California's Filipino American Chief Justice will be leaving the state's Supreme Court

California Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye will not seek re-election.

 

Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye will not seek re-election as Chief Justice of California in the November 2022 general election. 

“I have informed Governor Gavin Newsom that I will not seek re-election as Chief Justice of California and will conclude my judicial service when my current term of office ends," Cantil-Sakauye said in a statement. She will conclude her current term of office on January 1, 2023, after 32 years of service at every level of the state courts.

As the 28th Chief Justice of California, she is the first Asian American and the second woman to serve as the state’s chief justice. During her 12-year term, 

The Filipino American Chief Justice envisioned an accessible court system on every level for all Californians that reflects the people and communities that courts serve. She has successfully advocated for reforms of court funding models, fees, and procedures that unfairly impact the poor; adequate, sustainable funding for court operations; diversity and inclusion in the legal profession; and the role of civic education and engagement in sustaining public trust and confidence in the judicial system.

“Born and raised in Sacramento by farmworker parents, Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye learned early on the importance of knowing your rights and pushing back against injustice," said Gov. Gavin Newsom. "She served with distinction at every level of the state courts before breaking barriers as the first person of color and the second woman to serve as the state’s chief justice."

Cantil-Sakauye's July 27 statement continues:

"Of course, I will support the smooth transition of Judicial Branch leadership. Through his efforts, and those of recent governors, he will have a diverse pool of exceptionally well qualified jurists and legal professionals to choose from, and I believe the judiciary, the courts, and access to justice in California will be in good hands.

"My first interaction with our justice system was when my family faced eviction from our home and my mother felt helpless. As the daughter of farmworkers, I experienced in my community what it was like to stand up for your rights and demand protections. As a wife I felt the impact of unjust Japanese Internment on my in-laws. As a judge I saw the devastating effects of family violence and established the first court in Sacramento dedicated solely to domestic violence issues. As Chief Justice I continue to keep in mind the faces behind the cases and remain focused on the goal of providing all Californians with equal, fair, and accessible justice.

"A graduate of a public school, community college, and public university, I am proud to have served the people of California to the best of my ability at every level of our state court system.

"The support and encouragement of my family, my extended Filipino family, minority bar associations, and numerous role models and mentors throughout my public service career have enabled me to achieve and succeed even under sometimes difficult circumstances. I am grateful to them all.

"My career as chief justice is bookended by the Great Recession and administrative challenges at the beginning and now an historic judicial branch budget and the persisting difficulties of a Global Pandemic. Throughout my tenure, I have been privileged to serve in government with so many dedicated public servants and advocates: three governors; successive Senate Pro Tems, Assembly Speakers, and legislative members; justice partners and stakeholders involved with every part of our court system; as well as the judicial officers, court professionals, and the staff who serve on the Judicial Council of California and its advisory bodies. Their collegiality and professionalism have enabled us to move mountains—making sound statewide policy decisions and implementing an array of court programs and initiatives to benefit the public.

"For me, collegiality with my bench colleagues was also critical to my service as a justice on the court of appeal and as Chief Justice on the Supreme Court of California, along once again with a wonderful and brilliant professional staff. We discussed, debated, and sometimes disagreed, but we were always focused on the rule of law and what was right and just.

"I have taken, and administered, many oaths during my public service career, but no matter how many times I hear an oath “…that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California against all enemies, foreign and domestic,” it always resonates. Each generation must renew and refresh our constitutional democracy. I truly appreciate the opportunities previous governors, judicial branch leadership, and the People of California have given me to support, defend, and enhance the rule of law.

"I have said before that I hold my office in trust until it is time for the next leaders to protect and expand access to justice—that time is now.”

"As the 28th Chief Justice of California, she is the first Asian American and the second woman to serve as the state’s chief justice. 

"During her 12-year term, Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye envisioned an accessible court system on every level for all Californians that reflects the people and communities that courts serve. She has successfully advocated for reforms of court funding models, fees, and procedures that unfairly impact the poor; adequate, sustainable funding for court operations; diversity and inclusion in the legal profession; and the role of civic education and engagement in sustaining public trust and confidence in the judicial system.

"For me, collegiality with my bench colleagues was also critical to my service as a justice on the court of appeal and as Chief Justice on the Supreme Court of California, along once again with a wonderful and brilliant professional staff. We discussed, debated, and sometimes disagreed, but we were always focused on the rule of law and what was right and just.

"I have taken, and administered, many oaths during my public service career, but no matter how many times I hear an oath “…that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California against all enemies, foreign and domestic,” it always resonates. Each generation must renew and refresh our constitutional democracy. I truly appreciate the opportunities previous governors, judicial branch leadership, and the People of California have given me to support, defend, and enhance the rule of law.

"I have said before that I hold my office in trust until it is time for the next leaders to protect and expand access to justice—that time is now.”

Since her historic appointment in 2011, Cantil-Sakauye has been recognized for her early work on domestic violence issues, support for minority bar associations, and for advancing the role of women and minorities in the legal profession. The Chief Justice is a leader in revitalizing civic learning through her Power of Democracy initiative. She, along with other state leaders, fulfilled one of the initiative’s goals in July 2016 when the state Board of Education unanimously approved an instructional framework that encourages civic learning. 

In 2019, she was honored with the Sandra Day O’Connor Award by the National Center for State Courts for her work inspiring, promoting, and improving civics education.

She left the Republican Party when Brett Kavanaugh was appointed to the US Supreme Court. At the time, she said, "I've been thinking about it for some time," Cantil-Sakauye said, adding that she talked it over with her husband and friends. Their consensus, she said, was that "you didn't leave the party. The party left you."

“A fierce defender of access to the courts, she fought against immigrant enforcement raids at courthouses targeting vulnerable victims and witnesses of crime," said Newsom.

"During the pandemic, her tireless efforts modernized operations and expanded access to services at California’s courts, while retaining jobs and safe in-person access for those who need it," said Newsom. "Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye has been a leading voice for bail reform, calling out its disproportionate impacts on low-income people, and has raised awareness about the unfair financial hardships caused by fines and fees on those unable to afford them.

“From the wake of the Great Recession to a global pandemic, Chief Justice Cantil-Sakauye has led with a deep dedication to the rule of law, California values and the highest ideals of public service," continued the governor. "On behalf of a grateful state, I thank Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye for her nearly four decades of service to the people of California and wish her well in her next chapter.”

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

AsAm PSA gives a new twist to the iconic "American Gothic" to counter anti-Asian hate

 

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"Asian American Gothic" is a fresh interpretation of the famous painting "American Gothic" (inset).

One of the factors that fuels the recent surge of anti-Asian hate is the image as a "perpetual foreigner," no matter how long individuals have lived in the United States.

To counter this negative impression, San Francisco Bay Area-based indie director, Brian G. Cheung, has partnered with the multiple Emmy-winning Portland, OR production company, Only Today to release "Asian American Gothic", the first in a series of PSAs with a simple, single-minded message, “Asian Americans are American.”

"Asian American Gothic" is just the first of a handful of videos they will be releasing over the next few months. The PSA features moving portraits of everyday Americans of AAPI descent, posed similarly to the iconic piece of American art, American Gothic. The end of the video encourages viewers to support various AAPI organizations fighting Asian hate.

“The goal is not to tell people how to feel or guilt them into anything. We want people to reflect on their own thoughts on the matter and perhaps start a discussion over a meal or two," says Cheung.

VIEW Asian American Gothic at Vimeo.

The killing of 84-year-old Thai American Vicha Ratanapakdee, (whose daughter is shown holding his memorial portrait in the PSA) and more recently, the assault on a five-year-old girl and her father in Portland, Oregon, are just two of many attacks ongoing against people in the Asian community.

According to the California Department of Justice, crimes against Asian Americans increased by over 177% from 2020 to 2021, rising from 89 attacks to 247. Reports from other states and the Department of Justice reflect similar increase of hate incidents.

Stop AAPI Hate, a community-based nonprofit, collecting reports of anti-Asian incidents and crimes from across the nation. Since March 2000, Stop AAPI Hate has amassed over 11,000 hate incidents against Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.  

From simple verbal harassment to the deadly attacks in public to mass shootings in Atlanta, the incidents have instilled a feeling of fear, especially among women and elderly, who have been the main victims of hate.

Cheung, who is of Chinese/Korean/American descent, thought of his own mom who goes for daily walks alone. He approached production companies Only Today’s Joyce and Raymond Tsang for guidance on whether or not he should pursue the idea for this PSA. Not only did they encourage him to create it, but they also offered to fund and produce it.

Says Cheung, “An attack on the Asian American community is an attack on an American community. Let’s look after our neighbors.”

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

Ex-Minneapolis cop Tou Thao sentenced for his role in George Floyd's death

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Former Minneapolis police officer Tou Thao's (right) inaction as he warded off onlookers resulted
in the death of George Floyd, (behind him on the ground.)

UPDATED: July 28, 11 a.m. to correct spelling and editing errors and to add more details.

Former Minneapolis Police Officer Tou Thao was sentenced to 42 months in prison for his role in the death of Gorge Floyd Jr.

U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson sentenced Wednesday (July 27) the Hmong American officer along with fellow ex-Minneapolis Police Officer J. Alexander Jueng, who received a 36-months sentence.

George Floyd's death at the hands of MNPD officers sparked an outcry from civil rights advocates and a demand for police reform and the way law enforcement officers detain people in their custody.

RELATED: Who is Tou Thao?

On Feb. 24, 2022, following a trial that lasted nearly five weeks, a federal jury in St. Paul, Minnesota, found Thao and Kueng guilty of depriving Floyd of his constitutional right to be free from an officer’s unreasonable force when each willfully failed to intervene to stop former Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) Officer Derek Chauvin’s use of unreasonable force. 

The jury also found that Thao and Kueng deprived Floyd of his constitutional right to be free from a police officer’s deliberate indifference to serious medical needs when they saw Floyd restrained in police custody in clear need of medical care and willfully failed to aid him. 

The jury further found that both of these offenses resulted in cutting off air to Floyd's lungs resulting in his death. Both offenses are violations of the federal criminal civil rights statute that prohibits willful violations of civil rights by a person, such as a police officer, acting in an official capacity.

The same jury also found former MPD Officer Thomas Lane guilty of the same charges, resulting in bodily injury to Floyd and his death. On July 21, Lane was sentenced to 30 months in prison for this offense.

Former Officer Derek Chauvin previously pleaded guilty to depriving Floyd and a then-14-year-old child of their constitutional rights in violation of the same federal statute. On July 7, Chauvin was sentenced to 252 months in prison for those crimes.

“All four officers involved in the tragic death of George Floyd have now been convicted in federal court, sentenced to prison and held accountable for their crimes,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. 

“George Floyd’s death could have been prevented if these defendants had carried out their affirmative duty to intervene to stop another officer’s use of deadly force. While these defendants have now been held accountable, law enforcement officers and leaders must take seriously the affirmative duty under the Constitution to intervene to stop misconduct by fellow officers and the duty to render medical aid. 

"The federal prosecution of all officers tied to the death of George Floyd should send a clear and powerful message that the Department of Justice will never tolerate the unlawful abuse of power or victimization of Americans by anyone in law enforcement,” said Clarke.

Floyd's agonizing death and his pleas to breathe was ignored by the officers as the scene was videotaped by onlookers. Chauvin kept his knee on the back of Floyd's neck  for more than nine minutes. 

Unlike officers Chauvin, Lane, and Keung, Thao didn’t physically touch George Floyd during the fatal incident. Thao instead interacted with the growing number of eyewitnesses. He’s seen in the viral video instructing onlookers to “get back on the sidewalk” while the three other officers pressed George Floyd down to the ground.

The recording of Floyd's last minutes went viral, sparking massive protests across the world and reinvigorated the Black Lives Matter movement. The incident and public outrage resulted in bans on the chokeholds often used by police officers to restrain suspects.

Thao spoke for more than 20 minutes at his sentencing hearing during which he frequently quoting scripture as he said his arrest and time in jail led him to turn toward God, according to sources in attendance. However, he did not directly address his actions or offer any apologies to the Floyd family. Thao — like Lane and Kueng — remains free on bond awaiting a state trial, but spent several weeks in jail after his 2020 arrest on the state charges.

Judge Magnuson noted the slew of letters supporting the former officer, including one that he said had 744 signatures, and cited what he called Thao’s “completely clean record.”

“You had a difficult childhood and have done well to become a good police officer, father and husband,” the judge said.

The ex-officers still will face another trial under state charges.

Both men are due to report to federal prison on Oct. 4, though Magnuson noted that could change because of their upcoming state trial. Magnuson said he would recommend that they be allowed to serve their time at minimum-security federal facilities in Duluth or in Yankton, South Dakota, so they could be near family. The final decision is up to the Bureau of Prisons.

“Former officers Thao and Kueng each had an individual duty and opportunity to intervene in the excessive force that resulted in the agonizing death of Mr. Floyd, but both men failed to take any action,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger for the District of Minnesota. 

“These sentences reaffirm that every law enforcement officer, whether rookie or senior, has an affirmative duty to protect individuals in their custody.”

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

Survey: AANHPI voters more politically aware than popularly portrayed

Democrats and their positions on health care, gun control, the environment and race relations is still overwhelmingly favored by Asian American and Pacific Islander voters despite mainstream media's reports emphasizing divisions among AANHPI communities.

“Asian Americans are part of a diverse community comprising over 50 different ethnicities and 100 different languages, so it is critical that we conduct this survey every two years because often we are either left out of the polling data or considered an afterthought in the numbers that get reported,” said Jiny Kim, Vice President of Policy and Programs at Asian American Advancing Justice – Asian American Justice Center (Advancing Justice – AAJC), one of the organizations who conducted the survey. 

“The Asian American Voter Survey ensures that we know where the Asian American community stands on a whole host of issues, including their overwhelming support for race-conscious admissions/affirmative action policies and support for inclusive teaching of the histories of communities of color in our schools,” Kim continued.

The tendency for AANHPI voters to favor Democrats over Republicans wasn't even close: 44% of Asian American registered voters surveyed think of themselves as Democrat, 19% think of themselves as Republican, and 29% consider themselves Independent. The remainder (“do not think of themselves in terms of political parties,” identify with another party, or said they don’t know), according to the survey done in partnership with AAPIData, APIAVote and MomsRising.org.

One of the reasons AANHPI prefer Democrats, from the White House, Congress and state legislators is tied to the rise in hate crimes and racial incidents against AANHPI.

For example, support for Democratic House candidates is higher among those concerned about hate crimes. Those who say they worry “very often” plan to support Democrats over Republican House candidates by a 3 to 1 margin.

Those findings suggest that the Donald Trump-led GOP have made race relations worse by its anti-immigrant policies and Republicans' perceived support of White grievances.

The bi-aannual report released July 25 measured Asian American sentiment and attitudes on the issues for the lead-up to the 2022 midterm elections. 

The survey revealed insights into one of the fastest-growing racial groups in the United States, including their voting plans for House and Senate races in 2022, and various issue priorities such as education, healthcare, gun control, environment, and the state of the economy. In addition to election-related topics, the survey also contains key opinion data on affirmative action, the inclusion of Asian American history and the history of other non-white groups in public school curricula, and attitudes on federal spending.

The survey was conducted between April 19, 2022 and June 19, 2022. The survey included 1,610 registered Asian American voters. 

2022 ASIAN AMERICAN VOTER SURVEY

Among the other survey highlights are:

• More than two-thirds of registered Asian Americans surveyed say they plan to vote, but only about half have been contacted by either of the major parties. 52% of Asian Americans said they had not been contacted at all by the Democratic Party in the past year, and 60% of Asian Americans said they had not been contacted at all by the Republican Party in the past year.

• About half (51%) of Asian American registered voters surveyed say they prefer to cast their ballots by mail or drop-off box, rather than in-person at a polling place.

• Asian American registered voters as a whole were more likely to say they would vote for Democratic candidates compared to Republican candidates in House and Senate elections. 

• Among national origin groups, Indian Americans were the most likely to say they would vote for Democratic candidates. Vietnamese Americans were split (Senate) or leaned toward the Republican candidates (House).

• Asian American respondents ranked health care (88%), jobs and the economy (86%), crime (85%), education (82%), gun control (73%) and the environment (75%) as “extremely important” or “very important” issues for deciding their votes in November. Voting rights and addressing racism were also important issues.

• On addressing issues of health care, gun control, the environment, voting rights, and racism, Asian American respondents said Democrats were doing a better job than Republicans. 

• On addressing economic issues, crime, and foreign-policy, respondents were more split in their assessment of the two parties’ handling of the issues.

• 77% of those surveyed agree the United States should have stricter gun laws, with 61% agreeing “strongly.” A strong majority (59%) also said they “agree somewhat” or “agree strongly” that undocumented immigrants should have an opportunity to eventually become citizens in the United States.

• By a 2-to-1 margin, Asian American registered voters oppose bans on books and bans on lessons about racism in American history by state/local governments or school boards

• 56% of Asian American respondents held a “very favorable” or “somewhat favorable” impression of Joe Biden compared to 29% who expressed either a “very favorable” or “somewhat favorable” impression of Donald Trump.

• Television was the most common news source for Asian American respondents (65%) and Facebook (32%) was nearly as common a news source as traditional print newspapers (36%). For some groups, especially Vietnamese Americans (51%), YouTube was regularly consulted as a news source.

• 73% of Asian Americans worry about experiencing hate crimes, harassment and discrimination at least “sometimes” and 24% said they worry about it “very often.”

• Among those who say they worry “very often” about hate crimes, support for Democratic House candidates is higher than support for Republican House candidates by a 3 to 1 margin.

2022 ASIAN AMERICAN VOTER SURVEY

FYI: Read the 2022 AAPI Voter Survey here.

“Asian Americans are among the fastest growing segments of the American electorate, and it is critical that our understanding of these communities is grounded in accurate survey data,” noted Janelle Wong, co-director of AAPI Data.

Karthick Ramakrishnan, founder and co-director of AAPI Data added, “Our survey data show remarkable stability over time on issues like environmental protection and gun control, but they also show that more recent anxieties over hate crimes might also sway voters in their candidate choices.”

This year’s Asian American Voter Survey also showed that a significant majority of Asian Americans believed that Congress and the president should pass stronger legislation to reduce the effects of climate change, and that public schools should include lessons on Asian American history and the histories of other non-white groups.

“Asian Americans are a more and more influential voting bloc and lawmakers would be wise to pay attention to our concerns,” said MomsRising Senior Vice President Gloria Pan. 

“Gun safety is especially important to this community, as are federal investments in the kind of care infrastructure President Biden and congressional Democrats are still trying to pass, and moms and families urgently need: paid family and medical leave, child care, and home- and community-based services. The results of this survey provide a roadmap for how to address the issues the Asian American community prioritizes.”

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

New polls bolster VP Kamala Harris as she withstands attacks from right-wing media and misogynists

Vice President Kamala Harris addresses a convening of Pacific nation leaders.

ANALYSIS

Women, Asian Americans and Black Americans cheered when President Biden picked Kamala Harris as his vice president. Unfortunately, the historic selection immediately put a target on Harris' back by the right wing, racists and sexists.

As vice president, Harris is the presumed frontrunner to become the next President of the United States in 2024 or 2028 depending whenever Biden decides not to run for re-election. If she were to become President, Harris would make history in a number of ways: as the nation's first woman, the first Black woman and the first Asian American.

From the day picked Harris, the conservative media machine went into overdrive to sow doubts about her capabilities: making fun of her laugh  and fashion choices to highlighting anything that could be interpreted as a misstep.

During a livestreamed event hosted by Politico’s Women Rule Exchange, Politico senior editor Anita Kumar asked White House press secretary Jen Psaki if she felt Harris was receiving more criticism because she is the first woman and first woman of color to serve as vice president.

“Yes,” the outspoken Psaki answered, before adding: “Criticism from the outside, absolutely.

“I do think that it has been easier, and harsher, from some in the right wing who have gone after her because she is the first woman, the first woman of color,” the press secretary added. “I’m not suggesting anyone will acknowledge that publicly, but I think there’s no question that the type of attacks — the attacks on her that certainly, being the first she is many times over, is part of that.”

Despite the focus on Harris' poor polling performances, as if past Vice Presidents have always done poorly. It seems to be the nature of the position, not to outshine the President and to carry out the President's agenda.

Despite the mainstream media's tendency to fall into the no-win trap set up by the negative spin by the conservative media such as the New York Post and Fox News, the Vice President received a boost from three recent polls.

An Echelon Insights survey conducted July 15-18 found that if the next election were being held today, voters would narrowly back Harris. A total of 46% of likely voters said that they would vote for Harris, compared to 44% who would back Trump in a hypothetical race. Harris also beat DeSantis by 43% to 42%, albeit within the net margin of error of 1%.

The same poll also placed President Biden over both Trump over DeSantis: (46%) over Trump (44%), with the president also the preferred choice when up against the Florida governor (45% to 41%).

When those taking part in the poll said who they would vote for between Harris and the two Republican frontrunners, the vice president also came out on top.

A total of 46 percent of likely voters said that they would vote for Harris, compared to 44 percent who would back Trump in a hypothetical race. Harris also beat DeSantis by 43%to 42%, albeit within the net margin of error of 1%.

The same poll found that if Biden and Trump decided to run in 2024, both would lose a portion of the voters that voted in 2020. run again. Biden would lose 28% and Trump would lose 58% of his voters.

A recent poll from the Harvard University Center for American Political Studies (CAPS) found that Harris had 39% support against the presumed GOP Presidential wannabe, Florida's Gov. Ron DeSantis, who garnered 37%. Twenty-three percent of respondents were undecided between Harris and DeSantis.

While the White House has maintained that Biden intends to run again in 2024, there has been public speculation that Biden will not actually seek a second term due to his age. Biden has said that he would run despite being 82 in 2024 and that he would keep Harris as his second-in-command.

For Harris, there was additional good news from the poll in terms of the 2024 Democratic primaries, however. She placed second behind Biden among Democratic voters, garnering 18% support to the president's 30%.

But when Biden was excluded, Harris was the clear leader with 25% support. The next highest Democrat was Hillary Clinton polling with 15%.

Kamala Harris is polling ahead of Donald Trump and Rod DeSantis

Harris also strengthened her credentials in foreign affairs, an area her critics long considered her weakness. 

A recent Pew Research Center Survey ffound Harris fared higher with the rest of the world than in the US. Pew found a median of 55% of adults in several foreign countries have confidence in Harris to do the right thing regarding world affairs, including half or more who hold that view in 14 countries. Confidence in Harris is particularly high in Sweden, where 77% of adults view her positively.

Harris has taken on a variety of internationally focused responsibilities during her time as vice president. Those responsibilities have included a high-profile trip to Europe at the beginning of the war in Ukraine and coordination of relations with Central American leaders to stem the flow of migrants coming to the southern border of the United States. Earlier this month she reassured leaders from the Pacific nations of the US commitment to their governments.

With the Presidential election more than two years away, all the candidates still have time to change their position in the polls. A lot will depend on events between now and the elections, some of which Biden and Harris have little control over.

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

Online event slated on AANHPI representation on US television

Some of TV shows featuring AANHPI characters, from top right clockwise: Ms. Marvel,
Turning Red, NCIS: Hawaii and The Cleaning Lady.

One can't deny that the presence of AANHPI actors on US television has increased, but when you start at near zero, anything will look like an improvement.

The Television Academy Foundation announced it will present, in partnership with CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment), "The Power of TV: Advancing AAPI Representation," a free online event on July 27.

"Conversations like this are important to humanize the discussion around representation and the harmful effects of stereotypical narratives," said Michelle K. Sugihara, CAPE executive director. "We're grateful to the Television Academy Foundation for recognizing the importance of voices both behind and in front of the camera."

Despite the apparent rise in Hollywood productions featuring AANHPI actors or themes in recent years, the community remains vastly unrepresented in the nation's screens according to diversity reports conducted by the University of California in Los Angeles and the University of Southern California.

"In the wake of increasing discrimination and violence against the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, it is ever more important for the television community to commit to full, authentic, and equal representation for AAPI talent on-screen and behind the scenes," said Cris Abrego, chair of the Television Academy Foundation. 

The open-to-the-public virtual forum will assemble current AAPI industry leaders helping to drive inclusion in television. Panelists will discuss their own personal career paths to success and the challenges faced when advocating for inclusivity. In addition, the panel will explore strategies for greater equity within the industry for the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.

Panelists for the event include actor Cooper Andrews (The Walking Dead); The Cleaning Lady creator and executive producer Miranda Kwok; and Kenny Tsai, senior vice president of current programming at Universal Content Productions. Additional panelists to be announced. Michelle K. Sugihara, executive director of CAPE, will moderate the discussion.

According to a 2021 Pew Research Center report, the Asian population in the U.S. nearly doubled between 2000 and 2019 and is projected to surpass 46 million by 2060, making it the fastest-growing racial or ethnic group in the U.S.

Yet a significant representation gap exists both on screen and behind the scenes. In addition, programming continues to fall short of portraying the AAPI communities in a broad and inclusive manner. According to a 2021 USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative report, most portrayals fall into the categories of silenced, stereotyped, tokenized, isolated and sidekicks/villains.

The online event will be held Wednesday, July 27, 5:00 - 6:30 PM (PDT). Admission is free; RSVP is required. To register, visit TelevisionAcademy.com/power-of-tv/tickets.

Launched in 2017, "The Power of TV" is the Television Academy Foundation's series of public programs showcasing television's power to promote positive social change through compelling and inclusive storytelling. Thoughtfully curated conversations with storytellers, advocates and subject-area experts challenge the status quo and explore pathways to full inclusion of underrepresented perspectives and historically excluded groups make up this event series.

"The Power of TV: Advancing AAPI Representation" is also part of the curriculum for the Foundation's 2022 Summer Internship Program. The event will be made available for on-demand viewing at a later date on TelevisionAcademy.com. To register, click here.

"Through public programs such as this one, the Foundation is dedicated to creating the space for substantive solution-oriented discussions on advancing equity in representation for historically excluded and perpetually misrepresented groups," said Abrego.

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

'A Thousand Cuts," documentary on Maria Ressa, wins Peabody Award

Two Jersey girls making waves: journalist Maria Ressa, left, and filmmaker Ramona Diaz.

As journalist Maria Ressa fights off attempts of the Philippine government to muzzle her online news site Rappler and to jail the Nobel Peace Prize winner, a documentary of her fight for freedom of the press won the prestigious Peabody award.

A Thousand Cuts — Frontline’s 2021 documentary on the escalating war between the government and the press in the Philippines — was honored with a George Foster Peabody Award in the documentary category.

Directed by Filipino American filmmaker Ramona S. Diaz, the award-winning feature-length documentary follows renowned journalist Maria Ressa, CEO of the independent news site Rappler and a top target of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on press freedom. In December 2021, Ressa went on to be named a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Like Ressa, Diaz immigrated with her family as a young girl and grew up in New Jersey.

As one of the most prominent Filipino American filmmakers in the US, Diaz is the director of numerous feature documentaries including: 

• Spirits Rising (1996), about Corazon Aquino and the People Power Revolution, which won a Student Academy Award and the Ida Lupino DGA Award; 
• Imelda (2004), the definitive portrait of the infamous former First Lady of the Philippines, which won the Sundance Cinematography Prize for director of photography; 
• Ferne Pearlstein (full disclosure: my wife); and 
• Motherland (2017), a cinéma vérité portrait of a hospital in one of the poorest parts of Manila, home to the busiest maternity ward on earth, which won a Special Jury Award at Sundance.

In the Peabody Award jurors’ citation, A Thousand Cuts was recognized for its “astonishing access and chilling precision” and was honored as “a journalistic profile in courage for our time and a cautionary tale for global press freedom straining against the rise of populist autocracies around the world.”

A Thousand Cuts premiered on PBS in January 2021 following a decorated theatrical release in the summer of 2020 by PBS Distribution. Most recently, the film was awarded a 2022 Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award in the International TV category.

“We are thrilled to see Ramona Diaz’s A Thousand Cuts be recognized by the George Foster Peabody Awards,” said Frontline Executive Producer Raney Aronson-Rath. 

“At a time when the critical practice and public service of journalism is increasingly under attack in countries across the globe, we are proud to share Maria’s courageous story with our PBS audiences. We share this honor with our production partners at CineDiaz, Motto Pictures and Concordia Studios, and we will continue to champion Maria and other journalists in pursuit of the truth.”

In the last days of the Presidency of President Rodrigo Duterte before he handed over the  government to incoming , the Philippine government ordered Rappler to stop its online operation. Two weeks later, the Court of Appeals upheld libel charges against Ressa which carries with it a six-year prison. sentence.

Meanwhile, Ressa remains free on bail and Rappler is continuing to operate as appeals are being made to the newly installed government of President Bongbong Marcos to drop the charges against the news site and the journalist.

“I’m very honored to receive a Peabody Award for A Thousand Cuts,” said Diaz. “It’s been a privilege to be able to tell Maria Ressa’s story. She has been sounding the clarion call for social media disinformation and its effects on democracy since 2016. This important recognition from Peabody goes a long way in helping us amplify this universally resonant story.”

Since 1940, the prestigious George Foster Peabody Awards have honored excellence in broadcasting. The awards now recognize excellence in digital storytelling as well.

Including the award for A Thousand Cuts, Frontline — which is produced at GBH in Boston and airs nationwide on PBS — has garnered 27 Peabody Awards to date. 

Stream A Thousand Cuts below.

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

Stop AAPI Hate:11,500 anti-Asian incidents over a span of two years; no signs of a slowdown of attacks

Two years of being the target of hate has done little to slow the attacks aginst Asian Americans. According to a new report, since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been 11,500 hate incidents reported to Stop AAPI Hate.

Stop AAPI Hate released a new report, Two Years and Thousands of Voices, which provides deeper insight into the racism and discrimination the AAPI community has faced since the start of the pandemic in 2020.

“Our self-reported data shows that if you’re only watching the news, you aren’t getting the full picture of what AAPIs are experiencing,” said Russell Jeung, Ph.D., co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate and professor of Asian American Studies at San Francisco State University. “AAPIs are verbally harassed in grocery stores and shops, on the street and on public transit. We have a right to be treated with dignity and respect.”

The incidents of hate which coincided with the start of pandemic increased as officials in the Trump administration used ethnic slurs to link the coronavirus with China. Historians and social scientists point out the anti-Asian hate has been part and parcel of American history but in recent years the bias appeared to die down because of the growing awareness and the social stigmas associated with racism and discrimination.

The pandemic and the Trump administration lifted the lid on the tamped-down bias and emboldened racist to unleash the anti-Asian sentiment.

The report released Wednesday (July 20) looks at the nearly 11,500 hate incidents reported to the Stop AAPI Hate reporting center between March 19, 2020 and March 31, 2022, and includes findings from a 2021 national survey Stop AAPI Hate conducted in partnership with Edelman Data & Intelligence.

"Key findings of Two Years and Thousands of Voices" include:

• Non-criminal incidents comprise the vast majority of the harmful hate incidents that AAPI community members experience.

• Harassment is a major problem. Two in three (67%) of nearly 11,500 incidents involved harassment, such as verbal or written hate speech or inappropriate gestures.

• AAPI individuals who are also female, non-binary, LGBTQIA+, and/or elderly experience hate incidents that target them for more than one of their identities at once.

• One in three (32%) parents who participated in the Stop AAPI Hate/Edelman Data & Intelligence survey were concerned about their child being a victim of anti-AAPI hate or discrimination in unsupervised spaces and on the way to school.

• Hate happens everywhere — in both large cities and small towns, in AAPI enclaves and in places where AAPI communities are few and far between.

The more serous incidents resulted in physical attacks that caused the death of someone such as the mass shooting at Asian spas in the Atlanta area, the vicious attacks against elderly AAPI that knock them unconscious; or crimes resulting in robbery or assault but not legally called a hate crime but seen as crimes of opportunity.

However, most of the reported incidents were in the form of harassment, such as a report from Marin County, California:

“I was emptying my trash into a public trash can at a rest stop and a man walked towards me asked me where my mask was, shoved me back and said if anyone should be wearing a mask it is people like you. He mocked by pulling his eyes back to resemble slant eye and bowed to me.” 

Incidents that witnesses might shrug off have traumatic impacts on the victim such as a Connecticut report: “I walked into a discount store where I saw a woman conversing with another person; when she got in line at a register to purchase her food, she was stopped and the person working the register called her slurs, then a virus, and then refused to check her out.” 

Recommendations

The report also lays out Stop AAPI Hate’s approach to addressing anti-AAPI hate: education equity, community-driven safety solutions and civil rights expansion.

“Even as people move on past the COVID-19 pandemic, AAPIs continue to be harassed because of their race,” said Manjusha Kulkarni, co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate and executive director of AAPI Equity Alliance. “The AAPI community is tired of being afraid. We want solutions that actually make a difference and focus on prevention.”

“While our focus is understanding hate against AAPI’s, we know that hate is on the rise for many groups including the Black, Latinix, Muslim, LGBTQ+ communities,” said Cynthia Choi, co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate and co-executive director of Chinese for Affirmative Action. “It is why we need to work together to address root causes of racism and prevent incidents before they happen.”

Stop AAPI Hate is calling on elected officials to further their efforts to: 

• Stop the harassment of AAPIs and protect our civil rights by introducing legislation like No Place for Hate California, which will address hate where it happens: in spaces open and accessible to the public;

• Educate the public about AAPI histories and cultures by making ethnic studies a standard part of the K-12 curriculum; and invest in community-based programs to support the healing of victims and survivors, and to prevent violence before it starts.

• Hate incidents included in the report point to the prevalence of harassment, and the need for elected officials to take action. Incidents have been edited for grammar, length and clarity:

The Stop AAPI Hate coalition encourages any member of the AAPI community who has experienced hate during the pandemic to report the incident at: https://stopaapihate.org/reportincident/.

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

UCLA developing AANHPI material for the classroom

As more states come to the realization that there is a huge gap in their curricula when it comes to telling the stories of AANHPI, educators, accustomed to having their lesson plans guided by Europe-centric material are scratching their heads where they will get the information about the new, more diverse viewpoints.

The UCLA Asian American Studies Center has received $10 million in state funding that will propel the development of a free multimedia learning experience that will equip teachers across the country with materials that can fill a curricular gap about the experiences of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

“This AAPI Multimedia Textbook produced by the UCLA Asian American Studies Center will provide an authoritative and invaluable resource for California high schools and colleges as we prepare for the teaching of ethnic studies throughout the state,” said Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, a member of the Asian American Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus, which championed the budget alloation. 

 The AAPI Multimedia Textbook will feature an open-access, online platform with lessons for students in high school, college and lifelong learners. Its chapters will highlight the histories, struggles, cultures and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States. It will integrate content developed by scholars from across the country, and engaging learning activities in flexible modules for teachers and students. The materials will focus on high school and college students.

“The textbook will be the most comprehensive, scholar-informed, online history of AAPIs that redefines the American narrative and opens unlimited possibilities for building a just, multiracial and democratic future,” said Karen Umemoto, Helen and Morgan Chu Endowed Director of the UCLA Asian American Studies Center. One of the key features of the multimedia textbook is the input from members of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.

Teachers will have flexibility

The online platform will allow students to navigate chapters on different topics, periods and places with visual, audio and archival artifacts that bring history to life, Umemoto said. Chapters will be standalone and operate as customizable modules designed for a single class period or a week-long series that educators can “take off the shelf” to teach in their classrooms.

“The work that Dr. Umemoto and the UCLA Asian American Studies Center is doing is more important than ever,” said Assemblymember Mike Fong. “The increase in anti-AAPI hate crimes is an indication of the lack of understanding and appreciation for the contributions made by our community to California and our nation.” 

UCLA

 

Following a long history of racism in the United States, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders became scapegoats of the COVID-19 pandemic, facing xenophobia, physical violence, bigotry and hate. While the mainstream media has helped make this surge of anti-Asian racism more visible to the public, scholars and policymakers believe the dearth of AAPI history in classrooms is a critical gap that enables these racialized ideologies to persist generation after generation.

“As California requires ethnic studies for high school graduation, the Asian American Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus secured funding for the AAPI Multimedia Textbook, which brings together distinguished scholarship, open access technology and ethnic studies pedagogy as a critical resource to teach AAPI history,” said Dr. Richard Pan, state senator and chair of caucus.

In 2021, California legislation made ethnic studies a graduation requirement for all public high schools, Cal State University campuses and community colleges in the state.

Many other states and school districts across the country are also starting to require ethnic studies as a high school and college graduation requirement. Illinois, New Jersey and Rhode Island now have requirements that AAPI history be taught in every public elementary and high school. More than a dozen other states have legislation in the pipeline adding AANHPI material to their curricula.

“There will be a tremendous need for high-quality curricula that reflect cutting edge Asian American studies scholarship and pedagogy with learning outcomes that will equip future leaders to build a more just and equitable future,” said Kelly Fong, co-director of the project and a lecturer in UCLA’s Asian American Studies department.

Dangerous ignorance about tAANHPI

Umemoto was part of an academic advisory committee for the 2022 Social Tracking of Asian Americans in the U.S. Index that found the contributions of Asian Americans continue to be invisible and unfamiliar to the American public. Fifty-eight percent of Americans were unable to name a prominent Asian American and 42% were unable to name a significant Asian American historical moment more recent than the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II.

The AAPI Multimedia Textbook Project will help improve understanding of how AAPIs have influenced and shaped the United States, as well as foster a sense of belonging and acceptance of Asian Americans.

“For decades, Asian American and Pacific Islander communities have been longing to be seen and heard. In my experience growing up, I didn’t learn anything about AAPI history in school. It’s as if we didn’t exist, which contributes to perceptions that we don’t belong in America,” said Phil Ting, who chairs the Assembly’s budget committee. “Inclusion in textbooks and lessons are key to fostering greater understanding and acceptance, and I’m happy to champion state funding that help us reach those goals.”

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