For Immediate Release:
Contacts: EunSook Lee, NAKASEC 323.937.3703
Dae Joong Yoon, KRC 323. 937. 3718
Eunju Lee, KRCC 773. 506. 9158
Jubum Cha, YKASEC 718.460.5600
July 27, 2006
Communities Unite to Launch National Picture Postcard Campaign
Los Angeles, CA — Today, immigrant rights organizations joined together to hold coordinated press conferences in cities across the country to announce the launch of the “We Are America” Picture Postcard Campaign. Throughout the summer, national and local groups will reach out to community members to send tens-of-thousands of picture postcards to members of Congress urging them to support just and humane immigration reform.
“There’s a glaringly obvious need to urgently reform our immigration laws. Many in our communities know this all too painfully well,” said Eun Sook Lee, executive director of the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium. “This campaign is a compelling way for immigrants and descendants of immigrants to share their stories with personal photographs.
The passage of the draconian immigration bill, H.R. 4437, sparked historic mass mobilizations across the country. Immigrant communities, in particular Asian Pacific American and Latino communities, have been engaged like never before to fight for workable and comprehensive reform. Local and national groups joined together to initiate the Picture Postcard Campaign to build upon the momentum of the immigration marches.
Recognizing that Asian Pacific Americans, in particular, are uniquely impacted by the entire gamut of problems stemming from the broken immigration system, Korean Americans reached out to diverse Asian Pacific American groups to participate in this ambitious effort. At this important moment, groups across the country – some for the first time – will actively participate in a campaign that combines community education with grassroots advocacy.
The stories of Asian Pacific Americans highlight the complexity of the issue and the range of problems that result from our outdated laws. Examples include:
• Mr. Basat a Filipino American war veteran has been waiting to be reunited with his sons for 14 years and has many more years to wait.
• Undocumented immigrants, like Mrs. Kim and her husband, who is a gardener, have worked tirelessly to provide a better life for their children. If H.R. 4437 were to become law, the Kim’s may be separated from their U.S. Citizen children indefinitely.
With Congress poised to negotiate legislation that will impact the lives of all Americans, the idea for this campaign originated locally from the Korean American community sensing an urgent need to increase its grassroots lobbying. “At this critical juncture in the debate, the Picture Postcard Campaign will galvanize our communities to weigh in order to shape the debate and unite Americans behind a common vision that immigration reform is good for America,” said Dae Joong Yoon, Executive Director of the Korean Resource Center.
For more information on the “We Are America” Picture Postcard Campaign visit www.nakasecactionfund.org.
Initiating Organizations:
Asian American Justice Center
Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum
Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO
Asian Pacific Islander American Vote
Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations
Hmong National Development
Japanese American Citizens League
Korean American Resources and Cultural Center (Chicago, IL)
Korean Resource Center (Los Angeles, CA)
League of United Latin American Citizens
National Alliance of Vietnamese American Service Agencies
National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum
National Asian Pacific Center on Aging
National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development
National Council of La Raza
National Federation of Filipino American Associations
National Korean American Service & Education Consortium
Organization of Chinese Americans
Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund
Southeast Asia Resource Action Center
YKASEC – Empowering the Korean American Community (Flushing, NY)
