This January, Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago is pleased to host two new interns who will be working with us for the next few months. Let’s get to know Theanne Liu and Jireh Kang, both of Northwestern University (Go Wildcats!):
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News
01.15.2016
Advancing Justice | Chicago and the Just Democracy coalition support Automatic Voter Registration
Voting is a fundamental right and part of what makes America great. Our democracy works best when everyone makes his or her voice heard on election day, but unfortunately not everyone is, thanks in part to our outdated voter registration system. In the last presidential election, its estimated that over a million eligible voters tried to vote but were turned away because of registration problems.
We can do better. Over the past several years, Illinois has taken significant steps to modernize and improve voter registration and election administration. We should continue this process and work towards Universal Registration where every eligible voter is on the rolls, only eligible voters are on the rolls, and the state takes responsibility to build the rolls and automatically updates voters’ records where possible. (more…)
Read More12.22.2015
VISTA Profile: Ruth Martinez (JASC)
By Ruth Martinez, AmeriCorps VISTA member with Japanese American Service Committee (JASC)
I had no idea about AmeriCorps until my career counselor at Morningside College suggested to apply. When I started the AmeriCorps application process, my first thoughts were to re-establish myself at home in California or stay in Iowa. However, my search suddenly changed. I knew there was so much more out there! I was reminded of my spring break: my roommate and I took a trip to Chicago in April as graduation gift to ourselves. We traveled to different neighborhoods and I was curious to see all the different communities in Chicago. (more…)
What’s Happening in Chicago?: End of the Year Appeal
by Vân Huynh, NAPABA Law Foundation Community Law Fellow
When the story of the gruesome police shooting of Laquan McDonald, a 17 year-old Black youth in Chicago, began to unfold a year after the actual incident took place, followed by reports that elected officials fought the release of the video, coupled with news that there were missing footages from a surveillance tape at a local Burger King that could have casted light on the final moments of Laquan’s life before his deadly encounter with police officers, Chicago reached a breaking point. Community members, led by Black youth-organizers, stormed Downtown Chicago seeking justice and accountability, calling for the resignation of Mayor Rahm Emanuel, State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez, then-Superintendent Garry McCarthy, and demanding police reform. What resulted was the firing of Supt. McCarthy and the resignation of Scott Ando, head of the Independent Police Review Authority (IPRA). (more…)
Read More12.10.2015
Asian Americans Advancing Justice Condemns Islamophobic and Xenophobic Election Rhetoric
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 9, 2015
MEDIA CONTACT
Brandon Lee
blee@advancingjustice-chicago.org
773-271-0899 x200
Asian Americans Advancing Justice Condemns Islamophobic and Xenophobic Election Rhetoric
San Francisco, CA — Asian Americans Advancing Justice condemns the Islamophobic and hateful rhetoric directed at our Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim and South Asian (AMEMSA) communities during this election cycle and in response to mass shootings in San Bernardino and Paris. As organizations rooted in five major U.S. cities and representing the interests of Asian and Pacific Islanders in the U.S., we believe it is our responsibility to remind our nation that the United States is a country founded by immigrants fleeing religious persecution. (more…)
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