NCAPA Weekly Roundup | July 25 - Aug. 2, 2016 - National Council of Asian Pacific Americans

NCAPA Weekly Round Up graphic-2.jpg

News and Updates

NCAPA applauds historic platform that addressed priorities and concerns of the AAPI community: The 2016 Democratic Party Platform adopted many recommendations from NCAPA and its member organizations. This includes ending racial profiling, pushing for comprehensive immigration reform and fixing family immigration backlogs and ensuring that Americans have access to healthcare, regardless of immigration status. APALA also commended the progressive platform.

NCAPA members condemn racist campaign ads: OCA and AAJC condemned recent political ads in Missouri that portrayed xenophobic depictions of the Chinese community.

APALA responds to Freddie Gray decision: All charges related to the 2015 detainment and death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore against the three remaining officers were dropped. APALA responded, standing firmly with the Movement for Black Lives.

APIAHF calls for Medicaid coverage for COFA communities: Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum’s Kathy Ko Chin blogged about the 51th anniversary of Medicaid and why Congress must restore coverage to Compacts of Free Association (COFA) communities, which includes the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau.

NCAPA brown bag discusses advocacy across communities: During yesterday’s NCAPA brown bag, interns discussed best practices for collaborating across our different identities. The final NCAPA brown bag will be next Monday, Aug. 8, from noon to 1 p.m. Intersectional Identities: Being LGBTQ and AAPI. It will be presented by Ben de Guzman.

OCA convention held in Jersey City: During the end of July, OCA held its annual convention with a focus on AAPI women, civic engagement and immigration. NCAPA participated in a workshop discussing the potential profiling of Chinese American scientists, and NCAPA National Director Chris Kang and several NCAPA leaders were part of the plenary sessions. For the first time, OCA held a gun violence caucus and passed a resolution in “support of common sense safeguards to reduce the threat of terrorism and mass killings.”

NCAPA in the News

In NBC Asian America, Frances Kai-Hwa Wang writes on the response from advocates after the decision to vacate Purvi Patel’s feticide conviction. APIAHF’s Amina Abbas is quoted, saying that Patel’s case is another attack on the reproductive health care of Asian American women, a vulnerable community. SAALT’s Lakshmi Sridaran applauded the overturned conviction. NCAPA members APIAHF, SAALT and NAPAWF filed an amicus brief to support Patel’s appeal.

In Asian Journal, Momar Visaya covers APIAVote’s briefing and reception at the Democratic National Convention.

In NBC Asian America, Frances Kai-Hwa Wang writes about NCAPA and NCAPA member organizations’ involvement in showing solidarity with the Movement for Black Lives.

In USA TODAY, Patrick Ryan outlined the diversity in this year’s Emmy nominations. Among the Asian American nominees, “Master of None” received four nominations. In the article, Center for Asian American Media’s Stephen Gong called the nominations disappointing because the list overlooked breakthrough AAPIs, such as talent in “Fresh Off the Boat.”

Take Action!

New

Take APALA’s #NotYourModelMinority pledge: http://bit.ly/NYMMPledge

Sign on to the Joint Statement for AAPI Solidarity with #BlackLivesMatter and the Movement for Black Lives: http://bit.ly/2adVoDQ (Deadline: Aug. 5)

Support the AHEAD Act in California (AB 1726), for better data for AAPIs: Take a selfie with an #AllCACounts sign and send with your zip code to [email protected]. You can also sign the petition.

Sign the petition from Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC) and Diverse Elders Coalition to tell the federal Administration for Community Living to prioritize the needs of diverse elders.

Ongoing

Sign on here to become a partner with the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) for National Voter Registration Day on Sept. 27.

In Case You Missed It

INQUIRER.net remembers Filipino American leader Joe Montano who passed away suddenly last week. Montano was the Northern Virginia regional director for Sen. Tim Kaine and previously served as the executive director of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA). He was 47. Watch Sen. Kaine’s tribute video for Montano.

In American Prospect, Karthick Ramakrishnan details how and why the political attitudes of Asian Americans have shifted over the years, and how to improve Asian American civic participation.

In Asian Journal, Momar Visaya writes about how the preamble of the 2016 Democratic Party Platform recognized Larry Itliong, a Filipino American labor leader who organized agricultural workers beginning in the 1930s.

Watch a Pacific Islander Vote PSA provided by PELE Sorority.

In Time, Mahita Gajanan writes about Constance Wu’s response to the casting in the movie “Great Wall” and her criticisms of Matt Damon’s role in the movie.