An Open Letter from the MinKwon Center
An Open Letter from the MinKwon Center
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 18, 2016
For more information, contact:
James Hong
Dear Friends, Allies and Community,
For decades, the MinKwon Center has fought for those oppressed and marginalized in society. Today, our mission to empower our community takes on an unprecedented urgency.
- Legal services and consultation for immigrants regarding their status will continue. If you are undocumented, contact us immediately to see if you are eligible for a visa or other form of relief. This includes anyone currently with DACA.
- DACA recipients with expirations in the next 6 months should contact us immediately, to process a renewal. We have begun offering additional clinic days to process these applications.
- We are preparing know-your-rights workshops on protecting yourself when approached by immigration enforcement officials.
- The Asian American Dreamers Collective, our undocumented young adult group, is convening special meetings and events for Dreamers to share a space of grief, pain and to respond together.
- MinKwon is strategizing with our allies in the non-profit, government and philanthropic world on how to respond to a federal government hostile to immigrants in a way not seen in generations.
We are here to help, assist and empower the community. As an organization committed to immigrants, the MinKwon Center is renewed in its sense of mission to serve the urgent needs of the vulnerable, and to give a voice to the undocumented, low-income, limited English proficient, and Asian Americans who are now at even greater risk.
This is not a time to stay silent, nor to accept what is happening to our family members, friends, neighbors, or co-workers. It is a time for action, and we invite you to join us.
Contact us if you have questions, need assistance or would like to volunteer. Our number is 718-460-5600.
Affiliate Grant Program – National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
Affiliate Grant Program – National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
NAPABA recognizes the importance of affiliates and national associates at the local level as a support network for Asian Pacific American attorneys and communities and those interested in Asian Pacific American legal issues. The NAPABA Affiliate Grant Program was established to support affiliates and national associates in carrying out activities to further their missions and goals. The program offers affiliates and national associates the opportunity to receive funding up to $3,000 annually for projects related to membership development and pro bono activities.
Deadline: Dec. 20 – apply now!
NAPABA Outraged by Trump PAC Spokesperson References to WWII Japanese Incarceration
In times of sweeping changes facing our nation, Americans of all backgrounds must come together to move this nation forward — not backwards. NAPABA condemns the comments about the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II made by Carl Higbie, a spokesman for the pro-Trump Great America PAC.
During an interview with Megyn Kelly on the Nov. 16, 2016, taping of Fox News’ “The Kelly File” regarding President-elect Donald Trump’s plan for a Muslim registry system, Higbie argued in favor of a plan modeled after the highly controversial National Security Entry-Exit Registration System implemented after 9/11. In so doing, Higbie stated, “We’ve done it based on race, we’ve done it based on religion, we’ve done it based on region. We’ve done it with Iran back — back a while ago. We did it during World War II with [the] Japanese.”
These offensive and incendiary remarks invoked the distrust and xenophobia that led to the unjustifiable imprisonment of thousands of Japanese Americans during World War II, a time that is considered to be one of the darkest moments in American history, in order to justify current policy proposals. This is unacceptable and such intolerance has no place in our country. After a divisive election, we must move forward as one and not instill fear into our nation’s citizens.
The lesson of incarceration is that we cannot engage in discriminatory conduct and must oppose policies that profile and target the Muslim American community with hate and bigotry at its core.
We must work together to unite our membership and our nation and to find common ground for a better path forward. We must refuse to act based on fear and intolerance. As history has shown, such actions do not make our country safer and reject the basic tenets of what it means to be Americans.
For more information, the media may contact Brett Schuster, NAPABA communications manager, at 202-775-9555 or [email protected].
Law, Intersectionality, and the Next Wave of Social Movements in the Trump Era: June 2-3, 2017
Brooklyn Law School is proud to host the joint 2017 Conference of Asian Pacific American Law Faculty and Northeast People of Color Legal Scholarship Conference. The theme of this year’s conference is “Law, Intersectionality, and the Next Wave of Social Movements in the Trump Era.” The conference will take place on June 2-3, 2017 at Brooklyn Law School in vibrant, diverse, trendy downtown Brooklyn, New York. From LGBTQ rights to DREAMers to the Movement for Black Lives to new forms of labor organizing among precarious, low-wage, on-demand workers, the social movements of today are increasingly operating at the intersections of multiple communities, identities, and structural injustices. This in turn has created a unique confluence of alliances, collaborations, and common purposes in addressing underlying structural exclusions, inequities, and imbalances of power. Yet as the 2016 election revealed so starkly, these movements for equality and inclusion have also provoked a virulent reactionary populism and counter-reaction.
What are the opportunities, challenges, and implications of these 21st century movements? As scholars and activists, what role can we play in forging new alliances and strengthening existing ones, advancing the goals of these social movements, and furthering longer-term political and social power? How do we encourage even more conversation between scholars and activists to effect real change? How do we ensure that these new alliances among multiple communities advance common goals without obscuring real differences? And how should we understand and gird ourselves against the various forms of counter-reactions, including counter-reactions based on the fear of a majority-minority America? These are just some of the questions this conference hopes to address.
CALL FOR GROUP PANELS AND INDIVIDUAL PAPERS
GROUP PANEL PROPOSALS: We encourage the submission of group panel proposals relating to this year’s theme, “Law, Intersectionality, and the Next Wave of Social Movements in the Trump Era.” A group panel would consist of 3-4 panelists. We are especially interested in proposed group panels that feature both legal scholars as well as activists and/or scholars from other disciplines. Panels might address questions such as (but not limited to):
- How are current social movements challenging long-standing inequities? What are the opportunities, difficulties, and implications of these 21st century movements?
- How have these movements (successfully or unsuccessfully) built longer-term political and social power?
- How might we situate these movements in context of current law, courts, and political institutions?
- Are these 21st century movements different from previous waves in American history? Or are they better understood in a historical tradition of racial, social, gender justice?
- How should we understand the various forms of counter-reaction against these movements and the broader vision of a majority-minority America?
If you are interested in proposing a group panel along these lines, please email Professor Sabeel Rahman at [email protected] with a description of your group panel, including the names of the panelists you have enlisted, by February 28, 2017. Please write “CAPALF-NEPOC Group Panel Proposal” in the subject line of your email.
INDIVIDUAL PAPER PROPOSALS: We are also interested in individual presentations and papers. These presentations may be on any topic, i.e., they need not be on the theme of the conference. That said, depending on the number of individual paper proposals we receive, preference may be given to papers that are more closely tied to the theme of the conference. After reviewing the individual paper proposals, the conference organizers will group the individual papers into panels based on subject matter. If you are interested in presenting an individual paper, please email Professor Bennett Capers at [email protected] with a description of your paper by February 28, 2017. Please write “CAPALF-NEPOC Individual Paper Proposal” in the subject line of your email.
CALL FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS
CAPALF and NEPOC support and nurture the careers of law professors at every stage. Your proposal for a workshop can involve one or multiple presenters or organizers. Please list all names in the proposal. If you are interested in proposing and leading a professional development workshop, please email Professor Sudha Setty at [email protected] by February 28, 2017. Please write “CAPALF-NEPOC Professional Development Workshop” in the subject line of your email.
CALL FOR WORKS IN PROGRESS
Works in progress are sessions devoted to giving authors helpful feedback on their writing projects in a safe and supportive setting. The topic of your work in progress can be about any topic and does not have to relate to the conference theme. If you are interested in presenting a work in progress, please submit a 1 to 2 page abstract and/or a draft to Professor Deseriee Kennedy at [email protected] by February 28, 2017. Please write “CAPALF-NEPOC WIP Submission” in the subject line of your email.
If you are interested in serving as a Lead Commentator for a work in progress, please also email Professor Deseriee Kennedy at [email protected] by February 28, 2017 and state your areas of expertise. Please write “CAPALF-NEPOC Volunteer Commentator” in the subject line of your email.
CALL FOR AWARD NOMINATIONS
Each year CAPALF and NEPOC recognize the achievements of outstanding teachers-scholars-activists of color in the legal academy. Last year the Haywood Burns-Shanara Gilbert award went to the Northeast Corridor Collective of Black Women Law Professors. Please consider nominating someone(s) for the following awards:
- Haywood Burns-Shanara Gilbert Award for Outstanding Activist – Teacher – Scholar
- Professor Keith Aoki Asian Pacific American Jurisprudence Award
- Professor Chris Kando Iijima Teacher and Mentor Award
- Professor Eric K. Yamamoto Emerging Scholar Award
Please submit your nomination to Professor Elaine Chiu at [email protected] by February 28, 2017. Be sure to include a brief supporting statement and to write “CAPALF-NEPOC Award Nomination” in the subject line of your email.
PROGRAMMING FOR NEW AND ASPIRING LAW PROFESSORS
This year, we hope to include some programming specifically targeted to new and aspiring law professors, including the opportunity for aspiring law professors to do mock job talks. So please share this announcement with new and aspiring law professors!
First Korean American Elected to Bench in NY
First Korean American Elected to Bench in NY
As many know, AABANY is tremendously proud of our new Judge Judy Kim, the first Korean American elected to a judicial position in New York. She is a wonderful role model. Her appointment made the front page of the New York Law Journal on November 10, 2016.
She stated,
“Being the ‘first,’ I feel a tremendous responsibility to be the best judge I can be, because I know that I will be serving as a role model to many younger attorneys in the Korean American community,” she said in an email. “I hope that my election serves as an inspiration to other attorneys like me.”
AABANY President Susan Shin was also quoted in the article.
Asian American bar president Susan Shin issued a statement saying Kim’s election “brings us one step closer to a bench that reflects the diversity of New York City.”
Click on the link above to see the full article.
Organizational Statement on the 2016 Presidential Election – National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is a non-partisan organization comprised of lawyers and leaders in both major political parties. As an organization, we have worked diligently with Presidents, Administrations, and Congressional members of both parties, on behalf of millions of Asian Pacific Americans nationwide.
On Tuesday, American voters elected Donald J. Trump as the 45th President of the United States. NAPABA is committed to working with the President-elect and the new Congress to advance the interests of the Asian Pacific American community.
These are unique times. Our nation is at a critical juncture. Millions of Americans of good faith, of every stripe, and of both parties have expressed profound concern, anxiety, and even fear, about the tenor of the recent election, and about the future of our country. As members of the legal profession, we have a special responsibility to ensure the continuity of our best legal traditions, and to defend and uphold our commitments to justice, fairness, equality, and the rule of law under our Constitution.
In the aftermath of this particularly divisive election, we must work together to unite our membership and our nation and to find common ground for a better path forward. NAPABA embraces the solidarity and strength of our robust and diverse community and is committed to our mission to serve as the voice of the Asian Pacific American legal profession.
We will work with and engage President-elect Trump and his administration to unite the country and serve as a President for all Americans.
Veterans Day: A Call for Lawyers to Serve
Veterans Day: A Call for Lawyers to Serve
We wish you Happy Veterans Day tomorrow! To all veterans, thank you for serving and protecting our country. To all those who can, take up ABA’s call to action to volunteer in support of our veterans. Spread the word!
If you’d like to get in contact with AABANY’s own Military & Veterans Affair Committee, email Co-Chair Brian Song at [email protected].
Veterans Day: A Call for Lawyers to Serve
by Linda A. Klein, President, American Bar Association
America’s lawyers join the rest of the nation on Veterans Day to honor those who have served to protect and preserve our democratic rule of law. We are indebted to those who have worn the military uniform, along with the family members and caregivers of veterans for all they endure to support those who defended our country.
The American Bar Association has long championed the legal rights of those who answered the call of duty, and this year we established the Veterans Legal Services Initiative through which we will expand on the outstanding work the ABA already does to help veterans. As part of this initiative, this year?s National Pro Bono Celebration has been extended to Veterans Day, with more events encouraged for May around Memorial Day. Please click here to find the nearest pro bono opportunity.
To honor Veterans Day, we call your attention to the following ABA programs and encourage you to volunteer on behalf of or otherwise support those who have protected the freedoms we cherish:
The ABA Commission on Homelessness and Poverty (www.ambar.org/homeless) conducts programs and advocates on behalf of homeless veterans, who comprise a significant segment of the homeless population. Volunteer lawyers can sign up for an ABA project in cooperation with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Veterans Affairs to help homeless veterans comply with child support obligations.
The Veterans Claims Assistance Network (www.abavcan.org) pilot project assisted the wounded and disabled veterans who must wait too long to receive the disability benefits they have earned. Working in close cooperation with the Veterans Administration, the ABA recruited volunteer lawyers to help veterans complete their claims packages for expedited review by the VA?at no cost to the veteran. Having now completed the pilot phase, ABA is now raising funds to relaunch the project as a nationwide initiative.
The ABA Military Pro Bono Project (www.militaryprobono.org) accepts case referrals for civilian pro bono lawyers from military lawyers on behalf of junior-enlisted personnel and their families. A related initiative, Operation Stand-By, enables military lawyers to seek case advice from volunteer civilian lawyers. Volunteer lawyers can sign up for either project on the Military Pro Bono Project website.
ABA Home Front (www.abahomefront.org) is a source of easy-to-understand information on a variety of legal topics military families face every day. The website also provides a directory of legal services. Lawyers seeking pro bono opportunities can sign up on the website.
Learn more, give your support. To learn more about the ABA Veterans Legal Services Initiative, please visit www.ambar.org/veterans and sign up for pro bono events at www.celebrateprobono.org . Please note that we cannot do this critically necessary work without the financial support of our individual and corporate donors; please click here to learn how you can join them and consider designating your gift to veterans legal services.
I invite your involvement in our veterans programs and welcome your comments and suggestions. Thank you.