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Justice Denied: Wards Cove Packing v. Atonio

On June 23rd, the Filipino American National Historical Society hosted their 16th Biennial Conference, A Pinoy State of Mind: Building Our Roots at John Jay College. We were proud to join the National Filipino American Lawyers Association, the Filipino American Lawyers Association of New York and the Filipino American Lawyers Association of Oregon in presenting Justice Denied: Wards Cove Packing Co. v. Atonio. In the 1970s, led by Filipino activists, workers in Alaskan canneries organized and filed class actions against unfair and discriminatory working conditions that had prevailed for decades against Asian American cannery workers. Although the Filipino workers lost their case before the United States Supreme Court, their efforts led Congress to pass an amendment to the Civil Rights Act in 1991 to achieve equal treatment and justice for workers of color. The reenactment cast wonderfully brought this tragic history back to life. 

At the end of the re-enactment, several former Alaskan cannery workers attending this event stood up and shared their personal experiences with audience. The audience gave them a round applause. The story telling compelled many audience members to reflect on how much that generation had suffered and how much history has progressed. 

Thank you to Connie Montoya and FALA New York for organizing this important session during the FANHS Conference. Thank you once again to Hon. Chin and Kathy Hirata Chin for once again leading a successful reenactment. For those wanting to learn more about this historical reenactment, please visit: http://reenactments.aabany.org/justice-denied-wards-cove-packing-v-atonio/

Write-up by AABANY Intern Claudia Shi.

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Press Release: NAPABA Disappointed in Outcome of Immigration Case Heard by the U.S. Supreme Court

WASHINGTON — The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is disappointed by the outcome of the U.S. Supreme Court’s split decision announced today in United States v. Texas. The court did not reach a decision in a challenge to the President’s executive action on immigration, including the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) and expanded Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). The split outcome leaves in place the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit’s decision to block implementation of the programs.

“We are disappointed in the decision of the Supreme Court to not make a clear statement on the Fifth Circuit’s decision to enjoin the implementation of these important immigration policies. The outcome leaves over four million undocumented immigrants living in the shadow of deportation,” said NAPABA President Jin Y. Hwang. “Today’s result underscores the importance of Congress taking swift action to pass comprehensive immigration reform.”

The lower court in this case temporarily blocked the implementation of the expanded DACA and DAPA programs, which affected an estimated 4.9 million undocumented and vulnerable immigrants, including approximately 1.3 million Asian Pacific Americans. Under these programs, eligible applicants would not be a priority for deportation and could apply for a temporary work authorization. The original DACA program remains unaffected and more than 100,000 Asian Pacific Americans remain eligible for that program.

NAPABA, along with a diverse coalition of 325 immigration, civil rights, labor, and social service groups, including the National Immigration Law Center, filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in this case to urge the Court to lift the injunction that has blocked the President’s executive action on immigration from moving forward. View the brief here.

For more information, the media may contact Brett Schuster, NAPABA communications manager, at 202-775-9555 or bschuster@napaba.org.

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Press Release: NAPABA and Partners Applaud Ruling in Fisher v. University of Texas

WASHINGTON — The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) and its partner organizations applaud the Supreme Court’s ruling in Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin, which reaffirms the principle that diversity in higher education is a compelling interest. In light of this decision, colleges and universities may continue to develop effective admissions policies that include race as a factor as part of a holistic review to create diversity and opportunity in the applicant pool.

“Today the Supreme Court affirmed the important role race-conscious admissions policies have in ensuring diversity in our nation’s colleges and universities,” said NAPABA President Jin Y. Hwang. “As lawyers of color, we see the beneficial impacts of these policies every day in the legal workforce and we recognize that diversity in higher education is critical to ensuring we have a pipeline of talented lawyers and judges able to serve their communities. We are encouraged that the Court continued to recognize these benefits for our country and allow colleges and universities to continue to ensure diversity and inclusion on campuses.”

The Coalition of Bar Associations of Color (CBAC) — NAPABA, the Hispanic National Bar Association (HNBA), the National Bar Association (NBA), and the National Native American Bar Association (NNABA) — issued a joint statement supporting the ruling, which can be read here.

CBAC member bar associations jointly filed an amicus curiae brief with the Supreme Court in Fisher that recognized the importance of race-conscious admissions policies to communities of color and the important role they play in ensuring diversity in the legal profession. The brief is available here.

NAPABA joined national Asian Pacific American community organizations — Asian Americans Advancing Justice (Advancing Justice) and the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) — to support the University’s holistic review process. The organizations issued a joint statement applauding the result and can be read here.

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AABANY Government Service & Public Interest – Know Your Rights Community Trainings – Volunteers Needed!

AABANY is recruiting volunteers to be trained to give basic housing trainings to the Flushing community at Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE) located at 35-24 Union Street.

Trainings to the volunteers will be provided by Legal Service NYC at 40 Worth Street. Starting in August, Volunteers can shadow experienced public interest lawyers on a monthly basis at night. Eventually, once the volunteer becomes comfortable, they can give the training themselves under the supervision of an experienced housing lawyer. Volunteers also have the opportunity to work at the Pro Bono committee’s Monthly General Advice Clinic in Manhattan Chinatown!

We are looking for committed volunteers who have demonstrated interest in social justice and want to help the community. As a volunteer, you will be asked to commit to being trained, observing at least one training, and giving one or more trainings to the community. Chinese language skills are a plus although may not be necessary.

If you would like to volunteer or have any questions, please contact Government Service & Public Interest Committee Co-Chair Anita Wu at anita.wu@aabany.org

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Super Happy Healthy Kids

Super Happy Healthy Kids

Super Happy Healthy Kids Brooklyn Bridge Walkathon 2016

WHAT: Fun walk for the whole family from Manhattan across the Brooklyn Bridge

WHY: Join our Movement to Stamp Out Meanness and Bullying

WHEN: Sun, 6/26/16 – starts 7:30 am (Manhattan) ends about 9:30 Am (Brooklyn)

Must register online – no on-site registration. Free face painting, balloons, and stickers at the end of the the walk.

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9th Annual Winetasting & Networking Reception Photos

9th Annual Winetasting & Networking Reception Photos

On June 16, AABANY held its 9th Annual Winetasting & Networking Reception for Law Firm Partners and Senior In-House Counsel. There were approximately 140 people present at this invite-only event, held by the Corporate Law Committee and the In-House Counsel Committee. Congratulations to each of the prize winners of the raffles and the icebreaker. The grand prize was four tickets to a regular season game at Yankee Stadium in the Delta Suite.

We thank the sponsors of the evening:

  • Planet Data Solutions, Headline Sponsor
  • Prosperian Wealth Management, Headline Sponsor
  • Summit Financial Printing, Headline Sponsor
  • Navigant, Sponsor
  • Reed Smith, Sponsor

Among the attendees, 50 companies were represented and 35 law firms were represented. Companies represented included: 

  • AIG
  • Credit Suisse Securities
  • Google
  • Morgan Stanley
  • NBC Universal
  • Time Warner Cable Inc.

Thanks to Jim Stewart, Director of Catering at New York Yankee Steak House. Thank you to the organizers of the evening for their hard work in putting together this wonderful event: Susan Shin, President; Dwight Yoo, President-Elect; Yang Chen, Executive Director; Marianne Chow, Vice President of Programs and Operations; Naf Kwun, Vice President of Programs and Operations; William Ng, Vice President of Finance and Development; In-House Counsel Committee Co-Chairs Blossom Kan, Austin So, and Duane Morikawa; Corporate Law Committee Co-Chairs Ting S. Chen, Edward J. Lee and Larry Wee, and their Managing Director of Programs George Hang. Thank you as well to the volunteers led by Christina Nguyen and Keli Huang. Finally, thank you to each and every person who attended.

We’re already looking forward to next year!

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