Advocacy updates and ways to take action this month
Throughout September and October, Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC continued to rise up and take action despite attempts to undermine our civil rights.
In Arizona, a federal judge approved an agreement between the Arizona Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander for Equity Coalition ("AZ AANHPI for Equity Coalition") and the State of Arizona to temporarily pause enforcement of voter purge bill HB 2243, which was set to purge eligible voters from voter rolls. The win came after Advancing Justice – AAJC, Latham & Watkins, and Spencer Fane LLP filed a lawsuit on behalf of the AZ AANHPI for Equity Coalition against Arizona officials tasked with implementing two state laws that violate the U.S. Constitution, the National Voter Registration Act, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
On September 12, our organization filed an amicus briefwith Brown Rudnick LLP and LatinoJustice PRLDEF in the First Circuit Court of Appeals in support of Boston’s School Committee as it defends an admissions plan that expands access to the city’s top-ranked “exam schools.” The admissions plan, developed for the 2021-22 academic year, improved racial and socioeconomic diversity at the highly selective public schools by increasing the number of students admitted from Boston’s lowest-income neighborhoods.
In oral arguments at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, Temple University professor Dr. Xiaoxing Xi and his attorneys urged the court to reinstate his claims for damages against the U.S. government for its discriminatory investigation and prosecution of baseless charges that were later dismissed. Asian Americans have been targeted and scapegoated as national security threats for far too long, and Advancing Justice – AAJC is proud to support Professor Xi’s efforts to ensure that the federal government is held accountable for the immeasurable impact this ordeal has caused to him and his family.
As our civil and human rights remain under attack, the work continues for us to mobilize together in lock step and build a better world for generations to come.
Below are highlights of our ongoing efforts and upcoming initiatives you can get involved with too!
Rally for Affirmative Action
On Monday, October 31 the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments for two cases concerning the consideration of race as one factor in college admissions at Harvard and the University of North Carolina.
At 8am on the day of the oral arguments (10/31), join the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC, African American Policy Forum, and Lawyers' Committee at the US Supreme Court in Washington, DC to show your support for diversity in higher education! We need as many people as possible to join in solidarity against those who seek to divide us.
All students deserve a fair shot at going to college, regardless of their family’s finances, where they grew up, or their racial and ethnic background. But systemic and racial inequities still prevent all students from having equal access to educational opportunities. Affirmative action ensures every student has a fair shot.
In the weeks leading up to oral arguments on October 31, students across the country will be organizing nationwide in-person and virtual mobilizations to #DefendDiversity, #AffirmOpportunity, and show their support for race-conscious admissions.
Are you an Asian American student looking to organize an event for your campus? Join the student leader resource and action group to receive special trainings from our coalition partners, toolkits, and peer support.
Sign up to receive updates and more information about upcoming events. Check out our race-conscious admissions social media toolkit here.
Volunteer for the Multilingual Voter Hotline
Are you bilingual and speak Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Hindi/Urdu, or Bengali? Get trained to volunteer for our multilingual hotline and help support our community in the lead-up to the midterm elections and live at the polls! No prior experience is needed.
Sign up for specific volunteer shifts and training dates here.
If you or anyone you know has questions or faces issues while voting this midterm, call Advancing Justice – AAJC and APIAVote's multilingual voter hotline at 1-888-API-VOTE (274-8683).
In the Aftermath: Examining the Impact of
SB 202 in Georgia as Midterms Approach
In our latest blog, Summer Communications Intern Nusrath Naurin examines the impending impact of SB 202, especially for voters of color, and shares concerns from Georgia voters as midterms approach. For communities nationwide, the 2022 midterms are an opportunity to elect officials that will affirm and protect equal access to voting as a constitutional right.
"We need to mobilize and turn out at the polls, not only for ourselves, but also for our community. Our livelihoods and civil rights depend on it."
After the devastating May 14 shooting in Buffalo, NY, we joined in solidarity with National Urban League, National Action Network, Anti-Defamation League, League of United Latin American Citizens to urge President Biden to convene a national summit against hate-fueled attacks.
That call to action was answered on September 15 with the historic United We Stand Summit, which convened leaders from historically marginalized groups targeted by violent extremists to discuss the crisis of hate we face and how our country can rise up together in response.
We commend President Biden for his commitment in bringing the nation together and hope that this Summit will lead to continued action from the administration to protect our communities and support healing.
Previous changes to the public charge rule created widespread fear about the possible negative immigration consequences of seeking public benefits.
This rule helps clarify that our communities can seek help from necessary programs like health, nutrition, and housing programs without fear. Read our full Asian Americans Advancing Justice affiliation statement in response.
Re-Designation of TPS for Burma
On September 26, the Department of Homeland Security announced that they would extend and re-designate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Burmese nationals in the U.S. until May 25, 2024.
The announcement came after 89 organizations, including Advancing Justice – AAJC, submitted a letter to the Biden Administration calling for the extension and re-designation. Read our full statement applauding DHS for protecting the lives of thousands of Burmese nationals.
