Unity After Tragedy

• This Thursday at 7pm ET, OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates will commemorate the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks with a special virtual memorial. The two-hour event is open to the public and will be streamed via Zoom, Facebook Live, and YouTube. Register now.
• As we mark two decades since the day that redefined American life, we'll be joined by several guests including former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta, Cathie Ong-Herrera, Deepa Iyer, John Lee, Dr. Teddy Chen, Tejpal Chawla, and Commissioner Wellington Chen.
• In the wake of the 2001 terror attacks, OCA published stories, photographs, and artwork of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders impacted by 9/11 in a book called Voices of Healing. Thursday's event—moderated by Aryani Ong, Elizabeth OuYang, and APIAVote's Christine Chen—will include survivors and families that were featured in the collection.

September 9: Join OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates for a virtual 9/11 memorial starting at 7pm EST. Register here.

September 10: OCA's Senior Chapter & Membership Development Associate Lady Marie Bulilan hosts our next webinar on AAPI hate crimes throughout history at 1pm ET, featuring South Asian voices. Register here.

September 20: Join the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund for "Relive, Remember, React," a three-part virtual symposium that explores the aftermath and lasting impacts of 9/11 on AAPI and Muslim communities. The event begins at 8:30pm EST. Register here.

What We Learned from the FBI's Hate Crime Statistics

Last month, the FBI revealed that hate crimes in the U.S. rose to their highest level in more than a decade last year. But while the latest report confirms a sharp rise in attacks against Asian Americans, it also shows that the number of state and local law enforcement agencies providing data to the FBI declined for a third year in a row.

Why this matters: As long as agencies are not required to collect and report hate crimes data to the federal government, the FBI’s statistics will fail to capture the true scope of violence against Asian American communities. Read our full statement here.

✍️ Other updates you may have missed...

• OCA Applauds Senate Passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
• OCA Urges Biden to Designate Afghanistan for Temporary Protected Status, Employ Emergency Humanitarian Parole
• OCA Seeks Expansion of In-Language Federal Resources for Asian Louisianans In Wake of Ida
• AAPI Advocates Denounce Texas’ Assault on Reproductive Rights

September 9: "Voices of Healing"

Join OCA National Center at 7pm ET to learn about "Voices of Healing," a collection of stories gathered by OCA after the September 11 attacks. This virtual memorial will provide space for reflection upon healing and solidarity. 👉 Register here.

September 29: "Women Leading"

OCA National Center is proud to present a conversation with several accomplished Asian American women who have achieved success within their corporations. This panel of distinguished leaders will be moderated by Walmart National Director of Corporate Affairs Joanne Tabellija-Murphy, who also serves as chair of the OCA National Business Advisory Council. This event is supported by the Center for Asian Pacific American Women (CAPAW). 🎥 Register here.