Celebrate Family Unity

Join a Conference Call for
Asian American & Pacific Islander Communities

Featuring Congressman Mike Honda

Monday, April 18^th
1 p.m. PST / 4 p.m. EST / 10 am HAST

Participate in a call with Rep. Honda, chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Immigration Task Force, and leaders of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. Let’s mobilize for family-based immigration reforms!

For the call-in number, click here (http://bit.ly/idZKYP) and
RSVP by Friday, April 15th at
1 p.m. PST / 4 p.m. EST / at 10 am HAST

Questions must be sent with your RSVP prior to joining the call.

Similarly, Arizona state government is planning to profile people for their immigration status. This type of racial profiling is unacceptable and the spirit of Gwangju demands us to stand up for the fight. We need to do something to bring justice for immigrants. Six to seven activists from Chicago’s Korean American Resource & Cultural Center are participating in the 50-person pilgrimage being organized by several community groups. They will walk from Chicago to the Immigration Detention Center in Woodstock IL to call for an end to deportations of law-abiding immigrants and the inhumane separation of families. They preceded their journey with a presentation at the Chicago Freedom School.  

Arizona: National Day of Action Against SB1070

In the wake of the passage of the egregious and deplorable SB 1070, our voice for justice is more important than ever.  SB 1070 is the most far-reaching anti-immigrant legislation the U.S. has seen in years.  It will allow police to stop and question people simply based on “a reasonable suspicion” that they are undocumented, detain individuals for not having proper identification, and criminalize individuals being present with a friend or family member who is undocumented. With the signing of SB1070 in April, along with HB2281, which proposes to embargo funding for schools that include certain types of ethnic studies in their curriculum, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer is fomenting a climate of hate and intolerance that will have a devastating impact on Arizona residents, particularly immigrants and communities of color.  Stand with Arizona’s immigrant community to say NO to these discriminatory laws that harm not only immigrants, but our nation as a whole.  A delegation from Los Angeles will be leaving by bus on the morning May 28; if you’re interested in joining, please contact Olivia Park at opark@nakasec.org or 323-937-3703.  What: March to the Arizona State Capitol When: Saturday, May 29 at 8:00 a.m. Starting Point: Indian Street Park (at E. Indian School Road and N. 3rd Street), Phoenix, AZ

AKASIA, Alliance of Korean American Students in Action with the Korean Resource Center and NAKASEC is proud to host Simon Cho, U.S. Olympian for short track speed skating and the winner of a bronze medal for 5,000m men’s relay on his first visit to Los Angeles. 

On Thursday, May 6th, at 2pm, Simon will be at UCLA for a meet-and-greet and speak about his support for immigration reform. Simon will be sharing his experiences as an immigrant and Korean American who overcome great challenges to achieve his dreams. He believes that by sharing this story, young people, regardless of race or immigration experience can begin to empathize with each other. Simon is passionate about giving back to his community and hopes to inspire young people to never lose sight of their own dreams. 

After a few years in Chicago, Simon’s family settled near Upper Marlboro, Maryland. While his parents worked long hours running a small seafood takeout shop, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, Simon devoted much of his time to speed skating. After graduation from junior high school, his parents sold their business in order to send Simon to Salt Lake City where he could practice full time with the US Olympic team. With Shani Davis and Apollo Anton Ohno as his mentors, at the age of 18, Simon was the youngest member of the US Olympic speed skating team. 

Please come to hear his inspiring story and to be updated on the current immigration reform movement. To RSVP or for questions about this event, please contact Hemi Kim at hkim@nakasec.org or (213) 503-0942.

Korean Resource Center (KRC)’s AKASIA member David Cho, UCLA student and first undocumented immigrant drum major of UCLA, fired up the May Day crowd in Los Angeles with a rousing speech. Radio and film celebrities Piolin and Gloria Estefan said ‘Si se puede’ and kicked off the crowd of tens of thousands of people. EunSook Lee was a speaker of the main program.

In Chicago, Korean American Resource & Cultural Center (KRCC)’s youth poongmul drummers wore symbolic clothing and invoked the deep rhythms of hundreds of years of tradition as part of an estimated 100,000 person march. Our youth leaders chanted Hal Soo Eet Da and Si Se Puede alike with the other participants.

In Washington, DC, NAKASEC staff met up with a handful of local supporters to join the solidarity march from Tenants and Workers United in Alexandria, VA to Lafayette Park in Washington, DC. Olivia Park spoke on behalf of the undocumented immigrant youth support networks of KRC and KRCC from the rally stage.

On the heels of an egregious racial profiling law that passed in Arizona in the name of persecuting undocumented immigrants, NAKASEC and it affiliates proudly joined in the May Day rallies of 2010.

(Pictures courtesy of Korean Resource Center, Korean American Resource & Cultural Center, and the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium).

Southwest Airlines is Proud to be the Official Airline of NAKASEC

Retired senior Ok Sook Hong said, “Today is Sunday. I had to go to church. Yet, I thought about this SB 1070 and asked what Jesus would do.  I believe that Jesus would go to Arizona to condemn this inhumane law. That’s why I came and I made the right decision.  During the rally I prayed for those supporters of SB1070 and asked God to please help them have soul and humanity.  We have to try to make this country more humane.”

An immigrant student leader who joined our bus had just come back from Arizona via the CHIRLA solidarity bus two days before. He said, “I returned on Friday morning and woke to hear that the governor had signed SB 1070.  I decided to come back to the state capitol today to be with my brothers and sisters in Arizona.”

Phoenix, AZ— After driving about 400 miles from Los Angeles via bus, NAKASEC and KRC participated in a rally condemning the passage of SB1070. A few thousand Arizonans and some supporters from states as far as Colorado gathered to strongly oppose Governor Brewer’s signing of the new state law. SB 1070 will legalize racial profiling and make it a crime for individuals not to carry registration documents.

Seniors, working people, and children filled our bus, most of whom had never been to Arizona. Recent events in Arizona struck a nerve. Individuals including Darren, a social worker from Detroit and here in Los Angeles to meet friends felt compelled to come. While our participants were mostly Korean Americans, our bus included Latino students, whites, and African Americans.

When we arrived in Phoenix, we decided to drum as we marched to lift the people’s spirits. The crowd included many families and young people. Many thanked us and were surprised that we had come from afar.

The rally program included SEIU’s Eliseo Medina, Pablo Alvarado from the National Day Laborers Organizing Network along with other national and local leaders. NAKASEC Executive Director EunSook Lee represented California on the rally stage during the regional shout outs. A highlight was Representative Luis Gutierrez of Illinois. Rep Gutierrez has truly emerged as a national leader on immigration reform; he is a much needed and appreciated voice.

In Arizona, we realized the importance of being there. We interviewed with mainstream and Spanish-language media who asked why we were there. Our response was that we are immigrants, too. As immigrants, Latino or otherwise, the passage of SB 1070 must be decried from all part of the country. It would be unconscionable for us allow such a misguided and racist bill pass in silence.  We also urged Congress and the President to move immigration reform legislation immediately.

What happens in Arizona matters to the rest of America

Within days of the passage and signing of SB1070, the people of Arizona responded immediately. The rally, promoted only days before, drew thousands. Similarly for us, it took us 24 hours to fill the bus. A lot more work must be done to counter the repercussions of this new law – urgent planning and many next steps. Join us in the days to come because the need has never been greater for broad community participation.

Eight limited-English speaking Korean American seniors who united to improve immigrants’ access to healthcare in Los Angeles’ Koreatown are riding the bus. One grandmother is riding so that her grandson can afford college tuition which is too expensive due to his income and undocumented immigration status. This same grouping of seniors and working families were key participants of a sit-in at the governor’s office in the California fight to make food stamps and cash assistance available to low-income legal immigrants in the wake of the anti-immigrant 1996 federal welfare reform laws. While unassuming, anonymous and unheard, the seniors continually overcome stifling language barriers through KRC to make real the critical health and human rights of themselves and others.

In Chicago, a handful of Korean American immigrant rights activists will attend this Saturday’s rally with Senator Durbin. Korean American Resource & Cultural Center (KRCC), Sik Son and George Lieu are organizers who reach out to students, churches and families regardless of their immigration status. KRCC participates in a strong and growing youth network in support of the DREAM Act and building local community power.

The April 10 events are gatherings of thousands of US citizens and recent immigrants alike in regions across the United States, as part of a longterm effort to redress the mistreatment of immigrants and the need to improve outdated immigration laws. NAKASEC, KRCC and KRC both recently mobilized about 100 people to attend the national March for America in Washington, DC, to build political momentum and demonstrate public support for immigration reform in 2010.

APRIL 10 Events that NAKASEC, KRC and KRCC will join:

• 10:30am-11:30am Rally for America with Senator Richard Durbin.  Teamsters Local 705: 1645 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL. Contact lieug@chicagokrcc.org for more information.

• 12:00pm-3:00 pm Las Vegas Townhall with Senators Harry Reid and Luis Gutierrez. Contact hayeon@krcla.org for information.
• Please also join us online @nakasec, @krcla and @chicagokrcc on Twitter throughout the day! Some recommended hashtags include #ri4a #aapi #koreanamerican #immigration.

Last Saturday, Korean Resource Center (KRC) & NAKASEC joined more than 20,000 people in a march through downtown Los Angeles to call for immigration reform this year. KRC & NAKASEC added to the mix with our colorful nongi banners and chants alternating between “Si Se Puede” and “Hal-Su-Eet-Dah.” As the march ended, David Cho, a UCLA student & KRC member, shared his personal story on a stage in front of thousands. As the first Korean American and the first undocumented student to lead the UCLA marching band as drum major, David contributes so much to his community and his future potential is similarly great. However, his status is a huge challenge that will only get more difficult after he graduates. In our campaign for broad and just immigration reform, our greatest strength is in empowering and marching forward with David and the too many others in his situation.

On February 27th, students, parents, seniors and workers will come together and walk the CA “Trail of Dreams” to recognize that immigrants are key to rebuilding America’s economy (downloadable flyer). To get involved or for more information, contact HyunJoo at hlee@nakasec.org/323-937-3703 x 202.

Please note that it may rain – we will walk even if it rains so wear rain gear and bring an umbrella. If we end up having thunderstorms or heavy rain and wind, we will fold the walk into a rally in the gym at the Seoul International Park, our Trail starting point. The gym is located in the southeastern corner of San Marino St and Ardmore Ave. We will make a call on Saturday at 7:00 AM on whether to have the walk as planned or to have the rally instead. Check the www.krcla.org/trail website after 7AM or text message “trail rain” to 213-973-3330.

Also, for a detailed look at the route, go here. See you this Saturday!

Here is the press advisory for the event: English & Korean

• On February 26th, KRCC will organize a movie night to educate and raise funds for the Trail of Dreams. Members of FYSH, KRCC’s youth group, will be collecting fast pledges and the money saved from fasting will be donated to the Trail of Dreams.

• On February 27th, students, parents, teachers, and workers will unite and walk 18 miles in Los Angeles in solidarity with the Florida to D.C. Trail of Dreams and urge the passage of comprehensive immigration reform and the DREAM Act (downloadable flyer).

Date: January 19, 2010
Time: 12 Noon
Location: 1110 East Chapman Avenue, Orange, CA 92866

As part of a statewide strategy to engage every single California member of Congress, NAKASEC and KRC are organizing this key rally in front of Rep. Royce’s office.

For more information, please contact Olivia Park at opark@nakasec.org / 323.937.3703, x 209.

Download this flyer to spread the word: OrangeCountyCIRRally