Follow the Ukraine war from an AAPI perspective

National Public Radio has sent Tim Mak to Ukraine as part of its news team.

OPINION

It is hard to imagine anyone is feeling detached from the news coming out of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but I imagine there are quite a few who still are wondering what it all means to the all-important "me."

On a macro-scale, the war being waged there could determine the future of democracy throughout the world. Free nations -- officially and unofficially -- sending supplies and weapons to the Ukrainians, uniting against Russia's aggression.

On the more human level individual stories are heartbreaking and inspirational at the same time: the anguish of family separations, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian refugees fleeing the fighting leaving behind homes and the invalid, a text message from a Russian soldier bewildered at being called a fascist, to his mother moments before he was killed, old men and teenagers after seeing to the safety of their family,  are heading back into the fray, being given assault rifles to fight off the invaders .

Following the war from afar is made more difficult because the disinformation campaign from both sides, clutter up the Internet. Seasoned journalists, forced to meet deadlines, are reporting the rumors with caveats to their veracity, making it difficult to find reliable news sources.

But if you want that AAPI angle, (because we are everywhere and we are as professional as anybody else), I've been following the Twitter account of journalist Tim Mak is a good start -- @timkmak. He's on the ground traveling throughout Ukraine, reporting online and filing stories.

(EDITOR'S NOTE: If you are aware of any other AAPI journos who are in Ukraine, let the Twitterverse know about them. #RepresentationMatters.)

Mak is an Investigative Correspondent for National Public Radio, where he has worked since 2018. In that role, he focuses on accountability journalism and enterprise reporting. He appears regularly on NPR's Morning Edition and All Things Considered.

For 13 years, he has covered politics, national security, Congress and nonprofit organizations. During that time, he has worked for a variety of publications, including The Daily Beast and Politico. His foreign reporting has taken him to South Sudan, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Japan and Hong Kong.

Mak's feature writing has appeared in Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, and the L.A. Times, among other prominent outlets.

His first book, published November 2021, is titled 'Misfire: Inside the Downfall of the NRA.'

Mak holds a B.A. from McGill University, where he graduated as valedictorian. He is also a former EMT who worked on the front lines of the COVID pandemic. Let's hope he doesn't have to put his EMT skills to use.

EDITOR'S NORE: For more commentary, news and views from an AAPI perspective, follow me on Twitter @DioknoEd.

Journalists called to task for demonstrating bias as they compare Ukraine with other war-torn nations

SCREEN CAPTURE

CBS reporter Charlie D'Agata apologizes for his biased statements.

White journalists covering the Russian invasion of Ukraine need to keep their privilege and biases at home.

The Arab and Middle Eastern Journalists Association (AMEJA) calls on all news organizations to be mindful of implicit and explicit bias in their coverage of war in Ukraine.

Since Russia invaded neighboring Ukraine, AMEJA has tracked several examples of racist news coverage that ascribes more importance to some victims of war over others.

On Feb. 26, during a CBS News segment, correspondent Charlie D’Agata commented:

“But this isn't a place, with all due respect, like Iraq or Afghanistan, that has seen conflict raging for decades. This is a relatively civilized, relatively European — I have to choose those words carefully, too — city, one where you wouldn’t expect that, or hope that it’s going to happen.”

Since he made his remarks and people around the world criticized the bias in his choice of words, D'Agata, who has been a CBS reporter for two decades, issued an apology.

“I spoke in a way I regret and for that I’m sorry,” he said. The reporter went on to say that what he was trying to communicate was that Ukraine had not experienced “this scale of war” in recent years, unlike other countries.

He added: “You should never compare conflicts anyway, each one is unique. I used a poor choice of words and I apologise for any offense I may have caused.”

D'Agata's comments sparked an uproar on social media, with people pointing out that Iraq was once the "cradle of civilization" because ancient Mesopotamia is where the world's first cities emerged. Additionally, Ukraine has seen war and conflict almost as much as any other nation, with the Russian annexation of Crimea taking place less than a decade ago.

D'Agata isn't the only reporter to demonstrate his implicit bias. The Arab and Middle Eastern Journalists Association (AMEJA) issued a call to all news organizations to be mindful of implicit and explicit bias in their coverage of war in Ukraine.

In only the last few days, the organization have tracked examples of racist news coverage besides D'Agata, that ascribes more importance to some victims of war over others.

Daniel Hannan, of The Telegraph wrote: “They seem so like us. That is what makes it so shocking. War is no longer something visited upon impoverished and remote populations. It can happen to anyone.”

Al Jazeera English anchor Peter Dobbie said:

“What's compelling is, just looking at them, the way they are dressed, these are prosperous…I’m loath to use the expression… middle class people. These are not obviously refugees looking to get away from areas in the Middle East that are still in a big state of war. These are not people trying to get away from areas in North Africa. They look like any European family that you would live next door to.”

“We’re not talking here about Syrians fleeing the bombing of the Syrian regime backed by Putin, we’re talking about Europeans leaving in cars that look like ours to save their lives.” Philippe Corbé, BFM TV, reported.

AMEJA condemns and categorically rejects orientalist and racist implications that any population or country is “uncivilized” or bears economic factors that make it worthy of conflict, wrote the journalists' organization.

This type of commentary reflects the pervasive mentality in Western journalism of normalizing tragedy in parts of the world such as the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, and Latin America. It dehumanizes and renders their experience with war as somehow normal and expected, said the AMEJA statement.

Newsrooms must not make comparisons that weigh the significance or imply justification of one conflict over another — civilian casualties and displacement in other countries are equally as abhorrent as they are in Ukraine.

Not only can such coverage "decontextualize" conflicts, says AMEJA, but it contributes to the erasure of populations around the world who continue to experience violent occupation and aggression.

In order to prevent such explicit bias, AMEJA calls on newsrooms to train correspondents on the cultural and political nuances of regions they’re reporting on, and not rely on American- or Euro-centric biases. Inaccurate and disingenuous comparisons only serve to inflame stereotypes and mislead viewers, and they ultimately perpetuate prejudicial responses to political and humanitarian crises.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AAPI perspective, follow me on Twitter @DioknoEd.

South Korean drama 'Squid Games' makes history at SAG Awards

SAG

Jung Ho-yeon, left, and Lee Jung-Jae were recognized by the Screen Actors Guild.

Netflix's Squid Games series surprised a lot of viewers with three statuettes from the Screen Actors Guild.

The series from South Korea won three awards from SAG Sunday. Lee Jung-Jae was awarded fro Outstanding Performance by Male Actor in a Drama Series, Jung Ho-yeon also won the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series and the series won a trophy for Outstanding Action Performance as a Stunt Ensemble.

The Squid Games wins made history. It was the first time actors in a non-English language series took home SAG awards. In fact, the series was the first non-English language series nominated by the guild.

“Oh my, thank you so much," said Lee as he accepted his statuette. "This is [something] truly huge that has happened to me,” said Lee during his acceptance speech.

“I did write something but I don’t think I’ll get to reading it,” added the veteran actor. “Thank you to the global audience for all of your love for Squid Game, and thank you, Squid Game team.”

When Jung Ho-yeon received her award she cried as she said, (through an interpreter) "I have sat many a times watching you on the big screen, dreaming of one day becoming an actor."

"I just want to say, thank you so much," she said in English.

Jung was up against better known talent including Australian Sarah Snook for Succession, as well as Elisabeth Moss for The Handmaid’s Tale, and Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon who were both nominated for The Morning Show.

SAG AWARDS: For complete list of winner, click here.

The drama revolves around a televised reality competition where debt-ridden contestants compete in children's games for the chance to win a mind-blowing amount of money. Loser are killed.

The series was wildly popular when it hit Netflix, where it pulled massive streaming numbers, become the streaming network's most watched show. The series recently was rewarded with a second season.

Even though it stars an all-Asian cast, the popularity of the series is proving to Hollywood decision makers that you don't need a White lead in order to attract a huge audience in the U.S. and around the world.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AAPI perspective, follow me on Twitter @DioknoEd.

New York state awards $10 million to AAPI community to combat virus and hate

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announces $10 million to the Asian American community.

The State of New York is awarding $10 million to Asian American organizations that were disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and surge of anti-Asian hate. It is the largest investment in the Asian American community in New York history.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on so many vulnerable and marginalized communities across New York State,” said Gov. Kathy Hochul Feb. 20. “The Asian American community was especially hard hit, not only by the virus, but by an increase in hate and violent crimes."

"With this $10 million in funding, we are sending a strong message that hate has no home here, and we will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with our sisters and brothers in the Asian American community. My administration is laser focused on continuing to help communities that have for too long been forgotten, not only as we recover from this pandemic, but for years to come,” said Hochul.

The funding, allocated in the FY 2021-22 budget, will be distributed to community-based groups through the Asian American Federation (AAF), the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF), and the Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC), as well as other organizations. 

There will be a focus on community programs and providers that bring services and supportive programs directly to New York's Asian American communities. 

 "With the tragedies that our community has experienced since the start of the pandemic, and painfully so over the last few months, many Asian Americans are fearful for their own lives when stepping out of their homes<" said Executive Director of the Asian American Federation Jo-Ann Yoo.

"Governor Hochul’s leadership shows that our voice is not going unheard as we ask for support to overcome this trauma.”

The award was announced as New York's Asian American community was still reeling from the brutal fatal stabbing of Christina Lee and Michelle Go's death from being pushed into the path of an oncoming subway train.

Hate attacks against New York City's AAPI have risen 361% last year, according to NYPD data. 

The Asian American Federation (AAF) will receive a total of $6.8 million in funding intended to reinforce the community support offered by a network of organizations that have witnessed a sudden increase in demand for services due to the pandemic. AAF will direct the funding to 59 community organizations listed below that provide direct services, case management, and mental health support that serve Asian New Yorkers throughout New York State. 

In addition, the New York State Assembly is directing $1.4 million in Legislative aid to another 40 organizations that serve a wide array of communities in New York. 

“The AAPI community has been the target of relentless hatred, bigotry, and violence for the last two years, and we desperately need resources that would address the root cause of these attacks," said New York state Sen. John Liu.

"While we are grateful to see the implementation of last year’s $10 million budget allocation, the siege against Asian Americans continues unabated, as does our need for additional resources," said Liu. "We must address a range of needs such as community safety, services for youth and senior citizens, mental health support for Asian New Yorkers, and the implementation of AAPI curriculum in public schools.”

The following organizations will receive aid from AAF:

• A Place for Kids
• Academy of Medical & Public Health Services
• Adhikaar for Human Rights and Social Justice
• Arab American Association of New York
• Arab-American Family Support Center
• Asian American Arts Alliance
• Asian American Community Empowerment
• Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
• Asian Americans for Equality
• Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs
• Bridges From Borders
• Brooklyn Chinese-American Association
• Brooklyn Community Improvement Association
• Burmese Community Services
• Caribbean Equality Project
• Center for the Integration and Advancement of New Americans
• Chhaya Community Development Corporation
• Chinatown Partnership LDC
• Chinatown YMCA
• Chinese American IPA
• Chinese American Social Services Center
• Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association
• Chinese Progressive Association
• Chinese-American Family Alliance for Mental Health
• CMP
• Council of Peoples Organization
• Damayan Migrant Workers Association
• Desis Rising Up and Moving
• Garden of Hope
• Hamilton-Madison House
• Homecrest Community Services
• Immigrant Social Services
• India Home
• Jahajee Sisters
• Japanese American Association of New York
• Japanese American Social Services, Inc.
• Karen Society of Buffalo
• Korean American Family Service Center
• Korean Community Services of Metropolitan New York
• Laal NYC
• Mekong Center NYC
• Midtown Utica Community Center
• Migrant Center
• MinKwon Center
• Refugees Helping Refugees
• Sakhi for South Asian Women
• Sapna NYC
• Sikh Coalition
• South Asian Council for Social Service
• South Asian Youth Action
• Turning Point for Women and Families
• United Chinese Association of Brooklyn
• Womankind (formerly NYAWC)
• Women for Afghan Women
• YWCA of Queens

The Coalition for Asian American Children and Families will receive over $1 million, and they will be partnering with a host of organizations -- including Apex for Youth, the Arab American Family Support Center, Asian Americans for Equality, Chinese-American Planning Council, South Asian Youth Action! Korean American Family Service Center, MinKwon Center for Community Action, and Mekong NYC -- to enhance youth and young adult services targeting Asian American communities by focusing on social emotional development and mental well-being.

Anita Gundanna and Vanessa Leung, Co-Executive Directors of the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families said: "Through this crisis intervention funding, CACF with eight of our organizations have collaboratively developed a curriculum to support young people’s healthy sense of self, community connection and belonging, and self-agency.”

The Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC), a social services organization that creates positive social change, will receive almost $700,000 to help empower Asian American, immigrant, and low-income communities in New York City by ensuring they have equitable access to the resources and opportunities needed to thrive. 

The funding will support CPC’s culturally competent, linguistically appropriate community services and programs to improve the social determinants of health for children, youth, students, families, and seniors. Through this initiative, they will expand public access to resources, expand workforce service, enhance wrap-around case management and expand early childhood development.

 “Our Asian American communities are facing a crisis of anti-Asian hatred and violence. We are frightened. We are angry," said Assemblymember Yuh-Line Niou. 

"This is a great start, but we can and must do better. I urge my colleagues in Albany to support additional resources our community so desperately needs."

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AAPI perspective, follow me on Twitter @DioknoEd.

AAPI leaders voice support for Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson gave remarks after being introduced by President Joe Biden and
 Vice President Kamala Harris.

President Biden announced Friday that he is nominating Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court to replace retiring Justice Stephen Breyer and received the support of AAPI community advocates.

Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chair Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27) issued the following statement:

“I am thrilled at President Biden’s choice of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to be the first Black woman justice on the Supreme Court! Over her long career, Judge Jackson has demonstrated a true commitment to public service and justice, qualities which have already led to her being confirmed by a strong bipartisan vote to serve on the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit. As a lawyer on the US Sentencing Committee, a public defender, and an experienced Federal judge, Judge Jackson brings an important perspective to the court that will be essential for protecting the rights of all Americans.

The National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) and member organizations issued the following statements after President Biden announced Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as his pick for the Supreme Court of the United States.

The National Council of Asian Pacific Americans congratulates Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson for making history as the first Black woman nominated to be a Supreme Court Justice, and we applaud President Biden for this selection.

“Our coalition has long held that the work of racial and gender justice cannot be viewed as a zero sum game for communities of color. When the highest court in the land moves one step closer to reflecting the diversity of the country, that is a win for all of us,” said Gregg Orton, National Director of NCAPA. “With the Supreme Court taking up so many cases of importance to our community members, ensuring another diverse perspective is now more critical than ever.”

Priya Purandare, Executive Director, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) commented:

“Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is exceptionally well qualified to serve on our nation’s highest court. Women and persons of color—including AAPIs—continue to be underrepresented on our courts. If confirmed, we will have four women justices and the most diverse Supreme Court in history. We applaud President Biden’s commitment to creating a judiciary that reflects our nation and we urge the Senate quickly to confirm Judge Jackson.”

Madalene Mielke, President & CEO of Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) commented:

“APAICS applauds President Biden for keeping his promise to diversify the leadership in our country by nominating the first Black woman to the Supreme Court. We understand better than anyone that, oftentimes, qualified women of color are overlooked for leadership positions. It is critical that we continue to create a pipeline to elevate individuals that can represent our country and the diversity within it.”

Juliet K. Choi, President and Chief Executive Officer of Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) stated:

“We are encouraged that President Biden has followed through with his campaign promise to nominate a Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court. Diversity and representation at the apex of our nation’s institutions is critical to making underserved communities like ours heard, and we celebrate the work that the Administration has, and will continue to progress equity and justice.”

Hope Atuel, CEO of Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) said:

“The Asian Real Estate Association of America congratulates Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson for attaining the rare distinction of a Supreme Court Justice nomination, and for being the first Black woman in history to receive this honor.

“Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s extensive resume and experience in the field make her a highly qualified candidate, and we extend our support and trust to her to uphold the founding doctrine of our country. As proud Americans, the AAPI community benefits from any justice that follows the American ideals of liberty and justice for all.”

Thu Nguyen, Executive Director of OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates (OCA) added:

“The Supreme Court is not truly reflective of the country it serves, which is why this nomination is so incredibly important. The confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson will shatter a historic barrier and hopefully set a precedent for the proper inclusion of people of color in government.”

Anjuli Amin, Ph.D., President of the Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA) said:

“The Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA) congratulates Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on their historic nomination to the Supreme Court. This nomination is a critical step towards uplifting all communities of color. It comes at a crucial point in our fight for justice and in ensuring the Supreme Court becomes a more accurate reflection of the diversity present within our country.”

David Inoue, Executive Director of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) commented:

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is an excellent nominee for the Supreme Court, with unimpeachable credentials. Rather than ask why Judge Jackson has been nominated above other candidates, we should be asking why they have been passed over previously for consideration. When President Biden was campaigning, he promised to nominate a Black woman so that the court would look more like America. Swift confirmation of Judge Jackson will move us in that direction.

Kiran Kaur Gill, Executive Director of the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) added:

“SALDEF congratulates Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson on her nomination. Today’s nomination is a historic sign of progress for our country. The elevation of a Black woman to the Supreme Court is a signal that America’s highest institutions can be inclusive of persons of all backgrounds and all experiences. Judge Jackson is an experienced legal advocate and we urge the Senate to confirm her to the bench.”

Mona R. Shah, Executive Director of the South Asian Bar Association of North America (SABA) stated:

“The South Asian Bar Association of North America (SABA) congratulates Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson for her well deserved nomination to be a Supreme Court Justice. SABA also praises the Biden Administration for this historic and needed choice.”

Christine Chen, Executive Director of Asian Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) commented:

“The nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is absolutely historic. Judge Jackson is one of the most qualified candidates in the country and we welcome her nomination as a huge step for representation and equality for all communities including Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. The Supreme Court today faces fundamental questions regarding our democracy and our right to vote, therefore it is of the utmost importance we have Supreme Court justices who understand the unique circumstances of our diverse nation. We see promise in Judge Jackson’s ability to do this.”

Jeffrey B. Caballero, Executive Director of the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO) said:

“AAPCHO commends President Biden for nominating Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court of the United States. Diversity and representation are critical to understanding and addressing institutional, systemic, and structural barriers that perpetuate our nation’s inequities. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s expertise and lived experience will provide the court with an important perspective as it considers the most critical legal questions facing the nation. AAPCHO and our member community health centers urge the Senate to quickly confirm Judge Jackson.”

John C. Yang, President and Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice (Advancing Justice – AAJC) stated:

“The Supreme Court needs to serve and reflect the diversity of America, and we celebrate the nomination of a woman of color, and the first black woman, to the highest court in the land. We need justices on the Supreme Court who have a demonstrated commitment to equal justice under the law, understand the lived experiences of communities of color, and who will ensure the civil rights of all communities are protected.”

Kenrick I. Ross, Executive Director of the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA) said:

“NQAPIA applauds the historic nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. Along with being eminently qualified for this role, the nominee will bring a unique perspective to issues heard before the court in a moment when the basic rights and dignity of LGBTQ+ Asians and Pacific Islanders and other marginalized groups are being decided. We applaud President Biden in taking this historic step, and for moving at such a rapid pace to have all levels of the judicial system better reflect the true diversity of America”

Marielle A. Reataza, Executive Director of the National Asian Pacific American Families Against Substance Abuse (NAPAFASA) added:

“We wholly support President Biden’s nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as the next Supreme Court Justice. The next Justice is filling a seat during a time in which Americans are aching for representation and seeking guidance on how to move forward. We believe that she is well-qualified and poised for this role. Congratulations, Judge Jackson!”

Sung Yeon Choimorrow, Executive Director of the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF) stated:

“NAPAWF is thrilled to celebrate Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination to the highest court in the land. She is an exceptional jurist with a breadth of experience and a demonstrated pattern of excellence over the course of her accomplished career. Judge Jackson’s historical nomination is a meaningful step to ensuring that the highest court in the land is closer to reflecting the diversity of our country and NAPAWF.”

Tavae Samuelu, Executive Director of Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC) stated:

“EPIC celebrates the nomination of Judge Jackson. It’s incumbent upon us to ensure that though she is the first, she cannot be the last. This is a step toward correcting the longstanding exclusion of Black women from seats of power.”

Alvina Yeh, Executive Director of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), AFL-CIO commented:

“We congratulate Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson for her nomination to the United States Supreme Court. As the high court’s first former public defender, Jackson brings with her invaluable experiences and perspectives from issues impacting the most vulnerable members of our community. While serving on the U.S. Sentencing Commission, she successfully helped to reduce the recommended penalties for nonviolent drug offenders, demonstrating her commitment to reform the criminal legal system. Jackson’s confirmation would strengthen the progressive and women’s voice on the court, which is critical when attacks to abortion access, worker protections, and civil rights are being contested across the nation. We call for a swift confirmation for Judge Jackson!”

Becky Belcore, Co-Director of the National Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NAKASEC) added:

“Recognizing the diversity of communities and experiences in the United States is a vital step towards creating more equitable systems and reducing harm. It is imperative and urgent that our judicial systems, including and especially the highest court, reflect, recognize, and center the communities their decisions will most impact.”

Seema Agnani, Executive Director of the National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (National CAPACD) said:

“National CAPACD congratulates Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson for her well-deserved Supreme Court nomination. We are proud to witness the first Black woman nominated to the highest legal institution in our country, and we are encouraged by the Biden Administration’s commitment to appoint leaders who reflect the diversity—and determine the futures—of the communities they serve. We urge the Administration to swiftly confirm Judge Jackson as the Supreme Court faces critical decisions that will determine whether we, as a country, move toward equity and racial justice.”

Rod Lew, Executive Director of Asian Pacific Partners for Empowerment, Advocacy, and Leadership (APPEAL) commented:

“President Biden’s SCOTUS nomination marks a historic day. This is a step forward for racial and gender justice. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s experience and knowledge will have positive impacts for communities of color for generations to come.”

Additionally, A.B. Cruz III, acting president of NAPABA released the following statement:

“NAPABA congratulates Judge Jackson on her historic nomination to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. She is a brilliant legal scholar and is well qualified to serve on the Court. President Biden’s promise to appoint the first Black woman to the Supreme Court underscores his commitment to diversifying our judiciary. Notably, women and persons of color, including Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, continue to be underrepresented on our courts.""

Hmong American ex-police officer convicted in allowing George Floyd to die

Former officer Tou Thao was found guilty in the death of George Floyd.

The Hmong American ex-police officer involved with the murder of George Floyd was found guilty Thursday.

Former Minneapolis police officer Tou Thao ignored bystanders who pleaded for someone to help George Floyd as Derek Chauvin knelt on him, according to prosecutors.

Thao, along with former officers J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane were convicted of violating George Floyd’s civil rights after they failed to get medical attention for him as Chauvin pressed his knee on Floyd's neck, ending his life.

"Today's guilty verdicts should serve as the guiding example of why police departments across America should expand and prioritize instruction on an officer's duty to intervene and recognize when a fellow officer is using excessive force," wrote the George Floyd legal team in a statement Thursday. 

"With that being said, the existing policies were not on trial; rather, on trial were the human beings present when the breath was taken from an unarmed man right in front of them," continued the statement.

In closing arguments on Tuesday — part of a month-long federal trial — prosecutors concluded that Thao, and the other two former police officers, “chose to do nothing” in the during Floyd’s plight, which eventually led to his death on May 25, 2020.

All three former officers were charged with “depriving Floyd of his right to medical care,” according to the Associated Press. Additionally, Thao and Kueng were charged with “failing to intervene to stop Derek Chauvin,” who was convicted of Floyd’s murder last April.

While Thao did not physically restrain the 46-year old Floyd, he kept bystanders away and ignonred their pleas to allow Floyd to get off the ground. Thao watched as Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck, prosecutors said. Chauvin, who was a more senior officer, was sentenced to 22 years and six months last June.

Floyd's nine-minute ordeal leading to his death was captured by a bystander's video spurring protests around the world calling for justice and police reform .

Sentencing on the civil rights convictions for Kueng, Lane and Thao will take place at a later date.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AAPI perspective, follow me on Twitter @DioknoEd.

Man who attacked Asian American family at Sam’s Club attacker pleads guilty

The Cung family suffered severe wounds in the 2020 hate-fueled attac.

The man who attacked an Burmese American father and his two children at a Sam's Club in Texas pleaded guilty to the hate crime.

Jose Gomez III, 21, of Midland, Texas, pleaded guilty to three hate-crime counts from his attack on Bawi Cung and his son at a Midland Sam’s Club, according to a Justice Department statement. He could be sentenced to life imprisonment and fined $250,000. 

In court documents, Gomez admitted following the family into the store, taking a knife from a store display and slashing Cung, his 6-year-old son and a store employee who tried to intervene. Gomez said he blamed China for the COVID-19 pandemic and mistook the Burmese family for Chinese. He said he perceived the family to be a “threat” as they were “from the country who started spreading that disease around.”

The attack on the Cung family was one of the first indications of the severity of the impact of Donald Trump's reckless use of the racist terms, "Wuhan Virus," "China Virus," and "Kung Flu" in referring to the coronavirus that began spreading throughout the world in 2020. 

Gomez pleaded guilty to three counts of committing a hate crime for attacking the Burmese American family he believed was responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic because he believed them to be Chinese.

Gomez faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and for each offense, a $250,000 fine.

REPORT HATE CRIMES: The FBI encourages people who have been victims or witnessed a hate crime to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or share the report to Stop AAPI Hate.

According to documents filed in connection with the plea, Gomez entered a Sam’s Club Warehouse in Midland, Texas, behind the Cung family on March 14, 2020. Gomez had never seen the family before and believed they were Chinese. Gomez followed the Asian family in the store for several minutes because he perceived them to be a “threat” as they were “from the country who started spreading that disease around.” 

Gomez then momentarily left the family to find a serrated steak knife in the store. Gomez bent the blade so that when he held the handle in his fist, the blade rested against his knuckles, sharp-edge facing outward. Gomez returned to the Asian family and punched Cung in the face, cutting him. Gomez then left the scene, only to retrieve an eight-inch knife from the store. 

When Gomez returned, he abruptly went after Cung’s two young children – then aged 6 and 2 years old – who were seated in the front basket of the shopping cart.  Gomez slashed open the face of the then-6-year-old child. The blade entered millimeters from the son's right eye, split his right ear, and wrapped around to the back of his skull. 

Gomez also stabbed a Sam’s Club employee, Zach Owen, who intervened to stop Gomez from further assaulting the Cung family. While being held down on the ground, Gomez yelled at the Cung family, “Get out of America!”

Gomez admitted after his attack that he believed the Cung family was Chinese and he blamed them for the COVID-19 pandemic. Gomez further admitted he had attempted to kill the 6-year-old child. Gomez also admitted he had attacked the store employee because Gomez wanted to kill the 6-year-old child and the store employee was preventing him from doing so.

In an interview last year, Cung told The Associated Press he could not walk through any store after the attack without constantly looking in all directions. His son, who now can’t move one eyebrow, is afraid to sleep alone, he said.

Cung said he was not sure what would have happened had Owen not intervened. “Maybe I might kill him. Maybe he might kill all of my family. I don’t know,” Cung said. “God protected my family. God sent Zach to protect my family right there at the right time.”

“An Asian family was shopping when the defendant brutally attacked them because of their race and because he blamed them for the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

Since the pandemic began two years ago, there have been over 10,000 hate incidents, according to Stop AAPI Hate, a nonprofit collecting the reports. Anti-Asian attacks  

Last year President Biden signed the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act into law, which seeks to make reporting hate crimes more accessible and expedite the Justice Department's review of hate crimes, with particular emphasis on hate crimes against Asian Americans.

“Racially motivated hate crimes targeting the Asian American community are on the rise and have no place in our society today. All people deserve to feel safe and secure living in their communities, regardless of race, color or national origin,” Clarke  said.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AAPI perspective, follow me on Twitter @DioknoEd.

DOJ: 'We are no longer going to have a China Initiative'

Assistant Attorney General Matt Olsen

Under growing pressure from AAPI civil rights organizations, political leaders and academic circles, the Department of Justice is scrapping the controversial Trump-era China Initiative.

“We are no longer going to have a China Initiative,” Assistant Attorney General Matt Olsen. "‘I have concluded that this initiative is not the right approach’ and that it is ‘not wise to focus on one country."

The DOJ is dropping the name but will continue to investigate China's aggressive espionage strategy as part of an overall campaign addressing the global security challenges facing the US without singling out China and promoting anti-Asian xenophobia and violence. 

“The China Initiative is a failed program that has fueled racial animosity, xenophobia, and suspicion towards the AAPI community and Chinese Americans in particular,” said Zhengyu Huang, President of the Committee of 100, a group of Chinese and Chinese American academics, researchers and business people. 

“The China Initiative has ruined the lives of innocent Americans and hurts America’s ability to lead in scientific research and innovation. Even when cases are dismissed, many Chinese and Asian Americans have their lives, careers, and health greatly affected," the Committee stated in an earlier press release.

Prior to the DOJ announcement Wednesday, Olsen met with members of the Congressional Asian Pacific America Caucus (CAPAC) to hear concerns about the China Initiative, its use of racial profiling, and the harm it has caused the Asian American community. 

Acknowledging that the China Initiative’s deep flaws, Olsen said the DOJ will no longer use this program’s framework in their investigations of economic espionage. 

"By starting with a focus on researchers and scientists who are ethnically Chinese, the China Initiative not only engaged in blatant racial profiling, but also reinforced harmful stereotypes that Asian Americans are ‘perpetual others’ who cannot be trusted, ruining numerous lives in the process," said Rep. Judy Chu, D-CA, chair of the CAPAC.

With only one conviction since its creation in 2018, the China Initiative will be remembered not for any success at curbing espionage, but rather for ruining careers and discouraging many Asian Americans from pursuing careers in STEM fields out of fear that they too will be targeted, said Chu. 

Many of the cases involved errors in the complicated paperwork and have typically involved allegations that the targets lied or omitted information on disclosure forms accompanying grant applications.

Last month, the DOJ dropped all charges against an MIT professor, Gang Chen, because paperwork was misinterpreted by investigators.

A CBS investigation found that the DOJ has dropped charges against eight other Chinese or Chinese Americans.

"By focusing solely on China despite ongoing threats from countries like Iran and Russia, this initiative painted China as a uniquely existential threat to the US, something we know has led to more violence," said Chu. "There are serious national security concerns facing our country from all across the world, but our response must be based on evidence, not racism and fear."

Rep. Judy Chu:"There are serious national security concerns facing our country from all across
 the world, but our response must be based on evidence, not racism and fear."

In his announcement, Olsen stressed that espionage and the theft of technology and intellectual property by the Peoples Republic of China is real and the FBI will continue to investigate those threats.

"I want to emphasize my belief that the department’s actions have been driven by genuine national security concerns," said Olsen. "But by grouping cases under the China Initiative rubric, we helped give rise to a harmful perception that the department applies a lower standard to investigate and prosecute criminal conduct related to that country or that we in some way view people with racial, ethnic or familial ties to China differently.

"This erosion of trust in the department can impair our national security by alienating us from the people we serve, including the very communities the PRC government targets as victims," he added.

Olsen's announcement was largely cautiously applauded by AAPI advocates, who wanted more than a "cosmetic" rebranding.

"While we are cautiously optimistic about the Justice Department's announcement, it cannot be a rebranding exercise and more needs to be done to combat racial profiling, especially when we continue to see academics step forward with stories about being targeted," OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates’ national president Linda Ng said in a statement.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AAPI perspective, follow me on Twitter @DioknoEd.

Terrorists plead guilty to plot to disrupt US power grid in hopes to launch race war

Domestic terrorists operating under the flag of white supremacy are not patriots. They are not the self-anointed heroes that they think they are.

As evidence of their misguided political and cultural beliefs, three men pleaded guilty today (Feb. 23) to crimes related to a scheme to attack power grids in the United States in furtherance of white supremacist ideology with hopes to sparking a race war.

According to court documents, Christopher Brenner Cook, 20, of Columbus, Ohio; Jonathan Allen Frost, 24, of West Lafayette, Indiana, and of Katy, Texas; and Jackson Matthew Sawall, 22, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to provide material support to terrorists. The charge and plea agreements indicate that the defendants knew and intended that the material support they conspired to provide would be used to prepare for and carry out the federal offense of destroying energy facilities.

“These three defendants admitted to engaging in a disturbing plot, in furtherance of white supremacist ideology, to attack energy facilities in order to damage the economy and stoke division in our country,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security Matthew G. Olsen. 

“The defendants in this case wanted to attack regional power substations and expected the damage would lead to economic distress and civil unrest,” said Assistant Director Timothy Langan of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division. “These individuals wanted to carry out such a plot because of their adherence to racially or ethnically motivated violent extremist views. When individuals move from espousing particular views to planning or committing acts of violence the FBI will investigate and take action to stop their plans.”

RELATED: White supremacists continue to gain support

According to court documents, in fall 2019, Frost and Cook met in an online chat group. Frost shared the idea of attacking a power grid with Cook, and within weeks, the two began efforts to recruit others to join in their plan.

As part of the recruitment process, Cook circulated a book list of readings that promoted the ideology of white supremacy and Neo-Nazism. By late 2019, Sawall – a friend of Cook’s – joined the conspiracy and assisted Cook with online recruitment efforts, operational security and organization.

As part of the conspiracy, each defendant was assigned a substation in a different region of the United States. The plan was to attack the substations, or power grids, with powerful rifles. The defendants believed their plan would cost the government millions of dollars and cause unrest for Americans in the region. They had conversations about how the possibility of the power being out for many months could cause war, even a race war, and induce the next Great Depression.

In February 2020, the co-conspirators met in Columbus, Ohio, to further discuss their plot. Frost provided Cook with an AR-47 and the two took the rifle to a shooting range to train.

Frost also provided Cook and Sawall with suicide necklaces during the Columbus meeting. The necklaces were filled with fentanyl and were to be ingested if and when the defendants were caught by law enforcement. Both Cook and Sawall expressed their commitment to dying in furtherance of their mission.

Upon arriving in Columbus, Sawall and Cook purchased spray paint and painted a swastika flag under a bridge at a park with the caption, “Join the Front.” The defendants had additional propaganda plans for their time in Ohio, but they were derailed during a traffic stop, during which Sawall swallowed his suicide pill but ultimately survived.

Court documents detail that Cook and Frost continued to travel together after their Ohio meeting, and drove to Texas in March 2020. Cook stayed in different cities with various juveniles who he was attempting to recruit for their plot.

Cook, Frost and Sawall were each charged with providing material support to terrorism by a bill of information filed on Feb. 7. The defendants face a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

“These defendants conspired to use violence to sow hate, create chaos, and endanger the safety of the American people,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio. 

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AAPI perspective, follow me on Twitter @DioknoEd.

In 2022, Hollywood doors creak open for Asian American content

The commercial and artistic success of 2018's 'Crazy Rich Asians' is credited with opening Hollywood's eyes and doors to the rich potential of Asian and Asian American talent and stories.

2022 could be a landmark year for AAPI representation in the history of filmmaking and TV production.

There are signs that Hollywood* is turning the corner in recognition of the changing demographics of the movie-going audience with a handful of Asian American theme movies in various stages of production.

The surprise hit of the winter season is Fox series The Cleaning Lady. The strong audience ratings and critical acclaim may be opening some eyes and minds of Hollywood's decision makers that the US audience may be more accepting of diverse fare and actors than previously assumed.

Whether this apparent willingness to tell AAPI stories and star AAPI characters is a permanent trend or just a merely a fad is something only time will tell.

The list might appear to be a lot of shows but when you consider Hollywood churns out hundreds of projects, many of them clunkers, the recommendations below represent just a small, small fraction of the productions. Reports about Hollywood diversity by USC and UCLA still say the vast majority of Hollywood's products are still directed at a  white audience starring white leads and AAPI representation is still lacking.

Still, what we have now is a vast improvement from just four years ago when Asian August, which premiered Crazy Rich Asians, the Every Boy I Ever Loved franchise and the John Cho starrer Searching, broke open the proverbial dam for AAPI talent in front and behind the camera. With over two dozen features and series, 2022 has the potential to be a historic year in terms of Asian representation in North American pop culture.

Have AANHPI arrived in Hollywood, the world's entertainment production capitol? Well, not quite, but the studio door is creaking open.

What's noteworthy is that many of the productions are driven by AAPI creators, from Dwayne Johnson, Daniel Dae Kim, Mindy Kaling, Miranda Kwok, Dean Devlin, Dan Lin to Awkwafina. Instead of waiting around for handouts from Hollywood studios, these writers, producers and directors are taking the bull by the horns and launching their own productions.

The problem is, despite the unprecedented output by AAPI artists, we're still at the stage where projects with AAPI themes and actors can't afford any clunkers. One bad showing and Hollywood could quickly back off on their tepid effort to diversify their output.

For those AAPI viewers looking for movies or TV series that you can identify with, here are some of the current and upcoming projects** (in no particular order) that might be of interest:

Pachinko: Based on the best-selling novel of the same name, Pachinko follows four generations of a Korean immigrant family through Korea, Japan, and the U.S. during the Japanese Occupation, World War II, and after. The saga presents a harrowing take on racism, imperialism, and immigration wrapped in a forbidden love story. Told in Korean, Japanese and English, the first three episodes will debut March 25, on Apple TV+ followed by weekly releases until April 29. Production company is Steven Spielberg's Amblin' Studios.

Kung Fu (Season 2): Kung Fu (not the David Carradine-led version) returns for another season. Set in present day San Francisco, it features an attractive cast, including Olivia Liang, Shannon Dang, Eddie Liu and the Tzi Ma as the father of the Shen family. As the title suggests: lots of martial arts featured and smart contemporary banter between the characters. The Shen's and allies continue to seek the magical artifacts that give great power to whoever possesses them. Season 2 premieres March 9, 9 p.m. on the CW network.

The Cleaning Lady: Fox got one of its highest-rated shows in this production with creator Miranda Kwok as executive producer along with Filipino Canadian Shay Mitchell (Pretty Little Liars). Launched in January, the series stars Cambodian French actress Elodie Yung as a doctor who leaves her medical practice in the Philippines to seek treatment for her son who suffers from an auto-immune disease. Along the way, she seeks employment as a cleaning lady but gets involved with the Las Vegas underworld. The Cleaning Lady is precedent-setting by telling stories from the POV of the undocumented immigrants and starring Southeast Asian actors. The series airs Mondays on Fox, 9 p.m., but past episodes can be streamed on Hulu. 

Tokyo Vice: HBO Max announced that the new crime drama miniseries will debut April 7 with 2 episodes on the network. The series, a co-production with Endeavor Content and Japanese broadcaster Wowow, is based on the 2009 memoir of the same name by Jake Adelstein, an American journalist who moved to Japan to cover the Tokyo police force. Ansel Elgort stars as Adelstein, with Ken Watanabe, Rinko Kikuchi, Rachel Keller, Ella Rumpf, Hideaki Ito, Show Kasamatsu and Tomohisa Yamashita rounding out the ensemble.

Turning Red: An animated feature from Pixar Studios directed by Domine Shi (Bao), tells the rare story of growing up from the viewpoint of 13-year old Asian Canadian, brash, self-confident, who dares to pursue her own ambition of establishing girl band but still retaining the love for her elders and heritage. Some of the voice actors include veteran actors Sandra Oh and James Hong and introduces Roslie Chiang as the central character.  Turning Red premieres March 11 after which it is can be streamed  on Disney+.

Easter Sunday: Stand-up comedian Jo Koy plays a man returning home for an Easter celebration with his riotous, bickering, eating, drinking, laughing, loving family in this love letter to his Filipino American community. Starring in Easter Sunday are Jimmy O. Yang, Tia Carrere, Brandon Wardell, Tony nominee Eva Noblezada, Lydia Gaston, Asif Ali, Rodney To, Eugene Cordero, Jay Chandrasekhar, Tiffany Haddish and Lou Diamond Phillips. The release date was originally going to be around the Easter holiday but has been moved to August 5.

The Fabulous Filipino Brothers: This film starring the four Basco brothers and their sister has been kicking around the film festivals for over a year. The comedy gives a rare peek at the sometimes complicated and not-so-subtle (but always loving) relationships in a Filipino American family as they prepare for an upcoming wedding. The Basco siblings, Dante, Derek, Dion, Darion and Arianna, star in the fictional movie about a rollicking, raucous and loving family. It also features Liza Lapira (The Equalizer) and introduces Philippine star Solenn Hausaff to Western audiences. The feature just started streaming on Amazon Prime, Vudu, Youtube, and Apple+.

Ms. Marvel: Ms. Marvel is an upcoming American web television series, based on the Marvel Comics superheroine of the same name, not to be confused with Captain Marvel, a different superheroine altogether. It is the 20th television series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It stars newcomer, Indian American actress Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan and Ms. Marvel. With a strong Indian American influene, it also stars Aramis Knight, Saagar Shaikh, Rish Shah, Zenobia Shroff, Mohan Kapur, Matt Lintz, Yasmeen Fletcher, Laith Naki, Azher Usman, Travina Springer and Nimra Bucha. The series is produced by Marvel Studios and will be released on Disney+ this summer.

Josep: A half-hour sitcom starring the busiest Asian American comedian in Hollywood, Jo Koy (See "Easter Sunday" above.) Koy will play a divorced single-father nurse navigating the dating the world with the assistance of his wacky Filipino American family and friends. The series has deep AAPI roots: The sitcom will be penned by Steve Joe (Doogie Kamealoha M.D.,Young Sheldon), while Kourtney Kang (Fresh Off The Boat), Jake Kasdan and Melvin Mar (Jumanji: The Next Level), and actor Randall Park (WandaVision) will executive produce alongside Koy. Set to premiere on ABC sometimes later this year.

Concepción: FilAm actor Reggie Lee (Grimm) is one of the first "name" actors signed onto this underworld crime series that takes place in Los Angeles' Historic Filipinotown over a 28-year span, 1992-2020. It seeks to examine the world of an Asian American "godfather"-like figure, a world of drugs and money, but also heritage and pride, viewed through origins, history, choices and consequences. Filipino American fingerprints all over this series, still in pre-production, with Yellow Rose and Lingua Franca co-producer Jeremiah Abraham and ABS-CBN and from creator Craig Obligación Wilson. No debut date announced yet.

Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens (Season 2): Starring the now acclaimed actress Awkwafina, aka Nora Lum, the sitcom is loosely based on the actress' real live in Queens, NYC before she became famous and an in-demand. Besides Awkwafina (Crazy Rich Asians, The Farewell), the series cast includes the rest of her TV family, SNL's Bowen Yang, Broadway's BD Wong and Lori Tan Chinn, who as the grandmother, is a scene stealer. The series has also been an opportunity for AAPI guest stars including Margaret Cho, Simu Liu, Harry Shum, Jr., and Ross Butler. A third season has not. been announced but, in the meantime, the first two seasons of the highly rated series is available on Comedy Central.

Everything, Everywhere All At Once: Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, the feature film is a hilarious and big-hearted sci-fi action adventure about an exhausted Chinese American woman played by Michelle Yeoh, who can't seem to finish her taxes while being hurtled through multiple dimensions, some dominated by Asians. Cast includes Harry Shum Jr. (“Shadowhunters”), Stephanie Hsu (“Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”), Ke Huy Quan (“The Goonies”) and James Hong (“Blade Runner” and a host of other films). The film is set to debut on March 25.

Almost Paradise (Season 2): FilAm producer Dean Devlin announced that his fledgling crime series has been picked up for a second season. Shot entirely in Cebu, Philippines, Almost Paradise follows Alex Walker (Christian Kane), a former U.S. DEA agent who, after his partner’s betrayal and a life-threatening battle with hypertension, is forced into early retirement and relocates to a Cebu, Philippines. Besides its exotic locale, the series also stars Filipino talent Samantha Richelle and Arthur Acuña, as his partners in crime0fighting. After production halts because of COVID-19, the series' return to Amazon (Prime) has not been announced.

Sour. Olivia Rodrigo: driving home 2 u: Can we get enough of Olivia Rodrigo? The Filipino American singer, songwriter is featured in a documentary about the making of her debut album "Sour." Olivia takes audiences on a familiar road trip from Salt Lake City, where she began writing her triple-platinum Geffen Records debut album “SOUR,” to Los Angeles. Along the way, Rodrigo recounts the memories of writing and creating her record-breaking debut album and shares her feelings as a young woman navigating a specific time in her life. Through new live arrangements of her songs, intimate interviews and never-before-seen footage, audiences will follow her along on a cinematic journey exploring the story of “SOUR.” The doc debuts March 25 on Disney+.

Fistful of Vengeance: The movie released this month is the followup to the 2020 TV series Wu Assassins. Iko Uwais returns as Kai Jin, the last Wu Assassin. He is joined by Lewis Tan and Jason Tobin. The locale moves from San Francisco to Bangkok as the trio of crime fighters battle the Chinese Triad for the pursuit of ancient powers. Lots of martial arts, spectacular fight choreography. The movie is currently available on Netflix.

Umma: If you're a Sandra Oh (Killing Eve, The Chair) fan (OK, I confess.) or into the horror genre, this is one film you can't miss. "Umma" is Korean for mother. Amanda (Sandra Oh) and her daughter are living a quiet life on an American farm, but when the remains of her estranged mother arrive from Korea, Amanda becomes haunted by the fear of turning into her own mother. Written and directed by Iris Shim. The movie is distributed by Sony and release is slated for March 18.

Nope: A horror/science fiction flick starring Steven Yuen (Minari, The Walking Dead), along with Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer. Caretakers at a California horse ranch encounter a mysterious force that affects human and animal behaviour. Written and directed by Jordan Peele (Get Out). Nope is set to be released in theaters July 22 from Universal Pictures.

Moonshot: Lana Condor (To All The Boys I Ever Loved) leads the cast of this romantic comedy with a sci-fi twist, is set in a future where Mars is terraformed and colonized by the best humanity has to offer two very different college students wind up joining forces and sneak onboard a space shuttle to the red planet in order to be united with their significant others. Condor's co-star is Riverdale's Cole Sprouse. Release date is March 31 on HBO Max.

Bridgerton will be more colorful in Season 2.

Bridgerton (Season 2): The surprise hit of 2020, Bridgerton is a romantic period piece with a change of focus. Jonathan Bailey, who plays Anthony Bridgerton will take the lead alongside potential love interest Kate Sharma, played by Simone Ashley. The Sharma's is an Indian Brit family that shakes up London high society, thus fulfilling Shonda Rhimes' vow to diversify casting. Bridgerton returns March 25 on Netflix.

Mythic Quest (Season 2): I include this Apple+ series in its second season solely on the sterling performance of lead actress Charlotte Nicdao, a Filipino Austrialian who steals every scene she's in. She's proving to be an outstanding comedic actress in a well-written series that doesn't get enough attention and credit from the AAPI entertainment establishment because the series is not on a broadcast network. Her racial heritage is not a central focus of the series but when she sings a Tagalog lullaby in Episode 8, well I almost fell out of my seat. Seasons 1 & 2 are available for binging on Apple+.

Killing Eve (Season 4): This will be the final season for  the critically acclaimed Killing Eve, which has garnered Emmy nominations for its stars, Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer. Comer won the Best Actress Emmy in 2020. Oh was nominated (and should have won) in 2019. The cat-and-mouse game and complicated relationship between the driven British Inspector Eve Polastri (Oh) and the mentally unbalanced Russian assassin Villanelle  (Comer) has captivated audiences for four years. The series premieres Feb. 27 on BBC America and available for streaming on AMC+.

PEN15: The coming-of-age storyline is about two friends played by Anna Konkle and Emma Erskine, who also the serie's creators and writers. The actresses play two middle-school students who maneuver their way through the pitfalls that befall students at that awkward age. Even though they are much older than the characters they play, they are able to pull it off. A lot of Asian Americans will recognize the touchy issues faced by the lead teen characters. Some of the episodes confront the racism directed at Erskine's Japanese American character. Unfortunately, this is the last season for the series. It is bingeable on Hulu.

Young Rock (Season 2). The NBC sitcom follows the adventures of a young Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, a Samoan Black American and one of the most popular stars in the world. It follows the young Rock as a pre-teen, a teenager and a young adult during his time as a professional football player. One of the most fun aspects of the show is bringing in stories about some of WWF's old guard including Andre the Giant, The Iron Sheik and Randy Savage. As of Feb. 22, NBC announced the third season will premiere in January, 2023. The first two seasons can be streamed on Amazon Prime.

NCIS: Hawaii: The TV series stars a host of AAPI actors including lead, Filipino American Vanessa Manillo Lachkey, Yasmine al-bustami, Alex Tarrant, Jason Antoon and Noah Mills. As the title suggests, the setting is Hawaii with strong references to the local culture and the racial origins of each of the characters. Lachkey plays team leader Jane Tennant, who is also a single mom of two hapa children, who she helps navigate through the current era of anti-Asianism. The first season airs on Mondays, 9 p.m. on CBS; also available on Paramount for you bingers. Although it has performed strongly in its time slot, a second season has not been announced. Binge on Paramount.

Never Have I Ever (Season 3), Netflix renewed the sitcom  created by Mindy Kaling and Lang Fisher and why not? It is one of Netflix's most successful series around the world. The series is loosely based on the experiences that Kaling had in her own youth. Will Devi pick hapa jock Paxton Hall-Yoshida played. by Darren Barnet or brainy white guy Ben Gross played by Jaren Lewison? Oh, the tribulations of high school from an AAPI POV. Filming Season 3 just wrapped this month. Netflix hopes to launch the hit show's third season in late Spring or early Fall of 2022.

Doogie Kamealoha, MD: A fresh take on the old Doogie Howser, MD series. Lahela "Doogie" Kamealoha is a teenaged wunderkind juggling her high school life with an early medical career. There are strong bones to this series.The sit-com was created by Kourtney Kang, who executive produced Fresh Off the Boat. It stars Disney veteran Peyton Elizabeth Lee (Andi Mack), who plays the title character, who struggles being a normal teenager and a super-smart physician. Some of the AAPI supporting cast include Comedy Central's Ronnie Chieng, Randall Park, and Jason Scott Lee and a host of cameo appearances of veteran actors, including Amy Hill and Margaret Cho. Doogie is available on Disney+.

Squid Games (Season 2): The second season of Netflix's most watched series, the science fiction/horror story about the deadly game of paying off huge debts hasn't even begun taping yet and was originally scheduled for a 2023 release. However, with its recently won three SAG acting awards, pressure may be on to hurry up production for a late 2022 release.

* I use "Hollywood" as a generic term for entertainment production, which could originate in London, Toronto, Vancouver, New York or Atlanta)

**In compiling this list, I stuck to those projects premiering or underway in 2022, staying away from productions set in 2023 or finished in 2021. I also stayed away from products where AAPI actors are secondary characters. I tried to stay away fro foreign productions, but Bridgerton and Squid Games are just too big to ignore. It is not meant to be a complete list. 

EDITOR'S NOTE: On Feb. 25, added 'Killing Eve,' and "Umma" to the list. On March 7, added "Kung Fu" and "Turning Red." On March 22, "Moonshot" waa added. For additional commentary, news and views from an AAPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd. on Twitter