September 9, 2014—Today, on the one-month anniversary of Michael Brown’s death, three leading Asian American civil rights organizations, Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus (AAAJ-ALC), AAAJ-Chicago and AAAJ-Los Angeles, extend our condolences to the family of Michael Brown, who was killed exactly one month ago in Ferguson, Missouri. (more…)

To our valued community members,

As many of you know, Asian Americans Advancing Justice—Chicago partnered with 33 community organizations to sponsor the Asian American Town Hall Forum on June 7th.  Almost 130 community members were in attendance as our community leaders passionately expressed their concerns regarding the abuse of Jianqing Klyzek at the hands of Chicago Police Department officers to Chicago city officials including Alderman Pawar (47th ward & Chicago City Councial Asian American Caucus) and representatives from the Mayor’s office, Independent Police Review Authority, and the Chicago Police Department. At the town hall forum, Janey Roundtree, the Deputy Chief of Staff for Public Safety at the Chicago Mayor’s office, presented a statement from Mayor Rahm Emanuel, which we would like to share with you. Here is an excerpt (the whole letter is attached): (more…)

Asian Americans Advancing Justice on Scialabba v. Cuellar de Osorio:

Supreme Court Ruling Will Break Up Immigrant Families

WASHINGTON – Asian Americans Advancing Justice (Advancing Justice) decries today’s U.S. Supreme Court’s 5-4 ruling in Scialabba v. Cuellar de Osorio (formerlyMayorkas v. Cuellar de Osorio), involving the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA). The Court has ruled that the CSPA does not protect the children of all family immigrant visa applicants from “aging out” of eligibility to immigrate with their parents as derivative beneficiaries should they turn 21 before the visa is granted. Accordingly, the age-out protections only apply to children who fall within one family-based visa category, “F2A” petitions filed by lawful permanent resident parents. (more…)

Asian American Community Members Demand Accountability from the Mayor’s Office and Chicago Police Department in Jianqing Klyzek Case

CHICAGO-Over 100 Asian American community members gathered in Uptown on Saturday, June 7 in a Town Hall Forum to express their demands to representatives from the Mayor’s office, the Independent Police Review Authority, and the Chicago Police Department in response to the Jianqing Klyzek case. The case showcased disturbing verbal and physical abuse by Chicago police officers, including threatening Ms. Klyzek with deportation as they arrested her. The list of community demands included:  a public statement from Mayor Emmanuel denouncing the conduct of the officers involved, discipline for the officers involved including the firing of the two abusive officers, amending the city’s sanctuary ordinance to prohibit any city employee from threatening deportation, collection and disclosure of data on complainants who are members of protected classes under the City of Chicago’s current discrimination ordinances, and the hiring of more Asian Americans police officers with the collection and disclosure of data on hiring related to race and bilingual ability and specific languages spoken. (more…)

Asian American Community Hosts Town Hall Forum to Make Demands in Response to Jianqing Klyzek Chicago Police Department Brutality Case

CHICAGO-On June 7 the Asian American community is coming together to host a Town Hall Forum around the Jianqing Klyzek CPD brutality case, a case that illustrates some of the harmful perceptions and treatment of Asian Americans by police and government. On July 31, 2013 Ms. Klyzek was physically struck by a Chicago police officer and threatened with deportation during a raid of Copper Tan and Spa, where she was an employee. The Town Hall Forum will include community testimony as well as a list of demands for the Mayor’s office, City Council, and the Chicago Police Department.

Invitations have been extended to the Mayor’s office, Chicago Police Department, Alderman Pawar (Ward 47), and Alderman Burnett (Ward 27). (more…)