News

APABA Celebrates Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Contact:  Arnold Lee, arnoldlee.apaba@gmail.com

Los Angeles, CA - This month, we celebrate the rich history and achievements of Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs). The AANHPI community embodies the vibrant diversity that is the strength of America. Its myriad contributions and successes are integral to the development of our nation and are deeply rooted in American history. This year, we celebrate historic firsts: the election of California’s Kamala Harris as Vice President of the United States, the first person of South Asian descent to hold the office; and the historic appointment of Rob Bonta as California Attorney General, the first person of Filipino descent to hold the office.

Yet, as we celebrate these successes and achievements, the AANHPI community continues to face significant challenges rooted in anti-Asian sentiment, from the Chinese Exclusion Act, to the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, to the murder of Detroit autoworker Vincent Chin over 35 years ago, to the increase in violence against Sikh Americans following 9/11, to the current appalling rise in hate crimes and incidents against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) in California and across the nation.

APABA commends President Joe Biden's signing of the Memorandum condemning and combating racism against AAPIs in the United States and his commitment in establishing a taskforce to tackle COVID-related xenophobia in his Address to a Joint Session of Congress as major first steps in addressing this issue. We urge President Biden and our leaders to continue to work swiftly to fight discrimination against the AAPI community and further promote inclusion and equity in our communities.

As we commemorate the AANHPI Heritage Month, APABA will continue to advance justice and equity for all.

APABA Applauds the United States Senate for Passing the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act 

CONTACT: Arnold Lee, arnoldlee.apaba@gmail.com

Los Angeles, CA - The Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Los Angeles County ("APABA") joins President Biden in applauding the United States Senate and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus for passing the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act. As President Biden said, "Acts of hate against Asian Americans are wrong, un-American, and must stop."  

APABA urges the United States House of Representatives to swiftly pass the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act for President Biden's signature.

APABA Congratulates Assemblymember Rob Bonta on His Confirmation as California Attorney General

CONTACT: Arnold Lee, arnoldlee.apaba@gmail.com

Los Angeles, CA- The Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Los Angeles County ("APABA") celebrates the California Legislature's historic confirmation of Assemblymember Rob Bonta as Attorney General, the first Filipino American to serve in this position. APABA is honored to have supported Mr. Bonta in the appointment process.

APABA applauds Governor Gavin Newsom for his appointment of Mr. Bonta, an advocate of sensible criminal justice reform, whose experience and perspective will be invaluable in leading the Department of Justice. APABA looks forward to Attorney General Bonta’s continued leadership in protecting the most vulnerable and underserved communities, serving as a voice for Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, and standing up for all Californians.

APABA Statement on the Verdict of Derek Chauvin's Trial in Minneapolis

CONTACT: Arnold Lee, arnoldlee.apaba@gmail.com

Los Angeles, CA - The Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Los Angeles County (APABA) released the following statement on the verdict of Derek Chauvin's trial in Minneapolis:

Today, a Minneapolis state jury held Derek Chauvin accountable for the death of George Floyd on all counts. Accountability is a quintessential component of equal justice under law that has not always been delivered. While the verdict today cannot bring Mr. Floyd back, as President Biden said, "This can be a giant step forward in the march toward justice in America." APABA stands with the Black community and the family of Mr. Floyd as we move toward healing and commonsense reforms to ensure justice for all.

APABA Statement on the Mass Shooting in Indianapolis

CONTACT: Arnold Lee, arnoldlee.apaba@gmail.com

Los Angeles, CA - The Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Los Angeles County ("APABA") is deeply saddened by the senseless acts of violence in recent weeks, including the most recent shooting that has taken the lives of eight victims, four of which are from the Sikh community, in Indianapolis. 

From the myriad cases targeting Sikh Americans since 9/11, to the Sikh temple shooting in Wisconsin in 2012, this latest attack reminds us of the painful history the Sikh community faced as targets of xenophobic violence.

Although the details are still forthcoming, APABA calls on authorities to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the incident.  APABA expresses its heartfelt condolences to the friends, families, and the communities of the victims in this latest attack.  

APABA Commends the Nomination of Julie Su as U.S. Deputy Labor Secretary

CONTACT: Arnold Lee, arnoldlee.apaba@gmail.com

Los Angeles, CA - The Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Los Angeles County ("APABA") commends President Joe Biden for nominating California's own Labor Secretary Julie Su to serve as the Deputy Secretary for the U.S. Department of Labor.

Appointed as California's Labor Secretary in 2019, Secretary Su has been on the forefront of protecting workers' rights and served as California Governor Gavin Newsom's advisor on labor policy, including worker safety and protection from the COVID-19 pandemic. Before serving in her current post, Secretary Su worked as a civil rights attorney at Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles (formerly Asian Pacific American Legal Center), the nation’s largest non-profit civil rights organization focused on issues affecting the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. For nearly two decades, Secretary Su has fought against workplace discrimination and unfair labor practices. Notably, Secretary Su represented 74 Thai garment workers who were forced to spend 18-hour days sewing clothes behind barbed wire at a sweatshop in El Monte in Bureerong v. Uvawas. Secretary Su received APABA’s Public Service Award in 2011 and APABA’s Trailblazer Award in 2020, both for her tremendous work in paving new laws protecting human trafficking survivors and workers' rights.

Secretary Su's appointment as Deputy Secretary for the U.S. Department of Labor will help move our nation's labor policies in the right direction.

CONTACT: Arnold Lee, arnoldlee.apaba@gmail.com

“APABA applauds President Joe Biden's January 26, 2021 Memorandum condemning and combating racism, xenophobia, and intolerance against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI). The President's swift action is a critical step in addressing the racist attacks targeting the AAPI community amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Discrimination, prejudice, and hate have no place in America. APABA welcomes community-based opportunities in working with the Attorney General in curbing bigotry. We look forward to the Biden-Harris Administration's prompt and continuing efforts in promoting equity, celebrating diversity, and healing the nation.”