Tag: press release

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Press Release: AABANY Launches Pro Bono Legal Clinics at Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 8, 2015

Contact: Yang Chen, Executive Director
(718) 228-7206

NEW YORK – December 8, 2015 – The Asian American Bar Association of New York (“AABANY”) is proud to announce that its Pro Bono & Community Service Committee will be launching monthly legal clinics free of charge to the community in conjunction with the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (“CCBA”) starting on December 9, 2015. This free legal clinic will take place the second Wednesday of every month at the CCBA Chinese Community Center, Inc. at 62 Mott Street, New York, New York, 10013. Community members seeking legal advice can call (212) 226-6280 to make appointments.

In keeping with our theme this year of “Charting New Frontiers,” this is the first monthly legal clinic that AABANY is presenting. Co-chaired by June Lee, Samuel Lui, and Vina Ha, AABANY’s Pro Bono & Community Service Committee works with AABANY’s membership and not-for-profit community groups to bring free and low-cost legal services to the Asian Pacific American, immigrant, and other New York City communities. Law students and attorneys interested in volunteering should contact June Lee at [email protected].

“AABANY is excited to support this initiative and collaboration with the CCBA, one of the leading local community organizations in New York City,” states William Wang, AABANY President. “Our bar association is committed to pro bono service and encourages our members to take advantage of this opportunity to serve members in our community who are in need of legal services but may be restricted by cultural, financial or linguistic barriers.”

For more information, please contact Yang Chen, AABANY Executive Director, at (718) 228-7206, or direct any inquiries to [email protected].

The Asian American Bar Association of New York is a professional membership organization of attorneys concerned with issues affecting the Asian Pacific American community.  Incorporated in 1989, AABANY seeks not only to encourage the professional growth of its members but also to advocate for the Asian Pacific American community as a whole.  AABANY is the New York regional affiliate of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA).

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Additional information about AABANY is available at www.aabany.org

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70+ Asian Pacific American, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties Organizations Urge U.S. Attorney General to Investigate Possible Profiling of Asian American Scientists

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For Immediate Release
Nov. 16, 2015

For More Information, Contact:
Brett Schuster, Communications Manager
[email protected], 202-775-9555

70+ Asian Pacific American, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties Organizations Urge U.S. Attorney General to Investigate Possible Profiling of Asian American Scientists

“We firmly believe that otherwise innocent actions by Americans must not become suspicious simply because of the person’s ethnic surname or perceived national origin.”

WASHINGTON — The National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) and the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) are joined by 70 organizations in sending a letter today to U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch seeking an independent investigation into what appears to be a trend of Asian American scientists being suspected of economic espionage, indicted and arrested, without the full support of the facts.

Science magazine has reported that in the past year alone, charges have been dropped against five Chinese-born scientists accused of crimes related to trade secrets theft or economic spying. The most recent cases of potential profiling involve U.S. citizens Dr. Xiaoxing Xi, chair of Temple University’s physics department, and Sherry Chen, a hydrologist and employee of the National Weather Service. All charges against both were dropped — but not before wreaking irreparable damage to their lives, careers, and reputations.

“We are deeply concerned at the prospect of anyone being targeted for their race, ethnicity, or national origin,” said NCAPA National Director Christopher Kang. “Two is a coincidence, and three is a trend. It is time for a full and independent investigation into the cases of Dr. Xi and Ms. Chen, so there is not even an appearance of profiling in cases moving forward.”

“We thank the more than 70 organizations in our growing coalition — from 16 NCAPA organizations and the NAACP to the ACLU and People For the American Way,” Kang continued. “This is not a Chinese American issue or an Asian American issue. It is an American issue — to preserve our fundamental values of fairness and due process and to protect our civil rights and civil liberties.”

“Americans across the country are very concerned that individuals appear to be targeted for investigations based on their perceived race, ethnicity, or national origin,” said NAPABA President Jin Y. Hwang. “Attorney General Lynch must lead a thorough and independent investigation to assure the American public that the protections afforded by the Constitution and enshrined in Department policy prohibiting profiling are being followed. The broad and diverse coalition of more than 70 civil rights and legal organizations calling for this investigation highlights the importance of a fair and unbiased legal system to our country.”

Dr. Xiaoxing Xi and Sherry Chen will join a Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) press conference Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 9:30 a.m. EST in the Capitol (H-137) with Representatives Judy Chu (CA-27) and Ted Lieu (CA-33).

Earlier this month in a letter led by Representatives Ted Lieu, Judy Chu and Keith Ellison, 42 members of Congress called upon Attorney General Lynch to lead the Department of Justice in an independent investigation.

Learn more in NCAPA’s one-pager on this issue.

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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is the national association of Asian Pacific American attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students. NAPABA represents the interests of approximately 50,000 attorneys and approximately 75 national, state, and local Asian Pacific American bar associations. Its members include solo practitioners, large firm lawyers, corporate counsel, legal services and non-profit attorneys, and lawyers serving at all levels of government.

NAPABA continues to be a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian Pacific American communities. Through its national network of committees and affiliates, NAPABA provides a strong voice for increased diversity of the federal and state judiciaries, advocates for equal opportunity in the workplace, works to eliminate hate crimes and anti-immigrant sentiment, and promotes the professional development of people of color in the legal profession.

To learn more about NAPABA, visit www.napaba.org, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter (@NAPABA).

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Press Release: NAPABA Selects Five Affiliates as Recipients of Its New Affiliate Grant Program

For Immediate Release
Nov. 2, 2015                    

For More Information, Contact:
Brett Schuster, Communications Manager
[email protected], 202-775-9555

WASHINGTON — The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) will present five affiliates with grants as part of its new Affiliate Grant Program (AGP). NAPABA recognizes the importance of its state and local affiliates and its national associates as a support network for Asian Pacific American (APA) attorneys, APA communities, and those interested in APA legal issues. The NAPABA AGP was established to support affiliates and associates to carry out activities to further their missions and goals. The program offers the opportunity for organizations to receive funding – up to $3,000 annually – for projects related to member development and pro bono activities.

Eligible projects include: educational workshops; community outreach; legal service projects; professional educational seminars; and activities that involve advocating for the interests of APA lawyers, the legal profession, and APA communities. Grants are distributed based upon the capacity of the projects to benefit the state or local affiliate, the national associate, or the community.

“The Affiliate Grant Program was conceived as a way to enable affiliates to directly impact their local APA communities on a micro-level,” said NAPABA President George C. Chen. “NAPABA is proud to support our state and local affiliates and our national associates in their efforts to make their communities a better place. Our affiliates and associates have supported NAPABA for many years, and we are pleased to be able to return the support through this new Affiliate Grant Program.”

The five affiliates receiving AGP grants are:

  • Free Legal Clinics — South Asian Bar Association of Washington (SABA-WA)
    The program will offer free legal clinics to the South Asian community within the Pacific Northwest on a quarterly basis at a local recreation center.
  • Citizenship Workshop — Asian Pacific American Bar Association of South Florida (APABA-SFLA)
    APABA-SFLA will hold a free legal clinic to assist individuals in the APA community with their U.S. citizenship applications and fee waivers, with APABA-SFLA members and volunteer attorneys assisting individuals at any stage of the application process.
  • Judicial Pipeline Project — Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Los Angeles (APABA-LA)
    APABA-LA will identify potential APA judicial candidates for the state and federal bench, assist and advise these candidates in the application and vetting process (including establishing a formal mentorship program between current APA judges and interested judicial candidates), and cultivate relationships with the Governor’s office and others to help facilitate the appointment of APAs to the bench. This formal pipeline project is the first of its kind organized by APABA-LA.
  • Legal Seminar — Korean American Bar Association of Washington (KABA-WA)
    The legal seminar will provide Korean foreign nationals and Korean Americans with foundational information about the American legal system. This seminar will raise the collective legal awareness of Washington’s large Korean American community while also helping to prevent common mistakes and avoidable legal problems.
  • Solo Practice Incubator Program — Orange County Korean American Bar Association (OC-KABA)
    The OC-KABA Incubator Program’s goal is to mentor and aid attorneys looking to build their own solo practice by giving them hands-on experience through OC-KABA’s pro bono clinics and training sessions. The program will focus on providing resources specifically targeted to the Korean American community with free legal aid and lower-cost legal advice.

For more information, the media may contact Brett Schuster, NAPABA communications manager, at202-775-9555 or [email protected].

The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is the national association of Asian Pacific American attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students. NAPABA represents the interests of approximately 50,000 attorneys and approximately 75 national, state, and local Asian Pacific American bar associations. Its members include solo practitioners, large firm lawyers, corporate counsel, legal services and non-profit attorneys, and lawyers serving at all levels of government.

NAPABA continues to be a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian Pacific American communities. Through its national network of committees and affiliates, NAPABA provides a strong voice for increased diversity of the federal and state judiciaries, advocates for equal opportunity in the workplace, works to eliminate hate crimes and anti-immigrant sentiment, and promotes the professional development of people of color in the legal profession.

To learn more about NAPABA, visit www.napaba.org, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter (@NAPABA).

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PRESS RELEASE: Navdeep Singh Appointed as NAPABA’s Policy Director

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For Immediate Release
Oct. 14, 2015

For More Information, Contact:
Brett Schuster, Communications Manager
[email protected], 202-775-9555

Navdeep Singh Appointed as NAPABA’s Policy Director

WASHINGTON — The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) has named Navdeep Singh as its new policy director, announced NAPABA Executive Director Tina Matsuoka. As policy director, Singh will be responsible for developing and implementing strategies and programs to support NAPABA’s policy priorities.

An expert in strategic legal policy and civil rights, Navdeep Singh brings important experience as a policy advocate to NAPABA. Prior to joining NAPABA, Singh served as policy director at the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), where he co-authored “Turban Myths” – the first study on implicit bias and the Sikh American community – with researchers from Stanford University, advised the FBI on the implementation of expanded hate crimes categories, and developed the first national Sikh American television public service announcement. Singh is a graduate of the University of Virginia and the George Washington University Law School.

“Navdeep Singh is a proven leader in the Asian Pacific American community and I am excited to bring him on board as NAPABA’s new policy director,” Matsuoka said. “We look forward to working with Navdeep to enhance NAPABA’s national presence and expand our coalitions within the legal profession and the broader community to support diversity and inclusion.”

“It is a tremendous honor to join NAPABA,” said Singh. “I am excited to support NAPABA in its continued efforts to address the civil rights issues confronting Asian Pacific American communities, and to help ensure a robust, dynamic, and successful future for NAPABA and the Asian Pacific American community.”

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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is the national association of Asian Pacific American attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students. NAPABA represents the interests of almost 50,000 attorneys and approximately 75 national, state, and local Asian Pacific American bar associations. Its members include solo practitioners, large firm lawyers, corporate counsel, legal services and non-profit attorneys, and lawyers serving at all levels of government.

NAPABA continues to be a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian Pacific American communities. Through its national network of committees and affiliates, NAPABA provides a strong voice for increased diversity of the federal and state judiciaries, advocates for equal opportunity in the workplace, works to eliminate hate crimes and anti-immigrant sentiment, and promotes the professional development of people of color in the legal profession.

To learn more about NAPABA, visit www.napaba.org, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter (@NAPABA).

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Press Release: AABANY Applauds Appointment of Peggy Kuo as United States Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of New York

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 14, 2015

Contact: Yang Chen, Executive Director
(718) 228-7206

NEW YORK – October 14, 2015 – The Asian American Bar Association of New York (“AABANY”) is proud to announce that Peggy Kuo has been appointed United States Magistrate Judge for the Eastern District of New York. Ms. Kuo was sworn in on October 9, 2015. 

Before her appointment as United States Magistrate Judge, Peggy Kuo was Deputy Commissioner and General Counsel of the New York City Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings.  Before that, Ms. Kuo was Chief Hearing Officer at the New York Stock Exchange, counsel at WilmerHale, an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia and Acting Deputy Chief of the Civil Rights Division Criminal Section at the U.S. Department of Justice.  From 1998 to 2002, Ms. Kuo was a prosecutor with the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The Hague, where she investigated and prosecuted war crimes and crimes against humanity.  Ms. Kuo is a graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School.  She clerked for Hon. Judith W. Rogers, then Chief Judge of the D.C. Court of Appeals.  She is President-Elect of the Federal Bar Council Inn of Court. In 2010 she was honored by AABANY at its Annual Dinner.

“AABANY congratulates Ms. Kuo on her selection as a Magistrate Judge of the Eastern District of New York and is proud to have supported her candidacy,” states AABANY President William Wang. “With her appointment, Ms. Kuo joins the growing number of distinguished Asian Pacific Americans who are serving in our Federal courts.  Although Asian Pacific Americans remain under-represented at all levels in the judiciary, AABANY commends the Eastern District of New York for its efforts to increase diversity on the Federal bench.  Ms. Kuo’s appointment represents a step forward in creating a judiciary that reflects the diversity of the communities that it serves.”

For more information, please contact Yang Chen, AABANY Executive Director, at (718) 228-7206, or direct any inquiries to [email protected].

The Asian American Bar Association of New York is a professional membership organization of attorneys concerned with issues affecting the Asian Pacific American community.  Incorporated in 1989, AABANY seeks not only to encourage the professional growth of its members but also to advocate for the Asian Pacific American community as a whole.  AABANY is the New York regional affiliate of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA).

Additional information about AABANY is available at www.aabany.org
Follow our blog at www.blog.aabany.org 
Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/aabany
Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/aabany
Find us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/aabany 

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Press Release: AABANY Presents Kicking Glass, Video About Asian American Women Attorneys, at Annual Fall Conference

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   
September 11, 2015

Contact: Yang Chen, Executive Director
(718) 228-7206

NEW YORK – September 11, 2015 – The Asian American Bar Association of New York (“AABANY”) is proud to announce that their 6th Annual Fall Conference: Charting New Frontiers, taking place on Saturday, September 19th at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, features Kicking Glass: Two Decades and Counting during the luncheon plenary session. Addressing the important question of what it means to be an Asian American female attorney, Kicking Glass: Two Decades and Counting is a groundbreaking follow-up program to AABANY’s video first presented twenty years ago at the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (“NAPABA”) Convention in 1995. 

The first Kicking Glass video in 1995 discussed the position of Asian American women in the legal profession and featured several Asian American women lawyers who discussed the hurdles they faced, the successes they achieved, and what success meant to them. Among the issues addressed in the video were the “Asian woman” stereotype, how to get recognition for one’s work, parity in the workplace, and achieving a work/life balance. Kicking Glass: Two Decades and Counting examines those same questions twenty years later, exploring both how far Asian American female attorneys have advanced and how much more progress needs to be made. Kicking Glass: Two Decades and Counting features both women from the 1995 video and other Asian American women attorneys in different stages of their legal careers. 

Following the video will be a panel discussion to elaborate on the perspectives of those attorneys and identify what challenges remain. Sapna Palla, Esq., AABANY Women’s Committee Co-Chair and Partner, Wiggin and Dana, LLP, will moderate. Scheduled to appear as speakers for this panel are:

  • Hon. Doris Ling-Cohan, New York State Supreme Court Judge, Appellate Term, First Department
  • Sandra Leung, General Counsel, Bristol-Myers Squibb & Co.
  • Clara Ohr, Legal & Compliance Officer, LUKOIL Pan Americas LLC
  • Ryan Park, Associate, Boies Schiller & Flexner LLP
  • Saira Haider, Associate, Axinn, Veltop & Harkrider LLP

“AABANY commends our Women’s Committee for undertaking this important project,” states William Wang, AABANY President. “It brings to the fore persistent issues affecting Asian American women lawyers in New York. While recognizing that some positive change has occurred over time, it forces us to confront the lack of progress since the first Kicking Glass video was produced over two decades ago. The serious discussion that the present video inspires may provide the first steps towards making further progress so that in the near future we can be celebrating the glass being shattered rather just being kicked.”

“The AABANY Fall Conference’s theme of charting new frontiers is the perfect backdrop for addressing how Asian American women lawyers can chart their own new frontiers,” states Sapna Palla. “We look forward to a stimulating discussion on concrete ideas for advancement so that the shattered ceiling is the norm, not the exception.”

For more information, please contact Yang Chen, AABANY Executive Director, at (718) 228-7206, or direct any inquiries to [email protected].

The Asian American Bar Association of New York is a professional membership organization of attorneys concerned with issues affecting the Asian Pacific American community.  Incorporated in 1989, AABANY seeks not only to encourage the professional growth of its members but also to advocate for the Asian Pacific American community as a whole.  AABANY is the New York regional affiliate of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA).

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Press Release: AABANY Honors Rockwell ‘Rocky’ Chin with Norman Lau Kee Trailblazer Award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   
September 11, 2015

Contact: Yang Chen, Executive Director
(718) 228-7206

NEW YORK – September 11, 2015 – The Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) is proud to announce that Rockwell ‘Rocky’ Chin will receive the Norman Lau Kee Trailblazer Award this year at AABANY’s Sixth Annual Fall Conference on September 19, 2015, to be held at the offices of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton.

Named for Norman Lau Kee, a revered legal and community pillar of New York City’s Chinatown for decades, this Trailblazer Award honors an accomplished leader in the legal profession of Asian Pacific American (APA) descent or dedicated to APA issues who has carved a path for others to follow, served the community as a mentor and role model, and has made a lasting impact on the APA community through his or her dedication and commitment. 

Rocky is an attorney and a community activist. He has extensive experience working with the Asian American community and civil rights issues. 

His work in the Asian American community has included: creating and teaching some of the first Asian American studies courses in the country; creating a bilingual childcare program for immigrant families; and coordinating the Asian Pacific American Heritage Festival in New York City. Rocky was a founding member of AABANY’s Board of Directors in 1989. He has also played an integral part in the early formation of organizations such as Asian American Law Fund of New York and Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance. Rocky also served as President of the Asian American Arts Alliance.

Rocky’s experience in civil rights spans decades. He has held several leadership positions, such as Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Community Relations at the New York City Commission on Human Rights. He has helped New York City make significant strides in the areas of immigration, labor, and disability rights.  

Rocky served as Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity & Diversity at the New York State Division of Human Rights from April 2007 through April 2015. He is currently the EEO investigator at the New York State Insurance Fund. 

“In the more than quarter century since AABANY was founded, very few who are still active in AABANY today can claim that they were there at the beginning. Rocky Chin is one of those rare individuals,” says William Wang, President of AABANY. “Through his community activism and involvement, Rocky has not only blazed a trail for us; he reminds us of AABANY’s roots in the community and continues to promote AABANY’s community ties. Rocky will never let us forget that we must continue to advocate for APAs and other under-represented groups in New York. With the Trailblazer Award we honor and recognize Rocky’s leadership, achievements and lasting legacy.”

For more information, please contact Yang Chen, AABANY Executive Director, at (718) 228-7206, or direct any inquiries to [email protected].

The Asian American Bar Association of New York is a professional membership organization of attorneys concerned with issues affecting the Asian Pacific American community.  Incorporated in 1989, AABANY seeks not only to encourage the professional growth of its members but also to advocate for the Asian Pacific American community as a whole.  AABANY is the New York regional affiliate of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA).

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Additional information about AABANY is available at www.aabany.org

Follow our blog at www.blog.aabany.org 

Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/aabany

Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/aabany

Find us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/aabany

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Press Release: NAPABA Applauds Nomination of Jennifer Choe Groves to U.S. Court of International Trade

For Immediate Release
July 30, 2015

WASHINGTON – Today, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) applauds President Barack Obama’s nomination of Jennifer Choe Groves to the U.S. Court of International Trade. If confirmed, Groves will be the first Asian Pacific American (APA) judge to serve on this court.

“We commend President Obama for his continued commitment to judicial diversity with this historic nomination,” said NAPABA President George C. Chen. “As a longtime NAPABA member and a NAPABA Law Foundation Board member, Ms. Groves is an esteemed leader in the APA legal community. NAPABA looks forward to continuing to support her nomination.”

The U.S. Court of International Trade, an Article III court, has nationwide jurisdiction over civil actions arising out of U.S. customs and international trade laws.

Groves is currently the chief executive officer of Titanium Law Group PLLC and Choe Groves Consulting LLC, where she provides consulting and legal services in the areas of international trade and intellectual property. Previously, she was a partner at the law firms of Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott LLC, and Hughes Hubbard and Reed LLP. Groves also has served as the Senior Director of Intellectual Property and Innovation in the Office of the United States Trade Representative in the Executive Office of the President. Earlier in her career, she was an attorney at O’Melveny & Myers LLP, Fisher & Neave LLP (now Ropes & Gray LLP) and the District Attorney’s Office of New York County.    

For More Information, Contact:
Brett Schuster, Communications Manager
(202) 775-9555, [email protected]

The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is the national association of Asian Pacific American attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students. NAPABA represents the interests of over 40,000 attorneys and approximately 70 national, state, and local Asian Pacific American bar associations. Its members include solo practitioners, large firm lawyers, corporate counsel, legal services and non-profit attorneys, and lawyers serving at all levels of government.

NAPABA continues to be a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian Pacific American communities. Through its national network of committees and affiliates, NAPABA provides a strong voice for increased diversity of the federal and state judiciaries, advocates for equal opportunity in the workplace, works to eliminate hate crimes and anti-immigrant sentiment, and promotes the professional development of people of color in the legal profession.

To learn more about NAPABA, visit www.napaba.org, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter (@NAPABA).

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Press Release: NAPABA Applauds U.S. Supreme Court’s Decision on Marriage Equality

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 26, 2015

Contact: Tina Matsuoka
(202) 775-9555

WASHINGTON – The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) applauds the United States Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, which requires states to license marriages between same-sex couples or recognize such marriages performed in other states.

“NAPABA has been a longstanding supporter of marriage equality because Asian Pacific Americans were long denied equal access to fundamental rights, including the fundamental right to marry. Today’s landmark decision is an important step toward eliminating discrimination and achieving equality under the law for all Americans.” said NAPABA President George C. Chen.

Obergefell is the consolidation of four separate lawsuits from Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee in which same-sex couples challenged their states’ refusal to recognize their marriages or permit them to marry in those states. The Court’s decision nullifies the bans against marriage equality in 14 states.

NAPABA has joined numerous amicus briefs supporting the marriage rights of same-sex couples, including in the cases consolidated in Obergefell. Recognizing that broader equality for the LGBT community has yet to be achieved, NAPABA is committed to challenging other laws that deny equal rights for LGBT Americans.

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The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is the national association of Asian Pacific American (APA) attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students. NAPABA represents the interests of over 40,000 attorneys and approximately 70 national, state, and local bar associations. Its members include solo practitioners, large firm lawyers, corporate counsel, legal services and non-profit attorneys, and lawyers serving at all levels of government. NAPABA engages in legislative and policy advocacy, promotes APA political leadership and political appointments, and builds coalitions within the legal profession and the community at large. NAPABA also serves as a resource for government agencies, members of Congress, and public service organizations about APAs in the legal profession, civil rights, and diversity in the courts.

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Press Release: Asian Americans Advancing Justice Demands Racial Bias Investigation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
June 4, 2015

MEDIA CONTACT
Mariam Hosseini, Advancing Justice – ALC
[email protected]
415-896-7728

In response to the recent case of Sherry Chen, a federal employee who was arrested on suspicion of espionage for China before all charges were suddenly dismissed, Asian Americans Advancing Justice (Advancing Justice) issues the following statement:

As a leading national civil rights voice rooted in Asian American communities, we demand an investigation into whether race and national origin played a role in the shameful indictment of Sherry Chen, a dedicated scientist with the National Weather Service. Because Ms. Chen’s case is not unique or isolated, we further call upon the Administration to examine systemic racial bias against Asian Americans in all federal agencies, particularly those with jobs requiring security clearances.

Ms. Chen is only the most recent victim of over-zealous federal investigators and prosecutors who view with suspicion any ties with family and friends in other countries, particularly China. Clearly, the system has perverse incentives, rewarding law enforcement officials for high-profile prosecutions that fit the narrative of the foreign threat as opposed to rewarding them for a fair and careful consideration of the facts.

Ironically, Asians immigrate to the U.S. because our country claims to offer freedom, a fair process and protections for all, regardless of race and class.  We know that this promise has not held true for communities of color, for example, for African Americans in the criminal justice system.  Neither is the system working for well-educated Chinese Americans who may have assumed that their privileged economic status would protect them against racial bias.

As Sherry Chen’s case, as well as past cases such as the unjust prosecution of fellow federal scientist Wen Ho Lee indicate, the national security system is set up to feed biases and suspicion of “foreigners”.  In the recent past, we have been contacted by other Asian Americans who have faced questions because of visits to their countries of origin, participation in ethnic organizations, or contacts with Chinese friends and family. This racial profiling is unacceptable.

Our community cannot wait for the government to act.  We must also protect our rights. Advancing Justice-Asian Law Caucus has created this Know Your Rights guide for scientists and other individuals who are contacted by law enforcement agents.  Our national affiliation will continue to champion the rights of our communities and all Americans whenever civil rights and civil liberties are violated on the pretext of national security.

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