Dear friends,

As we mark the first moon of the year in the Lunar calendar, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC (Advancing Justice | AAJC) wishes a joyous Lunar New Year to all those who celebrate! Observed by over a billion people around the world, including many from our Asian American community, Lunar New Year is a time to celebrate new beginnings with our family and loved ones near and far. Regardless of whether you observe or celebrate, we send our best wishes for a season filled with joy, peace, and prosperity for all.

These past 12 months marked another turbulent year, but also marked our resilience. In the face of devastating tragedies and senseless acts of violence against Asian Americans and all communities of color, our communities have risen up in solidarity to fight back against hate.

As we celebrate the Year of the Tiger, we carry our persistence, fierceness, and determination into the new year. Advancing Justice | AAJC has been at the frontlines of protecting and advocating for Asian Americans across the country. For more than two years, we have met with congressional offices and community organizations to advance legislative measures that address the rise of anti-Asian hate impacting our communities. Our collective advocacy efforts came to fruition with the historic passage of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act. 

Advancing Justice | AAJC continues our Bystander Intervention Training – Stop Anti-Asian and Asian American and Xenophobic Harassment with Hollaback!, equipping more than 120,0000 individuals across all 50 states with the tools to take action against anti-Asian hate. To increase access for our communities, we also launched in-language trainings in Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin), Korean, Vietnamese, Hindi, Tagalog, and Thai.

The traits of the Tiger empower us to be strong in the face of adversity and to approach every challenge with a strong sense of justice. In the face of racial bias and discrimination, we are fighting to put an end to the racial profiling of Asian Americans and immigrants by the U.S. government, starting with the U.S. Department of Justice’s “China Initiative.” Our determination continues inside the courtrooms as we advocate for equity and justice in education and voting rights. 

Our perseverance will guide us as we defend and safeguard our right to vote and ensure that our communities are represented fairly through census and redistricting. Advancing Justice | AAJC continues to fight alongside immigrant communities for legislation that reunites families and provides a pathway to citizenship. 

In a time where families and loved ones gather virtually, connectivity has never been more important. Advancing Justice | AAJC works to address broadband access issues in our communities by helping to get low-income Asian American families online.

The year ahead will have its challenges, but Advancing Justice | AAJC is committed to continuing our fervent and urgent advocacy until all of our communities are safe, included, and protected. We are here to do the work. 

Thank you for being a part of our journey. Please consider making a contribution today to keep the progress going as we continue to fight for the civil and human rights of Asian Americans and beyond.
 
We wish you good health, prosperity, and the fierceness of a roaring tiger as we work to build a better future for all and the generations to come.

 
John C. Yang
President and Executive Director