti-China Rhetoric that Scapegoat Asian American Communities

The current geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China have fanned the flames of xenophobia. We are deeply aware of the human rights abuses perpetrated by state actors worldwide, including the Chinese government, but we also must be cognizant of how these escalating tensions and anti-China rhetoric impact Asian American and Asian immigrant communities domestically. From Rep. Lance Gooden's recent racist comments targeting Rep. Judy Chu, the controversial Texas Senate Bill to ban Chinese citizens from buying property in the state, to the xenophobia exhibited by members of Congress during the recent TikTok hearing against the company's CEO Shou Zi Chew, it is evident that the U.S.’s shifting approach towards the Chinese government has not been sufficiently nuanced. We urge the federal government and elected officials to cease the use of this harmful rhetoric and policies that result in backlash against Asian Americans and Asian immigrants in the U.S.

Advancing Justice | AAJC Partners with Comcast NBCUniversal to Air Bystander Intervention PSAs Amid Increased Fear in Asian American Communities

Advancing Justice | AAJC, Right To Be (formerly Hollaback!), and AARP join forces with Comcast NBCUniversal to broadcast a public service announcement (PSA) that will encourage people to learn how to take action as a bystander when they witness harassment. The three organizations originally created the bystander intervention videos in partnership with Prisca. This new partnership will result in widespread distribution of these PSAs across Comcast’s footprint in 6,000 communities nationwide.

The animated series can be viewed in Chinese (Mandarin & Cantonese), Hindi, Korean, Tagalog, Thai, and Vietnamese, as well as Spanish. Watch the entire series here.

Read the full statement here.

Advancing Justice | AAJC Denounces Any Plans to Reinstate Cruel Practice of Family Detention

In March, reports emerged that the Biden Administration is considering the reinstatement of family detention, a practice that holds children and parents in immigration detention facilities where families may be locked up in inhumane conditions and for long periods of time. The punitive and failed policies being considered like family detention and bans on asylum do not bring any order to our broken immigration system. The Biden Administration must pursue true and viable solutions that underscore welcome and dignity.

Read the full statement here.

Civil Rights Coalition Releases Report Highlighting Federal Agency Progress and Gaps on Voting Access, Urges the Biden-Harris Administration to Finish the Job

Ahead of the 58th anniversary of the “Bloody Sunday,” a diverse coalition of 53 organizations published a new report – Strengthening Democracy: A Progress Report on Federal Agency Action to Promote Access to Voting – which assess how federal agencies have responded to President Biden’s 2021 executive order to increase access to voting.

Despite the progress made at selected agencies, a significant number of important departments have not kept pace in their progress to implement the EO. The report urges the Biden-Harris Administration to follow through on its vision and leadership in issuing the EO and urges the agencies to fully implement its mandates.

Read the full statement here.

Now Is the Time to Use Your Voice! Advancing Justice | AAJC Launches Action Center

The Action Center, developed by Advancing Justice | AAJC’s Community Engagement team, is a resource for individuals and community partners looking to get involved with federal policy advocacy through campaigns and volunteer opportunities. This page will be frequently updated with advocacy actions for our policy areas. Campaigns might include actions like “Call/Email Your Senator to Advocate for Family-Based Immigration” or “Write a Public Comment to the OMB to Update the Race and Ethnicity Statistical Standards”. It will also serve as a hub for virtual trainings, storytelling campaigns, and resources for our community.

Check out our Action Center here.

Community Impact

Advancing Justice | AAJC to Support Community-Based Groups through $250,000 Grant from Google.org

Advancing Justice | AAJC is excited to announce a grant from Google.org to distribute $50,000 each to five community-based organizations for the purpose of providing digital skills and job readiness training in their communities. The organizations selected represent communities across the United States ⁠from Seattle, Washington to New York City, New York, and they were chosen for their history of providing successful digital skills and workforce development programs in Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.

The beneficiary organizations are Arab American Association of New York, Asian Counseling and Referral Service, Asian & Pacific Islander American Vote Michigan, Boat People SOS – Houston, and National Asian Pacific Center on Aging.

Read the full statement here.

Blog Highlights

58 Years After Bloody Sunday, the Fight for Voting Rights Continues

On the 58th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, our team shares highlights from the progress report on federal agency action to promote access to voting and the work that remains to be done to protect our voting rights.

It is Dangerous: Using the ‘Perpetual Foreigner’ Myth to Breed Division and Hate

Advancing Justice | AAJC strongly supports Rep. Chu in pushing back against Rep. Gooden's recent attack. Read more about how this racist rhetoric breeds division and hate.

In Your Backyard: 5 Things to Know About ICE’s
Immigration Jails

What you need to know about ICE’s troubled past and present and how you can take action to stop further harm against our communities.

At the Intersection of Solidarity: A Reading List for Black and Asian Communities

In celebration of Black History Month, take a look at our picks on content that dives into the long history of Black-Asian solidarities, our interwoven narratives, and bridging the gap.