US Coast Guard launches ship named after WWII Filipino American heroine

The US Coast Guard's newest vessel named after Filipino American.

During the final week of Filipino American History Month, the US Coast Guard made history by naming their newest ship after a Filipino hero of World War II.

The Coast Guard commissioned its 57th Fast Response Cutter during a ceremony held at Coast Guard Base Seattle, Oct. 24 and named it after Florence Finch, a Filipino American.

FLORENCE FINCH

"Florence Finch is a true Coast Guard and Filipino hero, and we couldn't be prouder to honor her legacy," said Coast Guard Vice Adm. Andrew Tiongson, Pacific Area Commander. 

"The cutter is now the only currently active ship in the United States military named after a Filipino American," he said.

(A US Navy destroyer, named after a Filipino American Telesforo Trinidad, a Medal of Honor awardee, is still under construction.)

The USCG cutter's namesake, Florence Ebersole Smith Finch, was a Filipino American and a member of the World War II resistance against the Japanese occupation of the Philippines. During the war, she assisted the movement by diverting fuel destined for enemy use, falsifying documents for resistance members to obtain supplies, and using her position to facilitate acts of sabotage. 

FYI: Read more about Florence Finch 

In 1944, she was discovered and arrested, tortured, tried, and sentenced to three years of imprisonment. She remained in captivity until early 1945, when American forces liberated the Philippines.

Finch moved back to the US following the war and joined the Coast Guard Reserves. Finch was awarded the Medal of Freedom in 1947 and was also awarded the Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Ribbon, the first woman to be so decorated.

During thec ommissioning ceremony, Florence Finch was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, which was presented to Finch’s family by retired Army Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba, chairman of the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project (FilVetREP). The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian award given by the United States Congress. It was presented to members of Finch's family  in attendance, including the cutter’s sponsor and Mrs. Finch’s daughter, Mrs. Betty Murphy.

The crew of the Florence Finch will primarily operate in the Pacific Ocean, Puget Sound, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the Columbia River. The Sentinel-class FRC is designed for multiple missions, including search and rescue; fishery patrols; drug and migrant interdiction; ports, waterways and coastal security; and national defense.

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

Every vote counts: AANHPI voters seen as critical by both Dems and GOP

G

A scene from the Democrats' "Our America" ad geared towards Asian American voters.

With the Presidential race too close to call and Election Day only a week away, Democrats and Republicans are making every effort to find voters, especially Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Island voters. As a result, engagement of AANHPI voters are as high as its ever been.

AANHPI voters could play a major role in determining the outcome in some battleground states, including Michigan, Georgia and Nevada.

Trump and his campaign held his first event in Las Vegas zeroing in on Asian American voters in Nevada with a rally at the UNLV Thomas & Mack Center. The Oct. 24 event included notable Asian American s that included former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who is Indian American, and former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, a Samoan American.

Besides the unapologetic use of the racist "China virus" wording when referring to COVID19, the only AANHPI specific comment Trump had to say was to compliment Filipinos' fashion sense.

“[Filipinos] had the most beautiful clothing,” Trump said. “I said, ‘Where the hell do all these people come from?’ And when they told me, that’s why I put that little paragraph in there … you are the greatest people, hardest working, and we’re gonna take care of you. You’re gonna take care of us! What great spirit.” 

He doubled down on his promise to deport millions of undocumented immigrants even though surveys have found that the AANHPI community prefers finding legal pathways to citizenship for immigrants, some living in the United States for decades.

Michael Kagan, executive director of UNLV’s Immigration Clinic, says that would be a particular threat to Nevada.

FYI: Who are AANHPI voters favoring?

There are nearly 190,000 undocumented immigrants in Nevada, 84% of whom have been in the US for more than five years, according to the Pew Research Center. About 1 in 10 Nevada households include an undocumented immigrant.

Filipinos make up the largest subgroup in the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander community in Nevada. All together, the AANHIPI make up 12% of the state's voting population, or about 266,000 votes, according to AAPI Data.

Democrats continue their months-long effort in increasing outreach to the AANHPI communities that included town halls with Asian Americans, interviews on AANHPI media and the effective series of ads appearing on all media aimed at the AANHPI communities.

“The choice for Asian American voters in this election couldn’t be clearer. While Trump surrounds himself with loyalists to emulate the dictators he admires and intends to wield unchecked power to serve himself, Vice President Kamala Harris has only ever had one client: the people,” said Harris-Walz 2024 Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander spokesperson Andrew Peng.

On Saturday, the Harris-Walz campaign rolled out “Our America,”  its latest television and digital ad targeting Asian American voters in every battleground state. The 30-second ad captures the enormous stakes of this election, highlighting the need to safeguard democracy and protect the fundamental rights of Asian American communities who have too often been vilified, excluded, and marginalized throughout history.

In the final stretch of the presidential race, “Our America” will appear across an array of digital channels like Meta, Snap, YouTube, connected TV, iHeartRadio, and Pandora. Starting this week, the ad will air on more broadcast outlets serving diverse Asian American audiences than ever before, thanks to an expanded television ad buy that bolsters Team Harris-Walz’ already unprecedented investments in AANHPI paid media.

FYI: AANHPI women strongly favor Harris-Walz

Since August, the Harris-Walz campaign has launched waves of ads addressing issues that resonate deeply with Asian American voters, focusing on introducingVice President Harris and her plans to create an Opportunity Economy, protect the Affordable Care Act, and keep Americans safe from violent crime while showing the dangers of Donald Trump’s Project 2025 agenda.

But with Trump’s alarming threats to be a dictator on “day one,” terminate the Constitution, and use the military against the “enemy from within,” the impacts of this election go far beyond policy. “Our America” shows the stark choice that voters face not on a specific issue, but on authoritarianism and Asian Americans’ very right to belong. 

The campaign ad spotlights symbols of American freedom under attack by Trump and his extremist allies, and alludes to moments when Asian Americans were denied their civil rights – such as the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II and the 1982 murder of Vincent Chin in Detroit. The ad ends by urging voters to rally around Vice President Harris and defend democracy.

“This November, we have the power to protect our freedoms and elect a president who believes in the aspirations of our communities – and will never view us as ‘other,’” says Peng.

on Sunday, Minnesota First Lady Gwen Walz visited Mata Tripta Ji Gurdwara Sahib, a Sikh temple in Plymouth, Michigan to urge the Sikh community to vote for the hopeful, future-focused vision of Vice President Harris and Governor Walz.

Gwen Walz urged members of the Sikh community in Mihcigan to vote.

"Vice President Harris and my husband Tim know full well the many contributions that Sikh Americans have made to our country," said Walz. "It is my honor to be with you today to bring their respect and their greetings — and to celebrate your vibrant community.”

She was joined by US Representatives Debbie Dingell and Pramila Jayapal and Michigan state Representative Ranjeev Puri, the first Sikh American ever elected to the Michigan legislature.

There are more than 220,000 eligible Asian American and Pacific Islander voters in Michigan, making the Sikh community a key electorate to engage with.

Harris-Wawlz spokesperson Peng said: “This November, we have the power to protect our freedoms and elect a president who believes in the aspirations of our communities – and will never view us as ‘other.’”

Asian American Georgians, such as Gwinnett County residents Neetu Kumar and Sujatha Thota, volunteered at a recent phone banking event for supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris. 

AAPI voters are one of Georgia’s fastest-growing voting blocs, and for one of the first times, grassroots organizers  of both major parities are making sure to focus on wooing them. Georgia's AANHPI voters already proved their strength in 2020 when they helped turn the solidly red state into purple by voting for President Biden and propelling two Democrats to the US Senate.

This time around, the GOP has learned its lesson in 2024 has ramped up its outreach to the AANHPI voters. Although most Asian voters overwhelmingly went with the Democrats in the past, there is evidence that the GOP strategy has wooed some AANHPI voters.

There are nearly 239,000 registered voters in Georgia who are of Asian American descent. That’s about 20 times the margin by which President Biden captured the state fin 2020. Indian American voters make up the largest block with over 177,000 eligible voters, according to AAPI Data.

“Our numbers are still small, but we could be the deciding factor in terms of margin of victory,” said James Woo of Asian Americans Advancing Justice in an interview with CNN. . “We always mention that to our community members who see the difference every single vote can make.”

“Team Harris-Walz and Democrats know that Asian American voters are the margin of victory in this election – and we are working to earn every single vote," says Harris-Walz campaign spokesman Peng. "Our campaign has invested historic sums into paid media, hired and deployed dedicated Asian American outreach staff nationally and across the battlegrounds, and we are hosting frequent voter engagement events and activities to mobilize Asian American voters."

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

New eecutive director named for White House Initiative on AANHPI

WHITE HOUSE

Helen Beadreau takes over the helm of the Biden administration's WHAANHPI.

The White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) and the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders announced Helen Beaudreau  as its new executive director.

Beaudreau succeeds Krystal Ka‘ai, who was appointed by President Biden in May 2021 as the first Native Hawaiian to lead both the WHIAANHPI and the President’s Advisory Commission. Ka‘ai stepped down from her role as Executive Director on Oct. 5, 2024 and joined the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders on Oct. 7.

“Helen Beaudreau has spent her career working to advance equity for underserved communities.” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra.

 “WHIAANHPI has important work to do - addressing anti-Asian bias, expanding language access, promoting equitable access to mental health support, and advancing climate and environmental justice for starters.," said Becerra. "This is a critical time, and I look forward to seeing the impact that Helen and WHIAANHPI will have going forward.”

“Helen embodies President Biden’s vision when he reinvigorated the President’s Advisory Commission and the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders – an unwavering commitment to lift up our community and our people,” said US Trade Representative Katherine Tai.

“Helen’s wealth of experience and expertise will be invaluable, but as a first generation American, she also brings empathy and compassion, especially for the most vulnerable and for the next generation.”

Beaudreau has nearly two decades of experience working in the federal government, including with the Biden-Harris Administration in various roles at the White House National Security Council and the Peace Corps, as well as in the House of Representatives. 

As a first-generation immigrant, Beaudreau is the first Korean American to be the Executive Director of the Initiative and the Commission. She is a two-time Peace Corps Volunteer – having served in the Republic of Georgia and the Philippines. She and her husband, David, have two young children.

“I want to say a special thanks to Krystal Ka‘ai, who, since 2021, has led the White House Initiative and the Commission. We are deeply grateful to have had her expertise and guidance as we tackle some of the most pressing facing these communities,” said Becerra. 

“I congratulate her on her appointment to the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders where I know she will continue to serve our country and advance equity for all.”

“Our Administration put forward the most expansive and ambitious mandate to empower our Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander community, and Krystal has been an indispensable leader to deliver on that promise,” said Tai. 

“We all owe Krystal a tremendous amount of gratitude. She has been front and center as we navigated through unprecedented times, including a devastating pandemic and rising hate and violence toward AA and NHPIs. I had the privilege to join her as we crisscrossed the country to meet our community members where they are, and I know she will continue to make us proud as a new commissioner on the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.”

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

FilAm teenager joins US women's soccer team and scores her first int'l goal

SCREEN CAPTURE / YOUTBUE

Alyssa Thompson, feinted to the left and then moved right to kick this goal vs. Iceland.

Alyssa Thompson is only 19 years old but it seems like an eternity since she burst into soccer's professional ranks as the No. 1 pick in the women's soccer draft at the age of 18.

Thursday, the 19 year old Filipino American wunderkind, scored her first goal in an international match in a game between the No. 1-ranked US Womens Women's National Team and 13th-ranked Iceland.

 “Coming onto the field in the beginning, and wearing this jersey, I was like, ‘This is surreal,’ she told TNT. And being able to get my first goal, I can’t describe how I feel. I’m just so happy.”

“Once it hit the net, I froze,” Thompson said in a post-game media briefing. “That has been a dream of mine for so long, and I couldn't think of a better way to score. I've been working on that shot for a while.”

Thompson’s last appearance for the United States women’s national team was in 2023 when she came in as a sub during the World Cup. However, because of injuries and a so-so season with the Angel City FC, Thompson was left off the Olympic team that went on to win the Gold Medal in Paris.

“I have been watching her performances since the Olympics,” admitted USWNT coach Emma Hayes in the post-match presser after the 3-1 win over Iceland. “I know she’s committed to looking for the next level in her play. I think you see just how threatening and dangerous she is.” 

Thompson scored the US's first goal in the 39th minute. She received the ball outside the 18-yard-box from teammate Sam Coffey. Thompson dribbled down the left flank and then, with a quick inside, outside touch, rocketed the ball to the far side of the goal,

“It’s not an easy goal," said Hayes. "Chop in from the left-hand side and roof it in the top corner.”

As a starter, Thompson was the only member of the team who wasn't part of the Olympic team. “The biggest adjustment that I had to make was learning who I was as a soccer player again,” Thompson told reporters last week. “Last season, there was so much going on, and there (were) a lot of good things, but I didn’t really have the time to think, process and continue to improve.

“This season, I’ve been really honing in on things that I need to work on that will make my game even better and get me into positions where I want to be, like making this roster.”

The USWNT's collective bargaining agreement requires all available players from the Olympic team to be recalled for victory tour matches. This first international window following the Americans' gold medal win is considered the victory tour.

For various reasons, four of the 22-member Olympic team could not take part in the victory tour. The match with Iceland was the first of the four games of the victory tour that winds up in London.

The World Cup is in 2026 and the 2028 Olympics will be held in Los Angeles. Thompson's place on the team is not a sure thing. Figure her performance Thursday and in the next three games as a tuneup and chance to impress her coaches.

“You know, her international career started at a very early stage," said coach Hayes. "but that's why I believe it does take time. Maybe she wasn't ready before, but I could see from (Thursday's) performance, she offers a lot for us going forward, and I was super pleased."

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

California governor declares Oct. 25 as Larry Itliong Day

Labor leadeer Larry Itliong had a huge role in American history.

In the last week of Filipino American History Month, Califoria's Governor Gavin Newsom issued Friday a proclamation declaring October 25, 2024, as “Larry Itliong Day” in the State of California.

Patty Itliong-Serda, Itliong's daughter, still lives in Delano, California. She is proud to share her father's story.

"It's finally happening that my dad's getting the recognition that he really deserves,"

 she said. "He will never know the impact that he has made on this world".

The United Farm Workers honored the late Filipino American labor leader whose union members launched the Delano Grape Strike on Sept. 8, 1965. The largely Filipino Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee, which Larry helped lead, walked out on strike against Delano, Calif.-area table and wine grape growers and quickly asked Cesar Chavez’s mostly Latino National Farm Workers Association to join their picket lines. Thus began a five-year grape strike and later a three-year international boycott of California table grapes.

Both Itliong and Chavez knew growers had defeated unions for 100 years by using one race to break the strikes of another. So from the outset of the walkouts, they insisted both Filipino and Latino strikers share the same picket lines and union hall, and eat in the same strike kitchen. The two unions merged in 1966, to form what today is the United Farm Workers of America. 

Solidarity between the races helped produce the first union contracts with table grape growers in 1970, and was a key factor in establishing the first enduring farm workers union in American history.

Tough and courageous, Itliong along other Filipino American leaders such as Peter Velasco and Philip Vera Cruz built the UFW alongside Chavez and his Latino colleagues such as Dolores Huerta and Gilbert Padilla.

Larry Itliong's headstone.

Itiong died in 1977. His Itliong's grave is located on the southeast side of the North Kern Cemetery, five rows to the east of Carnation Road and 52 plots south of the main office.

Itliong-Serda, a retired school librarian, knows people are eager to learn more about her father's story.

"It's exciting to see because Filipino history is American history, so it's very important our stories are told," she said.

The text of Gov. Newsom's proclamation follows:

PROCLAMATION

During Filipino-American Heritage Month, California celebrates the trailblazing labor leader and civil rights champion Larry Itliong. Born on this day in 1913 in a province of the Philippines, Larry Itliong immigrated to the United States as a teenager, where he soon began his life’s work of empowering others.

As a laborer in the fisheries and canneries of Alaska, Itliong helped found the Alaska Cannery Workers Union to secure better working conditions, including an eight-hour workday with overtime. Itliong went on to serve in World War II and later settled in Stockton, where he continued his organizing efforts. There, Itliong helped launch the asparagus strike of 1948 – the first major agricultural strike after World War II – and in 1956, he founded the Filipino Farm Labor Union in Stockton. Itliong, Philip Vera Cruz and other leaders also helped create the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee.

Emerging as a leader in the watershed farm labor movement, Itliong allied with grape workers in the Coachella Valley in their fight for better wages. In 1965, Itliong and fellow Manongs – respected elders in the Filipino-American community – moved to organize against exploitative grape growers in Delano. Shortly after, the Manongs joined forces with César Chávez, Dolores Huerta and the National Farmworkers Association, beginning a nationwide boycott of grapes that led to the first farmworker union contracts.

Recognizing his incredible impact on our state and advocacy for those without a voice, I had the honor of inducting Mr. Itliong into the California Hall of Fame in 2021. Today, on the 111th anniversary of his birth, we honor the immense contributions of Larry Itliong and the Manongs whose hard-fought battles helped advance farmworkers’ rights and social justice in California and beyond. Let us remember their message of “Isang Bagsak!” – we are all connected together in our fight for justice, and we rise and fall together.

NOW THEREFORE I, GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of the State of California, do hereby proclaim October 25, 2024, as “Larry Itliong Day.”

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 24th day of October 2024.

GAVIN NEWSOM
Governor of California

Filipino American's Broadway debut receives raves from critics

Nicole Scherzinger shines on Broadway in the remake of the "Sunset Blvd." musical.

Nicole Scherzinger received a 6-minute standing ovation for her performance in the Broadway premier of Sunset Blvd. 

The talk about town is that the Filipino/Hawaiian/Russian American performer is the frontrunner for a Tony for her outstanding performance as the aging actress Norma Desmond in the musical Sunset Blvd. opened on Broadway Sunday, Oct. 20.

"Not only is Scherzinger's powerful voice in top form, but she's given layers to the character audiences have never seen before (and that's not counting the trendy dance moves choreographer Fabian Aloise has arranged). Scherzinger's Desmond is charismatic, funny, sensual, intelligent, dramatic, conniving and monstrous — all at the same time. She flirts her way into the hearts of everyone around her in a way that has you rooting for her, even when her behavior becomes ugly and outrageous," raved People magazine.

"Scherzinger’s roof-raising vocal power, especially on the musical’s signature songs, 'With One Look' and 'As If We Never Said Goodbye,' is astonishing, literally stopping the show with her soaring money notes and dramatic key changes. She’s the rare Norma who has the supple dance moves, too. Her command is never in doubt, and Lloyd provides unimpeded access to her every emotion by frequently giving Norma what she craves most — a camera and a closeup," writes the Hollywood Reporter.

FYI: A season of AANHPIs on Broadway

"Nicole Scherzinger’s radiance as Norma Desmond in Sunset Blvd. is difficult to overstate. She sings 'As If We Never Said Goodbye,' an aching one-sided duet with fame, with such delicacy and gut-slugging power that even Barbra Streisand, who covered it the same year the musical came to Broadway in 1994, might consider retiring the song from her repertoire,"gishes  the Washington Post.

The New York Post writes: "And adrenaline pumps through our bloodstream anytime the extraordinary Nicole Scherzinger, making her wondrous Broadway debut, wails a note. She’s otherworldly as that reclusive has-been Norma. A revelation. And when the former Pussycat Doll belts Lloyd Webber’s stirring ballads, 'With One Look' and 'As If We Never Said Goodbye,' as haze dreamily swirls behind her, the audience all but levitates."

USA Today was effusive in praising Scherzinger: "Scherzinger brings an almost alien quality to Norma, whose strange poise and aloofness masks much deeper, repressed trauma. She can be vampy and volatile, but also quietly devastating. The singer earned midshow standing ovations for both of Norma’s signature ballads: 'With One Look' and 'As If We Never Said Goodbye,' both of which Scherzinger delivered with breathtaking power and bravura. But perhaps her finest moment was the more subdued 'New Ways to Dream,' as Norma is tearfully confronted by her younger self (Hannah Yun Chamberlain) in a tight close-up, which is filmed live and projected onto a giant backdrop. It’s a striking juxtaposition, and Scherzinger hauntingly conveys Norma’s fear, fragility and longing as she stares down the barrel of her life."

Scherzinger recognizes that the Sunset Blvd. musical is the moment she's been waiting for all her life. On Instagram, she posted:

Scherzinger, 46, already has an Olivier under her arm and a Tony could very well be her's to claim next Spring. Indeed, it's a long way from her days with the Pussycat Dolls and fans of The Masked Singer lament Scherzinger's absense, but the Hawaii-born singer/actress has found a new home in the bright lights of Broadway.

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

Biden sends belated 'greeting' for Filipino American History Month

OPINION

It took awhile but someone in the White House finally remembered that October is Filipino American History Month.

President Biden issued a "greeting" to Filipino Americans to mark the month on Oct. 21, with the month already three-quarters over.

Somehow, as a Filipino American, I feel slightly slighted. Most other special observances like Asian American, Native American Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May and Hispanic Heritage Month get official proclamations.

I would think that Filipino Americans, the third largest Asian group in the US, would merit something more weightier than a "greeting." 

At least Congress issued resolutions marking FAHM this year.

Still, it is better than last year when the FAHM  was officially noticed with a tweet, back when X was formerly Twitter.

I suppose we could chalk up the oversight to October being a month busier than usual with the elections just day away and hurricanes wreaking havoc on Florida and Israel and terrorists on the verge of WWIII. 

Most Filipinos usually go around doing their work, minding their own business, going to school, without a whole lot of fanfare. They don't ask for much but they do like to know that their contributions and their good work is appreciated. So a little recognition goes a long way.

Thank you, President Biden. I feel better, already.

Indian American targeted by Indian official in alleged murder-for-hire plot

Suspect Vikash Yadav was a former Indian government official.

The possible involvement of Indian government employee in an alleged plot to assassinate a US citizen who is a vocal critic of India's current government exposes the a widening rift in the Indian diaspora.

The court documents reveal the extent to which Indian officials were allegedly involved in the harassment and intimidation of people of Indian descent living in the US and Canada.

The US Justice Department on Oct. 18 announced the filing of murder-for-hire and money laundering charges against Indian government employee, Vikash Yadav, 39, also known as Vikas, and Amanat, in connection with his role in directing a foiled plot to assassinate a US citizen in New York City. 

Delhi Police had arrested Yadav on Dec. 18 in the Indian capital, the police officer told Reuters on condition of anonymity. 

Yadav, 39, described the claims as false media reports when he spoke to his cousin, Avinash Yadav, the relative told Reuters on Saturday. India’s Ministry of External Affairs said Yadav was no longer employed by the government.

Yadav is charged in a second superseding indictment unsealed Oct. 19 in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. Yadav’s alleged co-conspirator, Nikhil Gupta, 53, was previously charged and extradited to the United States on the charges contained in the first superseding indictment. Yadav remains at large.

“The Justice Department will be relentless in holding accountable any person — regardless of their position or proximity to power — who seeks to harm and silence American citizens,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. 

“As alleged, last year, we foiled an attempt by Vikash Yadav, an Indian government employee, and his co-conspirator, Nikhil Gupta, to assassinate an American citizen on US soil. Today’s charges demonstrate that the Justice Department will not tolerate attempts to target and endanger Americans and to undermine the rights to which every US citizen is entitled.”

“The defendant, an Indian government employee, allegedly conspired with a criminal associate and attempted to assassinate a US citizen on American soil for exercising their First Amendment rights,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray. “The FBI will not tolerate acts of violence or other efforts to retaliate against those residing in the U.S. for exercising their constitutionally protected rights."

Sikhs for Justice said the US indictment demonstrated Washington’s “commitment … to protect the life, liberty and freedom of expression of the US Citizen at home and abroad”.

 As alleged in the second superseding indictment and other public court documents, in 2023, Yadav, working together with others, including Gupta, in India, and elsewhere, directed a plot to assassinate on US. soil an attorney and political activist who is a US citizen of Indian origin residing in New York City (the victim). 

The victim is a vocal critic of the Indian government and leads a US-based organization that advocates for the secession of Punjab, a state in northern India that is home to a large population of Sikhs, an ethnoreligious minority group in India. The victim has publicly called for some or all of Punjab to secede from India and establish a Sikh sovereign state called Khalistan, and the Indian government has banned the victim and his separatist organization from India.

During times relevant to the second superseding indictment, Yadav was employed by the Government of India’s Cabinet Secretariat, which houses India’s foreign intelligence service, the Research and Analysis Wing. Yadav has described his position as a “senior field officer” with responsibilities in “security management” and “intelligence.” Yadav also has referenced previously serving in India’s Central Reserve Police Force and receiving “officer[] training” in “battle craft” and “weapons.” Yadav is a citizen and resident of India, and he directed the plot to assassinate the victim from India.

In or about May 2023, Yadav recruited Gupta to orchestrate the assassination of the victim in the United States. Gupta is an Indian national who resided in India and has described his involvement in international narcotics and weapons trafficking in his communications with Yadav and others. At Yadav’s direction, Gupta contacted an individual whom Gupta believed to be a criminal associate, but who was in fact a confidential source (the CS) working with the DEA, for assistance in contracting a hitman to murder the victim in New York City. 

The CS introduced Gupta to a purported hitman, who was in fact a DEA undercover officer (the UC). Yadav subsequently agreed, in dealings brokered by Gupta, to pay the UC $100,000 to murder the victim. On or about June 9, 2023, Yadav and Gupta arranged for an associate to deliver $15,000 in cash to the UC as an advance payment for the murder. Yadav’s associate then delivered the $15,000 to the UC in Manhattan.

In or about June 2023, in furtherance of the assassination plot, Yadav provided Gupta with personal information about the victim, including the victim’s home address in New York City, phone numbers associated with the victim, and details about the victim’s day-to-day conduct, which Gupta then passed to the UC. 

Yadav allegedly directed Gupta to provide regular updates on the progress of the assassination plot, which Gupta accomplished by forwarding to Yadav, among other things, surveillance photographs of the victim. Gupta directed the UC to carry out the murder as soon as possible, but Gupta also specifically instructed the UC not to commit the murder around the time of the Indian Prime Minister’s official state visit to the United States, which was scheduled to begin on or about June 20, 2023.

On or about June 18, 2023, approximately two days before the Indian Prime Minister’s state visit to the United States, masked gunmen murdered Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a Sikh temple in British Columbia, Canada.

Last September, Candian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau suggested there were “credible allegations potentially linking” Indian officials with the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and Sikh activist, who was shot dead in British Columbia.

Canadian law enforcement believe a string of cases over the past few yearst are part of a broader, India-sanctioned campaign to intimidate, coerce and kill. CPolice say the government of Narendra Modi has been using organized crime syndicates as part of its strategy to threaten or intimidate opponents and rivals.

During an interview with CTV News, Sanjay Kumar Verma – the Indian high commissioner to Canada and who has been linked to the intimidation – repeatedly said he has not been presented with any evidence.

Verma said India is “committed not to do extrajudicial killings on any territory”.

He also said he had never directed or coerced individuals into gathering information on pro-Khalistan activists in Canada. “I, as high commissioner of India, have never done anything of that kind,” he told CTV News.

Yadav and Gupta have been charged with murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison; conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison; and conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Besides India, the DOJ has filed charges against several individuals working in behalf ot the Peoples Republic of China that have harassed and threatened US citizens and residents of Chinese dessent for their anti-PRC activities.

“Today’s charges are a grave example of the increase in lethal plotting and other forms of violent transnational repression targeting diaspora communities in the United States,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. 

“To the governments around the world who may be considering such criminal activity and to the communities they would target, let there be no doubt that the Department of Justice is committed to disrupting and exposing these plots and to holding the wrongful actors accountable no matter who they are or where they reside.”

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

FilAm actor' rips Trump's "tough guy" image

Former WWE champ Dave Bautista questions Donald Trump's macho image.

OPINION

Former professional wrestling champion and Marvel superhero star Dave Bautista has a message for you men who can't bring yourself to vote for a woman.

Donald Trump is a wimp.

In a hilarious skit on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Wednessday night, Bautista destroyed the manufactured image of Trump as a man's man.

I'm almost 100% sure that Trump didn't find the skit funny because he can't take a joke. The skit is funny on its own merits but -- all jokes aside -- it comes with a little more than two weeks before the voting ends for President. Recent polls find that Vice President Kamala Harris is lagging behind Trump among men: White, non-college, men; Black men; Latino men and some Asian American men, too.

Instead of looking at the candiates' individual merits, proposals and accomplishments, many men just can't bring themselves to vote for a woman -- much less, they can't vote for a  Black-Asian woman: A Black-Asian, intelligent, articulate woman, at that, who is head and shoulders above her opponent in character.

Some men might describe Harris is "uppity." and should be more demure, or not strong enough, or lacks toughness.

In the sketch, after a short boxing match, the muscled Bautista turns to the camers and says: "Fellas, we gotta talk. A lot of men seem to think that Donald Trump is some kind of tough guy. He’s not." 

Bautista made fun of Trump's physique, the way he drinks from a water bottle with two hands and reminds us how he avoided getting drafted into the US Army  in the  by a doctor's  questionable excuse of bone spurs.

He mocked Trump in the tone and language so-called "tough guys" like to employ to demonstrate their manliness. 

“He’s terrified that real red-blooded American men will find out that he’s a weak tubby toddler," Bautista continued in the skit referring to Trump's infamous tape when he boasted about "grabbing men's p***y." because he's a celebrity. "What’s wrong, tough guy?" said Bautista. "Did someone grab you by the p***y, you whiny little b****?”

As you watch Bautista's skit below, check out his tattoos. He has the Philippine sunburst on one shoulder and other tattoos honoring of his Filipino heritage. 

FYI: If you can't access the video below, watch it here.

Unlike some other actors who don't want to offend their MAGA fans, Since the 2020 Presidential campaign when Trump was pitted against Hillary Clinton, Bautista began voicing his political leanings.

Back then, Bautista, who starred as Drax the Destroyer in Gaurdians of the Galaxy,  called then-President Trump an “elitist POS” in an angry tweet, ”He’s never wanted for anything. He’s never had to fight or go hungry! He doesn’t know what the American Dream is. He’s a disgrace to everything this country is.”

“How the hell did a lying, pampas [sic], orange, ignorant, cheap salesman tear us apart?” added Bautista.

Since then, the former WWE champion has not hesitated to share his political beliefs  becoming one of Hollywood's most politically outspoken actors.

In an earlier social media post, Bautista taped himself casting his vote early. “Made my freedom heard. Voting early took me 20 mins — no excuses,” he wrote. “Freedom isn’t something we just talk about; it’s something we act on. Do your part, get out there, and vote. Your voice matters, and this election’s too important to sit out.”

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

Mattel unveils new Filipina 'Barbie' doll

 

The new Barbie is Magandang Morena. 🇵🇭

Mattel releases a Filipina-inspired Barbie designed by Barbie Signature Lead Designer Carlyle Nuera, who is a Filipino American.

The doll features elements from Filipino heritage including batok tattoos, gold-tipped janggay fingers, malong-inspired skirt, and Bahay Kubo heels!

"For the Styled By Design series, each designer chooses where they wanna take their doll creatively and ob korsss I had to look to the motherland for inspiration. I could have designed anything but I knew this was an opportunity to do something meaningful for my people in the spirit of representation," Nuera posted on Instagram.

"Being Filipino is my most foundational identity. I’ve always been proud to be Filipino, and that’s thanks to my family, my parents, siblings, cousins, aunts & uncles, the way we grew up. And now, being connected to & a part of the larger Filipino-American community, I am sooo hyped for this Barbie to finally be out in the world and hopefully make the anaks feel seen, represented, inspired and proud."

Nuera elevates traditional Filipino fashion into the realm of haute couture, paying homage to his Asian American heritage with this spectacular Barbie doll. From the radiant crown of the Philippine sun and fingers that sparkle with elegant gold janggay jewelry, to the intricate bahay kubo designs featured on her bakya platforms, Carlyle’s Barbie doll is radiant from head to toe.

Nuera's Instagram post continued:

"I kinda think of this new Filipina Barbie as the second coming of my Mutya Barbie from 2015, as if Mutya Barbie is the demure, responsible Ate and this new Barbie is the lil sis that always be galabanting (so, me lol). Ate Mutya Barbie even let lil sis borrow her jewelry; this new Barbie wears the exact same bracelet as Mutya Barbie! We had to recreate the mold at the factory, but I wanted a link between the two dolls that are such bright spots in my career. Mutya Barbie really changed the trajectory of my career and made me realize the power & platform I have as a designer, especially for an enduring global icon like Barbie. So I wanted to build upon all of that with my Styled By Design Barbie. And for her to be released in October during Filipino American History Month? Hellllloooooo synchronicity 🙏🏽"

The intricate details of the new Filipina Barbie includes jewelry on her wrists and fingers (left)  and the Bahay Kubo platform shoes (below).

As Nuera says, this is the first Filipina Barbie. There have been earlier models that included the first  Mutya Barbie, from the classic Maria Clara to the modern Filipina. There is even a doll of a Filipina American doctor honoring and acknowledging the role Filipinos play in the US health system.

There was a time when finding a doll that reflected people of color was nearly impossible. A diversifying marketplace and social demands caused dollmakers to fulfill that need. 

Filipino children and/or doll collectors now have a new doll that looks like them.

The new Magandang Moreno (Beautifully Brown) Barbie supply is limited. Starting price is $100.

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

Survey of AANHPI: Harris, Democratic candidates and policies hold edge over the AsTrump-led GOP

As details and non-details of Presidential candidates become more delineated,
AANHPI votersvare not sitting on the sidelines.

With just weeks to go before the presidential election, Kamala Harris is faring better than her GOP opponent as AANHPI voters dig into the candidates and issues.

A new surveyy finds that most Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) adults believe the outcome of the race will have important impacts on the economy (82%), health care (74%), immigration policy (72%), and foreign policy (72%). 

AANHPI adults trust Vice President Kamala Harris over former President Donald Trump to handle key issues like abortion (65% vs. 16%), race and inequality (64% vs. 15%), and health care (59% vs. 19%), according to the survey jointly conducted by the Association Press and the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago (AP-NORC).

The gaps between Harris and Trump narrow considerably on issues like the economy (41% vs. 34%), immigration (42% vs. 35%), and crime (39% vs. 33%), according to the survey.

Harris more caring and more honest 

AANHPI adults are more likely to feel that Harris, rather than Trump, cares about people like them (52% vs. 15%), is honest (50% vs. 15%), has the right vision for the country (49% vs. 25%), and can handle a crisis (47% vs. 26%). These favorable views of Harris also surpass those of the general public, who were asked in August 2024. 

“These findings offer a comprehensive view into AANHPI communities’ perceptions of the candidates across a range of high-profile issues and candidate qualities,” says Jennifer Benz, deputy director of the AP-NORC Center. 

“Many across AAPI communities feel that the outcome of this election will be consequential for the policy issues that affect their daily lives.” 

Some key findings:

Candidate Favorability: Vice President Harris’ favorability among Asian American voters increases 18 points since the Spring; Tim Walz is far more popular as a vice presidential candidate than JD Vance. 

● 62% of Asian American voters say they have a favorable opinion of Kamala Harris, compared to 35% who have an unfavorable opinion of the Vice President. In the 2024 Asian American Voter Survey, conducted in April-May, 44% had a favorable view of Harris and 42% unfavorable. 

● 28% of Asian American voters have a favorable opinion of Donald Trump, compared to 70% who have an unfavorable opinion of the former President. ○ In the 2024 AAVS, conducted in April-May, 34% had a favorable view of Trump and 62% unfavorable. 

● 56% of Asian American voters have a favorable opinion of Tim Walz, compared to 18% who have an unfavorable opinion of the Democratic nominee for vice president. 26 percent don’t know enough to have an opinion. 

● 21% of Asian American voters have a favorable opinion of JD Vance, compared to 58 percent who have an unfavorable opinion of the Republican nominee for vice president. 22% don’t know enough to have an opinion.

Positve view of Immigrants

On immigration, AAANHPI adults are far more likely than the general population to view legal immigrants as an important asset. For example, 79% of AAPI adults feel legal immigration is a major benefit for economic growth in the country, compared to about 42% of the general public who were last asked in March 2024. 

And 73% see skilled labor in science and technology as a major benefit, well above the 41% of the broader population. Concerns about illegal immigration are similar between AANHPI adults and the general public, with similar shares perceiving illegal immigration as a risk to welfare programs (48% vs. 53%) and crime (38% vs. 40%), despite recent reports noting that immigrants tend to use benefits at lower rates and commit fewer crimes than the general population. 

The survey is a joint project of the Associated Press (AP) is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting and NORC is an objective and non-partisan research institution that delivers reliable data and rigorous analysis to guide critical programmatic, business, and policy decisions.

Overall, while AANHPI adults tend to view illegal immigrants as presenting higher risks compared to legal immigrants, no more than half within these communities believe that either group poses major risks. AANHPI adults see increasing security at the US-Mexico border (45%) and strengthening policies to prevent visa overstays (41%) as top immigration priorities for the federal government, which is similar to the general population who were last asked in December 2021. 

Reducing green card wait times is also a top issue for AANHPI adults, with 44% considering it a high priority, and about another third prioritizing other legal immigration policies such as expanding family visas and providing green cards to college graduates. 

About a third of AANHPI adults and the general population consider providing legal status for undocumented immigrants and deporting immigrants living in the U.S. illegally as high priorities. 

Emotionally engaged

AANHPI adults express mixed feelings about the upcoming election with 37% saying they feel fearful and 29% reporting they feel excited. One in 5 are feeling angry or satisfied. AANHPI adults aged 60 and over are more likely to say excited accurately describes their feelings of the election, compared to their younger counterparts. 

Intergenerational conversations shape some AANHPI adults' views on key issues like abortion, climate change, and LGBTQ rights. 

A quarter say discussions with older family members have influenced their economic policy views a lot, while another 34% report they've been influenced a little. Similar to the general public in March 2024, AANHPI communities also trust national (58%) and local (53%) news organizations for election information, with fewer relying on friends and family (45%) or social media (35%). 

“Policies on legal immigration have received relatively little public attention, yet they have a disproportionate impact on AAPI communities,” says Karthick Ramakrishnan, executive director of AAPI Data and a researcher at UC Berkeley.

“These survey findings point to the need for greater attention to problems such as backlogs in green cards and employment-based visas.”

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