Policy and litigation updates from Advancing Justice — AAJC

Policy and litigation updates from Advancing Justice - AAJC
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Holding Our Communities Close

As we closed out April and entered May, our community rang in a new Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with unapologetic pride. But as we commemorated several anniversaries, it was with heavy hearts that we joined together to face new tragedies across the country.

April 15 marked the one-year anniversary of the FedEx shooting in Indianapolis where eight people were killed, including four whom were Sikh. A few weeks later, three Korean women were shot and killed in a Dallas hair salon in an alleged hate crime. Just days after, a doctor died tackling a gunman who opened fire at a church in Laguna Woods, CA that was motivated by hatred against Taiwan. Less than a week after that, a man shot and killed 10 people at a supermarket in a predominately Black neighborhood of Buffalo, NY. It was only days later when we grieved the loss of 21 lives, including 19 children, in the mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, TX.

Our communities are tired, but still fighting. We are hurting, but have resolve. And we have had enough.

In response to the tragedies, Advancing Justice - AAJC joined leading civil rights organizations in calling for a national summit ([link removed]) on right-wing extremism and hate crimes in communities of color. We forged ahead in providing critical resources for educators and parents to empower the younger generation with the stories missing from their textbooks, including a series of APAHM quizzes ([link removed]) and a multi-media content list ([link removed]) for kids. We also welcomed our 10th Youth Leadership Summit cohort ([link removed]) with exemplary students joining from around the country to participate in interactive workshops, hands-on
trainings, and discussions with leaders on Capitol Hill.

As women across the country faced yet another attack on their reproductive rights and freedom, our President and Executive Director John C. Yang joined Ethnic Media Services and NAPAWF for a national briefing ([link removed]) on the impact of a post-Roe world on AAPI communities. He shared that as a Chinese American man with two daughters, "It is my responsibility to talk about reproductive rights. It is not solely the responsibility of women."

We also recognized the two-year anniversary of George Floyd's murder, the 30-year anniversary of the LA Riots (or Saigu), and the 40-year anniversary of Vincent Chin's unjust death. Each event has served as a pivotal turning point in history that awakened a reckoning and a mass mobilization of millions across the country. So long as the rights of Asian Americans and allied communities are under attack, Advancing Justice - AAJC will continue to fight for a safer, more equitable world for all.

Keep scrolling to read more about these Advancing Justice - AAJC initiatives and more.
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EVENTS

Did you miss our community convening and launch of the Wholestory Education (WE) Campaign? Watch a full recording of presentations from our guest speakers here ([link removed]) .

Together with Right To Be, we have trained over 100,000 people through our joint trainings to combat anti-Asian hate! Join the next training:

Bystander Intervention Training
* June 29 ([link removed]) - simultaneous translation in Hindi

Check back here ([link removed]) for upcoming conflict de-escalation trainings and workshops for people experiencing anti-Asian/American harassment.
ADVANCING JUSTICE - AAJC IN THE NEWS

In a blog for A ([link removed]) CLU ([link removed]) , Assistant Director of the Anti-Racial Profiling Project Gisela P. Kusakawa emphasizes the importance of remembering our past to understand how the Asian American community has been targeted and scapegoated as a national security threat throughout history.

In a new piece for Everytown for Gun Safety ([link removed]) , our Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives Marita Etcubañez reflects on the mass mobilization of people following recent tragedies and looks ahead to the work that needs to be done in the future to protect our communities.

After President Biden's visit with world-famous K-pop boy group BTS to discuss the rise of anti-Asian hate, violence, and harassment, Marita joined BBC World News ([link removed]) to share the importance of the meeting for people of Asian descent around the world.

Marita also spoke to NBC Washington ([link removed]) about the importance of equipping people to become active bystanders after an Asian American woman was punched in the face by a stranger in D.C.'s Chinatown.

On May 27, President and Executive Director John C. Yang joined Ethnic Media Services ([link removed]) for a briefing on the 40-year anniversary of Vincent Chin's murder and

As APAHM came to a close, our Vice President of Policy and Programs Jiny Kim wrote a piece for Philanthropy News Digest ([link removed]) reflecting on three years of the dual pandemics of COVID-19 and anti-Asian hate.


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Advocacy and Policy Updates
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Join Us for the National and Historic Unity March!

When we unite, we will bring real change. On June 25, 2022, step out and march with us in Washington, D.C. to advance equitable representation and rights for all of our communities.

The ** Unity March ([link removed])
is an historic Asian American-led, BIPOC multiracial, intersectional mobilization that will feature a full program with speeches by impacted persons and community leaders. Together, we are telling a story of pan-racial power, unity, and resilience.

** #UnityMarch2022 ([link removed])
is organized and led by Asian Americans Advancing Justice - AAJC (Advancing Justice - AAJC), APIAVote, Gold House, Indian American Impact, National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA), OCA National Center, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF).

RSVP to join the movement and receive updates on our program ** here ([link removed])
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Animated 5D's of Bystander Intervention Videos Helps Empower Everyday People to Fight Rise in Hate Incidents

Prisca, AARP, Right To Be (formerly Hollaback!), and Advancing Justice – AAJC joined forces this Asian Pacific American Heritage Month to produce a series of animated videos in multiple languages to introduce bystander intervention methods to wider audiences. The five videos are based on the 5D strategies of bystander intervention developed by Right To Be:
* Distract: Creating a distraction to de-escalate the situation;
* Delegate: Finding someone else to help;
* Document: Creating documentation of the incident and then giving it to the person who was harassed;
* Delay: Checking in on the person who experienced harassment;
* Direct: Setting a boundary with the person doing the harassing, and then turning your attention to the person being harassed.

Watch each of the 5D videos in English, Cantonese, Hindi, Korean, Mandarin, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, and Vietnamese ** here ([link removed])
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Federal Communications Commission Introduces New Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a broadband subsidy program administered by the FCC. Individuals and households may qualify to receive a monthly credit to offset the cost of broadband internet subscriptions.

"Programs like the ACP and in-language outreach efforts are critical to bridging the digital divide, especially in underserved #AANHPI communities that rely on internet connections to access essential services," said President and Executive Director John C. Yang.

Access our in-language factsheets, graphics, and resources on how to sign up ** here ([link removed])
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Advancing Justice – AAJC Testifies Before the Committee on House Administration on the Growing Threat of Mis/Disinformation

In April, Director of Telecommunications, Technology, and Media Emily Chi testified before the United States House of Representatives Committee on House Administration Subcommittee on Elections Hearing on “** A Growing Threat: The Impact of Disinformation Targeted at Communities of Color ([link removed])
."

In her testimony, Chi discussed how the lack of cultural nuance and community-specific messaging in mainstream efforts to combat mis/disinformation make Asian American communities uniquely vulnerable to certain harmful narratives.

Read her full written testimony ** here ([link removed])
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Advancing Justice – AAJC Presents at Harvard Kennedy School's First-Ever Misinformation Conference

In April, our Mis/Disinformation Policy Analyst Jenny Liu was invited by Harvard Kennedy School’s Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy to present in their first-ever Misinformation and Conspiracy within Communities of Color Conference.

Jenny presented a case study on the unique vulnerability of Chinese Americans to targeted mis- and disinformation campaigns concerning topics such as "critical race theory" and affirmative action. Her talk focused on how bad actors exploit home country biases of first-generation Chinese Americans and common misconceptions around equity-driven education policies to sow division between this group and other communities of color.
White House Convening on Equity

On April 14, over 90 federal agencies released their first-ever Equity Action Plans, which listed concrete strategies and commitments to address systemic barriers in the nation’s policies and programs.

During the ** White House Convening on Equity ([link removed])
, our President and Executive Director John C. Yang affirmed the importance of investing funding, building capacity, and nurturing trust to collect disaggregated data for addressing the needs of AANHPI communities.

Watch John's full speech ** here ([link removed])
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Commemorating the Anniversary of the Historic
COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act Signing

The 2021 signing of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, which included the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act, sent a powerful message that communities targeted by hate must be centered and resourced to meet their needs.

On May 19, President and Executive Director John C. Yang joined The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights for their "Humanity Over Hate" forum alongside survivors of hate crimes and policy advocates. They discussed the impact of hate and provided action items for policymakers and the public.

Watch the full event livestream ** here ([link removed])
and read our ** blog ([link removed])
commemorating the one-year anniversary of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act.
Advancing Justice – AAJC Joins Civil Rights Groups to Reaffirm Support for Race-Conscious Admissions Policy in SFFA v. Harvard and SFFA v. UNC

Civil rights organizations Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC, the Legal Defense Fund (LDF), Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and the North Carolina Justice Center confirm support for race-conscious admissions and affirmative action in higher education as the opposition submits a brief to the U.S. Supreme Court today in SFFA v. Harvard University and SFFA v. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC). The opposition’s brief is part of a concerted racialized attack on access to highly-selective institutions of higher learning.

"The opposition is using a small number of Asian Americans as a racial wedge to try to dismantle race-conscious admissions policies they were unable to do with white plaintiffs," President and Executive Director John C. Yang said.

Read our full statement of support ** here ([link removed])
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Civil Rights Groups Submit Amicus Brief in Support of Race-Neutral Admissions Policy at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

Advancing Justice – AAJC, the Legal Defense Fund (LDF), and LatinoJustice PRLDEF, together with law firm Arnold & Porter, submitted an amicus brief that successfully urged the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit to enjoin, at least temporarily, the order by U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and protect admission policies that remove barriers to educational opportunities for all students at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJ).

Read our full press release and amicus brief ** here ([link removed])
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Asian American Civil Rights Groups Commend Decision to End Title 42 Expulsions and Reject Efforts to Restore the Policy

Advancing Justice – AAJC and Advancing Justice – Los Angeles support the decision from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to end the use of Title 42 starting May 23, 2022, and reject efforts to preserve this immigration restriction.

Title 42 was first implemented by the CDC in March 2020 allowing border authorities to expel people seeking asylum under the pretext of public health necessity. The end of this disastrous policy was the result of the hard work and perseverance of many immigrant leaders and their communities. We call on the Biden Administration to live up to our domestic and international asylum obligations, and welcome asylum seekers with dignity.

Read our full statement ** here ([link removed])
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Advancing Justice - AAJC Mourns the Passing of Norman Y. Mineta

On May 3, we were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Norman Y. Mineta, a titan in our country and a fierce protector of the Asian American community. President and Executive Director John C. Yang remembered Norm as someone who "never forgot a name" and who always made time for small, personal interactions.

"He never looked past you or looked over your shoulder to see if there was someone ‘more important’ that he should talk to. He was genuine and cared about people, regardless of politics. He will be missed.”

Read our full statement ** here ([link removed])
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Wholestory Education (WE) Campaign

In February, Advancing Justice - AAJC launched the Wholestory Education (WE) Campaign in response to increasing nationwide attacks on our ability to learn history truthfully and have honest discussions about diversity, racism, and sexism.

Through the ** Wholestory Education (WE) Campaign ([link removed])
, Advancing Justice - AAJC provides free resources and events for individuals and organizations to begin, supplement, or further advocacy efforts in their communities to encourage more comprehensive, honest, and empowering education. Did you miss our community partner convening? Watch presentations on the controversy surrounding Critical Race Theory and successful advocacy efforts to pass Asian American history curriculum requirements ** here ([link removed])
.

Visit our ** WE Campaign page ([link removed])
to learn more, access free resources, and contact our team.

On-going Resources

* "Be a Super Ally with the 5Ds" is a new 5Ds-for-kids video series was made in partnership with Advancing Justice - AAJC, Right To Be, and Woori Show. The videos were produced for kids ages 3 to 10 with the support of experts in language, culture, early childhood education, and child psychology. Watch the videos ** here ([link removed])
.

* The ** Anti-Racial Profiling Project ([link removed])
offers resources and legal referrals for those impacted by the U.S. government’s increased efforts to target and profile Asian American and Asian immigrant scientists and researchers, particularly of Chinese descent. If you believe you are being racially targeted by the government and you are looking for attorney referrals, please contact 202-935-6014 using the Signal app and a staff member will reach out to you directly with support available in English and Mandarin/普通话.

* Our community engagement team is working with community partners to develop state-specific and national anti-hate resources for the AAPI community. Individuals and organizations are encouraged to access, share, and add to the ** crowd-sourced document ([link removed])
.

Blog Highlights
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** 45 Best AAPI Films, Television, and Literature for Representation ([link removed])

In commemoration of Asian Pacific American Heritage month, Advancing Justice - AAJC reached out to members from our community to compile a collection of some of our favorite Asian American and Pacific Islander films, series, and books.

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** AAPI Educational Content Guide for Kids ([link removed])

Advancing Justice - AAJC compiled a list of educational content for little (and big) readers to read, watch, listen, and learn about the stories and contributions of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.
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** From “War on Terror” to the “China Initiative:” The Chilling Parallels of Racial Profiling Between Chinese American and AMEMSA Communities ([link removed])

Advancing Justice - AAJC and Advancing Justice - ALC map the interwoven histories of the U.S. government's use of race, ethnicity, national origin, and religious beliefs to undermine our freedoms and safety, instilling anxiety and fear in our communities.

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** Commemorating the One Year Anniversary of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act — Invest in Communities Impacted by Hate ([link removed])

One year after the historic signing of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, we reflect on and look forward to how we can further protect, empower, and invest in communities impacted by hate.
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** Fake News and the Growing Power of Asian American Voters: What this Means for 2022 Midterm Elections ([link removed])

To combat the spread of mis/disinformation within our communities leading up to the November midterms, Advancing Justice - AAJC tracked messaging trends on social media.

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** 30 Years after Saigu: Seeking a New American Dream ([link removed])

Our Vice President of Policy and Programs Jiny Kim reflects on the 30-year anniversary and the lasting impact of the LA Uprising, also known as "Saigu."
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** Rising Young Leaders Around the Country Come Together ([link removed])

Meet the 10th Youth Leadership Summit cohort! In April, these exemplary young advocates virtually joined us to learn and share new tools to further their advocacy, communications skills, and civic engagement.

** Read more of our blogs! ([link removed])
Take Action With Us

Advancing Justice - AAJC and Right To Be Workshops

We continue to host trainings with Right To Be and have now trained over 100,000 people to safely intervene as a bystander to stop non-violent incidents of anti-Asian hate since the beginning of our partnership in April 2020.

The Asian Americans Advancing Justice affiliation is proud to provide in-language Bystander Intervention Trainings for limited English proficient members of our community. We are hosting sessions with simultaneous translations in Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), Hindi, Korean, Tagalog, Thai, and Vietnamese. ** Learn more and sign up ([link removed])
.

Bystander Intervention Training
* Learn about the basics of intervention and the spectrum of disrespect experienced by Asians/Asian Americans. Then, put what you have learned into practice. ** Register Here ([link removed])

Conflict De-Escalation Training (Bystander Intervention 2.0)
* Take your intervention skills a step further by using patience, empathy, and a willingness to listen to directly de-escalate conflict with a harasser. ** Register Here ([link removed])

Workshop for People Experiencing Anti-Asian/American Harassment
* This training is for Asians and Asian Americans to learn how to trust their instincts, reclaim their space, and practice resilience following an act of hate. ** Register Here ([link removed])

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** Stand Against Hatred ([link removed])
was created by the Asian Americans Advancing Justice affiliation in January 2017 to capture information about the increase in hate we observed in the months before and following the 2016 election. Since COVID-19 began, however, we have received many new testimonials of anti-Asian/Asian American incidents of hate and harassment.

By sharing what you experienced or witnessed, you can educate the public, empower others, show service providers where help is needed, and strengthen advocacy efforts for hate crimes response and prevention. We know that sharing these experiences can be painful, which is why we are so grateful for the brave individuals who continue to trust us with their testimonials.

If you or someone you know would like to share your experience, please visit ** StandAgainstHatred.org ([link removed])
today.

Asian American Education Project Teacher Workshops

Asian American and Pacific Islander history is American history but is often left out of curriculums in K-12 schools. ** The Asian American Education Project ([link removed])
, fiscally sponsored by Advancing Justice - AAJC, launched a series of free workshops for K-12 teachers designed to promote the inclusion of historically and culturally competent curriculum about Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) nationwide.

In this series of virtual K-12 Asian American Curriculum Teacher Training Workshops, The Asian American Education Project showcases curriculum on the AAPI experience. It is divided into themes to make it easier for educators to adapt the entire or part of the curriculum into their own practice.

Learn more and sign up for an upcoming workshop ** here ([link removed])
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Join Our Team
We are looking to immediately hire full-time:
* ** Manager, Census and Civic Engagement (“Manager”) ([link removed])
* ** Research Manager (Two-Year Fellowship) ([link removed])
* ** Manager, Immigration Advocacy ([link removed])
* ** Associate Manager, Donor Engagement ([link removed])

See all our open positions and learn how to apply ** here ([link removed])
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Support Our Advocacy
During Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, we honored and celebrated the generations of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have enriched America’s history and are instrumental in its future success. May 2022 also marked the third year of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout this time, the Asian American community has experienced a significant increase in violence, stigmatization, and discrimination. Despite these adversities, our communities remain resilient and continue to uplift and support one another.

Please consider making a gift to help protect, empower, and advance our communities nationwide. Your support will help combat anti-Asian hate, increase voting rights access, and advocate for civil right protections. Thank you for considering to uphold our mission to advance the civil and human rights of Asian Americans and to build and promote a fair and equitable society for all.
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