Asian Law Caucus

For over 50 years, the Asian Law Caucus has served as a laboratory for community lawyering. Every day, we leverage the law to advance racial and economic justice in partnership with the communities most acutely impacted by the absence of justice. This approach shapes our major cases, from repairing the harms of the Muslim Ban to extending language access to millions. It guides our daily legal services to reunite families, keep more people in their homes, and empower working people. Now, we’re launching a new chapter to take our civil rights litigation and advocacy to the next level. Read more on our website: https://lnkd.in/dgji3d5r. Our executive director, Aarti Kohli, also shares her reflections on the opportunities ahead: https://lnkd.in/dAUem7c6 

As we gear up for the November elections, Asian Law Caucus attorneys, advocates, and strategists are preparing know-your-rights materials in 12+ languages for voters across California. We’re planning for workshops at community centers and getting ready to launch the state’s largest nonpartisan election protection program. In March, more than 200 people, including many of you, served as volunteer poll monitors, helping to ensure voters across 640 polling sites could cast their ballots fairly and equally. If you’re interested in getting involved this November, email us at pollmonitor@advancingjustice-alc.org. This work is crucial for communities of color and immigrant communities. Last month, ALC’s Eileen Ma discussed the growing power of Asian American and immigrant voters with Stand Up America and our partners at Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) Michigan: “It will probably be more challenging than ever for many in our communities to vote. So we need to encourage as many eligible voters as possible to cast their ballots and insist on dismantling unjust barriers…It’s so important to marshall up the resources necessary to reach out to and turn out our communities to vote, including in the languages they use.”  READ MORE: https://lnkd.in/gwiGi8zm #GOTV #AAPIvote #AAPI #Democracy #Election2024 #CAvotes #Election2024 #KnowYourRights #VotingRights

ICYMI: We sent a letter to Stanford University urging administrators to drop disciplinary charges against students supporting Palestinian human rights. Our letter with CAIR-CA, National Lawyers Guild, and 35 groups shows how Stanford’s actions threaten free speech and undermine a campus community where students are encouraged to advocate for justice, peace, and belonging. On April 24, students organized People’s University for Palestine at White Memorial Plaza. The next week, at least 13 students – some of whom had not even been on campus at the time or organized the action – received disciplinary letters. We’re alarmed by the Office of Community Standards' investigations, which lack evidence but could result in serious consequences, including academic probation or suspension. This targeting appears motivated by discrimination or retaliation for past activism. Such actions stifle free speech and student activism and undermine the university's commitment to fostering an environment of open dialogue and social justice. Read our letter calling Stanford to dismiss these unjust charges and protect students' rights to peaceful protest and expression: bit.ly/stanforddropcharges #StanfordUniversity #CollegeActivism #KnowYourRights #FreeSpeech #CivilRights #PeoplesUniversity

In an unwavering assertion of people’s rights to find safety and a better life, a federal judge has approved a major agreement that provides a clear visa reconsideration process, including waived application fees, to nearly 25,000 community members from Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen who were harmed by the Trump administration’s #MuslimBan. As a result of former President Trump’s Muslim Ban, the policy denied thousands of people a fair chance at obtaining a visa and subsequently deprived them of opportunities for family reunification, jobs, and education. The agreement requires notice to all eligible class members on how to reapply for a visa and obtain a fee waiver for new nonimmigrant or immigrant visa applications. In the coming weeks, the #NoMuslimBanEver coalition and partner organizations like CAIR-CA, Muslim Advocates, National Immigration Law Center, Iranian American Bar Association (IABA) National will provide details on how eligible community members can get more information and apply for their visas. READ: bit.ly/muslimban51524 PC: Les Talusan #MuslimBan #NoMuslimBanEver #ImmigrantJustice #RefugeesWelcome #ImmigrantRights #AMEMSA

We're hiring! Take a look at our open listings, share, and apply: bit.ly/alcjobs

NEW: Last week, a judge ruled Uber and Lyft cannot evade the Cal/OSHA process on citations issued against the rideshare corporations for violating state health and safety protections during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a great decision for California workers. Rideshare drivers like Roberto Moreno know what it’s like first-hand to have worked during the pandemic without PPE: "Uber and Lyft denied us basic protective equipment including masks and health screenings Many of our co-workers got sick, lost pay, and as a result, fell into financial and health crises. Whether we drive, serve food, or care for others, all CA workers should be able to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and customers.” Rather than comply with California’s health protections, Uber and Lyft have spent the past two years fighting against basic protections and suing the drivers who joined the Cal/OSHA as parties to the appeals. Health and safety are fundamental rights that make it possible for every person to do their job and provide for their families. No corporation should get a free pass on that collective responsibility. Most CA rideshare drivers are immigrants and people of color, communities already disproportionately harmed by the pandemic. Last year ALC and Rideshare Drivers United released a report that details some of those harms and the workplace conditions for rideshare drivers bit.ly/firedbyanapp Read more about rideshare drivers’ fight for protection and dignity at work: https://lnkd.in/ga3yan9R #workersrights #labor #ridesharedriver #dignityforworkers #sanfrancisco #californianews

In 2023, Asian Law Caucus: - Fought against racial profiling and discriminatory targeting by county officials for over 4000 Hmong residents in Siskiyou County - Helped pass statewide legislation that will improve redistricting for low-income communities in 58 counties, 482 cities, and 977 school districts in California - Advocated for deportation protection for over 8000 Southeast Asian refugees  - Anchored the Asian American Leaders Table, bringing together over 70 organizations across the country to build power and respond to racial injustice READ: ASIAN LAW CAUCUS 2023 ANNUAL REPORT -- a summary of what we have accomplished in 2023 with the support of our funders, partners, and communities. https://lnkd.in/gSUkGrXb

The Asian Law Caucus is excited to celebrate 52 years of fighting with Asian American and Pacific Islander communities for civil rights and systemic change that builds a more just and caring world.  Please save the date for our 52nd Anniversary Gala! Friday, September 27, 2024 Hilton San Francisco Union Square 6pm-9pm More information about how to purchase your tickets, sponsorship opportunities, and the program will be shared soon. In case you missed it, here’s a look back at last year’s gala and our 2023 honorees: William Tamayo- https://lnkd.in/g4uyiT2Z Gen Fujioka- https://lnkd.in/gwiW-tGW Covington & Burling LLP- https://lnkd.in/gp9TEgyu Questions?  For sponsorships: Audee Kochiyama-Holman at audeekh@advancingjustice-alc.org All other inquiries: events@advancingjustice-alc.org

California is home to more immigrants than any other state. Alongside our clients and our partners, we strive for a state that welcomes people into our communities, whether we were born in Vietnam, Mexico, Haiti, or Afghanistan. Our new comic, Broken Stems, is a story about how California prisons tear apart families by voluntarily colluding with ICE. ALC is grateful to have partnered with illustrator Laura Gao in telling this story through the voice of Vyseth, a California immigrant who grew up with his family in Long Beach, not unlike so many of our clients. While Vyseth is fictional, his story is based on the experiences of California immigrants and refugees. It shows a small glimpse of how the threat of deportation painfully jeopardizes ties to their families and communities. THE COMIC: bit.ly/brokenstems In the past several years, community-led organizing, major lawsuits, and previously-unseen public records have exposed the CA’s prison system’s racist practices of using public resources to profile immigrants and refugees and rip apart countless families because of where they’re from or what they look like. In response, incarcerated and formerly incarcerated Californians are leading local and state advocacy to reunite families and create stronger communities, made possible when people come home. Read more about the statewide movement for equality and belonging: https://lnkd.in/d_5pP3yJ Root & Rebound, ACLU of Northern California, EMAC, APSC #ImmigrantJustice #StopICEtransfers #ProtectImmigrants #RefugeesWelcome #SocialJustice #AAPI #AsianAmerican

When she’s not fighting for safer communities and long-term healing for her clients, ALC attorney Eileen Kim has been speaking with local law students and Asian American women at the early stages of their careers about her own journey. She says, “to achieve a more holistic approach to community lawyering, we need to hear from a wide variety of voices and find value in everyone’s stories, including our own.” READ: Community Lawyering & My Journey to Self-Love, Healing, and Justice - A Reflection by ALC's Eileen Kim https://lnkd.in/dV87srCz #CommunityLawyering #ImmigrantRights #criminaljusticereform #legalclinic #healing #socialjustice