San Jose is latest city to apologize for past racist treatment of Chinese

San Jose Research Library & Archives

San Jose residents visit the smoldering ruins of Chinatown after teh 1887 arson fire.

Some jurisdictions in the U.S. are beginning to take a long, hard look and acknowledging their past history of discrimination against Asian Americans.

San Jose, California is the latest and largest city to issue an apology for its treatment of the Chinese community, specifically the torching of the city's Chinatown in the mid-1800s when anti-Chinese bias was at its most blatant.

The San Jose City Council passed the resolution unanimously. “It’s important for members of the Chinese American community to know that they are seen and that the difficult conversations around race and historic inequities include the oppression that their ancestors suffered,” San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo said.

The apologies come at a time of a resurgence of anti-Asian hate resulting in attacks on all Asians, not just people of Chinese descent. According to the community based organization, Stop AAPI Hate, over 9,000 racist incidents against AAPI have occurred since the Trump administration began using racist rhetoric, blaming the pandemic on China.

Throughout its history, San Jose has had five separate Chinatowns, one of which was the largest Chinatown in the U.S.

The most well-known was the Second Market Street Chinatown. In 1887 the city declared the neighborhood a public nuisance to make room for a new city hall. Days later, before eviction notices could be issued, the Chinatown was deliberately set on fire displacing 1,400 residents.

At the time, “The city said, ‘No, it’s a vile community, and we don’t want it downtown,’” said Gerrye Kee Wong of Chinese Historical and Cultural Project, speaking to the city council on behalf of the resolution.

Today, almost 150 years later, San Jose has 1 million residents. Asian Americans make up 38.1% of San Jose, the largest ethnic group in the city. Latinos are 31.2% of the city, followed by Whites, 23.3%, according to the 2020 Census.

"An apology for grievous injustices cannot erase the past, but admission of the historic wrongdoings committed can aid us in solving the critical problems of racial discrimination facing America today," rads the San Jose's resolution.

In May, the City of Antioch, California became the first to apologize for its treatment of early Chinese immigrants, who dug secret tunnels to commute home from work because they were barred from walking city streets after sunset.

Other cities in the Pacific Northwest have issued apologies in decades past. The State of California also apologized in 2009 to Chinese workers and Congress has apologized for the Chinese Exclusion Act, which was approved in 1882 and made Chinese residents the targets of the nation’s first law limiting immigration based on race or nationality.

In November of 2020, the City of Watsonville, a few miles south of San Jose, issued an official apology to the Filipino American community for the racist attacks in 1930 by white mobs against Filipino American farm workers, that became known as the Watsonville Riots. Over several days, hundreds of Filipinos were hunted down and beaten, resulting in one worker's death.

Connie Young Yu, a historian and author of “Chinatown, San Jose, USA,” said her grandfather was a teenage refugee from the 1887 fire. Her father was born in the a new San Jose Chinatown built built after the fire. The new enclave was established in a different location with the help of German immigrant John Heinlen, whose life was threatened. That new Chinatown, known as Heninlenville, eventually disappeared after the Chinese population dwindled.

Yu said San Jose's official recognition and apology gives her an “enormous sense of reconciliation and a sense of peace,” she told the Tri-City Herald.

“This is beyond an apology," added Yu. "It is taking responsibility, which is a beautiful thing to me.” 

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, observations, tips and references, follow me on Twitter @dioknoed.

It's Asian American, Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Instiutions Week.

Propective students taking a tour of University of California-Irvine, where AANHPI students are
 in the majority as undergrads and in graduate programs.

A Congressional resolution was introduced to recognize the week of Sept. 27-Oct 3, as Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) Week.

“As a former public school teacher and current member of the House Committee on Education and Labor, I’m glad to be recognizing AANAPISI Week and the many Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) that bridge the existing gaps in educational opportunities and give underserved communities a fighting chance to succeed," said Rep. Mark Takano, D-CA, chair of the Education Task Force of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.

Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) are defined under the Higher Education Act (HEA) as colleges or universities with an undergraduate enrollment that is at least 10% Asian American and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander. 

While AANAPISIs make up only 5% of the colleges and universities in the United States, they enroll nearly 40% of all AANHPI undergraduates in the nation.

“As a proud graduate of a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), I know I wouldn't be where I am today without the opportunities I received through higher education," said Rep. Marilyn Strickland, D-WA, who is of Korean descent. "Like other MSIs, Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) are invaluable to supporting low-income, first generation AAPI students, and enroll nearly 40% of all AANHPI undergraduates nationally."

“AANAPISI Week gives us the chance to elevate the work of AANAPISIs and to further amplify the need and demand for improved availability and quality of postsecondary education programs to serve the diverse needs of Asian-American, Pacific Islander, and low-income students,” stated Dr. Noel Harmon, President, APIA Scholars.

The AANAPISI Program was originally authorized on September 27, 2007, by the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007. Since its founding, some 217 colleges and universities have been eligible as AANAPISIs throughout the United States, including the United States territories.

“The growth of AANAPISIs and their reach and impact on the APIA community is truly evident by the many scholar success stories that we have collected in our own work with APIA students,” states Dr. Julie Ajinkya, Senior Vice President of APIA Scholars. “It is our hope to bring even greater visibility to this work and to help to grow in numbers those institutions who qualify as AANAPISI.”

Today, there are currently 166 eligible Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions operating in the United States, including the U.S. territories. Since the program began in 2007, 38 institutions have received funding, yet currently there are only 20 institutional grantees.

Below are the AANAPISIs currently receiving funding:

American River College
Bunker Hill Community College
California State University, East Bay
California State University, Sacramento
Hunter College
Laney College
Metropolitan State University
Middlesex Community College

Mission College
Mt. San Antonio College
Northern Marianas College
Oakton Community College
Pacific University
Palau Community College
Pierce College Fort Steilacoom
San Francisco State University

University of California, Irvine
University of Massachusetts Boston
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
University of Nevada, Las Vegas

"It must be our goal to reject the myth of the model minority, and fully support AANAPI students seeking educational opportunities to improve their quality of life by investing in the institutions, resources, and programs that cater to our diverse population," said Takano. "Education is a hallmark of the American Dream that everyone should have equal access to.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, observations, news tips and references, follow me on Twitter @dioknoed.

To fight AAPI hate, a nationwide network and action centers established

The alarming rise in hate incidents against Asian Americans may be giving birth to the national voice for the AANHPI communities that has been lacking because of the wide diversity of the ethnic groups under the Asian American umbrella.

The Asian American Foundation, a convener, incubator, and funder for the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, announced Tuesday (Sept. 28, 2021) the launch of TAAF's Anti-Hate National Network, which includes AAPI Action Centers to combat anti-AAPI hate. 

"Our AAPI families, friends, and neighbors continue to be blamed for the pandemic," said Sonal Shah, President of TAAF. "The launch of our Anti-Hate National Network, AAPI Action Centers, and AAPI Emergency Relief Fund is TAAF’s full-throated response to the hate happening in our communities that for too long has gone unchecked."

Stop AAPI Hate has catalogued over 9,000 incidents of bias against AANHPI since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. Many say the surge in hate incidents, ranging from verbal harassment to mass shootings was exacerbated by the racist rhetoric coming out of the Trump administration blaming COVID-19 on China.

Instead of duplicating efforts by grassroots organizations, the TAAF hopes to use its resourced to connect and support the community "on-the-ground" agencies. For its AAPI Action Centers, TAAF is starting with three pilot cities, Chicago, New York City and Oakland, CA:

Chicago: Chinese American Service League (CASL) will serve as the Chicago AAPI Action Center and has received a grant of $500,000 from TAAF to support its Client Advocacy Unit, which includes comprehensive victim support including mental and primary health, legal services, housing, employment, and care coordination. CASL is also building its journalistic readiness program to ensure effective, impactful media coverage of anti-AAPI hate incidents. 

"We will engage with community partners to better respond to and prevent acts of hate. We will build cross racial partnerships to foster learning, safety, and security. And, we will stand together with one voice that shouts, ‘Chicago will not tolerate acts of hate against any person, regardless of their race, gender, or ability." said Paul Luu, CASL CEO.

New York City: The Asian American Federation will serve as the NYC AAPI Action Center and has received a grant of $500,000 from TAAF to support its Hope Against Hate Campaign which offers preventative safety trainings like upstander intervention and self-defense strategies, robust victim support services, and centralized ways to report assaults in order to get connected to services. The Asian American Federation is also spearheading a safety ambassador program to train volunteers in NYC to accompany AAPI community members in public places.

“The hate incidents AAPI New Yorkers have had to endure on the subways and streets are near-constant, and so we welcome TAAF’s investment in the work being done to keep vulnerable AAPI communities safe," said Jo-Ann Yoo, Executive Director of The Asian American Federation.

Oakland: Asian Health Services (AHS) will serve as the Oakland AAPI Action Center and has received a grant of $500,000 from TAAF to support its high-caliber health and wellness services, as well as its advocacy for health care equity for AAPIs. As part of its Action Center offerings, AHS is providing a trauma care unit, referral linkage services, and community level interventions to counter anti-AAPI hate. TAAF is also working with AHS on its African American / Asian American Racial Trauma Project, which aims to create a body of knowledge focused on racial trauma in African American and AAPI communities.

“California has seen the largest proportion of anti-AAPI hate incidents in the country since the pandemic hit,” said Sherry Hirota, Chief Executive Officer of Asian Health Services. “Oakland and the Bay Area have a long history of advocacy and activism. Not to be blamed or ignored, our AAPI community is strong and resilient. Racism and anti-AAPI hate are public health issues and the solutions will be long term and complex."

TAAF's Anti-Hate National Network aims to provide greater coordination and collaboration between organizations working to combat anti-AAPI hate by assembling them as part of a shared effort to better ensure resources get to where they are needed. Organizations included in the Network provide critical resources to AAPI communities that TAAF wants to invest in and help grow in order to scale better anti-hate tracking, protection, response, and prevention measures. 

The following organizations have received initial grants from TAAF and are now part of its Network: Act to Change, Asian American Journalists Association, Interfaith Youth Core, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), RISE Together Fund, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), and Sikh Coalition.

Since its launch, TAAF has committed over $7 million to its anti-hate efforts which, in addition to today’s news, have included the development of its Rapid Response Toolkit, its Documenting Anti-AAPI Hate Codebook in partnership with Stop Anti-AAPI Hate, and an interfaith mobilization toolkit designed by the InterFaith Youth Core for college campuses.

This Thursday, September 30, TAAF will co-host a virtual event with NextShark: “From Hate to Hope - Building a National Network for Belonging.” TAAF President Sonal Shah will be joined by Congressmember Grace Meng, D-NY, Benny Luo, Founder & CEO of NextShark, Thu Quach of Asian Health Services, and Jo-Ann Yoo of the Asian American Federation. Amna Nawaz with PBS NewsHour will moderate the event. Registration is required.

CORRECTION: Earlier versions of this article inadvertently included a list of educational institutions serving AANHPI students. It has been removed.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, observations, tips and references, follow me on Twitter @dioknoed

Hispanic Heritage Month: When Filipinos and Mexicans refused to be pitted against each other

1965 UFW photo

Andy Imutan (left, front) with Dolores Huerta, Larry Itliong and Bobby Kennedy.

Larry Itliong is slowly getting his well-deserved attention for his work as a Filipino American labor organizer. He was not alone. There was a whole cadre of leaders that led to Mexican and Filipino American farm workers to join together to give birth to  the United Farmworkers union.

It is fitting that Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, overlaps Filipino American History Month (October.) Filipinos and Mexicans have a centuries-old history of working together, trading and sharing food, customs and language while Mexico and the Philippines were colonies of Spain. That relationship perhaps explains why they were able to resist the growers' attempts to pit them against each other in the farm fields of the West Coast.

However, there were many Filipino American leaders that led to the creation of the groundbreaking decision to overcome the growers' strategy pitting Mexican and Filipino farm workers against each other. Among them were Pete Velasco, Chris Mensalves and Andy Imutan.

Imutan was one of the original strikers from the 1965 walkouts who started it all. He was a leader of AWOC and later a vice president of the United Farm Workers, formed by the merger of the largely Filipino AWOC and the mostly Latino NFWA. Imutan was also in charge of the Baltimore and New York boycotts, and was UFW director in Stockton and Delano.

Below is a speech by Imutan during the 40th anniversary of Delano Grape Strike in Delano, September 2005.

By Andy Imutan

My name is Andy Imutan and I am one of the original Filipino workers who went on strike in 1965. I am now only one of two living Filipino workers from that era as most of my brothers have passed away. The one thing that does remain is their legacy and their fight for a just cause.

The whole movement began in Coachella that same summer [of 1965]. That’s when a group of Filipino workers went on strike demanding that their wages be increased from $1.10 an hour as well as better living conditions. Finally, after 10 days of picketing we finally accomplished what we had set out to do-we increased our wages by 30¡Ë an hour. The victory was more grandiose, not so much for the wage increase but for its significance at defeating the growers. We knew then that we could accomplish a lot more.

As I look back, I don’t think we could have accomplished such victory in Coachella had it not been for the leadership of our brothers Ben Gines, Pete Manuel and Larry Itliong, who were all instrumental in that victory.

After a successful first strike we did it again, this time in Delano where wages were also starting out at $1.10 an hour. However, the struggle became a lot harder when Mexican workers started crossing our picketlines. There was no unity between the Mexicans and the Filipinos. The growers were very successful in dividing us and creating conflict between the two races. Although we tried to discourage and reason with the Mexicans that this was just hurting everyone, we weren’t able to convince them.

So Larry Itliong and I decided to take action by seeing Cesar Chavez, the leader of the National Farm Workers Association. We met to come up with a plan that would be beneficial for everyone, including the Mexican workers. However, Chavez said his organization wasn’t ready to go on a strike. It took several discussions and a lot of faith, but finally the Filipinos and Mexicans joined as one on September 16, to picket the Delano growers. On March 17, 1966 we set out on a march from Delano to Sacramento that initially only had 70 farm workers and volunteers. But by April 11, as we climbed the steps of the state Capitol, there were 10,000 supporters who had joined us in the cause.

A few months later our union, AWOC, and the NFWA joined as a single union. Out of this union the United Farm Workers was born. It was a very exciting time as we knew the potential when we joined together not as competitors but as true brothers joined in a very legitimate cause.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me at Threads.net/eduardodiok, @DioknoEd on Twitter or at the blog Views From the Edge.

#RepresentationMatters: NCIS Hawaii: looks like Hawaii

With Filipino American Vanessa Lachey in the lead, the cast of 'NCIS: Hawai'i'
reflects the state's diverse population.

OPINION

Hawaii's popularity appears to have rubbed off on the newest TV show based in the Aloha state. NCIS: Hawai'i debuted Monday with pretty impressive ratings, which bodes well for the only series starring a Filipino American in the lead role.

Filipino American Vanessa Lachey plays the leader of the NCIS team in Hawaii,  Jane Tennant. For the uninitiated, NCIS stands for Naval Criminal Investigative Service, a unit of the Navy that really exists.

To tell you the truth, I've not been a hardcore fan of the NCIS franchise except to note the military law enforcement formula has been successful enough to spawn shows based in Los Angeles and the recently concluded New Orleans. Add Hawaii, with a huge naval presence in the state because of Pearl Harbor.

But this show got my attention for reasons that shoulld be obvious. I wanted to see how a Hollywood-based franchise handles Hawaii's diverse population in this time of hyper racial sensitivities. I'm happy to say, based on the first episode, race is not a central issue on this show. The racial diversity of its cast and colloquialisms are seamlessly woven into the show as they were an everyday experience, Diversity  is the nation's most diverse state, according to the 2020 Census.

There have been too few shows on American TV wherein a Filipino actor was the central protagonist. Although Tennant's racial heritage hasn't been mentioned yet, let's hope at some point that her Filipino heritage will be mentioned.

Like many women in leadership roles, Tennant must maneuver her way through a field of testosterone-driven institutions and individuals. On top of everything else, she's also a person of color commanding a diverse team of individuals and she is juggling her role as a single mother raising a teenage son and young daughter.

I've only watched the first episode and I loved all the bits and pieces to make the viewer know they're in Hawaii with local ties, not some nebulous anywhere big city on the mainland.

Credit veteran executive producer and director Larry Teng, who grew up Chinese but a recent DNA test revealed that he was 51% Korean and Japanese. That's perfect for the multicultural Hawaii where Asians Americans and Pacific Islanders and mixed-race individuals make up the majority of the island state's population.

“Now that I’m back (in Hawaii), I feel like I have a responsibility to make sure that the community here, the people, the crew, that they’re all represented properly, you know?" he tells Daily Hawaii.

“(Hawaii) just did 10 years of a cop show with two white leads here. You’re going into your fourth year of Magnum with a Latino lead. And now we’re coming in, we’ve got two Asian leads. I think it’s important that the crew can work on something that they kind of get behind.”

Director and Executive Producer Larry Teng.

Lachey, who with husband and actor Nick Lachey, is raising three mixed-race kids of her own, loves the multicultural environment her children are being exposed to.

“There are so many Filipinos here,” she said. “I love when they’re like, ‘Vanessa! Oh, my God, you’re like family.'”

Teng made sure NCIS: Hawaii doesn't repeat the mistakes of other Hawaii-based shows where people of color are used like props.  Other cast members include:

• The co-lead is Alex Tarrant, who plays Kai. Tarrant, himself is of Maori, Samoan and Niuean. Kai heritage, a new addition to Jane’s team who boasts the special ability to blend into the island while investigating high-stakes crimes. Kai recently returned home to care for his ailing father and to reconcile with his complicated past.
• Yasmine Al-Bustami protrays Lucy, who is the junior member of Tennant’s NCIS team. Eager to be the first one to find that key piece of evidence, create a workaround in the bureaucracy, or tackle a suspect down a flight of stairs. And yes, she's part Filipino along with Palestinian and Ertrean.
• Lebanese American Jason Antoon is Ernie, NCIS’s Cyber Intelligence Specialist. Ernie is a the genius who has a keen mind for technology, history, literature and all things Hawaiian. 
• Kian Talen, a Filipino American, plays Alex, Jane’s oldest child, a 16-year-old who is strong willed and mature beyond his years.
• Noah Mills will play Jesse, a former big city homicide detective who’s returned to Hawai‘i. An expert interrogator with knack for good old fashioned police work, but Jesse’s also a devoted family man who runs 4-H camping trips for his kid.

Teng's commitment to the depiction of Hawaii and its people doesn't stop there. When taping began in June, he put out a opened the door to any of the locals who wanted to be on the show.

The goal is to have “all kinds of inclusion,” according to Shayne Hartigan of Honolulu-based Alessi Hartigan Casting.

“I’m so excited. We really want to get all, all kinds of inclusion in on this project, so of course, you know, the military, the HPD presence, but also the local community and shop owners and restaurateurs and anybody possible,” Hartigan tells Cheatsheet.

The natural beauty of Hawaii and its people, combined with the proven NCIS formula seems to have worked based on the show's premiere episode last week.

The original NCIS based in Los Angeles, in particular, dominated the ratings Monday night. The show's Season 19 premiere drew 8.5 million total viewers and garnered a 0.7 rating in the demo. While NCIS: Hawai'i didn't have as many viewers that tuned in, it still drew some big numbers for CBS. NCIS: Hawai'i had the third-largest audience of any show for the night (behind NCIS and The Voice). The new spinoff drew 6.6 million viewers and received a 0.5 rating in the demo, which TV Line noted was the highest retention rate of any new Monday show.

“Coming (to Hawaii) is always special. I wouldn’t have done 11 episodes of ‘Five-0’ if it didn’t mean something," Teng tells Daily Hawaii. "And honestly, in the last few years, this is our place, this is where we come, whether I’m visiting the guys working on the shows, or my girlfriend I go to Kauai or Maui or the Big Island.

“This will be a place where I always have a home, as long as I don’t screw this up. I’ll always have a home here and it’s always gonna be a question of, if there’s a fit, you know?”

(NCIS: Hawai'i airs on CBS, Monday, 9 p.m. Eastern.)

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, tips, references and wry observations, follow me on Twitter @dioknoed.

Asian American Congress members want to speed up implementation of anti-hate law

Senator Mazie Hirono, left, and Rep. Grace Meng.

It has been four months since the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act was signed by President Biden and two Asian American lawmakers who sponsored the act are still waiting to see some results. 

As attacks against AAPI continues to mount, Congressmember Grace Meng, D-NY, and Senator Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii, wrote  a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland to ask for progress on reducing hate crimes and incidents, and the implementation of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, legislation.

The letter was sent Monday (Sept. 19), four months after the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act was signed into law. It details key elements of the law that must be implemented to make progress combating hate, and highlights the need to provide guidance to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies on reporting hate crimes as well as incidents. 

The letter — which highlights the increased violence toward older Asians and the Atlanta-area spa shootings that killed eight people, six of whom were women of Asian descent — follows a recent FBI report that showed that the number of hate crimes last year was the highest in more than a decade.

The FBI report acknowledges that the number of hate crimes is most likely an undercount. As Meng's and Hirono's letter points out, most local law enforcement agencies report no hate crimes, including 64 jurisdictions with populations over 100,000. 

 

“In addition to expediting review of hate crimes, the law requires DOJ to issue guidance to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies,"  Meng and  Hirono wrote in their letter.

  

"Specifically, section 4(a)(1) calls for guidance on how to establish online reporting for hate crimes, as well as incidents. The inclusion of incidents was intentional and is a critical component for any reporting system. Many acts of discrimination do not rise to the level of a hate crime…. In order to meaningfully address the root causes of this bias and hostility, we need a clear and full picture of the scope of the problem. Data on hate crimes alone is insufficient,” 

The letter referred to a recent analysis from the reporting forum Stop AAPI Hate that revealed over 9,000 anti-Asian bias incidents the coronavirus pandemic swept across the nation. The incidents range from verbal harassment, bullying to physical attacks, some of which result in death of the victims.

The lawmakers explained that although not all acts of discrimination would meet the criteria to be labeled a hate crime, "the impetus for these actions are the same—fear and xenophobia."

"In order to meaningfully address the root causes of this bias and hostility, we need a clear and full picture of the scope of the problem," the letter went on. "Data on hate crimes alone is insufficient."

The letter continues, “As the pandemic wears on and COVID-19 variants cause states, localities, or private entities to reinstate restrictions or public safety mandates, frustration with the virus will undoubtedly resurface. We fear the impact this could have on perpetuating hate-based violence against people. Full implementation of the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act will help stem the tide against further violence.”

 

Asian American groups condemn harsh treatment of Haitian refugees

SCREEN CAPTURE

U.S. border agents rounding up Haitian refugees evoked images of capturing slaves.

The harsh treatment of Haitian refugees has Asian American immigration advocates wondering what happened to the humane immigration policies promised by President Biden during his 2020 presidential campaign.

The 15,000 Haitians living under a bridge in Del Rio, Texas, have resulted in one of the swiftest, large-scale expulsions of migrants and refugees from the United States in decades.

Disturbing images of Border Patrol agents on horseback blocking the migrants using reins to push them back towards the Rio Grande evoking images of slavery and caused Asian American immigration advocates to protest the treatment of the Haitians.

“It’s not enough to say that the images coming out of Texas are outrageous and cruel,” said OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates’ National President Linda Ng. “They also send a damaging message to the world that the United States will close its doors to asylum seekers instead of treating vulnerable families with dignity. The horrific mistreatment of Haitian migrants by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents represents a monumental failure that must be urgently investigated by DHS’s inspector general and Congress.”

Asian Americans Advancing Justice - AAJC issued the following statement:

“The mistreatment from the U.S. Border Patrol of Haitian migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border is reprehensible and grounded in white supremacy. These horrific actions are counter to our purported values of welcoming migrants with dignity.

"We condemn the unconscionable deportations of Haitian families without offering them the opportunity to file for asylum," the statement continuted. "Our country recognizes the rights of people to seek asylum or refugee status, and we must return to these fundamental American values. 

"Haitian children and families are dealing with multiple crises, from natural disasters and the ongoing pandemic to civil unrest. Haitian migrants are refugees and deserve better. Instead of abuse at the border, Haitians must be offered basic humanitarian aid of safe shelter, water, food, and health care.

"We urge the Biden Administration to act on their promises for a more humane system for asylum seekers and put an end to these deportations and violence at the border.

Central Americans have also crossed the border in large numbers but they were not subject to mass expulsion, nor as quick.

Some of the migrants at the Del Rio camp told journalists that the recent devastating earthquake in Haiti and the assassination of President Jovenel Moise make them afraid to return to a country that seems more unstable than when they left.

“In Haiti, there is no security,” said Fabricio Jean, a 38-year-old Haitian who arrived in Texas with his wife and two daughters. “The country is in a political crisis.”

While the use of horses has been temporarily suspended. DHS said they were investigating potential misconduct and announced on Thursday.  An official said the agency is aiming to wrap up the investigation by the end of the week.

"What I saw depicted about those individuals on horseback, treating human beings the way they were, is horrible," said Vice President Kamala Harris. She told reporters that she supports the investigation.

However, Biden has been silent on the situation but the issue. Immigration has apparently split his advisors: Some say Biden should implement his more humane policies as it pertains to immigration. However, other advisors believe a more compassionate immigration policy will open him up to being soft at the U.S. border.

Biden's special envoy to Haiti quit in protest because of the treatment of the Haitians. "I will not be associated with the United States inhumane, counterproductive decision to deport thousands of Haitian refugees," wrote Daniel Foote, tin his resignation letter. 

EDITOR’S NOTE: For additional commentary, tip and references, follow me on Twitter @dioknoed.

New research shows significant racial disparities against Chinese and Asians in espionage prosecutions

The China Initiative undertaken during the Donald Trump administration has accused dozens
of Chinese researchers of improper relations with the Peoples Republic of China.

Defendants with Chinese and Asian names are punished more severely and arrested at a higher rate than whites accused of espionage, according to a new analysis released Tuesday.

From 1996 to 2020 of 276 individuals with Asian or Chinese names in 190 cases shows they are being prosecuted and punished more severely and arrested at a higher rate than Western defendants, says a study by the Committee of 100, an organization of prominent Chinese Americans in business, government, academia, healthcare, and the arts focused on public policy engagement, civic engagement, and philanthropy.

Additionally, jail time for Chinese and Asian defendants is double compared to Western defendants and the Department of Justice (DOJ) is much more likely to publicize alleged “spying” by people with Asian names than alleged “spying” by people with Western names.

To download the full white paper, click here.

“This research is critical to understanding the racial discrimination and implicit bias that are the byproducts of a rush to ensure national security, which is making America a less attractive place for immigrants of all backgrounds," said Zheng Yu Huang, President of Committee of 100. 

"America is a place of law and justice, where our diversity is our strength,” said Huang.

These are just some of the conclusions drawn from a new detailed study “Racial Disparities in Economic Espionage Act Prosecutions: A Window into the New Red Scare.”

The study, co-led by Committee of 100 and Andrew Chongseh Kim, an attorney with Greenberg Traurig, LLP and Visiting Scholar at South Texas College of Law, analyzed court filings for all cases charged under the EEA from 1996 to 2020: 276 individual defendants charged across 190 cases, as coded in the Federal PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) system. The study provides empirical data that individuals, particularly those with Chinese or Asian names, are disproportionately and adversely impacted under the EEA.

“We spent thousands of hours analyzing federal court filings and Department of Justice press releases. Unfortunately, the data reveals that Asian Americans and others of Asian descent are treated differently by our justice system,” said Andrew Chongseh Kim. 

“People of Asian descent are more likely to be accused of spying even though they are less likely to actually be convicted of those charges. Perhaps more troubling, the DOJ is much more likely to publicize allegations of spying when they involve people with Asian names. These findings suggest that ordinary Asian American citizens are becoming collateral damage in our efforts to protect America’s economy.”

Highlights from the white paper and research include:

• The percentage of Chinese and Asian defendants charged skyrocketed over the past decade. Prior to 2009, two-thirds of the defendants charged under the EEA were people with Western names, while 16% were people with Chinese names. However, since 2009, the majority of people charged with EEA offenses have been people of Chinese descent.

• Domestic espionage cases nearly as high as international cases. Although news stories focus on espionage for China, 42% of the defendants charged under the EEA were alleged to have stolen trade secrets for the benefit of an American business or person. 46% alleged theft for the benefit of China, while the remaining 12% alleged theft for the benefit of other countries, including Australia and Russia.

• Cases against college and university professors are not common. Although much has been written accusing faculty and staff at universities as agents of economic espionage, the actual charges against these defendants rarely include accusations of espionage. Only 3% of the alleged theft of trade secrets alleged under the EEA occurred in research institutions. These new findings raise concerns that the DOJ is searching for spies in the places they are least likely to find them.

• One in three Asian Americans accused of espionage have been falsely accused. This study found that 27% of presumed Asian American citizens charged under the EEA were not convicted of any crimes. An additional 6% of Asian Americans were convicted only of process offenses like false statements. In total, 1 in 3 Asian Americans accused of espionage may have been falsely accused.

• People of Chinese and Asian descent are punished twice as severely. Half of the defendants with Western names (49%) convicted under the EEA were given sentences of probation only, with no incarceration. In contrast, the vast majority of defendants of Asian descent (75%) were sent to prison, in particular defendants of Chinese descent (80%). Additionally, Chinese and Asian defendants convicted of economic espionage received average sentences of 27 and 23 months respectively, roughly twice as long as the average sentence of 12 months for defendants with Western names.

• Surprise arrests are higher for those of Chinese and Asian descent. Although movies and TV dramas inevitably highlight the “perp walk,” only 38% of EEA defendants with Western names were actually arrested and handcuffed. Instead, most defendants with Western names received a formal letter summoning them to court to face the charges against them. In contrast, the first time 69% of defendants of Asian descent and 78% of EEA defendants of Chinese descent, learned they had been charged was when they were arrested, generally with handcuffs.

• The DOJ publicizes EEA charges against people with Asian names more than EEA against people with Western names. The DOJ issues a press release announcing EEA charges in over 80% of cases that involve defendants with Asian names. In contrast, the DOJ issues press releases in only half (51%) of EEA cases involving defendants with Western names.

“We must recognize the racial stereotyping that the Chinese and Asian American communities have had to deal with for over two centuries, starting with the ‘Yellow Peril’ of the 19th century to the ‘perpetual foreigner’ stereotype that still exists today,” said Huang,

Asian Americans add their voices to SCOTUS case that could overturn Roe v. Wade

SCREEN CAPTURE / NBC

Pro-choice advocates demonstrate in front of the Supreme Court.

Asian American groups are calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to reject a call by the state of Mississippi to overturn Roe v. Wade and allow individual states to ban or end the legal right to abortion.

“We know that abortion access is already difficult for AAPI women," said Sung Yeon Choimorrow, Executive Director, National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF) in filing a friend of the court brief in 

"The cultural stigma and shame that comes with talking about abortion, let alone getting one, is compounded with significant language and economic barriers that can make accessing abortion care a harrowing and terrifying experience,” she said. “This is especially true for AAPI women who are over-represented in low-paying, service jobs and are more likely to not have health care coverage to begin with.” 

The National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF) and Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC (Advancing Justice – AAJC), filed an amicus brief in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which is slated to be heard on Dec. 1.

Also on Monday, the Department of Justice sought permission to present oral arguments when the nation's highest court hears challenges to Mississippi's strict abortion law, as the DOJ called on justices to uphold Roe v. Wade.

Overturning Roe v. Wade will effectively end legal abortion in at least 22 states, several of which are home to large and growing AAPI communities. For instance, the AAPI population in Georgia, Texas, and North Carolina, has grown 138%, 128%, and 154%, respectively, since 2000. The rolling back of reproductive rights by banning access to abortion care will jeopardize the well-being and financial stability for millions of AAPI women and families.

The amicus brief filed Monday emphasizes the unconstitutionality imposed by pre-viability abortion bans and the need to protect the constitutional right for continued access to abortion care for AAPI women. The barriers to safe reproductive care will become even more profound if Mississippi’s pre-viability abortion ban is upheld due to laws that unfairly target pregnant AAPI women for criminal prosecution.

The DOJ's brief backs Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the only abortion clinic in Mississippi, in its fight over the state’s attempt to ban the procedure after 15 weeks of pregnancy.

Since Roe v. Wade became law, it has survived a plethora of challenges. However, abortion foes are betting that the Supreme Court's 6-3 conservative majority will abolish Roe v. Wade.

In 2020, AAPI women experienced the highest rates of long-term unemployment among minority women since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Department of Justice sought permission Monday to present oral arguments when the Supreme Court hears a case challenging Mississippi's strict abortion law, as it called on justices to uphold Roe v. Wade.

Earlier this month, all three of the activist conservative Justices who were appointed by Trump, voted in the 5-4 majority vote taken in the middle of the night decided to not hear challenges to a controversial Texas law that would ban most abortions after five weeks, thus allowing it to become law in Texas. Chief Justice Roberts sided with the liberal Justices.

Underlining the Biden administration's support of Roe v. Wade, on Monday,  administration cited that law as it formally backed the Women’s Health Protection Act, a bill that would shield abortion rights across the country.

“In the wake of Texas’ unprecedented attack, it has never been more important to codify this constitutional right and to strengthen health care access for all women, regardless of where they live,” Biden’s Office of Management and Budget said in a prepared statement.

“We will not allow this country to go backwards on women’s equality,” said the statement. 

BTS -- Special envoys of the U.N. speak out for the youth of the world

SCREEN CAPTURE

BTS at the United Nations Headquarters.

It was an unfamiliar stage for the K-pop super group BTS and nerves were evident.

“Every choice we make is the beginning of change, not the end,” said RM, the band's leader during a speech at the United Nations headquarters in New York City.

The 7-member group was in the General Assembly hall Monday to help promote U.N. goals for 2030 including ending extreme poverty, preserving the planet and achieving gender equality.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in introduced the pop stars as special presidential envoys and an “exceptionally outstanding group of young men who are connecting with the youth across the world.”

A U.N. video of the group's speech has been viewed more than 6 million times as of Monday afternoon.

“What is important are the choices we make when we are faced with change right? Some of you heard the news that we were coming to the UN and a lot of you were wondering whether we were vaccinated. And yes, all seven of us, of course, we received COVID-19 vaccination,” J Hope added.

Since its debut in 2013, BTS has garnered global recognition for its self-produced music and social activism, which also includes publicly calling out anti-Asian racism.

BTS helped kick off the U.N.'s Sustainable Development Goal's Decade of Action  Monday.  

The U.N.'s Sustainable Development Goals are a blueprint for fighting poverty and hunger, confronting the climate crisis, achieving gender equality and much more, within the next ten years. At a time of great uncertainty, the SDGs show the way forward to a strong recovery from COVID-19 and a better future for all on a safe and healthy planet.

The South Korean supergroup focused in how their generation felt lost last year during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic when graduations and other important events were cancelled. But they sent a message of encouragement to all people around the world.

"I hope we just don't consider the future as grim darkness. We have people concerned for the world and searching for answers. There are still many pages left in the story about us and I feel like we shouldn't talk like the ending has already been written", said Junkook.

They challenged the thought of their generation being “the covid lost generation” saying that it was “a stretch”.

"In these pictures, you can see there are kids that are trying to learn new things...They are not lost, they are finding new courage and taking on new challenges", said Jin.

"Instead of the lost generation, a more appropriate name would be the ‘welcome’ generation because instead of fearing change, this generation says "welcome" and keeps pushing ahead", explained Suga.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, observations, tips and references, follow me on Twitter @dioknoed.

#EmmysSoWhite: Disappointing night for actors of color

 #EmmysSoWhite went viral after the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards concluded last night.

Just when you thought Hollywood was starting to "get it" re diversity and representation, along comes this year's Emmy Awards to remind us that our society still a long way to go before the the entertainment industry begins to look like America.

All the acting categories went to Whites despite a record number of 49 non-White creatives nominated in the acting and reality competition categories.

The only people of color that won Emmys were RePaul,  for Outstanding Competition and Michaela Coel for Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Seires or Movie. 

For a complete list of Emmy winners, click here.

After last year's Emmys, there were high hopes that this year would be more representative of the demographics of the nation. In 2020, four actors winning major categories – Zendaya (“Euphoria”), Regina King and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (“Watchmen”) and Uzo Aduba (“Mrs. America”), with this year plummeting to zero.

The Emmys tried to give the appearance of diversity: Cedric the Entertainer was the evening's host and several of the presenters were of color, but that didn't mask what was becoming more and more obvious as the evening wore on.

One of the few divergences from the colorless telecast was Debbie Allen receiving the Governor's Award, given to someone who has made great contributions to the industry. In her long illustrious career, Allen has been an actor, director, producer and mentor.

"It’s taken a lot of courage to be the only woman in the room most of the time. A lot of courage and creativity and fight and faith to believe that I could keep going and I have," Allen said during her acceptance speech.

The biggest winner for the night was the British series, The Crown, a fictional depiction of the life of the Great Britain's royal family.

The biggest loser of the73rd Primetime Emmys was the much needed diversity Hollywood likes to talk about ... a lot ... but words mean nothing if action doesn't back up those words.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For more commentary, tips and observations, follow me on Twitter @dioknoed.

Challenges don’t end for Afghan refugees after they enter the U.S.

By Jennifer Chodbury

REPRINTED FROM PRISM

On Sept. 1, Hamed Ahmadi tweeted a picture of a few slices of stale chicken breast, cantaloupe, and melon in a styrofoam container with the caption, “Not complaining but this is what I got last night for dinner and the next meal is 12 hours later. Refugee life might be safe but never easy & favorable.”

Twenty-eight-year-old Ahmadi had worked with The United Institute of Peace (USIP) on the ground in Afghanistan for several years. When the U.S. officially pulled out of Afghanistan on Aug. 31 after 20 years of occupation, Ahmadi’s work with the USIP became a life-threatening liability, marking him as a potential Taliban target. He and others like him would have to leave their homes and take refuge in a foreign country.

“USIP coordinated [the evacuation] well and 13 of us were able to get through the Taliban checkpoint and the airport gate safely,” Ahmadi described.

Currently, Ahmadi is one of more than 650 Afghan refugees waiting in Ft. Bliss in El Paso, Texas, for further visa and resettlement instructions. A Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) is available to Afghans who worked with the U.S. military or under the Chief of Mission authority as a translator or interpreter, but not all Afghans who were able to evacuate and get to the U.S. will qualify. Afghans who don’t qualify for an SIV, like Ahmadi, could apply for a Priority 2 designation for The United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). A “P2” designation applies to those “groups of special concern designated by the Department of State as having access to the program by virtue of their circumstances and apparent need for resettlement.”

On Aug. 23, the Biden administration announced it would use humanitarian parole authority to process evacuated Afghans as humanitarian parolees. Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, parole is granted for “urgent humanitarian reasons” or because the entrance of an individual is determined to be a “significant public benefit” to the U.S. The parole process significantly cuts through administrative red tape and can be processed in days or sometimes just a few hours compared to the visa process, which can take years. But with an estimated half a million Afghans fleeing their country by the end of the year, the question remains: How will resettlement agencies afford to provide shelter and provisions for so many refugees at the same time?
Resettlement efforts need more funding

Once refugees are thoroughly vetted by USRAP and admitted to the country, they are picked up at the airport by a representative of one of nine domestic resettlement agencies, all of which have cooperative agreements with the U.S. Department of State. The agencies arrange for their housing, which includes basic furnishings, appliances, clothing, and food.

“When refugees are resettled to the U.S., the agencies that receive and settle them never have enough funding to provide refugees with all the services and help they need to be successfully integrated into the U.S.,” said Devon Cone, senior advocate at Refugees International.

The State Department’s Reception and Placement (R&P) program provides refugees with a loan to travel to the U.S., which they are required to start repaying after they arrive. The R&P program supplies resettlement agencies a one-time sum per refugee to finance and provide for basic needs during their first 30-90 days in the U.S. Currently, the federal government provides $2,275 for each Afghan humanitarian parolee resettlement agencies serve, $1,225 in direct assistance to Afghans, and $1,050 for administrative costs of resettlement services. Donations usually make up the rest of the funding needed. After three months, the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) works through the states and other nongovernmental organizations to provide refugees with limited cash and medical assistance, as well as short-term language, employment, and social services, and longer term integration services.

“The reality of the current situation is that we need as much funding as we can get,” Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, president and CEO of the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. “We have been blessed to receive support from individuals, congregations, and certain corporations, but we still have a long way to go to fill in funding gaps.”

In July, President Joe Biden approved $500 million from the United States Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund (MRAA) to meet unexpected and urgent needs of people at risk as a result of the situation in Afghanistan. ​​The MRAA fund was established by the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962 in response to the influx of Cuban immigrants.

Nothing but the clothes on their backs

Refugees face steep barriers to economic integration on arriving in the U.S. Contrary to what many nativists argue, refugee advocates plead that the financial support they receive from the government often isn’t enough. Vignarajah pointed out that many refugees, both individuals and families, often arrive with literally nothing more than the clothes on their backs, but still face quickly mounting costs of rent, household expenses, and food while having access to very limited resources.

“Many simply do not have a nest egg to build from,” said Vignarajah. “It can also be difficult to find housing when you may not have a credit history or social security number. We’ve had instances where we have provided six months of rent in advance to reassure landlords.”

The 1980 Refugee Act allows for up to three years of funding to support the refugees once they arrive in the United States. But reception and placement funding only last between one and three months, which is not enough to make substantive strides in becoming economically independent. The National Bureau of Economic Research calculates that on average, the U.S. spends $15,148 in relocation costs and $92,217 in social benefits over an adult refugee’s first 20 years in the country.

“For comparison, what we spend on nuclear weapons is about the same as what we would spend on refugees,” explains Lindsay Koshgarian, program director at The National Priorities Project, a nonprofit, nonpartisan federal budget research organization that tracks federal military spending. “Less than $100 a year for the average taxpayer to resettle a million refugees. It’s important to understand it’s not $100 or nothing. Most people would probably be paying less than that.”National Priorities Project

Through her research, Koshgarian found that the Pentagon’s 2020 budget for the war in Afghanistan could pay for the resettlement of a significant chunk of the 3.5 million Afghans who were internally displaced as of July. In 2020, the Pentagon budget for operations in Afghanistan was $18.6 billion, a level of investment that could pay up-front for the costs of relocating 1.2 million refugees.

“That’s more than the 250,000 Afghans displaced since the end of May (and growing), and it’s a significant chunk,” Kosharian pointed out in her blog.
Access to public benefits is essential

In addition to funding, advocates are fighting for newly arrived Afghan refugees to receive the same public benefits received by other refugees. While processing Afghan refugees as humanitarian parolees may be faster, it doesn’t automatically confer immigration status or public benefits—in general, parolees must apply for a more permanent immigration status to remain in the U.S. for longer than a short period. Under the Operation Allies Refugee parole program, Afghans are granted protection from deportation for two years and are eligible to apply for work authorization, but parolees are generally not eligible for Medicaid, Refugee Cash Assistance, food stamps and other government assistance.

“Each of our Afghan ‘humanitarian parolees’ are currently ineligible for public benefits and services, which could help support them past the initial 90-day window,” Vignarajah explained.

Vignarajah is advocating for the passage of the WELCOMED Act proposed by Reps. Seth Moulton (D-MA) and Don Bacon (R-NE). The bill would ensure all Afghans arriving under “humanitarian parole” have access to the same level of benefits other refugees have traditionally received.

“The current ‘parolee’ system, while a necessary stopgap, is nonetheless insufficient to address the continuing needs of individuals and families who have been forced to leave everything behind,” Vignarajah said in a statement in support of the bill.

Refugee advocates are also working towards a more robust resettlement structure that could immediately benefit Afghan parolees.

“We know we can’t be in this for the short-haul. Starting over from scratch isn’t something that happens in a matter of weeks. If the U.S. is committed to positioning these refugees to thrive in their new communities, we have to embrace longer-term solutions as well,” Vignarajah said.

Research shows that investing in refugees pays off for the American economy. The National Bureau of Economic Research found that refugees who entered the US as adults from 2010-14 paid, on average, $21,000 more in taxes than they got in any kind of welfare payments. The average adult refugee pays $128,689 in taxes—$21,324 more than benefits they may have received.

Ramya Vijaya, professor of economics at Stockton University, used U.S. census data to compare refugees resettled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with the local population. Her research showed that the median household income estimates for refugees resettled in the area for seven or more years was $46,126, higher than the median income estimate of $38,253 for the local population.

But economists and refugee advocates alike stress the same point—the U.S. has a moral obligation to help Afghans. Historically, if political will exists, refugee resettlement is highly successful in the U.S. In the 70s, the U.S. took measures to mitigate the consequences of its failures in Vietnam, passing immediate legislation to deal with urgent asylum cases, subsequently admitting more than 1.3 million refugees from Southeast Asia. The same, advocates argue, can be done for Afghan refugees.

“At the end of the day, it’s a human rights issue, not an economics issue,” Ramya said.

About the author:

Jennifer Chowdhury is a journalist and writer dedicated to human rights reporting with a special focus on women of color around the world whose voices are stifled by patriarchy, systematic racism, and... More by Jennifer Chowdhury