Press Release
For Immediate Release:
March 26, 2014
Contact:
Emily Kessel, NAKASEC, eakessel@nakasec.org
Representative Judy Chu and Fast For Families Leaders Eliseo Medina and DJ Yoon Call for Asian American and Pacific Islander Action on Immigration Reform
Washington, DC– Yesterday, Representative Judy Chu joined Fast for Families leaders Eliseo Medina and Dae Joong (DJ) Yoon in a live Google Hangout broadcast to call for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) escalation on immigration reform. Fast for Families, an effort that began with a 22-day fast by Eliseo Medina, DJ Yoon, and Cristian Avila, is now in the second half of a bus tour across America, visiting 32 states and over 100 congressional districts. The live broadcast also included AAPI local leaders from Michigan and Georgia who will host Fast for Families today in their districts.
The following are statements on the call to action:
“Dae Joong Yoon, Cristian Avila, Rudy Lopez, Eliseo Medina and the rest of the Fast4Families community put human faces on the suffering that so many endure under our broken immigration system. Their 22 day fast touched the conscience of our nation and it continues to inspire hundreds to join their cause. The calls for reform cannot be ignored. As Fast4Families renews its push for reform that keeps families together, I am proud to be their partner in Congress.” – Congresswoman Judy Chu
“I fasted for 22 days on the National Mall because I firmly believe that the pain of family separation must be put to an end. We as parents, workers, and community members are faithfully serving this country that we call home, but Congress is not listening. Let’s make the AAPI voice louder by escalating our efforts and tell the House that AAPIs are part of this American family, a family that deserves to stay together.” – Dae Joong Yoon, Executive Director of NAKASEC and Fast for Families core faster
“There is no option for us. We cannot continue to allow families of any community to be separated and live in fear. Across America, I have met and heard stories from all kinds of people from Asians to Latinos to Haitians. We have seen the power of the AAPI community and we know congress must also be accountable to this community. Now is not the time to hold back. We must continue to press Congress to pass immigration reform.” – Eliseo Medina, Fast for Families
“We’re working on the ground to mobilize AAPIs as the Fast for Families national bus tour makes its stop here in Michigan. Two-thirds of our community are immigrants and this means that immigration reform is an issue that hits home for many of us.” – Theresa Tran, President of APIA Vote Michigan
“Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders are a community that is majority immigrant and the fastest growing racial group in the United States. The time is now to enact broad, humane immigration reform that advances equality for immigrants and all communities. It is up to us to make this a reality this year.” – Maria Adams, Associate Director of Asian American Legal Advocacy Center of Georgia
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Campaign Overview
On January 27, 2014, Fast for Families Across America launched its second phase with plans to visit over 100 Congressional districts in all. For one month, fly-ins was organized to reach over 25 key Congressional members. On February 24, 2014, the campaign kicked off its two-bus nationwide tour in Los Angeles. “Fast for Families” leader DJ Yoon (NAKASEC) is traveling on the northern route with Susana Sandoval (Fast for Families) who joined after Rudy Lopez (Fair Immigration Reform Movement), while leaders Eliseo Medina (Fast for Families) and Cristian Avila (Mi Familia Vota) are traveling on the southern route for the entirety of the tour. Stopping at more than 75 districts with daily events calling for Congressional action on immigration reform, the two buses will meet in Washington DC in April.
“Fast for Families” reignited the immigration debate last November when Eliseo Medina (Fast for Families), DJ Yoon (NAKASEC), Rudy Lopez (FIRM) and Cristian Avila (Mi Familia Vota) —abstained from all food, except water for 22 days in the shadow of the U.S. Capitol on the National Mall. The campaign calls for Congressional action for just and humane immigration reform.
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AAPI Google Hangout video can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZeExZljsyw
Visit www.fast4families.org for more information and follow us on twitter for the latest updates @nakasec @djnakasec @fast4families
The National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC) was founded in 1994 by local community centers to project a progressive voice and promote the full participation of Korean Americans on major social justice issues. NAKASEC maintains offices in Annandale, Virginia and Los Angeles, California. NAKASEC has affiliates in Chicago (Korean American Resource & Cultural Center) and Los Angeles (Korean Resource Center).
