Happy Lunar New Year! Whether you call it the Year of the Mouse or the Year of the Rat, this year marks the start of a new calendar year for many in the Asian American community.
If you are celebrating Lunar New Year tomorrow or recently celebrated the New Year on January 1st, our hope is the same for each of you. We wish you a joyous time spent with loved ones as you remember the blessings of the past, appreciate the grace of today, and look forward to a favorable future.
We are at the start of a promising new year that is symbolized by positivity, passion, and adaptability, among other attributes. It’s a year that will only be made better with you as our partner in advocacy and support.
Like the Mouse, We are Diligent and Focused
As the new year begins, we see a tremendous opportunity for a positive shift in this country and within the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. A 2020 presidential election affords us the chance to exercise our fundamental right to speak truth to power and steer this country in a direction where the people in office not only appreciate the contributions of immigrants but also seek to enact immigration laws that reunite immigrant families and provide a pathway to citizenship.
Before we make our choices at the ballot box, we have the responsibility to make certain every AAPI is counted in the 2020 Census. We must ensure no one in the community is left out of the census. Too much is at stake. Whether it is shining a light on language access needs in our community; gaining necessary improvements to our roads, subway systems, and schools; or it is about keeping bad actors from re-drawing the lines of political representation to disadvantage us.
We literally need everyone to be counted. An accurate count means the difference in a decade of resources that are either deficient in or prepared to meet the needs of our fast-growing community.
We are Resolute in Our Opposition, Adept in Facing Today’s Challenges
Last year, we successfully sued the government and removed the untested and unnecessary citizenship question from the 2020 Census form. By doing so, we are helping to ensure that all within our community can fill out the census form without fear, knowing that they are protected by the strongest privacy laws on the books, which prohibits the sharing of individual data by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Advancing Justice | AAJC has fought against and put a temporary halt on barriers for naturalization and other immigrant visas by challenging the government’s decision to reduce, and in some cases eliminate, financial assistance entirely with astronomical USCIS fees.
The fight continues in court. Make no mistake. We are resolute in our opposition to any rule changes or legislation that seeks to block immigrant rights in this country.
We are working with partners to ensure new developments in technology, telecommunications, and media diversity identify the needs of our community, increase our access, and do not put us at a disadvantage in front of or behind the camera.
Advancing Justice | AAJC has been working for the AAPI community for nearly three decades and we won’t stop. Thank you for being a part of our journey. We ask that you continue to contribute to our important work on behalf of the AAPI community. Donate today to keep the progress going.
With every good wish,
John C. Yang
President and Executive Director
P.S. Please consider automated monthly contributions to help us sustain our impact to our communities. You will be acknowledged as a “Sustainer” by becoming a monthly donor. Visit our donate page at www.advancingjustice-aajc.org. You can also contact [email protected]. Our 501(c)3 tax ID# is 13-3619000.
