Weekly Roundup | Remembering 9/11 | Here to Stay
Sept. 4 -11, 2017
Today we mark the 16th anniversary of 9/11, and remember the lives lost and those who responded with bravery. In memory of this tragedy, we take comfort in knowing that America is strongest when our differences are set aside and we come together as a nation.
A LOOK AHEAD
As communities of color, we stand vigilant that national tragedies are not used to scapegoat the disenfranchised. The current climate echoes the rise in hate crimes that followed 9/11, and immigrant communities are once again living in fear and uncertainty following last week’s announcement that DACA has been rescinded. In response, advocates are urging members of Congress to support and quickly pass a clean DREAM Act of 2017, and House Democrats are prepared to threaten a government shutdown if the bill isn’t passed this session.
Turning to health care, the Senate parliamentarian ruled that the special budget rules that Senators used to try to repeal the ACA with only 50 votes expire on Sept. 30. There are rumors of last-ditch efforts to revive the ACA repeal effort, although they face long odds for success. Meanwhile, the Trump Administration is damaging the upcoming ACA enrollment period.
Finally, the President’s so-called “Voter Fraud” Commission meets again tomorrow in New Hampshire. Election advocates and legal teams continue to challenge this commission for its lack of transparency and suspected efforts to disenfranchise and remove thousands of voters from state election rolls.
UPDATES
Here are a few ways to protect immigrants and urge Congress to pass the DREAM Act:
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Visit www.defenddaca.com to either locate a mobilization or organize one yourself.
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Educate your communities and spread the word on social media. Things you should know about DACA ending and more resources are available from United We Dream at weareheretostay.org.
President Trump’s Muslim ban suffered another blow last week as the federal appeals court ruled that the Administration can't ban grandparents and other family members of citizens and legal residents from coming to the U.S. from six Muslim-majority countries.
Meanwhile, the President surprised everyone last week by agreeing to Democrats’ proposal to fund the government for three months, sidestepping an issue that had been projected to dominate the month of September. The Senate quickly approved a package that includes billions in disaster recovery aid for those affected by Hurricane Harvey. Still, budget concerns remain: another looming deadline is the expiration of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) at the end of the month. This would strip federal funding for nine million low- and middle-income children, disproportionately affecting children of color. Download this fact sheet from NCAPA member Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF) for more information.
NCAPA NEWS
NCAPA Outraged at Announcement to End DACA
After last week’s DACA decision, AAPI leaders and 17 NCAPA members issued statements to stand with Dreamers and many urged Congress to pass the DREAM Act of 2017 to provide them a pathway to citizenship. NCAPA and 16 members joined The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights letter: 186 Civil and Human Rights Groups Urge Congress to Immediately Pass the Dream Act.
On the day of the Trump Administration’s announcement to end DACA, NAKASEC concluded their 22-day 24-hour vigil in front of the White House and marched and rallied with groups such as United We Dream. We applaud our member NAKASEC and their partners for mobilizing communities, organizing this action and creating momentum to move forward. They followed up their action with a “Dream Action Phase 2” community phone briefing, available in English and Korean.
NCAPA Warns of Discriminatory Impact of ACA Cuts
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently announced cuts to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) outreach and enrollment support, which will have devastating and discriminatory impacts to AAPIs and other vulnerable, uninsured, and medically underserved populations.
Congress Has 90 Days to Get DREAM Act Done
The Asian Americans Advancing Justice affiliation are calling on Congress to make DREAM must-pass legislation in the next 90 days.
#CounterACTHate Online Campaign
On Sept. 9, ACT for America, the nation’s largest anti-Muslim hate group, scheduled 67 Islamophobic rallies across 36 states under the theme “America First.” After thousands of Americans came out in peaceful resistance to white supremacy and racism in Charlottesville and Boston, ACT decided to call off its rallies and shift to an online campaign. Advocacy groups, such as NCAPA member SAALT, organized an online campaign, #CounterACTHate, to drown out anti-Muslim messages.
TAKE ACTION
Support Hurricane Relief
Click here for resources and ways to support AAPI communities affected by Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma.
MoveOn Petition: Pass a clean DREAM Act now
Make DACA Permanent, Support the DREAM Act
Sign NAKASEC’s petition to call on President Trump and the Department of Homeland Security to protect immigrants and keep families together.
Add Your Name: Asian Americans Against White Supremacy
Sign the pledge from Asian Americans Advancing Justice to stand up for democracy and reject white supremacy.
Tell Congress: America Needs Our Immigrants
Sign the Asian Americans Advancing Justice petition to tell your member of Congress to oppose the RAISE Act, which would separate families and cut in half the number of green cards available each year.
Download the Immigrant Know Your Rights Smartphone App
NCAPA member NAKASEC designed and translated a smartphone app for immigrants and community members who are in crisis or have been approached by police or ICE. The multilingual app currently supports Korean, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, and English. Click here to download this helpful app!
Track hate incidents and view their databases
South Asian Americans Leading Together | Asian Americans Advancing Justice | OCA National | Southern Poverty Law Center | Muslim Advocates
ICYMI: AAPIs in the News
Op-ed: Too Many Americans Think Patriotism Means Racism and Xenophobia (Suman Raghunathan, SAALT Executive Director, The Nation)
Reckoning with Trauma 16 Years After (Deepa Iyer, Medium)
LGBTQ South Asians, Muslims & APIs Commemorate Lives Lost (Sasha W., NQAPIA Organizing Director, HuffPost)
DACA recipient urges for permanent solution (NAKASEC and Korean Resource Center Dream Action co-lead Jung Woo Kim talked to CNN regarding the end of DACA)
Asian-American Advocates Blast Trump Decision to End DACA Program (Chris Fuchs, NBC Asian America)
OPPORTUNITIES
Sign up to be a partner for National Voter Registration Day 2017
The Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) is accepting submissions for CAAMFest May 2018. CAAMFest is the nation’s largest showcase for new Asian and Asian American films.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC Manager of Digital Strategies
OCA Civil Rights Fellowship (Deadline: Sept. 22)
SAALT: Community Partnerships Manager, Policy Associate
APIASF Scholarship & Programs Intern
APIAVote Programs Associate, Become an APIAVote Volunteer
NAKASEC: National Immigrant Rights Campaigns Coordinator, VA Civic Engagement Coordinator
APIAHF: Digital Communications Specialist, Monitoring & Evaluation Director,
Experience Assistant
APAICS Communications Associate
NAPAWF: Chicago Organizer, NYC Senior Organizer, Georgia Senior Organizer, Finance and Operations Associate
National CAPACD: Director of Development and Communications, Business Operations Coordinator
NAPCA: Project Director – Senior Community Service Employment Program, Accounts Payable Accountant
SALDEF SikhLEAD Internship Program (Applications on a rolling basis. If interested, email resume and writing sample to [email protected].)
More Opportunities (including Hill positions)
Events
Sept. 11-13: 2017 Building CAPACD Convention. D.C.
Sept. 12, 10:00 a.m.: SAALT Congressional Briefing on Rising Hate Violence. To RSVP email [email protected]; Subject Heading: SAALT Congressional Briefing
Sept. 12, 12:00 p.m.: CAPAC Press Conference Urging Passage of DREAM Act. House Triangle.
Sept. 12, 1:00 p.m.: #DACASolidarity Twitter Townhall
Sept. 12, 5:30 p.m.: #CounterACTHate Rally with National CAPACD and SAALT. Capitol Steps.
Sept. 13, 3:00 p.m. ET: NCAPA Education Committee Webinar: Native Hawaiian Education Act (NHEA) & Hawaiʻi State ESSA Plan
Sept. 25-30: AANAPISI Week - Celebrate 10 years of Asian American, Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions. This week includes social media actions, Hill briefings and a national summit. D.C.
Sept. 27-29: APIAHF VOICES Convention. D.C. (Students may apply for a scholarship)
Sept. 29-30: APIASF Summit: Elevate. D.C.
Sept. 30: March for Racial Justice. D.C.
Oct. 12-14: SEARAC - Moving Mountains: A Southeast Asian Equality Summit (Registration open until Sept. 29)
Oct. 21: NaFFAA 20th Anniversary Gala. D.C.
Nov. 2-5: NAPABA Convention. D.C.
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