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 of the Lynn Walker Huntley Social Justice Fellowship, 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

In solidarity,

Your friends at the Southern Poverty Law Center

The SPLC is a catalyst for racial justice in the South and beyond, working in partnership with communities to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements, and advance the human rights of all people.

Friend, will you make a gift to help the SPLC fight for justice and equity in courts and combat white supremacy?