Vietnamese immigrant police officer killed in Oakland

Oakland officer Tuan Le

A Vietnamese American police officer was fatally shot while trying to stop a burglary in Oakland.

"It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of Officer Tuan Le, a dedicated public servant, loving husband, and a cherished member of the Oakland community," the Oakland police department said Dec. 29.

Multiple arrests have reportedly been made in connection with the burglary that led to the shooting, according to KTVU. Sources say they expect more arrests will be made. But at this time, there's no official word that the person who fired the gun that killed Officer Le has been arrested.

"This morning, our beloved city faced a heart-wrenching moment as one of our brave and dedicated Oakland police officers tragically lost their life in the line of duty," said Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao at a Friday news conference.

"I am deeply devastated by this heartbreaking news, and I know the entire Oakland community feels the profound impact of this loss.

Le, 36, was killed early Friday, Dec. 29, while iresponding to a burglary at a cannabis dispensary around 4:45 a.m. in the 400 block of Embarcadero near Ninth Avenue.

Fellow officers reportedly rushed the wounded Le to Highland Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 8:44 a.m.

Le was born on June 1, 1987 in Saigon Vietnam, before later moving to Oakland and being naturalized on September 11, 2001.

On February 21, 2020, Le graduated from the 183rd Police Academy, beginning a journey of public service to his community that lasted nearly four years.

"For the past two years, Officer Le served as the Community Resource Officer (CRO) in West Oakland, where he devoted himself to strengthening the bond between law enforcement and the residents of Oakland. His tireless efforts in fostering positive relationships made a lasting impact," continued the OPD press release.

"Officer Le was a devoted husband to his wife. His passing leaves a void in the law enforcement community, the city of Oakland, and in the hearts of those who knew him.

 "He will be remembered for his kindness, his smile, and the positive change he brought to the lives of those around him. He is a true hero who dedicated his life to making our community safer," read the police statement.

"In this incredibly difficult time, I am urging all Oaklanders to unite in solidarity with the OPD family and the grieving loved ones of our fallen officer," said Mayor Thao. "The pain runs deep, and the support we provide to one another will be crucial as we navigate the shock that has enveloped our community.“

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

Pew Research Center: TheAsian American population grew in every state

California is far and away the favorite destination of Asian Americans but as their population continues to grow, Asian Americans are finding homes and creating communities in  the other 49 states, too.

The Asian American population has increased in every state and the District of Columbia over the past two decades, according to an analysis by the Pew Research Center. California had an Asian population of roughly 5.9 million in 2019, by far the nation’s largest. It was followed by New York (1.7 million), Texas (1.5 million), New Jersey (870,000) and Illinois (732,000). A majority of U.S. Asians (56%) live in these five states.

In terms of growth rates, North Dakota and South Dakota saw the fastest increases in their Asian American populations between 2000 and 2019. The Asian populations in both states more than tripled during that time. Indiana, Nevada and North Carolina also saw significant growth as their Asian populations increased by 183%, 176% and 175%, respectively.

California, Texas and New York saw the most robust numerical growth in their Asian American populations between 2000 and 2019. Together, these three states accounted for 43% of overall Asian population growth in the U.S. during that period. 

The number of Asian Americans grew by over 2 million in California, by 883,000 in Texas and by 617,000 in New York. Notably, the Asian population grew more in Texas than in New York during this span, even though more Asians still reside in New York.
Asian American population growth in some states surpassed the state’s overall population growth

In West Virginia, the Asian population increased between 2000 and 2019 even though the state’s overall population declined. The decrease in West Virginia’s overall population can be largely attributed to a decline in the state’s White population, which makes up a majority of the state’s populace.

In four other states, increases in the number of Asian Americans between 2000 and 2019 exceeded the state’s overall population growth. That was especially apparent in Michigan, where the Asian population grew by more than four times as much as the state’s overall population (151,000 vs. 34,000). New York, Illinois and Rhode Island had similar patterns, though to a lesser degree.

In two other states, Asian Americans accounted for more than half of statewide population growth from 2000 to 2019. Asians accounted for 83% of total population growth in New Jersey and 57% in Connecticut during this span.

Asian Americans recorded the fastest population growth rate among all racial and ethnic groups in the United States between 2000 and 2019. 

The Asian population in the US grew 81% during that span, from roughly 10.5 million to a record 18.9 million, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of US Census Bureau population estimates.

The  census show that Asian American population has continued to rise to over 24 million by 2023. 

Ancestral diversity among Asians in the US is quite noteworthy to political and economic interests. The three largest ancestry groups among Asian Americans are Chinese (including Taiwanese) at 23.6%, Asian Indian at 23% and Filipino representing 15.7% of the US Asian population.

Furthermore, by 2060, the number of US Asians is projected to rise to 35.8 million, more than triple their 2000 population.

Hispanics saw the second-fastest population growth between 2000 and 2019, followed by Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (NHPI) at 70% and 61%, respectively. The nation’s Black population also grew during this period, albeit at a slower rate of 20%. There was virtually no change in the White population.

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

Maryland Governor names Asian American advisors

Maryland voters elected Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller, left, and Gov. Wes Moore in 2022.

Maryland's Governor Wes Moore. (D) announced Dec. 26 appointments to the Governor’s Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs, which advises the governor on issues that affect the state's Asian-Pacific Americans. 

According to the Office of the Governor, Yang Yu will serve as chair. The new appointees bring direct ties to a range of Asian Pacific countries, deep track records of leadership and engagement in local Asian Pacific American communities, and a range of professional expertise–from business ownership to education and community nonprofit leadership.

Asians make up over 7% of Maryland's population, the fastest growing ethnic group in the state made up mostly by Chinese, Indian, Filipino, Vietnamese and Koreans.

Montgomery County, a suburb of Washington, DC, has the state’s largest population of Asian residents, according to the Baltimore Banner. It has an estimated 16% of the overall county population, according to the census. Other places in Maryland also have growing populations of Asian residents, including Anne Arundel County, 4.5%; and Baltimore County, 6.5%.

In the 2022 Midterm elections, besides picking Moore, Maryland voters also elected Aruna Miller (D), the first immigrant and first Asian American and first Indian American elected to statewide office in Maryland.

Members of the governor's commission are:

Yang Yu, PhD, (Chinese), chair, is acting associate dean and associate professor at Howard Community College, where she also chairs the Department of Social and Cultural Sciences. She also serves as a commissioner on the Asian American Pacific Islander Commission of Howard County and is an active member of the Rotary Club.

Isabelle Balakit, (Filipino), is a former board member of the Department of Justice Asian Pacific American Employees Association. She also served as an outreach coordinator for the Center for Abused Persons for Charles County, providing interviews with victims of domestic violence.

Julia Chang, (South Korean), is the founder and business development director of the U.S. Taekwondo Academy, as well as Mrs. Maryland America 2021 and 2023. She is a health and fitness mindset coach, speaker, and writer who helps women grow their motivation through pro bono Taekwondo classes, cooking classes and motivational talks.

Tim Chng, (Taiwanese), is a principal software developer at Yahoo Inc. He received bachelor’s degrees in computer science and political science from Purdue University and is active in Maryland’s Taiwanese American community.

Amy Jean Chung Fry, (South Korean), is the chief of staff for Prince George’s County Council member Jolene Ivey. She also serves as the Ward 6 council member and vice mayor of Cheverly and is the first East Asian American to fill an elected seat in Cheverly.

Brian Gerardo, (Filipino), is senior associate of learning and capacity building at The Annie E. Casey Foundation. He is founder and president of the Baltimore chapter of the National Association of Asian American Professionals, a founding member of the Baltimore City Mayor’s AAPI Advisory Committee and is a Teach for America alumnus.

Dr. Eugenia Henry, (Taiwanese), is the founder and president of H2O Clinical, LLC, a company that performs data management for clinical trials. She is also the founder of the Global Federation of Chinese Business Women Baltimore Chapter and a former commissioner on the Maryland Commission for Women.

Larry La, (Vietnamese), is the founder and chief executive officer of Meiwah Restaurant Group, a founding member of the Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce for the Capital City Area, as well as the founder and vice president of Business Development of the U.S.-Asia Links, LLC, an international trading company that promotes trade between the U.S., China and Vietnam.

Alanna Lee, (South Korean), is vice president of The Peaceful Unification Advisory Council Washington chapter, treasurer of Korean American Association of USA, chief of staff of the Federation of Korean Association USA, and former president of the Montgomery County Korean American Association. She is also the office manager of Champion Martial Arts Academy.

Kuan Lee, JD, (Taiwanese), is a senior attorney advisor in the Office of Appellate Operations at the U.S. Social Security Administration. He is a member of Leadership Anne Arundel, former president and founding member of Taiwan Sister Cities, and chair of the Rockville Yilan Sister City Committee.

Dr. Ping Lu, (Chinese), is a retired cardiologist with long ties to Maryland’s Asian American community. She is the first female president of the Chinese Alumni Associations of Greater Washington, founding advisor of the Capital Youth Outreach Club and president of the Zhejiang University Alumni Association of Greater Washington, DC.

Thai Nguyen, (Vietnamese), is a former social worker at the Department of Health and Human Services and is now the president of New Hampshire Car Wash. He serves as a senior advisor for the Vietnamese Senior Association of Maryland.

Sirikarn “Sarah” Prammawat, (Thai), is a former high school counselor in Montgomery County and a college access program specialist. She currently runs her own clinic focused on academic improvement, helping families understand 504s and the IEP process. Her community activities include organizing the annual Thai Water (Songkran) Festival in Frederick.

Siu Cheung Rossmark, (Chinese), is a residential and commercial real estate broker with a long career as an entrepreneur and restaurateur in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. She currently chairs the Asian American Youth Leadership Empowerment and Development Board of Directors, and is active in other AAPI organizations, including the Asian American Real Estate Association and Organization of Chinese Americans – NOVA.

Young Ran Smith, (South Korean), oversees the daily operations of the Greenmount Senior Center in Baltimore as its executive director. Since retiring as an IT professional, she has served as president of the League of Korean Americans, as the advisory board chair for the Howard County Consumer Protection Office and as a committee member of AAPI of Baltimore.

Jarrett Stoltzfus, (Chinese, from Hong Kong), was vice mayor of Mt. Rainier and has served as a city council member of Ward 2 since 2021. He is the co-founder of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Clean Energy, a professional group to support Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and allies that work in clean energy, clean transportation and climate solutions; and is one of the founding members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander Democratic Club of Prince George’s County.

Jessie Su, (Chinese), is assistant director for student engagement at Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School. She also serves on the Baltimore Xiamen Sister City Committee board, is president of the Towson University Asian American Alumni Association and is active with the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs Asian American/Pacific Islander Advisory Committee to support AAPI initiatives in Baltimore.

Tho Tran, (Vietnamese), is the founder and executive director of Vietnamese American Services, Inc., a nonprofit organization that helps Vietnamese immigrants with advocacy, health care, senior programs, English as a Second Language and workforce training.

Cecilia Vergara, (Filipino), is chief financial officer at both the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce and the Montgomery County Chamber Community Foundation. She attended management and executive training courses at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management, the University of North Carolina Kenan Flagler Business School and Harvard University.

Roxanne Yamashita, PhD, (Polynesian), is a bioinformatics scientist with the National Center for Biotechnology Information at the National Institutes of Health. She is the executive director of the non-profit Small Things Matter, which provides supplemental food to more than 5,000 food insecure individuals in Montgomery County and Prince George’s County.

Lili Zhang, (Chinese), is senior advisor of the U.S.-China Chamber of Commerce and has served as a commissioner of the Governor’s Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs in Maryland, as president of America Mazu Cultural Exchange Association, as president of American Li Yun Foundation and as president of The Union of Chinese American Professional Organization.

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

Jo Koy picked to host the Golden Globes Awards

Comedian Jo Koy will be the first Filipino  American to host a major awards show in the US.

Having just completed his Funy Is Funny World Tour, the stand-up comedian will host the 81st Golden GLobes Awards on Jan. 7, 2024.

“I’ve stepped onto a lot of stages around the world in my career, but this one is going to be extra special. I’m so excited to be hosting the Golden Globes this year,” said Koy in a press release. “This is that moment where I get to make my Filipino family proud. Mahal Kita (Google it)!”

Koy will host the show for the first time, bringing his unique charm, energy, and unpredictable humor to the three-hour broadcast on CBS.

"We are thrilled to have Jo host the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards and bring his infectious energy and relatable humor to kick off Hollywood’s award season. We can’t wait to see what he has in store for the stars in the room and a global audience,” said Helen Hoehne, Golden Globes President. “We know Jo is bringing his A-game.”

        RELATED: Two Asian American movies nominated for Globes

Koy is not the first Asian host of the Golden Globes. Sandra Oh shared the honors with Andy Samberg in 2019. 

Other recent hosts included Ricky Gervais, the co-hosts of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers.

Koy is widely recognized as a leading stand-up comedian, actor and author. His uniquely relatable comedy pulls inspiration from his colorful family, and has reached audiences of all kinds and translated into sold-out arenas around the world. His recent “Funny Is Funny World Tour” broke sales records at some of the most prestigious venues around the world. Previously, he released five highly-rated stand-up specials on Comedy Central and Netflix, including his most recent Netflix special, Live From The Los Angeles Forum.

Much of Koy's material is drawn from his Filipino family and growing up in in Seattle. It was the basis for the 2022 feature Easter Sunday, the first Hollywood studio movie centering around a Filipino American family.

“Jo’s genuine brand of comedy is sure to entertain our honorees in the room at the Beverly Hilton and viewers at home. We are excited to work with him to make this year’s show laugh-out-loud from beginning to end,” said executive producing showrunners Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner.

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

Immigrants driving growth in the US

Immigrants from Asia and other countries are keeping the United States population from stagnation. If not for immigration, the US population would have declined this year.

The US gained more than 1.6 million people in the past year, an increase driven by immigrants and a lower death rate, according to data released this week by the US Census Bureau. The total immigrant population grew by almost 30% between 2005 and 2022, climbing to just over 46 million people. Foreign-born Americans made up 13.9% of the US population in 2022, up 1.5 percentage points from 2005.

Immigration from Asia drove growth in Asian American communities last year, accounting for two-thirds of the 577,000-person increase in people who identify as Asian, including those who identify with more than one race. The 2.4% increase was the largest of any race or ethnic group, boosting Asian American population to 24.6 million

The county with the showing the most increase in the US is King County, Washington — home to Seattle — which added almost 21,500 Asian residents last year. 

There were more than 1.7 million Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders in the U.S. last year, an increase of 1.2% over the previous year. Clark County, Nevada, home to Las Vegas, had the biggest increase, with almost 1,500 new residents. So many Native Hawaiians, seeking the high cost of living in their island state, were responsible for that growth.

With it's proximity to the US, Mexico provides the most immigrants, but the next three countries are India, China and the Philippines. In fact, five of the top ten countries are Asian countries.

Immigrants' top ten countries of origin

“Immigrant and refugee communities bring talent, culture and a set of skills that are needed in our community,” said Arrey Obenson, president and CEO of the International Institute of St. Louis, which helps newcomers adapt to life in the US.

In the 2000 U.S. Census, the Federal Government defines “Asian American” to include persons having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent. “Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander” includes Native Hawaiian, Samoan, Guamanian or Chamorro, Fijian, Tongan, or Marshallese peoples and encompasses the people within the United States jurisdictions of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. The previous “Asian and Pacific Islander” (API) category was separated into “Asian Americans” and “Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders” (NHOPI).

The rise marked a bump of 0.5% as more states saw population gains than in any year since the start of the pandemic, bringing the US population to 334,914,895. While the increase is historically low, it’s higher than those seen in 2022 (0.4%) and 2021 (0.2%) when immigration slowed because of COVID-19.

The states that saw the largest growth in foreign-born residents over the five years were Texas, Florida, California and New Jersey.

The small growth in the white population was driven by Latinos, or Hispanics, who identified themselves as being white. Without the Hispanic Whites, the White population in the US would have shown a decrease.

Other highlights of the Census report:

• During the 2018-2022 period, there were an estimated 45.3 million foreign-born people in the United States; 13.7% of the nation’s total population.
• The foreign-born population rose by more than 5 million between the 2008-2012 (39.8 million) and 2018-2022 periods.
• The Foreign-born made up over a fifth of the state population in California (26.5%), New Jersey (23.2%), New York (22.6%) and Florida (21.1%) in 2018-2022.
• Florida, Texas, California and New Jersey had the largest numeric increases in the foreign-born population between 2008-2012 and 2018-2022.
• Almost half (49.1%) of all foreign-born people entered the United States before 2000, and more than half of all foreign-born people (52.3%) were naturalized U.S. citizens in 2018-2022.
• During the 2018-2022 period, an 18.7% share of the foreign-born population 25 years and older had a bachelor’s degree as their highest degree and 14.9% had a graduate or professional degree, compared to 21.4% and 13.1% of the native-born population 25 years and older.
• Nearly two-thirds (63.5%) of the foreign-born population 16 years and older were employed in the civilian labor force, and more than a third of the foreign-born U.S. civilian employed population (16 years and older) worked in management, business, science and arts occupations in 2018-2022.

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

Biden on the 80th Anniversary of the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act

In 1882 newspapers advocated for a ban on immigration from China.

President Biden released the following statement on the 80th anniversary of the end of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1943.

The Chinese Exclusion Act which went into effect in 1882, was the first immigration law restricting immigration to the United States. White American workers, egged on by blatantly racist newspapers, felt  threatened by Chinese immigrants who often worked for lower wages.

At first, the racist law targeted people from China but later it was expanded to include all people of "Mongolian" descent. 

Biden's statement is especially meaningful at a time when the US is experiencing a rise in anti-Asian assaults and anti-China sentiment spurred by COVID-19 and the economic and political rivalry between the US and he Peoples Republic of China.

Folllowing is the President's complete statement:

"Our nation was founded on the fundamental idea that we are created equal and deserve to be treated equally. But for 61 years, the Chinese Exclusion Act failed to live up to that promise. It weaponized our immigration system to discriminate against an entire ethnic group and was followed by further discrimination against many in Europe and all of Asia. 

"The Act, along with racism and xenophobia in other parts of American life, was part of the anti-Chinese “Driving Out” era which included the Rock Springs and Hells Canyon massacres. In 1943, the Chinese Exclusion Act was repealed and it was followed by laws that led to an immigration system that better reflected our values as a nation of immigrants.

"On this anniversary, we remember those whose lives, families, and communities were irreparably harmed. We remember the brave and diverse voices – from Frederick Douglass to Blanche Bruce to Pearl Buck to the American Jewish Committee and so many others – who spoke up in solidarity against that Act and demanded a fairer and more just immigration system. And we recognize that despite the progress we have made, hate never goes away. It only hides. 

"Today, there are those who still demonize immigrants and fan the flames of intolerance. It’s wrong. 

"I ran for President to restore the soul of America. To bring people together and make sure we give hate no safe harbor. To celebrate the diversity that is our country’s strength.

"For generations, people of Chinese heritage have enriched our country – from Chinese laborers who did backbreaking work to build the transcontinental railroad in the 1800s to the Chinese Americans who serve in our military, to the authors, artists, scientists, entrepreneurs, and scholars of today. We honor them, and all immigrants, who continue to make extraordinary contributions to our nation."

– President Joe Biden

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

Filipino American sisters reunite on the pitch when Angel City FC signs youngest player ever

Gisele Thompson, right, joins her sister Alyssa, left, on the Angel City FC team.

A Filipino American high schooler is the youngest player signed by a professional soccer team.

Eighteen-year old Gisele Thompson is just a few months younger when her sister, Alyssa, signed with the Angel City Football Club last year. When Giselle signed with the Angel City FC Nov. 28, she was still 17, four days shy of her birthday.

It was almost a foregone conclusion that Gisele sign with the same team that signed her sister last year. The sisters, who also shared a bedroom growing up in Southern California, have practiced with each other since they were young girls, practicing with boys' teams in the L.A. area.

“I’ve trained with (Angel City) since Alyssa signed, and it’s just been a wonderful experience because everyone’s so welcoming," said Gisele, who takes part in Angel City's practices. "As time passed, they treated me like family, so I already felt like a part of their team. It was just such an amazing experience,” Gisele told FIERCE.

Angel City knew Gisele' was going go high in the draft so her early signing secured was part of strategy to prevent the possibility of her going to a rival team.

“I would not want her anywhere else,” Alyssa Thompson said. “I definitely wouldn't want to play against her. She's going to bring a level of tenacity on the field. We both trust each other in our respective positions and know that we have each other's backs.

“Alyssa and I would always talk about it in our room like, ‘This is so crazy. How is this our life right now?’ It feels so unreal.” Gisele said. “So getting that opportunity, especially together, felt so surreal at the moment. We were just so happy and so blessed to have that opportunity.”

Gisele, like her sister Alyssa, has been one of the US's most well-known youth soccer prospects. Before either of them turned pro, the sisters in 2022 became the first high school athletes to sign endorsement deals with Nike.

Head Coach Becki Tweed says that although Thompson is still a young player with huge upside, “[she has] I think everything that the modern day player has. She's well rounded. She understands the game very well. She is crazily still 18 and has international experience.”

Having already trained with Angel City for almost a year, a contract between Gisele and Angel City feels like a natural step. “We're really excited to finally make it official,” says Tweed. “It's been a long time coming.”

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

Filipino American nurse wins $41.5 million lawsuit

A nurse tends to her patient in a neo-natal care unit.

A United States court awarded $41.49 million to a Filipino American nurse for wrongful termination. 

Maria Gatchalian was fired in retaliation for reporting unsafe staffing levels and poor patient care in the NICU at Kaiser Permanente's Los Angeles Medical Center, according to court documents.

“Maria had the courage to speak up about patient safety but Kaiser tried to silence her,” said Gatchalian's attorney David deRubertis in a statement “This diligent jury spoke in a loud and clear voice telling Kaiser that it needs to put patients over profits. We hope this verdict will get Kaiser to focus more on patient safety and quality of care and less on the business of medicine.”

Gatchalian worked at Woodland Hills Kaiser Permanente Hospital from 1989 to 2019. She was promoted to charge nurse for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit charge in 2006.

According to the suit filed in April 2021, Gatchalian repeatedly repeated her concerns to management about quality of care and patient safety, mostly stemming from Kaiser’s alleged understaffing. Multiple witnesses said during trial that the facility was undermanned.

When no action was taken to remedy the situation. Gatchalian continued to report the problems up the normal chain of command but was met with retaliation and hostility instead of support.

The Los Angeles Superior Court jury unanimously decided in favor of the plaintiff on Dec. 10.

"We stand by her termination and are surprised and disappointed in the verdict," Murtaza Sanwari, senior vice president and area manager for Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills/West Ventura County, told Becker's Hospital Review in a statement. "Kaiser Permanente plans to appeal this decision and will maintain our high standards in protecting the health and safety of all our patients."

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

Survey: AANHPI adults worried about democracy

Democracy is in trouble and that should worry the United States.

About 7 in 10 Asian American and Pacific Islanders in the believe the US is headed in the wrong direction and only about 1 in 10 believe democracy is working extremely or very well, according to a survey by  AAPI Data/AP-NORC, a project of The Associated Press and AAPI Data.

“The survey sheds important light on Asian American and Pacific Islander views on democracy and the electoral process,” says Karthick Ramakrishnan, director of AAPI Data and a professor of public policy.

As the US approaches the first presidential primaries and caucuses early next year, the new survey finds two-thirds of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) adults believe the country is heading in the wrong direction. 

        FYI: Read the entire report.

The poll results raises the question: Who is to blame for weakening democracy?

Even though the majority of the respondents were Democrats, about half disapprove of President Biden and the GOP's attacks on the government, courts and schools have helped create a lack of trust in major institutions. 

“With the data we can disentangle where confidence in government institutions is falling short - only 17% are confident in their state government, but it dips even further when asked about federal institutions - about one in ten are confident in the Supreme Court and the executive branch, while just 4% feel the same about Congress” says Jennifer Benz, deputy director of The AP-NORC Center.

Cassie Villasin, a product manager in Washington, told the Associated Press that she believed the country has gotten worse in recent years but said “that doesn’t necessarily mean it was all Joe Biden’s fault. I think that it was already going downhill prior to his election.” Villasin said she approved of Biden generally, citing issues like his handling of student loan debt.

AANHPI communities’ sense of pessimism is less pronounced than the general population, where 75% believe the US is heading in the wrong direction and President Biden’s approval is at 41%. 

When ccompared to the general population, AANHPI adults give similar marks to both parties on handling the economy and handling immigration. Fifty-two percent of AANHPI adults identify as Democrats or lean toward the Democratic Party, compared to 28% who identify or lean toward the Republican Party.

“In addition to views on the President and the major parties, we have critical and timely information about concerns about free speech, misinformation, and the integrity of the electoral process,” says Ramakrishnan.

The survey found that AANHPI adults are aware of the attempts to confuse and anger the AANHPI communities through misinformation and outright lies. Eighty-three percent are very concerned about misinformation in the US election surpassing concerns about voter suppression, voter fraud, and free speech limitations. 

Generational differences within AAPI communities are pronounced, particularly in matters of political trust and priorities for who should shape the country’s laws and policies. AAPI adults under 30 are more skeptical of both Republicans and Democrats on the economy than those aged 60 and older. Thirty-eight percent of AAPI adults under 30 have no trust in either party, compared to 19% of those aged 60 and older.

In terms of governance preferences, about half oppose having a president who bends rules to get things done, or state legislatures able to overturn the results of a presidential election. A similar share favor having experts, not politicians, make decisions about what they think is best for the country (58%), while about half support military leaders refusing unconstitutional orders (47%).

Neither the Democrats or Republicans fare well with the respondents. AAPI adults are generally not optimistic about the future of the Democratic (28%) or Republican (15%) parties.

Trust in the political parties among AANHPI communities remains on par with the rest of the United States, generally low, but varied across issues, with 3 in 10 trusting Republicans on the economy, while Democrats are trusted more on climate change (50%) and student debt (44%).

"The survey reveals Asian American and Pacific Islander communities’ concerns about political parties and our country’s institutions to effectively address major issues,” says Benz.

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

'Beef" and 'Past Lives' garner Golden Globe nominations

Steven Yeun and Ali Wong (Beef) and Greta Lee (Past Lives) got Golden Globe nominations.

Two films with Asian American leads were among the nominees for the 2024 Golden Globes. The movies Beef and Past Lives expand Asian American characterizations beyond the typical stereotypes.

Past Lives, which is on most critics' lists of 2023's best movies, has two chances to win a Golden Globe for Best Drama Motion Picture and Best Foreign Language Motion Picture.

The romantic movie's lead actress, Greta Lee, earned a nod in the Best Actress in a Dramatic Motion Picture category.

In addition, the film won nominations for Celine Song for Best Director and her screenplay.

Unlike the Oscars which give awards to motion pictures only, and the Emmy's which award television projects, the Golden Globes hand out trophies to both mediums.

Netflix's dark comedy Beef was nominated Best Television Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television.

 It also won nominations for its leads Steven Yeun and Ali Wong, both of whom played against type. They both played heavily flawed characters who can show anger, be angry, obsessed, unpredictable and, at times, unlikeable. 

The pair are the first Asian actors to be nominated in the limited series category.

Charles Melton (Riverdale) received a supporting actor nomination for his role  in the romance film, May December, also a breakthrough for an Asian American actor.

Joe Hisaishi won a nomination as a composer for The Boy and the Heron, an animated film from Japan. The film also won a nomination in the Best Animated Feature category.

The Hollywood Foreign Journalists Association which came under fire for its lack of diversity, used to give out the awards. That body dissolved last summer amid the criticism and a boycott by actors. The awards was taken over by DCP and Eldridge DCP is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a joint venture between Penske Media Corporation and Eldridge that also owns The Hollywood Reporter.

The Globes' commitment to diversity has led to this year where 72 of the 90 performance nomination slots went to non-Hispanic white people. However, it yet to be seen if those nominations turn into awards recogntion.

The films receiving the most nominations were blindingly White. Barbie, which garnered nine nominations. Oppenheimer has eight nominations. In the television categories, Succession has the most with nine.

“This has been a year of exciting change for the Golden Globes,” said Helen Hoehne, the Globes new president. “Not only are we starting a new partnership with CBS network, but our voting body has grown to 300 members from 75 countries, making the Golden Globes the most culturally diverse major awards body.”

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

Two of the three professors killed in Las Vegas shooting rampage were Asian Americans

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas, shooting victims are, from left, Cha Jan Chang,
Patricia Navarro Velez and Naoko Takemaru.

Two of the three professors killed in the Dec. 6 mass shooting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas were Asian Americans.

Professors Cha Jan “Jerry” Chang, 64, and Naoko Takemaru, 69, along with Patricia Navarro Velez, 39, were killed by a man who failed to win a job at the school.

The shooting suspect, Anthony Polito, 69, was shot and killed by campus police Wednesday. Polito had applied for a college professorship at UNLV but was not hired. Police found a list of targeted people in Polito's apartment in neaerby Henderson. The victims, however, were not on the list.

Chang, 64, had been teaching UNLV’s business school students for more than 20 years on “management information systems,” UNLV president Keith Whitfield said.

Takemaru taught Japanese studies, according to her faculty page on UNLV’s website. Takemaru was a decorated scholar who taught all levels of the Japanese language at UNLV and authored a book about gender bias in the culture’s society. 

Navarro-Velez, 39, an assistant professor of accounting, had been teaching at the school for almost five years,” Whitfield said.

A motive for the shootings has not been determined, according to authorities. Police found ammunition in Polito's apartment. His computer had links to websites touting conspiracy theories.

Police said they found a document that looked like his last will and testament.

The shootings occurred as finals began at the school UNLV will forego in-person finals in the wake of the fatal shooting but will hold winter commencement as planned.

"I won’t sugarcoat it. We are all hurting right now, said Whitfield in a statement. "But it’s in these trying times that we need to lean on one another for support. I urge you to check in on each other and utilize counseling services if you need them."

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

Take a look at the new face of US baseball - Sohei Ohtani

Shoey Ohtani is breaking barriers in sports

No dought the biggest name in sports this Sunday is Shohei Ohtani.

Ohtani signed a contract to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers for $700 million, the richest contract for a player in any sport in the United States.

Ohtani, who started playing for the L.A. Angels in 2018 after starring in Japan’s pro-baseball league, is the  new face of America’s Pasttime, baseball, the most American of sports. His impact, though, goes beyond the baseball diamond.
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He has proven himself athletically. In the 2023 season alone, he put together his finest offensive season to this point, winning his second American League MVP honor after leading the Majors in slugging (.654) and OPS (1.066) while belting 44 home runs. Ohtani did all of that while also pitching to a 3.14 ERA with a 31.4 percent strikeout rate on the mound.

Becaue he was born in Japan, he began attracting negative press when he began his assault on baseball records held by American icons Roger Maris and Babe Ruth.

When sports commentator began questioning the “marketability” of a foreign, non-English speaking player he stirred up a hornet’s nest of racial controversy.

"It's about masculinity. ... Asian and Asian Americans are always seen as not masculine enough. Then you have a game that's seen as part of the embodiment of this white masculinity," Arnaldo said Constancio Arnaldo Jr., an assistant professor of Asian and Asian American studies at the University of Nevada.

"Ohtani is also challenging what is acceptable in terms of athletic performance, baseball skill, especially, that are speaking back to these longer legacies of baseball as being this American white pastime," said the Filipino American professor.

Ohtani, though, is beating the Americans on their own terms. “He can hit a home run 500 feet and throw a ball 100 miles per hours, and he’s bigger and stronger than most Americans,” said Robert Whiting, who has written several books on baseball in Japan, including “You Gotta Have Wa.”

“He’s definitely a bright spot in our community,” said Kihei Otani, president of the Orange County Japanese American Assn. “Japanese Americans here are all excited to see him playing. I can’t imagine any Japanese American not rooting for him and not going to his games to support him.”

Long-time Angels fan Dennis Masuda attended 60 home games this year and watched Ohtani’s historic feats with pride. “I don’t get to see many Japanese players,” he said. “The last time the Angels had one was Hideki Matsui 11 years ago. Having one on my hometown team as a pitcher and a hitter was quite thrilling.”

Part of Ohtani's allure is that despite his lofty athletic accomplishments, very little is known about the Japan-born player.

Ohtani may not be aware of the significance of his position in Asian America. For a community that is perceived to be quiet and humble, whose accomplishments are sometimes glossed over and must overcome the "perpetual foreigner" steretotype, it will be difficult for baseball fans to overlook Ohtani's presence and accomplishments.

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

Chinese, Tagalog among top languages spoken at US homes

A lot of people in the United States speak Chinese and Tagalog. English is sstill the dominant language of the US.

Overall, almost 22% of Americans speak a language other than English at home. However, Americans are overwhelmingly monolingual. Over three-quarters (78.3%) of the nation age 5 and older spoke only English at home, according to the 2018-2022 American Community Survey (ACS), 5-year estimates released Dec. 7. This is a decrease from 78.7% in 2013-2017, the most recent nonoverlapping five-year period. 

Among those that spoke a language other than English in 2018-2022, it is not surprising that Spanish (61.1%) is the next most common language spoken at home reflecting the proximity of Mexico and the rest of Latin America and the United States'  erratic policies on immigration.

The next two languages spoken at home are Chinese (which includes all dialects) (5.1%), and Tagalog (including Filipino) (2.5%).

However, among the population age 5 and older that spoke a language other than English at home, Tagalog speakers, 69.8%, said that they spoke English "very well,"  the most of any foreign language speakers. The high English fluency rate among Filipinos is attributed to the wide use of English in the Philippines, a former colony of the US.

The Filipino Americans were followed 61% of Spanish speakers, most of whom come from Mexico, the largest source of immigrants to the US.  Meanwhile, 48% of Chinese speakers said they spoke English "very well."

"English remains the most commonly spoken language," said Adrienne Griffiths, survey statistician in the Education and Social Stratification Branch. “Across most age groups, the majority of the population who spoke a language other than English at home still spoke English very well.”

Among specific age groups that spoke a language other than English at home:

• In 2018-2022, 70.0% of those ages 5-17 spoke Spanish. Of these Spanish speakers, 79.8% spoke English “very well.” In comparison, in 2013-2017, 72.0% of those ages 5-17 spoke Spanish, and 80.3% of these Spanish speakers spoke English “very well.”

• In 2018-2022, 61.0% of those ages 18-64 spoke Spanish. Of these Spanish speakers, 58.3% spoke English “very well.” 

• In comparison, in 2013-2017, 61.6% of those ages 18-64 spoke Spanish, and 54.8% of these Spanish speakers spoke English “very well.”

• In 2018-2022, 49.0% of those age 65 and older spoke Spanish. Of these Spanish speakers, 41.6% spoke English “very well.” In comparison, in 2013-2017, 47.3% of those age 65 and older spoke Spanish, and 38.0% of these Spanish speakers spoke English “very well.”

Local, state, tribal, and federal agencies use language data to plan government programs for adults and children who do not speak English well. These data are also used to ensure that information about public health, law, regulations, voting, and safety is communicated in languages that community members understand.

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

Kevin McCarthy's announces his resignation; gains a "pants on fire" grade re: Philippines and Pacific island nations

SCREEN CAPTURE / X

California Congressman Kevin McCarthy in debate form.

Just before he announced his resignation from Congress this morning, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., showed his ignorance about the Philippines and the island nations in the Pacific Ocean when he said that the United States never sought land after winning wars.

McCarthy announced in a Wall Street Journal op-ed on Wednesday two months after being kicked out as Speaker of the House by a handful of ultra-conservative Republicans and the Democrats' 213 members. He would give up his seat by the end of this year.

McCarthy’s decision will narrow the House GOP’s shaky slim majority, which just last week got smaller after the expulsion of ex-Rep. George Santos of New York. 

The GOP's eight seat majority could possibly narrow to only two if Democrats win in a series of special elections slated for early next year, including a special election for McCarthy's 20th District in California's Central Valley.

McCarthy made his remarks regarding the United States' supposed largesse on October 28 at the Oxford Union, the 200-year-old debating society at the University of Oxford in England. About a month later he reached a much wider audiene when he uploaded his posts on X and YouTube on Nov. 26.

McCarthy's resignation was expected after he lost the speakership and was essentially powerless within his own party. His decision to leave the House had nothing to do with his erroneous claim.

In the debate, McCarthy said, "In every single war that America has fought, we have never asked for land afterwards, except for enough to bury the Americans who gave the ultimate sacrifice for that freedom we went in for."

There are so many examples to prove him wrong beginning with the land stolen from Native Americans, but we'll point out two glaring examples.

Historians gave Politifact, a project of the Poynter Institute, several examples where McCarthy was just plain wrong in his claim. Among them, they point out:

Spanish-American War, 1898: Under the Treaty of Paris, Spain relinquished claims on Cuba and ceded Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to the United States. Guam and Puerto Rico remain US territories.

Although Filipinos seeking independence already had Spainish colonial government surrounded in Manila, the US joined with the Filipinos to defeat Spain.

The fighting did not end after Spain surrendered to the US and ignoring the Filipinos' declaration of independence. After that war, members of the Filipino independence movement shifted from fighting Spain to fighting the United States in the Philippine American War.

"It was a brutal affair that the United States won," said Joseph McCallus, an English professor at Columbus State University who has authored several books on the Philippines, including "Forgotten Under a Tropical Sun: War Stories by American Veterans in the Philippines, 1898-1913."

Officially, this second war lasted from 1899 to 1902, he said, but Filipino guerrillas fought on for several years afterward. "With the Filipino independence forces defeated, the United States took control of the entire Philippine archipelago," McCallus said. "In no uncertain terms, it was an unadulterated land grab. Its purpose was to position the United States in the Pacific."

Second Samoan Civil War, 1899: Under the Tripartite Convention of 1899, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States divided up the Samoan island chain in the Pacific Ocean. The portion the US took is now a US territory, American Samoa.

Trust Territory of the Pacific. Hundreds of islands controlled by Japan passed to the U.S. following World War II as a US trusteeship. After increasing sentiment in the islands for greater independence, the United Nations dissolved the arrangement in 1990. Today, the former trust territory consists of one US territory (the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) and three entities that are self-governing: (the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.

PolitiFact tried to get a comment from McCarthy's office but there has been no response.

In one sense, McCarthy can't be blamed for his ignorance of history. His scanty knowledge is the result of an educational system that is biased towards White exceptionalism and fails to give a more accurate record of reality.  This distorted view of history reinforces  the world view of white supremacists.

A more balanced teaching of history might teach some humility and understanding of people and cultures that make up America and its place in the world.

McCarthy, one of the few Republican representatives from California, was facing challenges from the Democrats and from his own party if he had decided to run in 2024. The 20th District was seen as a "safe" seat for the GOP if McCarthy remained. With McCarthy's departure, that no longer holds true.

"It is time to pursue my passion in a new arena,” McCarthy said in a video he released Wednesday. “While I will be departing the House at the end of this year, I will never, ever give up fighting for this country that I love so much

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

Asian American man believed to have died in Virginia home explosion

James Yoo, right, is presumed to have died in the explosion, left, that destroyed his home.

Police identified the suspect inside an Arlington, Virginia, home that exploded Monday while police were executing a search warrant as resident James Yoo, 56, and said they are investigating “concerning” posts he allegedly made on social media.

A residence about five-miles from the Pentagon was totally destroyed by a large explosion that rocked neighboring homes.

Yoo is presumed to be dead, Arlington County Police Chief Andy Penn said.

“Human remains have been located at the scene. The office of the Chief Medical Examiner will work to positively identify the individual and cause and manner of death,” Penn told reporters Tuesday.

The Arlington Police Department posted on Facebook the following report:

"At approximately 4:45 p.m. on December 4, the Arlington County Police Department was dispatched to the 800 block of N. Burlington Street for the report of possible shots heard," the post began. "The preliminary investigation indicated a suspect discharged a flare gun approximately 30 – 40 times from inside his residence into the surrounding neighborhood. No property damage or injuries were reported related to the discharge of the flare gun.

"During the course of the investigation, officers obtained a search warrant for the suspect's residence and attempted to make contact with the suspect over the telephone and through loudspeakers. The suspect did not respond and remained barricaded inside the residence. As officers were attempting to execute the search warrant, the suspect discharged several rounds, from what is believed to be a firearm, inside the home. Subsequently, at approximately 8:25 p.m., an explosion occurred at the residence. The investigation into the circumstances of the explosion are ongoing.

"The Arlington County Fire Department responded to the scene to extinguish the fire. As of approximately 10:30 p.m., the fire is under control and crews continue to battle small spot fires.

"Three officers reported minor injuries and there were no transports to the hospital related to this incident. The investigation is ongoing."

An examination of Yoo's social media by authorities found that Yoo believed in conspiracy theories about government officials, law enforcement and media outlets.

An example of his postings reads:  “Would you agree the U.S. government is the biggest terrorist organization? And that you’re all gonna be Israel puppets soon?”

In another post he asserted that the Jan. 6 insurrection was orchestrated by "THEM." He posted: “THEY do not want an actual coup against THEM so THEY rig, orchestrate, and control a FAKE Jan 6th event riot and then RIG TRIALS to set FAKE PRECEDENCE in attempts to scare and control the People’s minds.”

Yoo called for the defunding of the FBI, the CIA, and the National Security AgencyYoo called for the defunding of the FBI, the CIA, and the National Security Agency.

He was known by the FBI for several calls complaining about alleged frauds targeting him. The FBI said they never opened an investigation on his allegations.

Neighbors said that Yoo lived alone in his duplex residence. Residents of the other duuplex unit were evacuated prior to the explosion by the police. 

Yoo was a self-employed landlord, according to WJLA. A George Mason University graduate, Yoo worked for several nearby tech companies.

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