Speakers and supporters gather for this group photo at the June 26 news conference held at the outdoor plaza of the Terasaki Budokan in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo. (Photo: M Palma Photography)
Nonprofits, political leaders aim heat at ICE over raids, unrest.
By P.C. Staff
A Little Tokyo news conference organized by AAPI Equity Alliance and American Community Media gathered local political leaders and representatives from an assemblage of AANHPI organizations on June 26.
Its purpose: to send messages of solidarity with those in the Latino immigrant community targeted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), denounce the “inhumane ways that the Trump administration is treating our immigrant communities” and make connections to Asian and Pacific Islanders who have been or may be next in the federal government’s crosshairs.
The event was facilitated by AAPI Equity Alliance Executive Director Manjusha Kulkarni, who introduced California Assemblymember Mike Fong (D-49th District), Los Angeles City Councilmember Ysabel Jurado (D-District 14), Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman (D-4th District), Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights Director of External Affairs Oscar Zarate, Catalyst California President and CEO John Kim, Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California CEO Connie Chung, Thai Community Development Center founder Chanchanit “Chancee” Martorell, Little Tokyo Service Center Executive Director Peter Gee and Executive Director of Chinese for Affirmative Action and Stop AAPI Hate Co-Founder Cynthia Choi.
Also acknowledged were Monterey Park City Councilmember Henry Lo (District 4) and representatives of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Assemblymember Jessica Calosa (D-52nd District), County Supervisor Holly Mitchell (D-Supervisorial District 2) and Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.).
Following the speakers was a Q & A session with members of the press. By that time, however, the politicians had departed. In a follow-up via email with the office of Councilwoman Jurado, whose district includes Little Tokyo, Pacific Citizen asked two questions:
- Going back to the unrest of June 8-9 in downtown Los Angeles, does Jurado have any knowledge of or has she inquired with the Los Angeles Police Department as to why police chose to direct protesters through Little Tokyo (1st and 2nd Streets) instead of blocking off Los Angeles, Judge John Aiso and Alameda Streets and directing them along Temple Street?
- Has Jurado or another councilmember proposed getting the mayor and City Council to implement an emergency moratorium on spray paint sales throughout the city limits of Los Angeles and reaching out to Los Angeles County to implement a simultaneous moratorium on spray paint sales throughout the county?
After receiving no answer from Jurado’s communications director, two more emails were sent. At press time, no answers to the questions have been received.
(Clockwise from upper left) Manjusha Kulkarni, Mike Fong, Ysabel Jurado, Nithya Raman, Oscar Zarate, John Kim, Connie Chung, Chanchanit “Chancee” Martorell, Peter Gee and Cynthia Choi (Composite Photo: George Toshio Johnston)
Following are selected quotes from each speaker at the June 26 press conference event.
Manjusha Kulkarni: “AAPI Equity Alliance stands in solidarity with the Latino community who have borne the brunt of these kidnappings. … We call for an immediate cease to the raids, and we call for ICE to leave Los Angeles immediately.”
Mike Fong: “We must stand together against the federal administration’s targeting of workplaces, schools, hospitals and protect the constitutional rights of all people in the United States, regardless of immigration status.
“At the California State Legislature, we’re doing everything possible to increase accountability and transparency of law enforcement. Also looking at the legislation that’s being proposed by Sen. Sasha Renée Pérez, who’s introduced SB 805, the No Vigilantes Act, which will require anyone conducting law enforcement to display their name and badge number. And there’s also SB 627, the No Secret Police Act authored by Sens. (Scott) Weiner and Jesse Arreguin to ban local, state and federal officials from covering their faces.”
Ysabel Jurado: “These actions are cruel, and they do not reflect our values. Make no mistake, this isn’t just a Latino issue. This is an AAPI issue, and this is an L.A. issue.
“What we’re seeing right now is fear replacing care and cruelty replacing justice, and let’s name it for what it is, political theater. The violence that has been inflicted in our communities was by the federal government, and they need to stop the occupation here in Los Angeles and stop the ICE raids.
“I say to every Angeleno, especially those in the AAPI community, stand with your undocumented neighbors. Stand with the organizers, the caregivers, the workers, the families who make this city strong.”
Nithya Raman: “The raids that we’ve seen across Los Angeles are not just disruptive, they are cruel and they are unconstitutional. … We make up 15% of the undocumented population here in America. South Asians, Indians make up 5% of the undocumented population. … It is not just an attack on them, it is an attack on us. And that is chilling.”
Oscar Zarate: “We reject narratives meant to divide us and instead build bridges rooted in our collective liberation. . . . Let’s keep showing up for each other, and as always, all power to the people.”
John Kim: “If we let these atrocities pass because we tell ourselves it is not our turn on the hot seat, then we know it’s just a matter of time before they turn on us and they turn on our families and our children.”
Connie Chung: “We do not need federal agents here to protect our city. We can protect our city. What we need protection from is from you, federal agents who are terrorizing our communities, separating our communities, taking us, even folks who have things like DACA — and they’ve been here for years. Those folks are now scared to go in for their annual check-ins because they are getting taken.”
Chanchanit ‘Chancee’ Martorell: “Today we are banding together as human rights defenders with the following call to action: Stop the raids, apprehensions, kidnappings and military takeover of communities, uphold due process, constitutional rights and access to legal counsel.”
Peter Gee: “I stand here just blocks away in Little Tokyo where tens of thousands of families were forcibly removed and detained without due process. That history lives with us, and today we’re seeing the same forces at play: fear, racial scapegoating and unchecked government power. . . . We won’t be silenced, and we won’t let history repeat itself.”
Cynthia Choi: “We must affirm that every single person in California and in this country has constitutional rights regardless of their immigration status. . . . We must come together to not only defend our communities but to build a future that belongs to everyone.”
