Emerging Issues
- Kenneth Bae's release from North Korea
- Matthew and Grace Huang imprisonment in Qatar
Emerging Issues
Matthew and Grace Huang
To the AAPI Faith Alliance:
Thank you for taking the time to get the know the case of my sister, Grace, her husband Matt, and their 3 children. They, along with their families, have been through substantial trauma, and we believe we have been sustained only by the prayers of believers and by the hand of God.
As you probably already know, in March 2014, Matt and Grace Huang were sentenced to 3 years in the prison for child endangerment, a charge which they never faced during the 14 months of investigation and trial following the unexpected death of their daughter, Gloria. They had originally been charged with intentionally starving Gloria to death, which was irrefutably proven false and impossible, both medically and judicially. The presiding Judge Al Emadi himself said that the charges of murder had no evidence to support the claim. However, the courts then changed the accusation to child endangerment and convicted Matt and Grace without providing them the opportunity to defend themselves against the new charge - an outrageous violation of due process and international human rights. Matt and Grace are also completely innocent of endangering the life of Gloria, and due to the inadequate autopsy performed by the Qatari prosecution, we may never know her cause of death. While we realize these things take time to resolve, Matt and Grace and their two remaining sons have suffered enough. This family needs to be reunited as quickly as possible.
We are asking for a show of support for Matt and Grace to our government by way of our online petition. There are already over 150,000 signatures, and we want to see that number continue to grow to make sure this case does not get buried or forgotten. The family is also coming to the end of its resources to finance the case. Matt and Grace have sold their home and liquidated all their retirement assets to fund their fight for freedom. Please consider donating to their case. If every person who has signed the petition donates just $1 or $2, it would generate a significant source of funding in their struggle to return home.
Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to provide an update to this story, for your prayers, and for your support.
For more ways you can help, please start by visiting our website FreeMattAndGrace.com.
Daniel Chin [Brother of Grace Huang]
Sign the Petition: http://www.change.org/en-CA/petitions/free-matt-and-grace-innocent-americans-imprisoned-in-qatar
For more information: http://freemattandgrace.com/
To the AAPI Faith Alliance:
Thank you for taking the time to get the know the case of my sister, Grace, her husband Matt, and their 3 children. They, along with their families, have been through substantial trauma, and we believe we have been sustained only by the prayers of believers and by the hand of God.
As you probably already know, in March 2014, Matt and Grace Huang were sentenced to 3 years in the prison for child endangerment, a charge which they never faced during the 14 months of investigation and trial following the unexpected death of their daughter, Gloria. They had originally been charged with intentionally starving Gloria to death, which was irrefutably proven false and impossible, both medically and judicially. The presiding Judge Al Emadi himself said that the charges of murder had no evidence to support the claim. However, the courts then changed the accusation to child endangerment and convicted Matt and Grace without providing them the opportunity to defend themselves against the new charge - an outrageous violation of due process and international human rights. Matt and Grace are also completely innocent of endangering the life of Gloria, and due to the inadequate autopsy performed by the Qatari prosecution, we may never know her cause of death. While we realize these things take time to resolve, Matt and Grace and their two remaining sons have suffered enough. This family needs to be reunited as quickly as possible.
We are asking for a show of support for Matt and Grace to our government by way of our online petition. There are already over 150,000 signatures, and we want to see that number continue to grow to make sure this case does not get buried or forgotten. The family is also coming to the end of its resources to finance the case. Matt and Grace have sold their home and liquidated all their retirement assets to fund their fight for freedom. Please consider donating to their case. If every person who has signed the petition donates just $1 or $2, it would generate a significant source of funding in their struggle to return home.
Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to provide an update to this story, for your prayers, and for your support.
For more ways you can help, please start by visiting our website FreeMattAndGrace.com.
Daniel Chin [Brother of Grace Huang]
Sign the Petition: http://www.change.org/en-CA/petitions/free-matt-and-grace-innocent-americans-imprisoned-in-qatar
For more information: http://freemattandgrace.com/
Kenneth Bae
May 12, 2014
Dear friends at AAPI Faith Alliance,
My name is Terri Chung, and I am the sister of Kenneth Bae, an American citizen who has been imprisoned in North Korea (DPRK) since November 3, 2012.
Kenneth is a man of faith and a hardworking husband and father of three, ranging from ages 17 – 23. In the past, Kenneth served as a missionary in China. Then, more recently, Kenneth saw an opportunity in North Korea that resonated with his heart and entrepreneurial spirit. He believed in showing compassion by contributing to the North Korean economy in the form of tourism. He started his own tour company in China, taking short trips across the Chinese border into DPRK.
Introducing the untainted beauty of the land and the people of North Korea to the outside world was his livelihood and passion. In the past two years, he led 18 tours into the special economic zone of Rason, bringing more than 250-300 citizens from the U.S., Canada, China and Europe. This is what he was doing when he was arrested.
On April 30, 2013, Kenneth was tried, convicted, and sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for “hostile acts against the republic.” Though we acknowledge he has been convicted of crimes under DPRK laws, we also know that his intentions were only to help.
Kenneth is the longest detained American in the DPRK since the Korean War and the only one to have been sent to its labor camp. We are gravely concerned about his increasingly deteriorating health.
During the 18 months of Kenneth’s imprisonment, there has been woefully little progress on his case. But one message that has been conveyed consistently through Kenneth’s letters and phone calls is this: Kenneth’s freedom can only come with the help of the US government.
The State Department has tried a couple of times to intervene with a diplomatic envoy, but it has been rejected twice by the DPRK. In the midst of rising tension between the US and the DPRK, we see no immediate hope for resolution to his case.
We need your help to advocate for Kenneth’s freedom, to make sure he is not forgotten. We need your voices to appeal to Secretary Kerry and President Obama to take urgent action to secure Kenneth’s freedom. I look forward to speaking with you at the conference about ways you can appeal to our leaders to bring Kenneth home. Thank you for your prayers and ongoing advocacy.
Sincerely,
Terri Chung
More Information:
http://FreeKenNow.com
http://facebook.com/FreeKennethNow
Contact:
Terri Chung, Kenneth Bae’s Sister | freekennow@gmail.com
Derek Sciba, family friend | scibad@gmail.com | 206‐713‐5564
Sign the Petition: www.change.org/FreeKenNow
For more information: http://freekennow.com/
News: Huffington Post - Impact "Kenneth Bae: When One Hurts, All Hurt" Grace Ji-Sun Kim, Rev. Jesse Jackson
May 12, 2014
Dear friends at AAPI Faith Alliance,
My name is Terri Chung, and I am the sister of Kenneth Bae, an American citizen who has been imprisoned in North Korea (DPRK) since November 3, 2012.
Kenneth is a man of faith and a hardworking husband and father of three, ranging from ages 17 – 23. In the past, Kenneth served as a missionary in China. Then, more recently, Kenneth saw an opportunity in North Korea that resonated with his heart and entrepreneurial spirit. He believed in showing compassion by contributing to the North Korean economy in the form of tourism. He started his own tour company in China, taking short trips across the Chinese border into DPRK.
Introducing the untainted beauty of the land and the people of North Korea to the outside world was his livelihood and passion. In the past two years, he led 18 tours into the special economic zone of Rason, bringing more than 250-300 citizens from the U.S., Canada, China and Europe. This is what he was doing when he was arrested.
On April 30, 2013, Kenneth was tried, convicted, and sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for “hostile acts against the republic.” Though we acknowledge he has been convicted of crimes under DPRK laws, we also know that his intentions were only to help.
Kenneth is the longest detained American in the DPRK since the Korean War and the only one to have been sent to its labor camp. We are gravely concerned about his increasingly deteriorating health.
During the 18 months of Kenneth’s imprisonment, there has been woefully little progress on his case. But one message that has been conveyed consistently through Kenneth’s letters and phone calls is this: Kenneth’s freedom can only come with the help of the US government.
The State Department has tried a couple of times to intervene with a diplomatic envoy, but it has been rejected twice by the DPRK. In the midst of rising tension between the US and the DPRK, we see no immediate hope for resolution to his case.
We need your help to advocate for Kenneth’s freedom, to make sure he is not forgotten. We need your voices to appeal to Secretary Kerry and President Obama to take urgent action to secure Kenneth’s freedom. I look forward to speaking with you at the conference about ways you can appeal to our leaders to bring Kenneth home. Thank you for your prayers and ongoing advocacy.
Sincerely,
Terri Chung
More Information:
http://FreeKenNow.com
http://facebook.com/FreeKennethNow
Contact:
Terri Chung, Kenneth Bae’s Sister | freekennow@gmail.com
Derek Sciba, family friend | scibad@gmail.com | 206‐713‐5564
Sign the Petition: www.change.org/FreeKenNow
For more information: http://freekennow.com/
News: Huffington Post - Impact "Kenneth Bae: When One Hurts, All Hurt" Grace Ji-Sun Kim, Rev. Jesse Jackson
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Top Issues / Problems to Address
Immigration Reform
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Mental Health
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Disaster Readiness
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Why this matters - Even though Asian American and Pacific Islanders make up 6 percent of the total U.S. population, we account for over 40 percent of the 4.2 million individuals caught in the current family immigration visa backlog. And we account for 84 percent of the employer-based visa backlog! AAPI DREAMers also account for 40 percent of those in the University of California system.
Today, more immigrants come from Asia or the Pacific Islands than any other region in the world. Those from Asian countries also account for 10 percent, or about 1.3 million, of all undocumented immigrants
Resource links:
The White House - The Benefits of Commonsense Immigration Reform
The White House - Winning the Future: President Obama's Agenda and the AAPI Community
Asian American Center for Advancing Justice "A Community of Contrasts, Asian Americans in the United States: 2011"
Asian American Center for Advancing Justice "A Community of Contrasts 2014 in the United States"
Asian Law Caucus Infographic - The Back of the Line / Asian Law Caucus Infographic - The 'New' Angel Island
AAPI Data Infographic - Growth of the Undocumented, 2000 to 2011
Southeast Asia Resource Action Center - Resources: Deportation and Southeast Asian Americans
Pew Research Hispanic Trends Project - On Immigration Policy, Deportation Relief Seen As More Important Than Citizenship
Southeast Asia Resource Center (SEARAC) - Resources: Deportation and Southeast Asian Americans
Asian American Justice Center - “The Impact of SB 1070 on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders”
Asian American Justice Center - “Asian American Perspective on Comprehensive Immigration Reform - Testimony before the Subcommittee on Immigration Committee on the Judiciary United States House of Representatives - Hearing on Perspectives of Immigrant Advocacy Organizations on Comprehensive Immigration Reform”
News:
MSNBC.com - "Asian Americans Want Immigration Reform Too"
Religion News Service - “COMMENTARY: The hidden immigration impact on American churches”
Migration Policy Institute - "Asian Immigrants in the United States"
Why this matters - Asian Americans are facing serious moral choices in regard to how we should respond to recent rulings by the Supreme Court on affirmative action. There are seismic shifts taking place in the landscape of higher education induced by these rulings. Both sides of the debates over affirmative action are seeking to enlist Asian Americans to shore up their arguments for and against affirmative action policies. As it has become clear that race based policies are on the decline, here are some sources to read to help us develop critical responses to changing affirmative action practices that reflect our commitment to social justice and diversity:
Resource links:
CARE (National Commission on AAPI Research in Education) "The Attitudes of Asian Americans Toward Affirmative Action"
CARE "Asian Americans And The Benefits Of Campus Diversity: What The Research Says"
18millionrising.org "Why I Support Affirmative Action: One Asian American Perspective"
Colorlines.com "Wanted: Disgruntled Asian-Americans to Attack Affirmative Action"
News:
Los Angeles Times Op-Ed - "An Asian American turn to the right?"
Los Angeles Times Op-Ed - "Affirmative action at California colleges: A debate based on fear"
The Daily Beast - "Asians vs. Affirmative Action"
New York Times - "Asian-Americans in the Argument"
Human Trafficking
Why this matters - Human trafficking, the buying/selling of people, is rising as a dangerous threat. Profits for trafficking are the second largest illegal enterprise in the world, after drugs. People are bought and sold for use as laborers, domestic workers, sex workers, and held against their will in many US cities, and around the world.
The AAPI community cares about trafficking because it is disproportionately affecting our communities. Sex trafficking and forced labor are thriving in Asian and South Asian countries. The orientalization of API women helps grow the demand for Asian women in brothels. In the US, victims of trafficking are coming from many Asian countries and the need for services in Asian languages is high. And for our community, there is a unique tie between domestic violence and trafficking that needs to be addressed.
Resource links:
International Justice Mission
Restore NYC
Not For Sale Campaign
Exodus Cry
Mental Health
Why this matters - Contrary to the model minority myth, many Korean and Asian Americans in Southern California are suffering in silence with mental health and substance abuse issues.· Asian Americans are the fastest growing victims of hate crimes. (Facts compiled by KCCD.)
· Suicide rates among Asian American youth and young adults are among the highest across all ethnic groups across the United States.
· 30% of Asian American girls from 5th to 12th grade report having symptoms of depression.
· 17% of boys (5th to 12th grades report they experience physical abuse.
· 60% of Korean married women report being battered by their spouses.
· Most Asians are reluctant to report domestic violence.
· Asian gangs are the fastest growing street gangs in L.A. County with 20,000 members.
· Asian Americans have the highest percentage of juvenile arrests in L.A. County.
Resource links:
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
The Office of Minority Health - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAMI)
NAMI Asian American Community Mental Health Fact Sheet
American Psychological Association - 2006 First National Study on Asian American Mental Health
California Reducing Disparities Project - API Population Report: In Our Own Words
National Asian Women's Health Organization (NAWHO) Mental Health and Depression in Asian Americans Fact Sheet
The Korean Health and Education/Information Center
News:
USA Today - "Saving Sanity and Souls in Koreatown"
NJ.Com - Local Film Maker Headed to White House for Asian American Mental Health Event
The Diamond Back (University of Maryland's Independent Student Newspaper) - "Panel Discusses Mental Health Care Race Gap"
The Boston Globe - "Helping Asian Teens Find Balance in Studies"
KCCD - Mental Health and Well-being Collaboration for Korean and Asian Americans in Partnership with SAMHSA
My Brother's Keeper (Federal Initiative)
Boys and young men of color — regardless of where they come from — are disproportionately at risk from their youngest years through college and the early stages of their professional lives. President Obama has announced a new initiative with leading foundations and businesses that take a collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach to build ladders of opportunity and unlock the full potential of boys and young men of color. The Presidential Memorandum has established the My Brother's Keeper Task Force to help determine which public and private efforts are working, how the Federal government can support those efforts, and how we can get more folks involved in those efforts across the board. At the White House Briefing portion of the summit, we will be learning about this new special initiative and how we can help make an impact.
The current emphasis of this initiative leans towards the Hispanic and African American communities. To further demonstrate the AAPI Christian community's commitment towards raising up the next generation of young leaders in America, we will be dialoguing on this initiative with policymakers and highlight the challenges that Asian youths also face. For example, studies have shown that dropout rates for high school students are directly tied to income and poverty levels. The national statistics on poverty rates show Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders at 11.7% and 17.6% respectively. These figures still trail behind the African American and Hispanic populations at about 26% and 23%, but still show a need for support and attention in the AAPI communities so that our nation's young men can be empowered together for the future.
Many Asian youths try to find a sense of belonging. They are drawn towards groups of people in similar situations who share with them a sense of support, mutual understanding, and camaraderie. This dynamic often results in efforts to gain status or respect among their peers. These groups provide a sense of family and acceptance for the youths, who previously felt isolated while integrating to a new environment. These congregations may initially begin as social groups, but can easily become targets for gang recruitment. My Brother’s Keeper would strengthen the AAPI and other communities of color to face these challenges and establish lasting change for our country's boys and young men.
For more information: http://www.whitehouse.gov/my-brothers-keeper
Boys and young men of color — regardless of where they come from — are disproportionately at risk from their youngest years through college and the early stages of their professional lives. President Obama has announced a new initiative with leading foundations and businesses that take a collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach to build ladders of opportunity and unlock the full potential of boys and young men of color. The Presidential Memorandum has established the My Brother's Keeper Task Force to help determine which public and private efforts are working, how the Federal government can support those efforts, and how we can get more folks involved in those efforts across the board. At the White House Briefing portion of the summit, we will be learning about this new special initiative and how we can help make an impact.
The current emphasis of this initiative leans towards the Hispanic and African American communities. To further demonstrate the AAPI Christian community's commitment towards raising up the next generation of young leaders in America, we will be dialoguing on this initiative with policymakers and highlight the challenges that Asian youths also face. For example, studies have shown that dropout rates for high school students are directly tied to income and poverty levels. The national statistics on poverty rates show Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders at 11.7% and 17.6% respectively. These figures still trail behind the African American and Hispanic populations at about 26% and 23%, but still show a need for support and attention in the AAPI communities so that our nation's young men can be empowered together for the future.
Many Asian youths try to find a sense of belonging. They are drawn towards groups of people in similar situations who share with them a sense of support, mutual understanding, and camaraderie. This dynamic often results in efforts to gain status or respect among their peers. These groups provide a sense of family and acceptance for the youths, who previously felt isolated while integrating to a new environment. These congregations may initially begin as social groups, but can easily become targets for gang recruitment. My Brother’s Keeper would strengthen the AAPI and other communities of color to face these challenges and establish lasting change for our country's boys and young men.
For more information: http://www.whitehouse.gov/my-brothers-keeper
Separate but Equal: Asian Nationalities in the United States
Six distinct Asian national origin groups now number more than a million in the United States. This report points out the substantial differences among them and draws out some of their implications. Their share of immigrants ranges from under half to over three quarters; their share below poverty is as low as 6% and as high as 15%; some are especially concentrated in Los Angeles and others in New York. As the Asian population grows in size and diversity, it becomes less useful to think about Asian Americans as a single category. It is more accurate to study Chinese and Indians, Filipinos and Japanese, Koreans and Vietnamese.
Doing so leads to two main findings. First, every Asian nationality except Japanese is more segregated from whites than are Asians as a broad category. In fact, two of the largest nationalities (Chinese and Indians) are about as segregated as Hispanics, Vietnamese are as segregated as African Americans, and there has been little change in the last two decades. Second, quite unlike the case of Hispanics and African Americans, Asian national origin groups live in neighborhoods that are generally comparable to those of whites, and in some respects markedly better. The Asian pattern is separate but equal (or even more than equal), raising questions about the prospect or value of their residential assimilation in the future.
Doing so leads to two main findings. First, every Asian nationality except Japanese is more segregated from whites than are Asians as a broad category. In fact, two of the largest nationalities (Chinese and Indians) are about as segregated as Hispanics, Vietnamese are as segregated as African Americans, and there has been little change in the last two decades. Second, quite unlike the case of Hispanics and African Americans, Asian national origin groups live in neighborhoods that are generally comparable to those of whites, and in some respects markedly better. The Asian pattern is separate but equal (or even more than equal), raising questions about the prospect or value of their residential assimilation in the future.
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The AAPI Story - In Numbers
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