Building Stronger Communities – March eNewsletter

A couple of weeks ago, we asked you to continue to raise awareness and make calls on behalf of Ueen Joung (Cindy) Chang who was detained in Eloy, Arizona. Just hours after our action alert went out, and after numerous days of working with the Asian Law Caucus on advocacy efforts, we received word that she was being released and on her way home to reunite with family and friends in California. Thank you for promptly picking up the phones and making calls for Cindy.

KA Voice & KRCC Mobilize Voters

On March 3, KRCC, as part of KA Voice, held a Korean American Voters’ Day at Glenview Village Hall aiming to turn out 300 voters for the early voting cycle. With a team of volunteers who were on location to greet voters and encourage their engagement throughout the 2012 election season, KA Voice surpassed its goal, which was double the number early voter turnout at the same polling site in 2010. Building on this momentum, KA Voice will roll out a comprehensive voter education and engagement plan that includes organizing voter registration drives, conducting voter education workshops and coordinating additional voter turnout campaigns.

Korean American voters make their voices heard during Illinois’ early voting cycle (Photo credit: KRCC)

On March 9, a delegation of community organizers and advocates from NAKASEC, KRCC and the Center for Pan Asian Community Services, Inc. (CPACS) in Atlanta, joined thousands of other labor and civil rights leaders and community members in Alabama for the final day of the 5-day long re-enactment of the historic 1965 Voting Rights March. NAKASEC and KRCC were also part of the march on March 8, a day dedicated to immigration. Workers’ rights and public education were also highlighted on previous days with the overarching theme of voting rights weaved throughout the entire march.

Members of the Fair Immigration Reform Movement at the Selma to Montgomery March. Morna Ha, executive director of NAKASEC is third from right

AJA (Americans Joining in Action), an all-women led Korean poongmul (traditional percussion) troupe also joined from Georgia to provide thunderous drumbeats for the marchers as they neared their final destination. The culminating rally took place in front of the State Capitol, just a few feet away from Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Dexter Avenue Baptist Church.

AJA is a multi-cultural, all-women led poongmul troup from Georgia.

On March 16, leaders of the Service Employees International Union, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and NAKASEC stood beside labor movement leaders in Korea to urge Hyundai shareholders to stand against hate and voice their opposition against HB 56, Alabama’s anti-immigrant law. Investors and executives were urged to break their silence and oppose the law in a state where they have a significant auto manufacturing presence. Dae Joong Yoon, board member of NAKASEC and executive director of KRC was part of the contingent and delivered a testimony during a press conference following the shareholders meeting.

Dae Joong Yoon, board member of NAKASEC and executive director of KRC speaks at a press conference in Korea (Source: America’s Voice)

This effort is part of a campaign announced by American civil rights and labor leaders to urge major auto manufacturers in Alabama – Hyundai, Honda and Mercedes – to “put the breaks on hate”. Join the action!