Unstacking the Deck: Harvard law student wins SPLC-sponsored
fellowship to protect rights of children in the Deep South

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Rhonda Sonnenberg, SPLC Senior Staff Writer | Read the full piece here

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Friend,

When Harry Chiu, the son of immigrants from Hong Kong, was a child in
Vancouver, Canada, he had little awareness of anti-Asian prejudice.

The city has a large Asian population, and Canada has a long history
of acceptance. Affirmative action is enshrined in the country's
constitution, and Canada has recognized same-sex marriages since 2005,
a full decade before the U.S.

Not until the stellar student reached high school did he begin to feel
the sting of prejudice, hearing stereotypical barbs from classmates
who labeled him as "short" and "good at math."
Not long after he came out as gay in college, Chiu realized he wanted
to become a lawyer.

"I was studying sociology as an undergrad in Canada, which made
me aware of so many things that are not right in this world,"
Chiu said. "As the gay, Asian son of immigrants, the deck is
stacked against a lot of the identities I am part of. I decided I
wanted to acquire the tools to effect change."

Now a third-year student at Harvard Law School, Chiu will get a crash
course in advocating for racial and social justice in the Deep South.

He is the first recipient

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of the Lynn Walker Huntley Social Justice Fellowship

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, sponsored jointly by the Southern Education Foundation (SEF) and the
Southern Poverty Law Center.

The two-year fellowship is designed to prepare early-career lawyers
for education work in the South on behalf of students of color and
students from underserved communities.

Beginning in September, after graduating from law school, Chiu will
work in the SEF's Atlanta office while advocating for education
equity through research, policy analysis and litigation in Alabama,
Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi.

"The SPLC, alongside the Southern Education Foundation, is
thrilled to offer the Lynn Walker Huntley Fellowship to Harry Chiu, a
driven young lawyer who has demonstrated a commitment to ensuring all
students have access to a high-quality education and supportive
learning environment," SPLC President and CEO Margaret Huang
said. "We look forward to his contributions to this important
mission."

READ MORE

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In solidarity,

Your friends at the Southern Poverty Law Center

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working in partnership with communities to dismantle white supremacy,
strengthen intersectional movements, and advance the human rights of
all people.

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