Asian American Justice Center no http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rss Asian American Justice Center http://www.advancingequality.org/tresources/en/images/icons/tendenci34x15.gif http://www.advancingequality.org Copyright 2010 Asian American Justice Center Tendenci Association Software by Schipul - The Web Marketing Company en-us noemail@advancingequality.org Tue, 07 Sep 2010 23:37:32 GMT Release http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rel/397/ The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., the Asian American Justice Center, and MALDEF release The Impact of Redistricting In Your Community: A Guide to Redistricting LOS ANGELES - Today, three leading civil rights groups launched a campaign to promote their collaborative redistricting guide for the upcoming local, state and congressional redistricting processes. MALDEF, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF), and the Asian American Justice Center (AAJC), a member of the Asian American Center for Advancing Justice, have joined forces to produce The Impact of Redistricting In Your Community: A Guide to Redistricting. The coalition designed the manual for a broad set of audiences that include community members, activists and policy makers. The manual provides the legal and policy framework for redistricting, and outlines how communities can participate in the redistricting process, keep the line drawers accountable and help... http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rel/397/ noemail@advancingequality.org Wed, 25 Aug 2010 21:00:00 GMT Release http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rel/394/ WASHINGTON-This month the Asian American Justice Center celebrates the 10th anniversary of the presidential executive order that requires state courts to provide people who are not fluent in English with language assistance and thanked the Justice Department with its continued vigilance on this point. Earlier this week, the Justice Department issued a letter to state courts reminding them of their obligations under civil rights laws including Executive Order 13166, which requires federal agencies to ensure that recipients of federal funds provide meaningful access to people with limited English skills. President Clinton signed the act in August 2000. The 10th anniversary of Executive Order 13166 is a significant milestone, said Marita Etcubañez, AAJC's programs director.Over the last 10 years, much progress has been made to make court services accessible to people who need language assistance, but as the guidance from the Justice Department makes... http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rel/394/ noemail@advancingequality.org Fri, 20 Aug 2010 16:00:00 GMT Release http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rel/393/ WASHINGTON-Prior to adjourning for its August recess, the Senate failed to vote on the nominations of Asian Pacific American judicial nominees Judge Edward M. Chen and Professor Goodwin Liu, as well as several other judicial candidates. Their nominations have been returned to President Obama and NAPABA and AAJC strongly encourage President Obama to resubmit their nominations when the Senate returns from recess in September. We are seeing extensive delays affecting all nominees, said Joseph J. Centeno, president of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association. Highly qualified nominees such as Judge Chen and Professor Liu are entitled to a full Senate vote in a timely fashion. All Americans have an interest in having a qualified and diverse judiciary and these nominees deserve a confirmation vote. Both Judge Chen and Professor Liu received unanimous well qualified ratings from the American Bar Association, the highest rating possible. Delays in the... http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rel/393/ noemail@advancingequality.org Tue, 17 Aug 2010 17:00:00 GMT Release http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rel/387/ WASHINGTON - The Asian American Justice Center welcomed Thursday's 63-37 Senate confirmation to the Supreme Court of Elena Kagan, making her the fourth woman ever and marking a historic moment on the Court by which three of the nine justices will be women when it convenes in October. Her confirmation is another encouraging step toward assembling a high court that represents our country's actual diversity, said Karen K. Narasaki, president and executive director of the Asian American Justice Center. For the first time ever, the Supreme Court will seat three women in one session with one third of the justices being women. AAJC commends President Obama for his commitment to increasing diversity in our federal courts. Of his 86 federal judicial nominees to date, 19 are African American, eight are Hispanic and eight are Asian American. Additionally, 39 (or 45 percent) of his nominees are women, including two named to the Supreme Court. Four Asian Americans have been... http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rel/387/ noemail@advancingequality.org Mon, 09 Aug 2010 16:00:00 GMT Release http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rel/383/ WASHINGTON - The Asian American Justice Center welcomed Northern District of California U.S. District Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker's decision Thursday that California cannot prevent gay couples from marrying. This is a major step forward for equality for all regardless of race, gender, religion or sexual orientation, said Marita Etcubañez,AAJC's program director. We are thrilled that the courts have begun righting this injustice, which will help us finally push past this last frontier of the civil rights fight. On Thursday, Judge Walker, based in San Francisco, ruled that gay and lesbian couples have a constitutional right to marry, thereby striking down California's controversial Proposition 8, a ballot measure banning same-sex marriage that the state's voters approved in November 2008. His decision, and the immediate legal reaction it sparked, greatly increases the chances that the issue of gay marriage will be addressed by the Supreme Court. ... http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rel/383/ noemail@advancingequality.org Thu, 05 Aug 2010 19:00:00 GMT Release http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rel/382/ PHOENIX- Ensuring that Arizona law enforcement will not be required to demand papers from people they stop who they suspect are unlawfully present in the U.S., a federal court today blocked the most egregious provisions of Arizona's racial profiling law, known as SB 1070, pending a final court ruling on its constitutionality. The Asian American Justice Center, the Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California and a coalition of civil rights groups filed a lawsuit challenging the discriminatory measure, scheduled to take effect tomorrow, and asked the court to temporarily block several provisions of the law while the case is litigated. We are very pleased that the court saw fit to strike down the worst aspects of this divisive law, which invites discrimination and inevitably would result in racial profiling, said Karen K. Narasaki, AAJC's president and executive director. Divisive and unconstitutional laws like SB 1070 are not the answer to... http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rel/382/ noemail@advancingequality.org Wed, 28 Jul 2010 21:15:00 GMT Release http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rel/380/ PHOENIX- At a federal court hearing today, the Asian American Justice Centerand Asian Pacific American Legal Center, members of Asian American Center for Advancing Justice, along with a coalition of civil rights groups, argued that Arizona's discriminatory new law, known as SB 1070, should be blocked pending a final court ruling on its constitutionality. The law, scheduled to go into effect on the 29th, requires police to demand papers from anyone they stop who they suspect are unlawfully present in the U.S. According to the coalition, the law would subject massive numbers of people- both citizens and non-citizens- to racial profiling, improper investigations and detention. SB 1070 is clearly unconstitutional; it's also proof that our fragmented, out-dated immigration system is deeply flawed and in immediate need of a major overhaul, said Karen K. Narasaki, AAJC's president and executive director. The Justice Department, in a separate hearing today,... http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rel/380/ noemail@advancingequality.org Thu, 22 Jul 2010 21:00:00 GMT Release http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rel/378/ WASHINGTON-Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a confirmation hearing for the Honorable Leslie E. Kobayashi, nominee for the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii, and for Edmond E. Chang, nominee for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. President Obama nominated Judge Kobayashi and Mr. Chang to serve as federal judges on April 21, 2010. Both Judge Kobayashi and Mr. Chang are well qualified and will bring a wealth of experiences to the federal bench, said Joseph J. Centeno, president of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association. Both of these individuals will serve their country admirably as federal judges. Judge Kobayashi has served as a U.S. magistrate judge in Hawaii since 1999. Before that she was a partner and commercial litigator in Hawaii. Judge Kobayashi began her career as a deputy prosecution attorney with the city and county of Honolulu. Mr. Chang has served as an assistant... http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rel/378/ noemail@advancingequality.org Fri, 16 Jul 2010 19:00:00 GMT Release http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rel/377/ WASHINGTON- Statement of Karen K. Narasaki, president and executive director of the Asian American Justice Center, a member of Asian American Center for Advancing Justice, on comprehensive immigration reform and the Uniting American Families Act: AAJC joins congressional leaders here today in an urgent call to action for support of legislation that addresses the broken family immigration system. The chronic inadequate number of family visas keeps the spouses, children and siblings of citizens and green card holders separated for years and even decades. And there is one group that is shut out from the family immigration system entirely-same-sex permanent partners and their children have no standing in U.S. immigration law. This means that thousands of bi-national LGBT families are forced to separate, live in constant fear of separation or uproot their lives and move overseas. At its heart, the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA) is about... http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rel/377/ noemail@advancingequality.org Thu, 15 Jul 2010 20:00:00 GMT Release http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rel/373/ Arizona's SB 1070 Violates the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution WASHINGTON- Today the Justice Department filed suit against Arizona, asserting that the state's new immigration law violates the Constitution's supremacy clause and illegally intrudes on the federal government's power to enforce our immigration laws. The announcement comes after the Asian Pacific American Legal Center and Asian American Justice Center- both members of Asian American Center for Advancing Justice- joined other major civil rights groups to represent a diverse group of plaintiffs challenging the law's constitutionality. That suit, filed in May, asserts that Arizona's law is not only preempted by federal law, but that it also violates other provisions of the U.S. Constitution, including the right to free speech, equal protection, and due process. Only a few days ago in a national address on comprehensive immigration reform, President Obama called Arizona's law... http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rel/373/ noemail@advancingequality.org Tue, 06 Jul 2010 22:00:00 GMT Release http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rel/371/ ATLANTA-Asian American Center for Advancing Justice, in collaboration with the Atlanta office of the international law firm King & Spalding,filed a friend-of-the-court brief with the Georgia Supreme Court Monday that highlights the profound effect the absence of a trained, qualified court interpreter can have on the outcome of a case for non-English speakers. Asian American Justice Center (AAJC), Asian Law Caucus, Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC) and Asian American Institute (ALC) are affiliated organizations working to protect and expand the civil rights of Asian Americans as members of the newly formed Asian American Center for Advancing Justice. For millions living here, English is learned as a second language, said Karen K. Narasaki, president and executive director of AAJC. Courts across the country have begun to recognize that meaningful access to the justice system means providing skilled foreign language interpreters. The failure to... http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rel/371/ noemail@advancingequality.org Tue, 06 Jul 2010 18:00:00 GMT Release http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rel/396/ WASHINGTON-The ability to speak English is essential for immigrants. It is the gateway to citizenship and living wage jobs. For Asian Americans, adult English language learning opportunities are critical because 60 percent are foreign born and many are limited English proficient. With this in mind, the Asian American Justice Center launched an ambitious project to promote English language learning (aka ESL or ESOL) for adults and unveiled the results of its ground-breaking research today. Attendees of the second annual Advancing Justice Conference recently got a sneak peak of AAJC's report on the field's state. They also saw the results of AAJC's original survey of those working in the field, of a one-of-a-kind national opinion poll gauging Americans' willingness to support adult English classes and of the handbook advocates can use to promote the field. AAJC began gathering the information when it convened a symposium of stakeholders four years ago.... http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rel/396/ noemail@advancingequality.org Tue, 06 Jul 2010 14:00:00 GMT Release http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rel/369/ WASHINGTON - Today, President Obama called on Congress to address the urgent need to fix our broken immigration system. The Asian American Justice Center, Asian Law Caucus, Asian Pacific American Legal Center and Asian American Institute-all members of the new Asian American Center for Advancing Justice-welcomed the president's renewed push to get comprehensive immigration reform passed this year. Citing the historic mistreatment of Chinese and other immigrants, the president eloquently reminded Americans that while we are a nation of immigrants, and that immigration issues have always been contentious despite the clear value that immigrants have brought and continue to bring to our country. He outlined the danger in the failure of Congress to act exemplified by indiscriminate laws like the one recently passed in Arizona which is polarizing communities. He reiterated his commitment to comprehensive immigration reform legislation that addresses backlogs for family... http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rel/369/ noemail@advancingequality.org Thu, 01 Jul 2010 21:00:00 GMT Release http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rel/368/ WASHINGTON- Four leading Asian American civil rights organizations announced during their annual conference today that they are formally affiliating under a new name, Asian American Center for Advancing Justice. The announcement coincides with the second annual Advancing Justice Conference, a three-day event focusing on issues of special interest to the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. The four affiliating organizations-the Asian American Institute (AAI), Asian American Justice Center (AAJC), Asian Law Caucus (ALC) and Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC)-jointly host the conference, which has brought together hundreds of participants from across the country. This represents a tremendous opportunity not only for the Asian Law Caucus and our sister organizations, but for the larger Asian American community, said Titi Liu, executive director of ALC, the nation's oldest Asian American civil rights organization. Through Asian American... http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rel/368/ noemail@advancingequality.org Thu, 24 Jun 2010 13:00:00 GMT Release http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rel/366/ LOS ANGELES - On Saturday, May 29, tens of thousands of community members and advocates will participate in the National Day of Action Against SB 1070, both in Arizona and in solidarity actions nationwide. The Asian American Justice Center, Asian Law Caucus, Asian American Institute and the Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California will join civil and human rights advocates across the country in demanding an end to SB 1070, an anti-immigrant state law that will invite racial profiling and discrimination against minorities and immigrants, and in calling for the passage of federal comprehensive immigration reform. “The passage of SB 1070 in Arizona shows that Americans are dissatisfied with the federal government’s inaction on enacting comprehensive immigration reform legislation,” said Stewart Kwoh, executive director and president of the Asian Pacific American Legal Center. “But SB 1070 is not the right solution. Asian Americans and Pacific... http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rel/366/ noemail@advancingequality.org Fri, 28 May 2010 22:00:00 GMT Release http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rel/363/ PHOENIX – Last week, the Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC) and Asian American Justice Center (AAJC), members of Asian American Center for Advancing Justice, jointly filed a federal lawsuit with other civil rights groups to challenge SB 1070, Arizona’s unconstitutional anti-immigrant law that requires police to demand papers from people they stop that they “reasonably suspect” are undocumented. “Arizona’s actions not only interfere with federal law, but will invite widespread racial profiling in violation of the U.S. Constitution,” said Ronald Lee, staff attorney at AAJC. “The precedent it sets — numerous states have already introduced similar legislation — just underscores the need for comprehensive immigration reform at the national level.” The coalition of civil rights lawyers represents more than 20 plaintiffs, including Arizona South Asians for Safe Families, Asian Chamber of Commerce, Japanese American... http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rel/363/ noemail@advancingequality.org Tue, 25 May 2010 12:00:00 GMT Release http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rel/360/ LOS ANGELES— Leaders of the Asian American Justice Center (AAJC), Asian Law Caucus (ALC) and Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC) announced today that their organizations will jointly challenge SB 1070, a sweeping and profoundly anti-immigrant piece of state legislation that Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed into law April 23. “By requiring Arizona law enforcement, with limited exceptions, to determine the immigration status of anyone who law enforcement officers ‘reasonably suspect’ is an undocumented immigrant and expanding their authority to make warrantless arrests, this divisive and oppressive law will encourage overbroad and indiscriminate targeting of entire immigrant communities,” said Julie A. Su, litigation director of APALC. “We stand in solidarity with the Latino community, which has long felt the full force of Arizona’s anti-immigrant laws,” Su, who will lead the litigation effort for the Asian American community,... http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rel/360/ noemail@advancingequality.org Thu, 06 May 2010 16:00:00 GMT Release http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rel/356/ WASHINGTON—Today Democratic Sens. Harry Reid (Nev.), Charles Schumer (N.Y.) and Robert Menendez (N.J.), joined by Sens. Durbin (Ill.), Feinstein (Calif.) and Leahy (Vt.), released a framework for bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform legislation. This serious invitation to Republicans to negotiate is a step forward in the immigration reform debate— something the country desperately needs as community breakdown in Arizona proves. The following is a statement from Karen K. Narasaki, president and executive director of the Asian American Justice Center: “AAJC commends the Senate leadership for putting a serious invitation on the table to Republicans by providing a legislative outline in a bipartisan framework. We call on the Republican leadership to join their Democratic colleagues in completing the work on developing legislation for comprehensive immigration reform. Until Congress accepts its constitutional responsibility to set sensible immigration policy,... http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rel/356/ noemail@advancingequality.org Thu, 29 Apr 2010 22:00:00 GMT Release http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rel/353/ WASHINGTON—Asian American leaders thank President Obama for signing an executive order that will benefit Asian American and Pacific Islander communities and are excited about the opportunities a new task force will bring AAPI business owners. Like all Americans, AAPIs have been hit hard by the economic crises. Poverty rates and layoffs for AAPIs are on the rise, which is why the interagency task force on federal contracting opportunities for small businesses couldn’t come at a better time. Totaling more than $500 billion per year, the federal government is the world’s largest purchaser of goods and services but AAPI-owned businesses have largely been absent in these exchanges. Many AAPI-owned businesses are small businesses, which is why the initiative’s focus on small businesses can be a boon for AAPI communities. “While it’s true that many Asian American businesses have reached a high level of success, it is crucial to remember that many Asian... http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rel/353/ noemail@advancingequality.org Thu, 29 Apr 2010 19:00:00 GMT Release http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rel/350/ WASHINGTON—The Asian American Justice Center is extremely disappointed that Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has put politics above the Constitution by signing an unnecessarily harsh, xenophobic state law that will do nothing to make Arizonans safer and everything to make people of color feel unwelcome. Arizona police are now required to stop anyone of whom they have a “reasonable suspicion” is in the country illegally, even if they are not engaged in any criminal conduct, which in effect would condone widespread racial profiling against all people of color. “I’m disappointed that the governor decided to sign an oppressive and divisive bill that would hurt so many Arizonans just for political gain,” said AAJC’s Ronald Lee, senior staff attorney, immigration and immigrant rights program. Brewer’s action underscores the need for comprehensive immigration reform this year, which would clarify the exclusive role of the federal government in the... http://www.advancingequality.org/en/rel/350/ noemail@advancingequality.org Fri, 23 Apr 2010 23:00:00 GMT