COVID-19 and JACL operations and resources | |
JACL's physical offices remain closed. Staff continue to do the work of the organization remotely. Please direct all phone calls to our Washington, D.C. Office at (202) 223-1240 and we will get back to you as quickly as possible. Otherwise, we will all be available via email. All staff emails can be found HERE. You can also check our website, jacl.org, for updates and COVID-19 resources. You can view our resources page here. Stay safe everyone and we hope to see you all in person again soon. - JACL National Staff | |
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TOMORROW - Lessons From the Past: Yellow Peril in COVID-19 Times | |
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As part of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, we're partnering with Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA), South East Asian Resource Center (SEARAC), National Coalition of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA), and The Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation (HMWF) on a webinar discussing Asian American mental health through both a historical lens and through the lens of the current pandemic. | |
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Tsuru Rising: Virtual Pilgrimage June 6-7 | |
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While Tsuru for Solidarity is unable to hold a physical pilgrimage in Washington, DC, they're still planning a virtual program for supporters and to continue the message of "Never Again is Now!" The program will be free to all, all you have to do is RSVP below! You can also find more information on programming, dates, and times below! | |
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Statement on Behalf of Tsuru for Solidarity | |
| From the Live Stream on May 20, 2020 | | | | | "We are here today in support of the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES), Rapid Defense Network, and ALDEA-The People’s Justice Center who have filed the O.M.G. v. Wolf case in the US District Court for the District of Columbia seeking to release all families being held in the Family Residential Centers on an emergency basis due to the imminent risk of a COVID-19 outbreak. All three family detention facilities, Berks, Karnes, and Dilley have failed to take adequate measures to protect detained families from COVID-19, and there is no justification for risking these families’ health and safety. We are appalled by the recently implemented efforts by ICE to bypass requirements of the Flores Settlement and other health and safety requirements by imposing a questionnaire to be signed by detained parents, to be detained indefinitely with their child, or agree to have their child be separated from them and transferred to a 'sponsor'." | | |
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JACL Rebukes Arizona Legislator's Comparison of COVID-19 to Japanese American Experience | |
In a May 18 hearing before the Arizona House Rules Committee, Chairman Anthony Kern took the stand-alone bill to honor civil rights advocate, Fred Korematsu (SB 1352), and moved it into a legislative package titled, “COVID-19 Enforcement, Action and Liability.” In his explanation, Mr. Kern equated the wartime incarceration of Japanese Americans and the struggles of Fred Korematsu with Arizona’s COVID-19 safer-at-home order. Mr. Kerns proceeded to dismiss any relationship between the rhetoric of COVID-19 and an uptick in violence against Asian Americans. JACL rejects the initial comparison as an insult to both the legacy of Mr. Korematsu and to the Japanese Americans who suffered the unconstitutional injustices of incarceration. Moreover, JACL reaffirms the power of words to unite, divide, heal, or to incite. Words have consequences. | |
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JACL Partners with NPS and Japanese American Memorial Pilgrimages for Summer Programming | |
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Watch "Of Civil Wrongs and Rights - The Fred Korematsu Story" during APAHM | |
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As part of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, the Fred T. Korematsu Institute is streaming the student version of the documentary "Of Civil Wrongs and Rights - the Fred Korematsu Story" now! They also have curriculum guides and other resources available on the website! | |
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San Jose JACL's Memorial Day Service | |
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This past weekend the San Jose JACL hosted a virtual webinar honoring Nisei Veterans of Foreign Wars! If you want to watch the recorded program, you can do so below! | |
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NCAPA Release 2020 Policy Platform | |
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NCAPA National Director, Gregg Orton said: “The NCAPA Policy Platform marks the culmination of a collaborative project that reflects the best of what NCAPA represents: a diverse group of AA and NHPI leaders coming together to craft a cohesive narrative that uplifts the voices of our community. The recommendations contained in this platform are a direct challenge to the notion that our community is not engaged on the issues that impact our lives. They are also an invitation to any elected leader to work with us and build genuine partnerships aimed at improving the lives of the Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders that they represent." | |
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APAHM Month of Giving - Donate to JACL | |
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As we celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in these unprecedented times, we are still hard at work to make sure we continue the work of the JACL and fighting against anti-Asian sentiment in the wake of this epidemic. Please consider donating to JACL to help support our community and help fight discrimination as we celebrate our history and culture in this month of May! | |
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JACL Legacy Fund Grant Applications Deadline Extended! Deadline Now: June 16, 2020 Legacy Fund Grants Committee Co-Chairs Roberta Barton and Toshi Abe announced that the application deadline for the Legacy Fund Grants Program has been reset to June 16, 2020. The adjustment was made in response to the recent cancellation of the JACL National Convention caused by the evolving COVID-19 pandemic. An updated Application and Application Instruction documents are available on the JACL website at https://jacl.org/legacy-fund-grants.
All applications, including those submitted under the previous deadlines, will now be required to include a contingency plan (back-up plan) to address potential COVID-19 restrictions that could alter the project timeline and/or project format. Any questions or concerns can be directed to the co-chairs at rbarton4106@comcast.net and tabe@jacl.org. JACL Chapters and Districts are eligible to apply for a grant to support a project or activity that is supportive of the National JACL Strategic Plan. Grants of up to $5,000 each will be awarded by the Legacy Fund Grants Committee to selected applicants. Funding for the program grants are provided by Legacy Fund revenues. | |
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We've updated our Hate Crimes Page to include more information and reporting options for members of the community as hate crimes increase as a result of COVID-19. You can visit the updated page here. | |
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Bystander Intervention Training hosted by AAJC and Hollaback! | |
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Asian Americans Advancing Justice - AAJC and Hollaback! have partnered up for a free virtual training on bystander intervention to address heightened anti-Asian and anti-Asian American hate and xenophobia in the wake of COVID-19. Sign up for a time convenient for you! You can find dates and sign-ups here! | |
