Carnegie names six AANHPI immigrants among this year's 'Great Immigrants'

The Carnegie Corp.'s 2022 Great Immigrants.

As Immigrant Heritage Month comes to an end and the nation prepares for the July 4th celebration, the Carnegie Corp. of New York announced its annual list of Great Immigrants, six of whom are Asian Americans. 

“Our Great Immigrants Great Americans event each year is a reminder of the proven economic and societal benefits of encouraging immigrants to seek citizenship and become actively involved in our democracy,” said Geri Mannion, managing director of the Corporation’s Strengthening U.S. Democracy program and a naturalized citizen of Irish descent. 

“The pandemic added new challenges to the federal immigration system, including a backlog of applications and the inability to hold naturalization oath ceremonies," Mannion acknowledged. "Through philanthropic collaborations and the work of nonprofit service providers, we aim to make the process easier and more accessible to millions of eligible immigrants.”

This year, 34 naturalized citizens were honored for their contributions and actions that have enriched and strengthened the society and democracy of the United States.

Among the Asian Americans* named this year by the philanthropic foundation come from a wide range professions, from a chef to a journalist to novelist. They include:

• Padma Lakshmi (India) Host and Executive Producer, Top Chef and Taste the Nation
• MJ Lee (South Korea) White House Correspondent, CNN
• Malinda Lo (China) Novelist and National Book Award Winner
• Syukuro Manabe (Japan) Professor, Princeton University, and Nobel Laureate
• Karen Nakamura (Indonesia) Professor of Anthropology, University of California, Berkeley
• Punit Renjen (India) Global CEO, Deloitte

The 2022 Class of Great Immigrants is comprised of naturalized citizens from 32 countries and a wide range of backgrounds. This year, the Corporation is highlighting the work of immigrants who have been leaders in their local communities through their work in education, the arts, law enforcement, public service, health care, and small business ownership, as well as for their contributions as advocates for education equity, climate change, food security, and the homeless.

Other honorees are national leaders in their fields, including two Nobel Prize laureates, a COVID-19 vaccine developer, a university president, an expert on nuclear threat reduction, a leading researcher on disabilities, the global CEO of the professional services firm Deloitte, the winningest coach in the history of U.S. women’s soccer, a principal dancer for American Ballet Theatre, and celebrities such as tennis star Steffi Graf, director Julie Delpy and rock 'n' roll legend Neil Young.

Also among the honorees is Aquilino Gonell from theDominican Republic. He was awarded  Congressional Gold Medal recipient as U.S. Capitol police officer. He sustained significant injuries during the January 6, 2021, attack and has been a vocal public advocate for accountability in its aftermath.

The Corporation’s Strengthening U.S. Democracy program supports immigrant integration through a portfolio of grantees focused on immigration policy reform. Citizenship is the ultimate goal of integration, and among the Corporation’s long-term priorities is encouraging eligible immigrants to naturalize. 

For more than a decade, the Corporation, in collaboration with other philanthropic partners, has supported the New Americans Campaign, which is led by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center. To date, the campaign and its national network of nonprofit partners have helped more than 540,000 lawful permanent residents (LPRs), known as green card holders, apply for citizenship. Services include low-cost application assistance in multiple languages and an online process. 

FYI: More information is available at www.carnegie.org/citizenship.

According to a recent report from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, there were 9.2 million LPRs eligible to naturalize in 2021. Their pathway to citizenship is not easy, given the complex nature of the naturalization process and processing delays, which were exacerbated by the pandemic. As a result, the Migration Policy Institute, a Corporation grantee, reports that the number of lawful permanent residents who were naturalized in 2020 marked a low point for the last decade. The Great Immigrants campaign aims to raise awareness among LPRs, the general public, and policymakers.

The complete list of the 2022 class of Great Immigrants:

• Hakki Akdeniz (Turkey) Owner, Champion Pizza, and Advocate for the Homeless
• Michael Amiridis (Greece) President-Elect, University of South Carolina
• Bertine Bahige (Democratic Republic of Congo) Wyoming National Distinguished Principal, 2021
• Maria Elena Bottazzi (Italy) Professor and Associate Dean, Baylor College of Medicine
• Jorge Cavero (Bolivia) Physician and Professor, University of Illinois College of Medicine
• Ibrahim Cissé (Niger) Professor of Physics, MIT, and MacArthur Fellow
• Herman Cornejo (Argentina) Principal, American Ballet Theatre, and UN Messenger of Peace
• Bita Daryabari (Iran) Philanthropist, Entrepreneur, and Computer Scientist
• Julie Delpy (France) Award-Winning Actress, Director, and Screenwriter
• Fabienne Doucet (Spain) Educational Equity Advocate and Professor, New York University
• Jill Ellis (England) Soccer Coach and President, San Diego Wave Fútbol Club
• Daniel Finn (Ireland) Pastor and Chaplain and Cofounder, Irish Pastoral Centre, Boston
• Lorena Garcia (Venezuela) Chef and Founder, Chica Restaurants
• Jesus Garza (Mexico) Mayor, Arcola, Illinois
• Aquilino Gonell (Dominican Republic) U.S. Capitol Police Officer and Congressional Gold Medal Recipient
• Steffi Graf (Germany) Tennis Champion, Olympian, and Grand Slam Winner
• Siegfried Hecker (Poland) Nuclear Scientist and Director Emeritus, Los Alamos National Laboratory
• Nicole Hernandez Hammer (Guatemala) Environmental Scientist and Climate Justice and Labor Organizer, SEIU
• Lina Hidalgo (Colombia) Judge and Chief Executive, Harris County, Texas
• Jorge Labarga (Cuba) Justice, Florida Supreme Court
• Padma Lakshmi (India) Host and Executive Producer, Top Chef and Taste the Nation
• MJ Lee (South Korea) White House Correspondent, CNN
• Polina Lishko (Ukraine) Professor, University of California, Berkeley, and MacArthur Fellow
• Malinda Lo (China) Novelist and National Book Award Winner
• Syukuro Manabe (Japan) Professor, Princeton University, and Nobel Laureate
• Karen Nakamura (Indonesia) Professor of Anthropology, University of California, Berkeley
• Arrey Obenson (Cameroon) President and CEO, International Institute of St. Louis
• Toyin Ojih Odutola (Nigeria) Visual Artist
• Ardem Patapoutian (Lebanon) Professor, Scripps Research Institute, and Nobel Laureate
• Karl Racine (Haiti) Attorney General, District of Columbia
• Punit Renjen (India) Global CEO, Deloitte
• Tashitaa Tufaa (Ethiopia) Owner, CEO, and President, Metropolitan Transportation Network
• Neil Young (Canada) Musician, Grammy Winner, and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee
• Karen Zacarías (Mexico) Award-Winning Playwright and Founder, Young Playwrights’ Theater

The 2022 honorees mark the 17th class, who will be recognized with a full-page public service announcement in the New York Times on the Fourth of July, as well as through tributes on social media. 

The program is a tribute to Andrew Carnegie, who made his fortune in the 19th century in railroads and in the steel industry. His rags-to-riches story provided the inspiration for his philanthropic efforts later in life. Mannion said: "Our annual recognition of outstanding immigrants is a tribute to the legacy of Andrew Carnegie, a Scottish immigrant who, like these honorees, found success as an American and gave back to his adopted country."  

* An argument could be made to include a Hakki Akdeniz, who immigrated from Turkey, as an Asian American because Turkey is, geographically, on the Asian continent. However, in keeping with this blog's  policy of deferring to a person's own self-identification, homeless advocate Akdeniz won't be identified as Asian American.

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

Filipino American candidate wins Democratic Primary in New York City

RAGAFORQUEENS

Rep. Gregory Meeks, left, Steven Raga, center, and State Sen. John Liu at a rally for Raga in May (Photo: RagaforQueens)

Steven Raga is on the precipice of history. He won the Democratic Primary for Assembly District 30 and this November could be the first Filipino American elected to the New York state legislature. 

Raga easily won the Democratic primary Tuesday with 71% of the vote over his opponent, Ramon Cando.

“It is an honor of a lifetime to be able to advocate for my community here in #AD30,” Raga tweeted Tuesday evening.

“I am proud to be elected as the first-ever Filipino American Democratic nominee for the New York State Assembly” he wrote.

Steven Raga, a Woodside resident and former chief of staff to the incumbent Brian Barnwell, has won the Assembly District 30 seat—making him the first Filipino American to hold elected office in New York State.

When Barnwell announced he would not seek re-election Raga was picked by the Democratic committee to run for the District 30 seat.

“Like so many immigrant families from so many cultures, my family came here in the 60s and took root. It is time that we take our voice to the Assembly and that we are represented by someone who understands the spirit and the needs of this amazing community,” he said after being selected.

As the Democrats' candidate, he was endorsed by Congressmembers Gregory Meeks and Grace Meng; State Senator John Liu; Assemblymembers Catalina Cruz, Ron Kim, Andrew Hevesi and Khaleel Anderson; Borough President Donovan Richards, Councilmember Shekar Krishnan and District Leader Melissa Sklarz.

As the election results showed Raga's certain victory, Meng tweeted: “We did it! We helped elect the first Filipino American ever in the state of NY!!!”

Born in Queens, New York, Raga has a long record as a community advocate. He was executive director of Queens On the Move before declaring his candidacy. Earlier he was the Northeast Regional Manager for Policy and Advocacy for the Susan G. Komen Foundation and served as Barwell's chief of staff for four years.

He is also on the board of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations and the founder of Pilipino American Unity for Progress (UniPro).

Assembly District 30 is one of the most diverse in the state and is majority Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI). It encompasses the neighborhoods of Woodside, Elmhurst, Sunnyside and Maspeth where many Filipinos reside.

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

California's 2021 Hate Crime Report: Anti-Aian hate crimes up 177.5%

California Attorney General Rob Bonta announces the rising number of hate crimes.

The anything-goes reputation of California took a big hit Tuesday after a new report showed a big increase in hate crimes in one of the most diverse states in the US.

“Today’s report undeniably shows that the epidemic of hate we saw spurred on during the pandemic remains a clear and present threat,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta. “In fact, reported hate crime has reached a level we haven’t seen in California since the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11. As our state’s top law enforcement officer.

The second year of an "epidemic of hate"  against people of Asian descent shows no signs of dissipating. The report says anti-Asian hate crimes have increased 177.5% from 89 in 2020 to 247 in 2021. "These statistics hit very close to home for me personally," said Bonta, California's first Filipino American attorney general.

Bonta  released the 2021 Hate Crime in California Report Tuesday and highlighted information and resources to support ongoing efforts across the state to combat hate in a press event. 

At 1,763 bias events in 2021, overall hate crimes reported in California increased 32.6% from 2020 to 2021 and are at their highest reported level since 2001 which saw spikes after the attacks against South Asians after the terrorist attack on New York's twin towers. 

The annual report for 2020 showed a similarly high increase — 31% — with anti-Black bias making up the bulk of incidents in a state where African Americans are 6% of the population. Last year's report also showed a startling increase in bias crimes against Asian Americans following the emergence of the coronavirus in China.

FYI: Members of the public can further explore the most recent hate crime data on OpenJustice. A copy of the 2021 Hate Crime in California report is available here.

Reported hate crimes targeting Black people remain the most prevalent and increased 12.5% from 456 in 2020 to 513 in 2021, while reported anti-Asian hate crime events once again increased dramatically, rising 177.5% from 2020 to 2021, and reported hate crimes involving a sexual orientation bias also increased significantly, rising 47.8% from 2020 to 2021. 

Amidst this surge in reported hate crime events, Attorney General Bonta urges local partners and law enforcement to review the resources highlighted today and to recommit themselves to taking action. 

The Attorney General continues to convene law enforcement, elected leaders, and community organizations at the local level across the state to help increase awareness around available resources and strengthen responses to hate crime in California. 

In addition, today, Attorney General Bonta is formally announcing the creation of a statewide hate crime coordinator position within the California Department of Justice’s Criminal Law Division in order to further assist state and local law enforcement efforts to combat hate crime.

"I will continue to use the full authority of my office to fight back. We will keep working with our local law enforcement partners and community organizations to make sure every Californian feels seen, heard, and protected. While there is no single solution, it’s up to all of us to heed the call, because when our communities feel empowered, they come forward. Now, more than ever, it is critical that we stand united — there is no place for hate in California.”

The California Department of Justice has collected and reported statewide data on hate crimes since 1995. Under California law, a hate crime is a criminal act committed in whole or in part because of a victim’s actual or perceived disability, gender, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or association with someone with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. 

Hate crimes are distinct from hate incidents, which are actions or behaviors motivated by hate that may be protected by the First Amendment right to freedom of expression. Examples of hate incidents include name-calling, insults, and distributing hate material in public places. If a hate incident starts to threaten a person or property, it may become a hate crime. 

Historically, hate crime data has generally been underreported and the California Department of Justice recognizes that the data presented in its reports may not adequately reflect the actual number of hate crime events that have occurred in the state. Nevertheless, it is important to note that the total number of hate crime events reported in 2021 is the sixth highest ever recorded and the highest since hate crime events skyrocketed in 2001 in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11.

Bonta made it clear what he thinks is responsible for the surge of hate incidents. 

"The pandemic gave way to an epidemic of hate. We saw the bigoted words of our former president turn a trickle of hate into a flood that remains with us," he said.

Some of the key findings from the 2021 Hate Crime in California Report include:

• Overall, reported hate crime events increased 32.6% from 1,330 in 2020 to 1,763 in 2021;
• Anti-Black bias events were the most prevalent, increasing 12.5% from 456 in 2020 to 513 in 2021;
• Hate crime events motivated by a sexual orientation bias increased 47.8% from 205 in 2020 to 303 in 2021;
• Anti-Asian bias events increased 177.5% from 89 in 2020 to 247 in 2021;
• Anti-Hispanic or Latino bias events increased 29.6% from 152 in 2020 to 197 in 2021;
• Among hate crime events involving a religious bias, anti-Jewish bias events were the most prevalent and increased 32.2% from 115 in 2020 to 152 in in 2021; and
• From 2020 to 2021, the number of cases filed for prosecution by district attorneys and elected city attorneys involving hate crime charges increased by 30.1%.

Since the first day he was sworn into office last year, Bonta made fighting hate as one of his top priorities.

In 2021, Attorney General Bonta issued a series of reports, guidance, and resources to help the public and law enforcement better understand and address hate crimes in California. 

Given the ongoing challenge presented by hate crime, the Attorney General urges leaders across the state and members of the public to review and make use of these important resources, which include a law enforcement bulletin summarizing applicable civil and criminal hate crime laws, guidance to prosecutors to help strengthen prosecution and enforcement, and brochures and fact sheets in more than two dozen languages to assist Californians in identifying and responding to hate crime events. 

Last year, Attorney General Bonta also released a special report on anti-Asian hate crimes during the pandemic, which offers important context and analysis regarding the recent increases in anti-Asian hate crime events.

Ahead of the release of last year’s report, Attorney General Bonta launched the Racial Justice Bureau, which, among other things, supports the California Department of Justice’s broader mandate to advance the civil rights of all Californians by assisting with new and ongoing efforts to combat hate and bias.  

More broadly, the Attorney General is deeply committed to responding to the needs of historically marginalized and underrepresented communities and, last year, also launched the Office of Community Awareness, Response, and Engagement to work directly with community organizations and members of the public as part of the effort to advance justice for all Californians.

"Each of these incidents represents an attack on a person, a neighbor, a family member, a fellow Californian," said Bonta. "And worse, we know our statistics likely are not exhaustive" since some victims decline to come forward.

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

MSNBC picks Alex Wagner to fill Rachel Maddow's time slot

Veteran. journalist Alex Wagner will host news show for MSNBC.

Asian American journalist Alex Wagner has been named to take over MSNBC host Rachel Maddow's prime time slot on the news network starting August 16.

Wagner, 44, who has worked at CBS News, as a co-host of Showtime's “The Circus” and as an editor at The Atlantic, is on her second stint at MSNBC. She rejoined MSNBC as a fil-in host and commentator in February after hosting a show on the network a decade ago.

“I'm honored to be anchoring a key hour of television in such a critical time for American democracy,” Wagner said. In taking over the 9 p.m. slot, she will be one of  the most high-profile Asian American journalists in the country.

“In many ways, the stakes have never been higher, and there’s no better place to explore this moment than MSNBC," she said. "I’m thrilled to be coming home.”

A first-generation Asian American whose mother emigrated to the U.S. from Myanmar, Wagner wrote a book about her experiences, “FutureFace: A Family Mystery, an Epic Quest and the Secret to Belonging.”

Since leaving MSNBC 10 years ago, she has been an editor at The Atlantic, an economics reporter for HuffPost and the White House correspondent for AOL's Politics Daily. She was also the editor-in-chief of The Fader, a culture-oriented magazine, and was executive director of an advocacy organization that aimed to stop mass atrocities.

“Her unique perspective, built on more than two decades in journalism, and tenacious reporting in the U.S. and abroad will help our audiences contextualize what matters,” said MSNBC president Rashida Jones.

"Alex Wagner in the 9 PM hour was a clear choice. Her unique perspective—built on more than two decades in journalism—and tenacious reporting in the U.S. and abroad will help our audiences contextualize what matters,” Rashida Jones said in a statement. “I am looking forward to watching Alex thrive in MSNBC’s primetime lineup.”

Wagner returns to MSNBC to shore up its prime time lineup. Ratings without Maddow, the network's most popular news host, has flagged since she went to Monday nights only. 

Wanger is not a newbie. She has operated in the Washington, DC area for two decades during which she has met and interviewed the movers and shakers of the Capitol. In addition, she has a ready-made fan base from her previous daytime news-oriented show and her numerous media jobs, including her latest Showtime gig, The Circus. that follows candidates in their campaigns.

Maddow will continue to work Monday nights with Wagner working Tuesday through Friday. Maddow signed a reported $30 million per year contract extension with NBC, which gives her “the freedom to pursue a range of formats including film and TV series.”

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

Supreme Court justices should be impeached for 'lying under oath' to Congress, says Congresswoman

Brett Kavanugh was sworn in before for his Senate confirmation hearing.

The most recent Justices of the Supreme Court appointed by Donald Trump lied under oath when they said they would abide by precedent-setting rulings such as Roe v. Wade, which they overturned last week.

Appearing on Meet the Press, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y) on Sunday said some conservative Supreme Court justices who struck down federal abortion protections last week should be impeached for “lying under oath” during their confirmation hearings.

Trump justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett joined conservative justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Chief Justice John Roberts in a 6-3 ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, an abortion-rights precedent that stood for nearly 50 years.

“This will go down as one of the worst decisions in the history of the Court,” said U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii.

These are the same God-fearing justices who blurred the separation of church and state in two  decisions issued recently. Last week, they ruled that religious schools are entitled to receive federal funds and in a separate case issued today (June27, Monday), that teachers could lead students in prayer. 

“I believe lying under oath is an impeachable offense,” said Ocasio-Cortez in Meet the Press.

The New York Congressmember focused on statements of Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) that they were misled by some Justices Kavanaugh and Gorsuch, when they expressed their support of precedent during during their confirmation hearings by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“This decision is inconsistent with what Justices Gorsuch and Kavanaugh said in their testimony and their meetings with me,” said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.

Impeachment of any of the Justices would be a difficult task.

Under Article I of the United States Consti­tu­tion, the House of Repres­ent­at­ives has the power to impeach federal judges and the Senate the power to hold a trial to determ­ine whether removal is appro­pri­ate. The House can impeach a judge with a simple major­ity vote. However, a judge may only be removed from office follow­ing a trial and a vote to convict by a two-thirds major­ity of the Senate.

While the House might be able to get enough votes to impeach, the Senate, with its 50-50 split between Republicans and Democrats, would find it nearly impossible to get16 Republicans with enough conscience and guts to go against the GOP and vote for the good of the country in order to impeach the lying justices.

Impeachment has histor­ic­ally been limited to cases of seri­ous ethical or crim­inal miscon­duct.  Of the 15 federal judi­cial impeach­ments, the most common charges were making false state­ments, favor­it­ism toward litig­ants or special appointees, intox­ic­a­tion on the bench, and abuse of the contempt power. Only one judge has been convicted by the Senate. In 2010, Judge G. Thomas Porteous Jr. was removed from the bench after being found guilty of bribery and making false state­ments. 

“They lied,” Ocasio-Cortez asserted, according to an NBC transcript. “If we allow Supreme Court nominees to lie under oath and secure lifetime appointments to the highest court of the land and then issue — issue without basis, if you read these opinions — rulings that deeply undermine the human civil rights of the majority of Americans, we must see that through.”

“There must be consequences for such a deeply destabilizing action and the hostile takeover of our democratic institutions,” Ocasio-Cortez added. “And what makes it particularly dangerous is that it sends a blaring signal to all future nominees that they can now lie to duly elected members of the United States Senate in order to secure Supreme Court confirmations and seats on the Supreme Court.”

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

Vietnamese American standout guard signs with NBA's Oklahoma Thunder; 4 other hopefuls keep dreams alive

NBA

Vietnamese American Jaylen Williams will play for the Oklahoma City Thunder next season.

Of the five Asians and Asian Americans prospects eligible for the NBA draft last Thursday, only guard Jalen Williams was picked up by one of the professional basketball teams.

The Oklahoma City Thunder selected the Vietnamese/Creole player with the overall No. 12 pick in the National Basketball Association 2022 draft. He played three years with the University of Santa Clara where he averaged 18 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists.

Four other Asian or Asian American players went undrafted by any of the NBA teams but hold out dreams for playing for the top basketball league in the world.

UCLA guard Johnny Juzang signed a two way deal with the Utah Jazz, which didn't have a pick in the two rounds of the draft. A two-way deal allows the  6-feet, 6-inch Vietnamese American player to play with the Jazz or its G-league affiliate. If he plays for the Jazz, he'll likely team up with Filipino American Jordan Clarkson, one of the star players for the Jazz the last two seasons.

The Indiana Pacers also signed Fanbo Zeng to an Exhibit 10 deal Saturday, according to The Indianapolis Star. An Exhibit 10 deal is a one-year, minimum-salary contract that counts toward a team's 20-man offseason roster limit, but doesn't count against the cap unless the player makes the regular season roster. The 6-foot 11 froward, Considered one of the top basketball prospects from China since Yao Min, Zeng has been playing with the G-league Ignite.

Kai Sotto from the Philippines and currently playing in the Australian pro team from Adelaide, wasn't picked up by any of the NBA teams. The 7-foot 2 center worked out for several teams before the draft. He hopes to be accepted to the NBA Summer League to further show off his skills to scouts. Otherwise, Adelaide said they would be willing accommodate the 20-year old Sotto if he chooses to return to the 36ers.

Also going undrafted was South Korean player Lee Hyun-jung. The 21-year-old had declared for the draft in April after completing his junior season with the Davidson College Wildcats. A foot injury suffered during a workout a week before the draft probably hurt the chances of the 6-foot 7 wing. He hopes to play for a G-league team.

The NBA draft saw 58 players with experience on college, foreign teams or G-league experience were drafted by the 29 teams participating held in Brooklyn last June 24. Utah was the only team not drafting players because they traded way their spots for veteran players.

Asian and/or Asian American players are still a rarity in the National Basketball League. Jalen Williams will join four active players of Asian descent on NBA rosters, including: Jordan Clarkson of the Utah Jazz, Jalen Green of the Houston Rockets, Yuta Watanabe of the Toronto Raptors and Rui Hachimura of the Washington Wizards.

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

3 of 4 Asian American attorneys general decry Supreme Court ruling allowing for more guns in public

Americans can expect to see more people carrying guns in public.

The US Supreme Court's ruling June 23 overturning a New York handgun licensing law, substantially opens the door to the wild, wild West say three Asian American attorneys general. A fourth AAPI attorney general, a Republican praised the decision.

"The SCOTUS decision is a setback for safety," said California Attorney General Rob Bonta.  

Attorneys General William Tong of Connecticut, Holly Shikada of Hawaii and Bonta  expect a new flurry of lawsuits challenging the gun control laws in their respective states.

“This decision is a radical rewrite of the Court’s prior positions on the Second Amendment and states’ rights to pass commonsense gun safety legislation," says Connecticut AG Tong.

Utah's Republican Attorney General Sean Reyes, meanwhile, applauds the court's decision allowing more people to carry concealed guns in public. His state was one of 23 states that filed a friend of the court brief against the New York statute.

This scary decision issued Thursday in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen, almost got lost in the alarm bells set off by Friday's controversial decision by the Supreme Court ruling against abortion rights.

Hawaii has some of the strictest laws against guns in the nation. "Hawaii will resist these efforts to undermine our strict gun laws and public safety,” says Shikada, who took over the office in 2021. The Hawaii AG's Office didn't outline any specific details.

"We should expect a wave of new lawsuits nationwide and here in Connecticut, coordinated by gun groups like the NRA, challenging our assault weapons ban, age restrictions on gun ownership, prohibitions on guns in sensitive locations like schools, and provisions enabling public safety professionals to review the suitability of an applicant before granting a gun permit," states Tong. 

"This decision is reckless, and the consequences for public safety nationwide are dire, but it was not unexpected. We have been working closely with advocates, legislators, and other attorneys gen," says Tong.

On the West Coast, California Attorney General Bonta reaffirmed his support for commonsense gun laws in response to the court's gun control opinion saying that New York’s requirement that a person show “proper cause” in order to receive a license to carry firearms in public is unconstitutional.

Despite the ruling, the Filipino American AG reminds Californians that general prohibitions on carrying loaded and concealed firearms in public without a permit remain in effect.

“Californians are committed to safeguarding our citizens, our children, and our future through commonsense gun laws,” says Bonta. “States still have the right to limit concealed carry permits to those who may safely possess firearms. 

For now, California gun restrictions are in effect, assures Attorney General Rob Bonta.

"Our office has been watching this issue closely. We are working with the Governor and the legislature to advance legislation that is both constitutional and will maintain safety for Californians. In the wake of mass shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde, and with gun deaths at an all-time high, ensuring that dangerous individuals are not allowed to carry concealed firearms is more important than ever. 

"The data is clear and the consequences are dire — more guns in more places make us less safe. In California, we are committed to passing and defending commonsense, constitutional gun laws that save lives,” Bonta states.

"I am grateful that we had a plan in place to protect our current and future legislative gun control efforts.  In the wake of the Texas tragedy and the continued threats of mass shootings, it’s a moral imperative that California leads on this issue.  It is urgent that we address the gun violence epidemic in our country and concealed carry laws are a key component of that effort."

 

Bonta reminds Californians that carrying a loaded firearm (whether openly or concealed) in most public places is generally prohibited unless a person has been issued a license obtained by applying through local law enforcement. 

InThursday's opinion, the Court held that New York’s law requiring an applicant for a concealed weapon (CCW) license to show “proper cause” in order to secure a license violates the Second Amendment. 

California similarly requires applicants for licenses to carry firearms in public to show “good cause,” and is likely unconstitutional under Bruen. But other requirements remain intact. Individuals may obtain a permit through a sheriff or chief of police after: a successful background check, the completion of a firearms safety course, and proof of residency, employment, or business in the county or city within the county. These laws were created and passed with the unique needs of Californians in mind.

Gun violence remains a growing threat to public safety throughout the nation. On average, there are over 110 gun deaths each day and nearly 41,000 each year in the U.S. Guns are the leading cause of death among children and adolescents; with U.S. children being more likely to die from gun violence than in any other comparable country.

California continues its efforts to advance laws and policies that save lives and prevent gun deaths. In 2021, California saw a 37% lower gun death rate than the national average. According to the CDC, California’s gun death rate was the 44th lowest in the nation, with 8.5 gun deaths per 100,000 people – compared to 13.7 deaths per 100,000 nationally, 28.6 in Mississippi, 20.7 in Oklahoma, and 14.2 in Texas. California’s gun death rate for children is also lower than other states, and is 58% lower than the national average.

Bonta, who is running for election this November, stands with partners throughout the state to continue preventing gun violence strategically and aggressively by:

• Advocating for commonsense gun laws including by sponsoring Assembly Bill 1594 to increase accountability for the firearm industry, working to strengthen federal laws to protect the public from ghost guns, and successfully defending California’s laws to prevent gun violence;
• Seizing guns from prohibited persons in the Armed and Prohibited Persons System, and through multiagency sweeps in the Bay Area and Los Angeles County, conducting operations targeting individuals attempting to illegally purchase guns, and collaborating with local law enforcement partners;
• Ending the sale of illegal firearms through litigation against ghost gun retailers, and by putting a stop to the sale of illegal assault weapons in Orange County; and
• Improving transparency by expanding gun violence-related data the California Department of Justice releases to researchers.

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

Supreme Court rules against Roe v. Wade; shakes up and angers AANHPI communities

A woman wept after hearing the Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade.

Even though the Supreme Court's decision on a woman's right to make decisions about her own healthcare was expected, today's ruling sent shockwaves reverberating throughout the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities.

The National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF)  condemned the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson’s Women Health Organization. Today’s final ruling overturns nearly 50 years of legal precedent on federally protected access to abortion.

“This is a direct and pernicious assault on people of color, including Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities where the path to abortion care is riddled with language barriers, cultural stigmas, and low rates of insurance coverage among our most vulnerable community members,” says Isra Pananon Weeks, interim executive director and chief of staff of National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF). 

The radical conservative majority of the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade on Friday, ending the constitutional right to abortion in those states restricting abortion and threatening access to reproductive healthcare nationwide.

The NAPAWF statement was issued after the Supreme Court's 6-3 ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization was issued along ideological lines, with all three liberal justices in opposition.

"With sorrow—for this court, but more, for the many millions of American women who have today lost a fundamental constitutional protection—we dissent," wrote Justices Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor and Stephen Breyer in their seething 59-page dissent.

“We believe in a Constitution that puts some issues off limits to majority rule. Even in the face of public opposition, we uphold the right of individuals — yes, including women — to make their own choices and chart their own futures. Or at least, we did once,” wrote the three moderate justices.

About one-fifth of pregnant Asian Americans may seek an abortion, a rate comparable to that of non-Hispanic white women, according to a study by City University of New York.

The restrictions approved by SCOTUS could take effect almost immediately in 13 states who have laws waiting for the Supreme Court ruling.

Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming—Republican-controlled legislatures have put in place "trigger bans" designed to outlaw abortion once Roe is overturned.

“This is a dark moment for our country,” said Caliofrnia's Attorney General Bonta, the first Filipino American AG for the state. “This court’s decision is outrageous, unprecedented, and dangerous. It blasts our nation back into the dark ages. Millions are now facing a stark reality when it comes to their right to choose. People all across the nation — their bodies, futures, and families — will be hurt by this decision."

California is home for the largest number of AANHPI in the country making up about 17% of the population, or about 6 million, based on the 2020 Census.

"In California, we refuse to turn back the clock and let politicians exert control over a person’s body. Despite the decision, abortion remains fully protected here in California," says Bonta. "We’ll keep fighting to strengthen and expand access to safe and legal abortion. ... Abortion remains a legally protected right in our state and, in California, we won’t backslide.”

“The cultural, economic, and logistical barriers for AAPI community members, especially those working for low-wages in frontline, service jobs, make traveling and getting an abortion often difficult if not impossible,” says Weeks.

AAPI women are overrepresented in the frontline and service industry, often working without health insurance and paid medical or family leave. Sixty-six percent of Asian Americans and 30% of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders also speak a primary language other than English at home which creates difficulties in accessing health care due to overwhelming language barriers. In addition, nearly two-thirds of Asian Americans and one-fifth of Pacific Islanders are foreign-born.

Nikki Tran of Maryland protested outside the Supreme Court last May. Since then, Chief Justice
John Roberts joined the five Justices on her poster in today's ruling.

“As the country’s fastest growing racial and ethnic group, a third of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders now live in one of the 26 states where abortion access has vanished. Gutting Roe cuts off access to abortion care and puts the well-being and financial stability for millions of AAPI women and families at tremendous risk,” says Weeks. The AAPI population, for instance, in Georgia and Texas has grown 138% and 128%, respectively since 2000. Both states are now primed to ban abortion following today’s Supreme Court ruling.

“The decision in Dobbs v. Jackson’s Women’s Health Organization is tragically wrong – overturning decades of established precedent, eroding basic human rights for millions of Americans and taking our country backwards and endangering many other civil liberties we take for granted," said John Yang, president of Advancing Justice, legal rights advocates. 

"We filed an amicus brief in this case with the National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum because of our concern for the Asian American and broader immigrant community," continued Yang. "Given that Asian Americans are among the fastest-growing populations nationwide with nearly two-thirds of the population being foreign-born, we have grave concerns about the impact this decision will have on our communities. 

"Bans on abortion care are going to heighten fears of adverse immigration consequences for undocumented individuals, refugees, and other immigrants regardless of their immigrant status. We will need to come together to find a way to support our communities while we explore every course of action to reclaim this fundamental human right.”

Justice Thomas' opinion said that he and his fellow right-wing justices are not done  taking away Americans' rights in other areas, as well.

“Today’s devastating reversal is not only about reproductive rights, but protections for the LGBTQ community, voting rights, and marriage equality. With legislators across the US repealing early voting and mail-in ballot expansions, and the Supreme Court refusing to protect the Voting Rights Act, AAPI interests, including the right to an abortion, are being sidelined,” says Weeks.

“After two years of increasing anti-Asian hate, NAPAWF is no stranger to legislators overlooking our concerns or witnessing attacks on our health and safety," continued  Weeks. "We will not back down. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, other communities of color, and a majority of all voters support legalizing abortion. It is time for elected officials to act on our interests.”

"The Supreme Court has now mandated forced pregnancy, taking away an intensely personal freedom for pregnant people to make decisions about our own bodies with a doctor or loved one, and instead bringing politicians into your decision and your bedroom," said Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. "Every woman, every family, every pregnant person should fear what this means for their futures."

"It is important that Americans understand that this Supreme Court and Republicans in Congress will not stop here," Jayapal continued. "In the opinion, the [conservative] justices say explicitly that the court should reconsider 'all substantive due process precedents,' including the right to contraception, to same-sex marriage, and to same-sex relationships."

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

Portrait of Patsy Mink, trailblazing congressmember, unveiled in US Capitol on 50th anniversary of Title IX law

OFFICE OF SEN. MAZIE HIRONO

Sen. Mazie Hirono and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi admire the portrait of the late Patsy Mink.

The portrait of the late Congresswoman from Hawaiʻi, Patsy Mink, was unveiled today in the US Capitol during a ceremony to celebrate her legendary life and the 50th anniversary of her groundbreaking bill, Title IX.

Mink—the first woman of color elected to Congress in 1965—led the effort to write and pass Title IX, which President Nixon signed into law. Title IX stated that no one should be excluded from participation or face discrimination on the basis of sex in any education programs or activity receiving federal assistance.

"This is what America is all about: possibilities," said President Biden. "Millions of women and girls have benefited from the change that Title IX helped make possible. 

"More women and girls are participating and excelling in countless fields—from professional sports, to science, math, and technology than ever before. Their leadership, achievements, and success bear out the legacy of countless women throughout history who fought hard for a place at the table and for equal opportunity in all fields."

US Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-HI, said during the ceremony Thursday: “Thirty-seven words long, Title IX represented a sea change for women in our country. Fifty years later, Title IX is just as important today as it was when Patsy fought for it.”

Following Mink's death in 2002, the law was renamed the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act.

Title IX applies to several areas of education, including the classroom, athletics, sexual assault and violence on campus, employment, discrimination, admissions, retaliation and financial assistance with tuition.

Over the years, the law also has been extended to other forms of gender and sex discrimination with issues involving the LGBTQ community.

Because of Title IX and the movement it launched, athletic opportunities for women in college are no longer the exception – they are the rule.

In 1971, the year before Title IX, fewer than 300,000 girls participated in high school sports, one in 27. Twenty years later, the total approached 3 million, approximately one in 2½. The latest number, according to the Women’s Sports Foundation, is 3.4 million.

The portrait of Mink was painted by artist Sharon Sprung. It joins other portraits of women trailblazers hanging in Statuary Hall, including Shirley Chisholm, the first African American Woman to serve in Congress and Jeanette Rankin, the first woman to ever serve in Congress.

"Growing up, I never thought I would be in elected office, let alone a member of Congress. It's because I never saw anyone who looked like me in such positions," said Rep. Judy Chu, chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. "So, it never even occurred to me that it was a possibility. 

"But think of how different this will be with the installation of this portrait. So many young girls will see it as they walk through the halls of the U.S. Capitol. And they will see a shining example of what Asian American women and women of color can do as trailblazers in Congress," said Chu.

"With celebration comes our continued commitment to build off of these incredible achievements.," said Rep. Kai Kahele, D-HI, representing Mink's congressional district. "We must tackle new challenges that arise, including fighting to eliminate sexual violence and increasing female representation in STEM programs. As the representative of the congressional district that she formerly served, I strive to uphold her legacy every day by advocating for equal rights and continuing to push for increased opportunities for women.”

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

Asian American legislator ends her bid for Massachusetts governor

Massachusetts sta teSenator Sonia Chang-Diaz

Massachusetts' first Asian American candidate for governor, Sonia Chang-Diaz, announced today she is ending her campaign.

"One year ago today, I announced my run for Governor. And since, I’ve never shied away from being honest," she posted on social media. "I've looked at the numbers, & there is no good-faith path I can lead my supporters on to win the Governor's office. "But there is still a path to victory for our movement," wrote the Democrat.

Chang-Díaz is the first Latina and first Asian American elected to the Massachusetts State Senate — and she’s spent her career fighting for people whose voices usually aren’t heard by lawmakers.

The former teacher's family instilled in her the values of justice and equity, and taught her the importance of taking action.

Her mother was a White social worker who helped women and children on the margins of society. Her father, Franklin Chang-Díaz, was the grandson of Chinese refugees. He arrived in the US with $50 in his pocket, but with the help of committed educators — "teachers, lunch ladies and librarians — made a huge difference in the trajectory of his life," and eventually becoming an astronaut.

"I never forgot that," said Sonia Chang-Diaz, "and I wanted to pay that debt forward."

Chang-Díaz also announced Thursday that while her name will remain on the ballot in the gubernatorial race, she will direct her attention "to elect down-ballot candidates" who share her progressive values.

“The reality is, this race has always been about more than just me. It’s been about all of us coming together and building a movement for courage and urgency in this state,” Chang-Díaz said in a statement.

“I am going to be spending my time campaigning and marshaling my supporters and the movement we’ve built for these courage Democrats down ballot, candidates who walk the walk when it comes to our values,” she said. “I have no doubt that they will fight to put courage over politics in our state, and I am going to be using my energy to help put them into office.”

By dropping out of the governor's race, it gives a clear path for Attorney General Maura Healey to win the Democratic nomination for governor in the state's September Primary.

Healey issued a statement following Chang-Diaz's announcement.

"I'm deeply grateful to Senator Sonia Chang-Díaz for her many years of service to Massachusetts and her inspired leadership during this campaign," Healey said. "The legacy of her campaign will live on through the young girls who finally saw themselves represented in a candidate for the highest office in the state. I look forward to continuing to partner with Senator Chang-Díaz to bring people together and make Massachusetts work for all of our families."

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

Philippines elections stirs new activism in the Filipino American community

ASIAN WEEKLY

Filipino Americans in Seattle protest the Philippines elections.

A march here, a demonstration there, a letter to the editor, a call to a member of Congress, an email or text to the White House. There are signs of a growing protest against the Philippines' president-elect, Bongbong Marcos, the son of the despot that ruled over the Philippines for two decades.

Remarkably, through a social media campaign that would make Donald Trump jealous with envy, a decades-long miseducation of a generation of Filipino students and a scattered and unorganized opposition, Bongbong Marcos is the apparent landslide winner of the Philippine Presidential elections held May 9.

Filipino Americans, most of whom are first- and second-generation immigrants and who have maintained close dies with family in the Philippines, are beginning to organize against the coming regime of the Marcos scion that officially takes office June 30.

The Marcos campaign used and abused social media in a country that is the most-plugged in country in the world. For example, there were 88 400 000 Facebook users in Philippines in February 2021, according to Facebook.That translates to over 77.7% of the Philippines entire population is on the social media platform, making them a ready target for hours and hours of misinformation generated by an army of influencers.

The pro-Marcos disinformation campaigns manipulating domestic public opinion using social media platforms “are emblematic of what every democracy around the world is facing — the global, existential problem of whether democracy can survive the assault of tech,” said Maria Ressa, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning editor-in-chief of the online news service.

In Los Angeles where the greatest number of Filipino American live, the National Alliance for Filipino Concerns and Migrante released this statement:

"The integrity of the 2022 election is questionable. We denounce the lack of preparation and hold the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), Smartmatic, and F2 Logistics liable for widespread vote counting machine failures. These machine failures, along with irregularities such as people receiving their Overseas Absentee Voting (OAV) ballots late and more 13,000 ballots being returned to their senders, make visible the attempt of disenfranchisement and have robbed our kababayan of the opportunity to contribute to the change they want to see. Let us continue to be vigilant and hold the new administration accountable to an effective response to the many crises we are facing."

The International Commission on Human Rights - Philippines sent 60 observers from 11 countries to the watch the Philippines elections firsthand. Although the final report will be released June 28, two days before Bongbong Marcos' inauguration. The interim report released last month found that through witness testimony and evidence-gathering, the observers documented widespread failure of the electronic voting system, vote buying, red-tagging of all opposition campaigns, and acts of violence against certain partylists and their supporters.

Already, a resolution dubbed the Philippines Human Rights Act, has been introduced to Congress, by Rep. Susan Wild, D-PA. The bill, H.R. 3884, urges the U.S. government "to suspend the provision of security assistance to the Philippines until the Government of the Philippines has made certain reforms to the military and police forces, and for other purposes." Sponsors fear that Marcos, Jr. will reinforce the brutal strongman rule of President Rolando Duterte. 

REDDIT

The Never Forget Contingent in New York City marched against the Philippine elections results.

A report by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights estimates that, even counting conservatively, at least 8,663 people had been killed under Duterte's so-called war on drugs. With fertile ground established by Duterte, it is easy to see the path Bongbong could use as an excuse to return the policies that made his father, Dictator Ferdinand Marcos, one of the most corrupt and richest dictatorships in the world.

To reassure the continuance of the Duterte rule for the next six years and perhaps beyond, his tough-talking daughter and Mayor of Davao City, Sara Duterte was elected Vice President.

The House resolution language outlines the human rights abuses that have taken place during the Duterte regime, including the extrajudicial  executions of alleged drug dealers and the assassinations of environmental activists, journalists, clergy, labor leaders and rival politicians.

The Ukraine War and COVID-19 has dominated the U.S. news so coverage of the protests in the Philippines since the questionable election results have not garnered much attention except by Filipino Americans.

Realizing that the U.S. is the biggest and most influential trading partner of the Philippines, anti-Bongbong campaigns are organizing and gaining momenturm, not only in the Philippines but also in North America. in those areas where great numbers of Filipino Americans. They are taking their demonstrations to the streets of San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Seattle, Honolulu, New York City and Toronto  and in the halls of lawmakers in city halls, state capitols and Washington D.C. 

The results of the Philippines election threatens to fracture the Filipino American community. Since the dictatorship, the Philippine embassies and consulates have made inroads with Filipino immigrants in North America by using its resources to support and encourage their community events, especially the celebration of Philippine independence. And there is a segment of the Filipino diaspora who will support the Philippine government, no matter who is president.

Veterans of the anti-Marcos campaign in the U.S, now in their 60s and 70s, are passing on the lessons they learned to a new generation of politically astute students and community advocates to organize for human rights in the Philippines, for their families and communities remaining in the Philippines.

“The election of Bongbong Marcos and Sarah Duterte…is a major setback for democracy and economic development in the country.” said Cindy Domingo, sister of labor leader Silme Domingo an anti-Marcos activist, who along with Gene Viernes, was assassinated in Seattle by Marcos thugs.

“As the sister of Silme Domingo…the outcome of the Philippine elections has been a most traumatizing event for my large extended family," she told Asian Weekly.

“Learning about the Philippines is a gateway to learning about everything and everything,” said Dr. Joy Sales, an assistant professor of Asian American Studies at CSU Los Angeles.

“It can help us understand not just why Filipinos are in the U.S., but also where the U.S. is placed in the world. It’s about this community that has deep transnational connections to the homeland, which is probably very relatable to other diasporas of color. … People’s lives are at stake here,” she told CapRadio.

“The best thing we can do is to stay vigilant, be vocal, be supportive, and pass the U.S. House Resolution (HR) 3884 that is intended to suspend the provision of security assistance to the Philippines until the Government of the Philippines has made certain reforms to the military and police forces,” said Maria Batayola of the Filipino American Political Action Group of Washington in an interview with Asian Weekly.

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

Broadway performers sing the Tagalog version of "Do You Hear the 

People Sing" from th Les Misrable  musical which has become an

anthem to people challenging the status squo.