Kamala Harris will not join California's governor's race

Former Vice President Kamala Harris will not be running for Governor of California.

For months speculation has been rampant about the future of Harris, the Democrats nominee for President in 2020. Would she throw her hat into an already crowded race to become governor of California?

In a social media post this morning, the  alifornia-born Indian American, answered the question.

“I love this state, its people and its promise. It is my home. But after deep reflection, I’ve decided that I will not run for Governor in this election,” she posted Wednesday.

“For now, my leadership — and public service — will not be in elected office,” she said in her post. “I look forward to getting back out and listening to the American people, helping elect Democrats across the nation who will fight fearlessly, and sharing more details in the months ahead about my own plans.”

If she had chosen to throw her hat in the ring to lead the state, most political watchers said she would have won handily as the state's former Attorney General and US Senator.

In 2020, Harris was unsucessful in her race for President against eventual winner Donald Trump. Her campaign was hampered by the late late withdrawal of President Joe Biden therefore not giving her enough time to gain national support.

Her decision leaves open the possibility of another run for the Presidency in 2028. While she would become the best known of the possible Democratic candidates, she must overcome the negative memory associated with her defeat in 2024. There is also a half-dozen other strong potential candidates already jockeying for national recognition.

Below, is Kamala Harris' statement:

If Harris had entered the governor's race, she would have become the frontrunner but her decision leaves the contest wide open, especially for the Democrats. Thus far, the Democrats have a deep bench of well-known candidates, including: Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis; Secretary of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond; Xavier Becerra, who led the Department of Health and Human Services under President Joe Biden; former Rep. Katie Porter; Toni Atkins, who served as both California Senate president pro tempore and California House speaker; former State Comptroller Betty Yee; and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

        RELATED: Attorney General Rob Bonta steps away from governor's race

Among Republicans, Chad Bianco, Riverside County Sheriff and Steve Hilton, a former Fox News commentator and author have thrown their hats into the gubernatorial ring. 

California has an open primary. The top two finishers, regardless of party affiliation, will runoff against each other. In deep blue California, it is possible for two Democrats to wind up in an expensive campaign to lead the state.

Several of the Democrats said they would withdraw from the contest if Harris decides to run. However, with Harris no longer possibility, the race for governor can begin in earnest. Candidates can now start knocking on donors' doors who had also hedging their bets as they waited to hear from Harris. 

“It finally begins the race; it’s almost like the starting gun truly goes off now,” Democratic strategist Kevin Liao tells KQED. “Now I expect these donors are getting plenty of calls from the other candidates starting today, and it really allows these candidates to flesh out their vision for the state without this looming presence of Harris.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is a developing story. Check back later for updates and reactions. For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X or at the blog Views From the Edge. Now on BlueSky.

Immigration is the wedge, ending US democracy is the goal

ANALYSIS

As terrible as Donald Trump's immigration policies have been -- and they have been horrible, cruel and chaotic -- they may be only one of the tools in the ultimate goal: the dismantling of American democracy.

A special report released July 23 by the American Immigration Council offers a sweeping analysis of the Trump administration’s first six months back in office, revealing an unprecedented transformation of the US immigration system that strikes at the foundation of American democracy. 

Trump’s immigration agenda is merely the tip of the spear not only for attacks on the rights of individuals, but on the structure of constitutional government, according to the report. This constitutional order is what structures our democracy, ensuring that elected leaders follow the law and respect separate divisions of authority. 

Power is intended to be spread between the state and federal governments and, at the federal level, across the legislative, executive and judicial branches. Under Trump, the legislative and judicial branches, represented byCongress and the Supreme Court, have succumbed to Trump's White House.  The checks and balances as designed by the Constitution's writers, has virtually disappeared.

While some voters may have supported a “tougher” approach on immigration when voting for Trump, the report describes how the administration’s extreme actions go far beyond policy shifts: they are corrosive to the rule of law itself.

The report, titled Mass Deportation: Analyzing the Trump Administration’s Attacks on Immigrants, Democracy, and America, published on July 23 by the American Immigration Council, lays out how the administration has executed a radical, multi-front attack on immigrants and the immigration system.

FYI: Read the report here.

These actions have included limiting who can come to the United States, stripping legal protections from those already here, and ramping up enforcement to historic levels. And in the process, the Trump administration has dismantled long-standing legal protections, defied the authority of Congress and the courts, and weaponized government power against immigrants and dissenters alike.

“This isn’t just a hardline immigration agenda,” says Nayna Gupta, policy director at the American Immigration Council and co-author of the report. “It’s a wholesale effort to use immigrants and the U.S. immigration system to attack core tenets of our democracy and exercise unchecked executive power to realign the American government around exclusion and fear.”

Key findings from the report include:

• The end of asylum. Asylum at the southern border is effectively dead. The administration shut down the CBP One application and did not replace it with anything else. Asylum-seekers who approach a port of entry are turned away, and in some cases, asylum-seekers are being detained indefinitely, even after winning their cases.

• Demolishing the refugee program. The administration indefinitely suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program — except for white South Africans who have been fast-tracked via executive order and under dubious persecution claims. Tens of thousands of approved refugees remain stranded abroad.

• Mass revocation of legal status: The administration aggressively revoked humanitarian parole and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) from over a million people in just six months, stripping work permits and pushing many into undocumented status.

• Weaponizing bureaucracy: Legal immigration pathways are being jammed by massive fee hikes, processing freezes, and opaque barriers that make it nearly impossible for even lawful applicants to get or maintain status.

• A maelstrom of fear and chaos: The Trump administration’s aggressive enforcement tactics have caused immigrants of all legal statuses to constantly worry about their daily and future safety in the United States. Anyone can be targeted for arrest, detention, and deportation, and people can be targeted anywhere, including at churches, schools and courthouses.

• A radical reorganization of law enforcement resources: The Trump administration is creating an unprecedented, cross-agency immigration operation that draws on manpower across several federal and state law enforcement agencies and the U.S. military — prioritizing immigration enforcement above all other public safety and law enforcement goals.

• Turbocharging an inhumane detention system. Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill Act” enacted in July increases ICE’s detention budget by 308 percent on an annual basis. This sets the government up to radically expand a detention system whose careless and cruel management has already put tens of thousands of immigrants in life-threatening conditions.

Among the first AANHPI communities to protest Trump's attack against immigrants was the Japanese Americans. During the Day of Remembrance in February, they linked the WWII incarceration of Japanese Americans to today's detention and deportation of immigrants.

“You don’t see people with blonde hair and blue eyes in these [modern detention] camps. No, you see brown people, you see Black people. You see people of color, just like you saw when we were in camps,” said Paul Tomita, who was 3-years old when he and his family were incarcerated in one of the WWII camps. “Just like what happened to us, you see laws and policies being put into place to discount people and their humanity. They don’t want us to work together and see these parallels, but we do.”

The American Immigration Council writes in an statement that Trump's immigration policy,  is an attack on America's democracy, undoing the nation's steady progress towards a more perfect union. People, including federal judges and elected officials, are getting arrested, detained and manhandled for protesting Trump, asking federal agents for a judicial warrant, insisting on those agents for proper identification or unmask themselves, or demanding for due process.

Even asking a question of the Homeland Security secretary merits arrest. The fact that all of these sentences refer to things that have happened to elected government officials is not irrelevant – it sends a message to everyone less powerful that they are not safe either.

California's US Senator Alex Padilla was roughly removed from a press conference and thrown tothe ground for attempting to question Homeland Seurity Secretary Krissti Noem. 

"If this is how the Department of Homeland Security responds to a senator with a question, you can only imagine, what they’re doing to farm workers, to cooks, to day laborers out in the Los Angeles community and throughout California and throughout the country,” said Padilla after the incident.

After claiming that the administration wants to deport violent criminals who are in the US illegally, federal agents have moved on to schools, houses of worship, courtrooms and farms to meet a quota of 3000 arrests a day. In their sweeps, ICE, Homeland Security have acted with impunity, arresting or detaining US citizens, green card holders and foreign exchange students without explanation and hardly ever an "Opps, I'm sorry." 

The American Immigration Council report warns that while some policies may shift based on legal challenges in court, the administration’s broader agenda is clear: to permanently redefine who belongs in America, and how power is wielded by the federal government.

The Trump administration defends its tough immigration agenda by appealing to “the rule of law” and by appealing to white fears of losing their privileged status in US society. The last six months shows that Trump’s immigration policy may be the wedge that weakens America by dividing us and shredding American democracy as we know it.

“The administration’s policies are reshaping the immigration system in ways that are unfair, unlawful, and out of step with core American values,” says Dara Lind, senior fellow at the American Immigration Council and co-author of the report. “We’re seeing real harm to families, communities, and the rule of law, and the public deserves to understand what’s at stake.”

“President Trump’s actions are ripping families apart and sending a chilling message that no one is safe—not even legal permanent residents who pay their taxes, contribute to the economy, and have called this country home for years," said the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus in a statement. "For our community that is majority foreign-born, we know that this will inevitably put a target on the backs of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.

“Every American should be deeply concerned. If we don’t speak up now, this administration will continue to trample over our constitutional rights and target individuals it disagrees with," the CAPAC statement continues. "Then, only one question will remain: Who will be next?

“We must take a stand to ensure we remain a nation of laws, not one ruled by a king.”

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

.

Jolibee's fried chicken beats out US fast food rivals

For the second year in a row, the Filipino chain Jolibee was judged to have the Best Fast Food Fried Chicken in the United States according to USA TODAY 10Best.

This year’s USA Today Readers’ Choice poll, voted on by thousands of Americans, confirms just how far Jollibee has come. The Philippine fast-food favorite was chosen over some of the United States' better known fried chicken outlets.

"They’re best known for Chickenjoy, the signature juicy, flavorful fried chicken. Order it in buckets or accompanied by sides — and don’t forget to dip it in their silky gravy,” 10Best writes.

The fast food chain from the Philippines, although not heavily marketed beyond word-of-moiuth, beat Guatemalan fast food chain Pollo Campero, Popeyes, and Chick-fil-A. Kentucky Fried Chicken didn't even break into the top 10.

The top 10 Best Fast Food Fried Chicken brands are:

1. Jollibee
2. Pollo Campero 
3. Guthrie's Chicken
4. Huey Magoo's Chicken Tenders
5. Popeyes
6. Golden Chick
7. Chick-fil-A
8. Krispy Krunchy Chicken
9. Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken
10. Bojangles

While the fried chicken is a star, Jollibee also offers other popular menu items, such as the Filipino-style Jolly Spaghetti (with a sweet-style sauce and hotdogs), Burger Steak (beef patty with mushroom gravy), and Peach Mango Pie. For the more curious customer, Jolibee's take of Filipino favorites,  pancit palabok and adobo fried rice, is a good introduction to the Philippine palate.

It also offers a spicy version of the fried chicken. In addition, the fried chicken can be in a sandwich and chicken tenders.  

This year’s USA Today Readers’ Choice poll, voted on by thousands of Americans, confirms just how far Jollibee has come since opening its first US store in Daly City, California in 1998. The Filipino fast food chain has expanded to over 90 locations across North America, 76 stores in 14 US states, drawing long lines and loyal fans wherever it lands.

Jollibee's projected expansion goal is to have 350 stores across both the US and Canada in the next couple of years. Jollibee's franchising program will play a critical role in this growth strategy, with franchise-owned stores projected to make up the majority of its footprint.

FYI: For more information about the franchise program, such as application requirements and frequently asked questions, please visit www.jollibeefoods.com/franchising.

"Jollibee brings a special warmth and hospitality to the QSR landscape in North America – it's a unique element that our brand is very proud of, and we are even more proud to provide that joyful dining experience that you won't find anywhere else," said Maribeth Dela Cruz, Business Group Head, Honeybee Foods Corporation dba Jollibee. "Franchise candidates have the opportunity to build upon 47 years of expansion and usher in a new era for Jollibee."

The number one menu item that sets the chain apart from anyone else is its gravy. Don't be surprised if the Jolibee's US competitors introduce their own gravy dipping sauces. The gravy arrives as a bowl of piping hot, velvety, flavorful, hazelnut-colored goodness. Imagine that perfect gravy you love on a plate of poutine, add the Jollibee logo, and you've got it. For the full flavor experience, make sure to dip every piece of chicken you have in that bucket into the gravy. 

For several yars, celebrated chefs and food critics like the late Anthony Bourdain have predicted the food of the Philippines to be the "next big thing."  Perhaps unwittingly, Jollibee's success in North America might be the gateway for more people to discover the complexities of Philippine cuisine beyond the fried chicken.

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

In California, hate crimes against Asians dip, while hate 'incidents' increase

Illustration: Jason Leung/Unsplash

Hate crimes against Asian Americans may have dipped in California but hate and xenophobia continues to tarnish the American dream.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta recently released the 2024 Hate Crime in California Report. The report finds that anti-Asian hate attacks have reduced slightly in California from 2023 to 2024.

However, reported hate crime events in California have increased by 2.7% from 1,970 in 2023 to 2,023 in 2024. In particular, reported hate crimes against our LGBTQ+ and Jewish communities have increased, and too many communities continue to be unacceptably targeted by hate.

“There is absolutely no place for hate in California. Transparent and accessible data is a critical part of understanding where we are and how we can end hate crimes in our communities,” says  the state's Attorney General Bonta.

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

“Everyone has a part to play as we continue to fight intolerance in California, and I urge leaders up and down the state to review the data and resources available and recommit to standing united against hate. The California Department of Justice remains steadfast in our commitment to continue working with law enforcement, elected leaders, and community organizations across California to keep our communities safe.”

It's important to differentiate between "hate incidents" tracked legally defined hate crimes. In California in 2024, hate crimes targeting Asian individuals saw a decrease of 4.8%, with 119 reported incidents compared to 125 in 2023, according to by Stop AAPI Hate, which issued its own report earlier this month. California Attorney General Bonta reported a slight decrease in anti-Asian bias crimes, from 125 in 2023 to 119 in 2024. This difference highlights the value of considering multiple data sources.

A significant number of Asian adults in California, nearly half (48%), reported experiencing hate in 2024, according to Stop AAPI Hate. This figure is similar to the 49% reported in 2023. The data also indicates that over half (53%) of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) adults experienced some form of hate, including incidents of bullying, discrimination, harassment, and physical violence.

The 2024 data collected by Stop AAPI Hate reveals that while overall hate crimes targeting race and ethnicity decreased slightly (0.6%), anti-Black bias remained the most prevalent, followed by anti-Latino and anti-Asian bias. Specifically, anti-Asian hate incidents decreased from 125 in 2023 to 119 in 2024. 

However, the attorney general's report highlights the ongoing need to address hate incidents and crimes against Asian communities.

The report also acknowledges the impact of racist rhetoric blaming Asian communities for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stop AAPI Hate has also reported a surge in online hate against the Asian community, particularly targeting South Asians, since November 2024. These findings highlight a concerning trend of both in-person and online hate incidents affecting the Asian community in California. The organization also notes that the data collected by law enforcement agencies may not fully capture the extent of hate incidents, as many incidents are not reported as crimes. 

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

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

IIf you believe you or someone you know has been the victim of a hate crime, notify local law enforcement and consider taking the following steps:  

• If you are in immediate danger, call 911 and if needed, seek medical attention.
• Write down the exact words that were used and take note of any other relevant facts.
• If safe to do so, save all evidence and take photos.
• Get contact information for other victims and witnesses.
• Reach out to community organizations in your area that deal with hate crimes or incidents.

Hate crimes can be reported to the California Civil Rights Department's CA v. Hate online portal at any time in 15 languages or by calling the CA v. Hate hotline at (833) 866-4283 or 833-8-NO-HATE, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and talking to a trained civil rights agent in over 200 languages. Outside of those hours, people can leave a voicemail or call 211 to report a hate incident and seek support from a professional trained in culturally competent communication and trauma-informed practices.

Historically, hate crime data has generally been underreported and the California Department of Justice recognizes that the data presented in its reports may not adequately reflect the actual number of hate crime events that have occurred in the state. Caution should be used when comparing 2024 hate crimes data to prior years, as not all agencies were able to submit a full year of data for 2024. For more information, please reference the “Understanding the Data, Characteristics and Known Limitations” section in the report.

Some of the key findings from the 2024 Hate Crime in California Report include: 

• Reported hate crime events increased 2.7% from 1,970 in 2023 to 2,023 in 2024.
• Hate crime offenses increased 8.9% from 2,359 in 2023 to 2,568 in 2024.
• The number of victims of reported hate crimes increased 8.2% from 2,303 in 2023 to 2,491 in 2024. 
• Reported hate crime events involving a racial bias decreased 0.6% from 1,017 in 2023 to 1,011 in 2024. 
• Anti-Black bias events remained the most prevalent, despite a 4.6% decrease from 518 in 2023 to 494 in 2024. 
• Anti-Asian bias events decreased 4.8% from 125 in 2023 to 119 in 2024. 
• Reported hate crime events involving a religion bias increased 3% from 394 in 2023 to 406 in 2024. 
• Anti-Jewish bias events rose from 289 in 2023 to 310 in 2024, an increase of 7.3%.
• Anti-Islamic (Muslim) bias events fell from 40 in 2023 to 24 in 2024. 
• Between 2023 and 2024, hate crime events motivated by sexual orientation bias increased by 12.3% from 405 in 2023 to 455 in 2024, anti-transgender bias events increased by 12.3% from 65 in 2023 to 73 in 2024, and anti-LGBTQ+ bias events increased by 13.9% from 2023.
• From 2023 to 2024, the number of hate crimes referred for prosecution increased from 679 in 2023 to 818 in 2024. Of the 818 hate crimes that were referred for prosecution, 506 cases were filed by district attorneys and elected city attorneys for prosecution. Of the 506 cases that were filed for prosecution, 327 were filed as hate crimes and 179 were filed as non-bias motivated crimes.

In California, it is considered a hate crime if you are targeted because of your actual or perceived nationality, including your immigration or citizenship status. Earlier this year, Bonta released updated guidance and resources on hate crimes for law enforcement, prosecutors, and the victims of these crimes in preparation for a potential increase in violence against immigrants as a result of Donald Trump’s xenophobic rhetoric.

These resources include an updated law enforcement bulletin on laws prohibiting hate crimes, a hate crimes rapid response protocol for the deployment of DOJ resources, guidance to prosecutors to help strengthen hate crimes prosecution enforcement, and a fact sheet to help Californians understand their rights and protections under hate crime laws. These, and other resources can be found on oag.ca.gov/HATECRIMES.

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

Beginning in 2021 when he took office as the state's first Filipino American Attorney General, Bonta began proactively engaging with local city leaders in the biggest cities in California through roundtables in San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego, Riverside, Long Beach, Santa Ana, San Jose, Stockton, Anaheim, Bakersfield, Fresno, and Irvine.

More broadly, the Attorney General is deeply committed to responding to the needs of historically marginalized and underrepresented communities and, in July 2021, also launched the Office of Community Awareness, Response, and Engagement to work directly with community organizations and members of the public as part of the effort to advance justice for all Californians.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

• DOJ's Office of Community Awareness, Response, and Engagement will host a virtual Community Briefing on Wednesday, July 30th at 1pm PT to share highlights and findings from the report. People interested can register here: https://doj-ca.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_vDq6h0e1TbKG3D-DWByjfQ#/registration

• Members of the public can further explore the most recent hate crime data on OpenJustice.

• The 2024 Hate Crime in California Report can be found here.

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

“Asian+American”is a new campaign celebrating the beautiful complexity of Asian American Identity

Growing up in the United States I've had to grapple with growing up in two cultures, trying to balance being Filipino and being American.

I was not alone in that struggle. Being torn between two cultures is something familiar with every Asian American.

For decades, Asian Americans have been caught in a constant balancing act of being either too Asian or not Asian enough. We’ve felt pressured to hide our names, languages, and cultures just to fit in. It’s no wonder most of us feel like we don’t belong.

Eventually, I came to the realization that I don't have to choose to be one or the other, nor am I half-this and half-that. 

Instead, I tell myself that am 100% Filipino and 100% American. Two-in-one. Two times more interesting. Two worlds to enjoy. Double the enrichment. Twice blessed. Apples and mangoes. Hot dogs and adobo.

I'm pleased to see that more and more Asian Americans are taking this approach to self-identification.

The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) is unveiling the “Asian+American” campaign today. It is a national PSA initiative thal encourages Asian Americans to celebrate the complexity and beauty of their dual identities.

“For too long, Asian Americans have been made to feel like we must shrink, code-switch, or choose between identities just to be seen as American enough,” says Norman Chen, CEO of TAAF. 

“At TAAF, we are focused on building a future where our community can thrive in safety, prosperity, and true belonging—free from discrimination, slander, and violence. Belonging begins with being seen and heard, and we hope this campaign sparks the kind of honest conversations that help us own, and celebrate, every part of who we are. Our partnership with Right To Be goes a step further and empowers individuals to take an active role in creating belonging and safety for their own communities,” says Chen.

Created in partnership with the award-winning global creative agency Wieden+Kennedy New York, the campaign uses striking visual storytelling and imagery that will blanket everything from billboards to social media—all to foster pride in being both Asian and American.

Asian Americans are the least likely of any racial or ethnic group to say they fully belong in the United States, and this sense of exclusion is especially acute among younger generations. According to TAAF’s 2025 STAATUS Index, just 20% of Asian Americans ages 16–24 (and 23% overall) feel fully accepted for their racial identity. Following decades of being cast as perpetual foreigners caught in a balancing act of being too Asian or not Asian enough, many have felt pressure to abandon their culture, names, or languages just to fit in, often internalizing shame and self-doubt in the process.

The campaign’s centerpiece, a 60-second short film called Beyond, Together, explores this pressure to choose between identities and offers an intimate look at Asian American individuals embracing their full selves without limits or compromises. 

Narrated by award-winning actor/producer Sandra Oh and directed by Academy Award–nominee Sean Wang (Dìdi, Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó), who participated in the inaugural Sundance Institute | TAAF Fellowship cohort in 2022, the PSA is paired with powerful portraits taken by photographer Jingyu Lin that will roll out across digital, social, and out-of-home platforms.

Click here if unable to view 'Beyond Together.'

TELL YOUR STORY IN 'RIGHT TO BE'

As part of its commitment to lasting change, TAAF is also partnering with Right To Be to expand access to bystander intervention trainings that foster safety and belonging. 

A leader in anti-harassment education, Right To Be empowers individuals to safely intervene in moments of bias or harm, including instances of anti-Asian hate and xenophobic harassment. 

Together, TAAF and Right To Be will launch a national Train-the-Trainer program, with curriculum designed by Right To Be and Asian Americans Advancing Justice - AAJC, to equip local leaders to deliver these workshops in their own communities, with a goal of reaching up to 10,000 people in the first year.

        RELATED: Half of Asian Americans have experienced a hate incident

In the wake of the historic rise in anti-Asian hate in 2020, Asian American communities were galvanized into action — and what followed was a powerful cultural awakening. A new wave of pride is taking root, one that fully embraces the richness of being both Asian and American. 

For the first time, Asian American actors, chefs, athletes and musicians are commanding the world’s biggest stages and arenas. 

Across the country, people are reconnecting with their heritage — proudly speaking their languages, cooking family recipes, and reclaiming names they were once told to shorten or change. The “Asian+American” campaign is a celebration of this journey: a declaration that Asian Americans don’t have to choose between identities — they belong fully, powerfully, and proudly as both.

“The ‘plus’ is about turning a negative into a positive. It’s about disrupting judgement, perception, and ill-conceived notions of identity. It strikes down barriers and broadens our understanding of who Asian Americans are and who we can be,” said Kevin Kaminishi, Associate Creative Director at W+K New York. 

“We are a massive community, and it’s time that we celebrate in a way that carries the strengths of our heritage while embracing the freedom to redefine it.”

        RELATED: Study finds 1 in 5 Asian Americans hide their ethnic identity

“My own Asian American identity and sense of belonging are things I’ve attempted to define for myself through my work,” said Park Pictures director Sean Wang. “Through those experiences, I’ve connected with so many others who share the unique challenges of navigating multiple cultural identities. I’m thrilled to have partnered with TAAF, W+K, Sandra Oh, and our team at Park Pictures to build on that and make something that celebrates the beauty and complexity of our community."

“Lending my voice on a message so close to my heart—one that represents my community—has tremendous meaning for me,” said Award-winning Actor/Producer Sandra Oh. “Working with TAAF to highlight the intersectionality of our identities and cultures has been a project made out of love by everyone who has touched it. I’m so honored to be part of giving this message to the AAPI community and with the world.”

The short film and out-of-home creative will be distributed nationally, culminating in an invitation to the public: “What is your Asian+American story?”

ASIAN+AMERICAN

TAAF is encouraging Asian Americans and allies across America to join the conversation by sharing their stories on social media using #AsianPlusAmerican and tagging @TAAForg. The campaign aims to amplify the diverse voices, experiences, and identities that shape the Asian American community—and to show the world what it truly means to be both Asian and American.

“The plus in Asian+American is a broad celebration of identity—the plus is for everyone,” said Sheila Lirio Marcelo, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Ohai.ai and Co-founding TAAF Board Member. "The heart of this campaign speaks to something universal: the richness of being more. 

"No matter our background, we all live at the intersection of multiple cultures, stories, and communities. This is a reminder that our stories, while unique, are deeply connected—and that there’s power in embracing every part of who we are as Americans. And that the richness and abundance in each of our backgrounds should be celebrated and honored."

The truth is, we don’t need to forfeit our Asian or American identity to belong. Our complexity is our superpower. And across the country, people are honoring their roots and showing the world who they are—fully, powerfully, and proudly as Asian+American.

        FYI: Click here to learn more about the “Asian+American” campaign 

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

Report: Half of Asian Americans say they[ve experienced hate in 2024

The data is clear—hate acts against Asian American and Pacific Islander (AA/PI)1 communities remained widespread and deeply harmful in 2024, amid an incredibly contentious general election.

Nation-wide data from  a report on the state of Anti-AA/PI hate  confirms that over half of AA/PI adults (53%) and almost 3 in 4 AA/PI young adults (74%) experienced a hate act last year due to their race, ethnicity, or nationality. Unprovoked hate attacks could occur anywhere: going to the grocery store, attending school, going to church or just walking down the street minding your own business.

The attacks of hate could be a physical attack or a simple, "Go back to your own country," followed by slur.

Stop AAPI Hate conducted its second annual survey to understand the scale of anti-Asian American and anti-Pacific Islander (anti-AA/PI) hate acts2 across the nation and to analyze year-over-year trends.

The report on the state of anti-AA/PI hate in 2024 entitled, “Still Under Fire: Relentless Racism against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in a Heated Election Year” summarizes key findings from this survey and shares accounts of hate acts reported to Stop AAPI Hate’s reporting center that occurred in 2024.

Together, these sources provide a comprehensive and vivid picture of hate and its impacts on Asian American and Pacific Islander communities last year. With current threats to immigrant communities and the dismantling of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts—including data collection and reporting—it is more critical than ever that we have accurate records of what is happening in our communities. 

Highlights of the report:

• About half (53%) of AA/PI adults surveyed experienced a hate act in 2024 due to their race, ethnicity, or nationality, a figure similar to the 49% who experienced a race-based hate act in 2023.

• The prevalence of hate was similarly high across gender, geographic region, income, party identification, birthplace, language, education, citizenship, and regional ethnic group.

• But there were age differences that emerged this year with 72% of young adults (18–29) experiencing hate, a higher prevalence compared to adults aged 30–44 (54%), 45–59 (46%), and 60 and over (44%).

• Harassment and institutional discrimination continued to be the most common types of hate acts experienced, with around half (48%) of AA/PI adults experiencing harassment and around a quarter (24%) experiencing institutional discrimination. '

• Of those who experienced hate acts, about half (53%) experienced hate that was intersectional, or targeting other aspects of their identities in addition to their race, ethnicity, or nationality. Gender was the highest additional identity targeted.

        FYI: Read the entire report "Sill Under Fire"

The survey of nearly 1,600 Asian American and Pacific Islander adults was conducted from January 7–15, 2025 with NORC at the University of Chicago, a nonpartisan research organization. It utilized their Amplify AAPI® Panel, the largest and most representative public opinion panel of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. It also included an oversample of Pacific Islander adults to ensure that trends and differences for these communities are visible.

The report also found that the vast majority of AA/PI adults (83%) are concerned about the nation’s current racial climate following the surge of racism and xenophobia coming out of the 2024 election season.

Signs of hope amidst growing fear

Despite these sobering statistics and the disturbing trend in 2025, the report's findings also offer a beacon of hope. Even as hate continues to wreak havoc on the mental health, personal relationships, and sense of belonging of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, the majority of the adults remain optimistic about their own growing power to end racism and are motivated to get involved in justice and equity efforts.

As alarming as 2024 was, spurred by the use of racist campaign rhetoric (primarily by the Republicans), 2025 may be even worse. The year is just half over but already it may be even more contentious than the election year with Donald Trump's policies targetting legal and undocumented immigrants spill over all the communities that fall under the AAPI umbrella. Raids by aggressive Homeland Security and the border patrol agents have accused, detained and deported Asians, some of whom are in the US legally and have been Americans for decades.

The relentless xenophobia of Trump and his enablers and supporters has created a hostile environment where any spotlight on immigrants and/or their countries of origin can set off a wave of racism against Asian communities.

The majority of AA/PI adults surveyed are concerned about the racial climate (83%), optimistic about AA/PI power to end racism (82%), and motivated to get involved in justice and equity efforts – although stronger attitudes fell. Two-thirds (66%) of AA/PI adults participated in activities to reduce or resist racism in 2024.

At the same time, a majority of AA/PI adults said they anticipate worsening conditions over the next four years under the Trump administration:

• 61% expect greater hostility toward immigrant communities,
• 56% foresee rising racial tensions,
• 57% anticipate more harmful foreign policies,
• And over half (53%) expect an increase in anti-AA/PI hate crimes and hate incidents.

Even in the face of hate, many AA/PI adults plan to engage in policy action in 2025 to combat hate and racism. Nearly two-thirds (65%) say they are extremely or very likely to take action on at least one policy solution.

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

'Big, beautiful bill' includes a tax on remittances

Asian families depend on remittances from relatives in the US

Asian Americans sending money to their relatives in their home countries will face a new tax starting in 2026.

While some of the negative impacts of Donald Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" are garnering deserved attention: such as a shredding the safety net for lower income families, ioss of health care for millions, and more tax relief for the ultra-rich; going almost unnoticed is the new tax on remittances.

Asian immigrants working in the US play a critical role in the economies of many countries, providing that extra income that allows rfriends and elatives back in the home countries to keep food on the table, send their kids to school, or to pay for hospital care for ill family members.

“This bill will significantly affect Filipino workers who are not only making a living for themselves but also working hard to support their families back home in the Philippines,” Aquilina Soriano Versoza, executive director of the Pilipino Workers Center of Southern California (PWC told the Inquirer.

For every $100 sent to sisters and brothers remaining in India, the Phiippines and other Asian countries, the sender living in the US will pay $1 extra, or 1% of the total.

It could have been much worse. The original proposal in the US House of Representatives was 5% but they worked it down to 3.5%.Tthe Senate version of bill reduced the tax to 1%. The smaller payout was accepted by the House, which sent the final version in time for Trump to sign the bill on July 4th.

Thisnew tax will go into effect Jan. 1, 2026. The fee will be automatically deducted by remittance providers (banks, wire services, digital platforms) at the time of the transaction.

The tax will add to the roughly 6% senders already pay as fees to remittance service providers (such as Western Union or MoneyGram), banks and money transfer apps.

A recent analysis by the Center of Global Development of the financial costs of the  tax on countries that send migrants to the US found that it could sharply reduce formal remittances. Nations that will be significantly affected include India, Mexico, the Philippines, China, and Latin American and Caribbean countries like Guatemala, the Dominican Republic and El Salvador.

In 2023, India received the largest amount of remittances from the Indian glpbal diaspora, with an estimated $120 billion, according to the Migration Data Portal. Mexico and China followed, receiving remittances totaling $66 billion and $50 billion respectively.

Here's a summary of the new remittance tax

• Rate: The tax is 1% of the remittance transfer amount.
• Applies to: Individuals making transfers from the US to foreign recipients via a remittance transfer provider.
• Exemptions: Transfers funded with a US debit or credit card or funds withdrawn from certain US financial institutions (subject to BSA reporting) are exempt. Transfers made using bank wires or online transfer services are generally not subject to the tax, 
• Effective Date: The tax will apply to transfers made after December 31, 2025.
• Purpose: The tax is intended to increase Treasury revenue and deter illegal activities like drug and human trafficking, according to Bright!Tax.

US citizens who have retired abroad can breathe a sigh of relief. Their source of income from investments, Social Security and pensions will most likely not be affected.

What kind of transfers will not get hit with the 1% remittance tax?

Anything that is not a cash transfer, which includes transfers from your US bank account, retirement account, brokerage account, online, or using a debit or credit card. Below are some examples. A word of caution, this list isn’t exhaustive.

• Initiating an international wire transfer from your U.S. bank to your non-US bank account.
• Transferring your Social Security, 401(k), or IRA distributions from your US bank to your non-US bank account.
• Using WISE, Revolut, or any other online money transfer service to transfer money from the US to your country of residence.

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