Thursday, April 28, 2016

Sikh Man Falsely Accused of Terrorism Demands Accountability for Accusers - NBC News

My article for NBC Asian America
"Whether it's a Sikh man on a Greyhound bus, or an Arabic speaker on a Southwest airplane, the xenophobic fear and bigotry in our country is out of control," Gurjot Kaur, senior staff attorney at The Sikh Coalition, told NBC News. "By filing this complaint, we hope to bring attention to the crisis facing minority communities today. The list of things brown people can't do on public transportation is growing — we can't get a can of Diet Coke, we can't switch seats on a bus or a plane, we can't speak in a language other than English, really we can't be human beings."
Sikh Man Falsely Accused of Terrorism Demands Accountability for Accusers - NBC News

Article was at the top of Reddit for a day, with over 5833 shares and 2463 comments. Wow.
https://www.reddit.com/r/news/comments/4gx3lu/sikh_man_falsely_accused_of_terrorism_demands/

Advocates Call on Southwest Airlines to Review Practices Amid Profiling Allegations - NBC News

my article for NBC Asian America
"Profiling and discrimination undermine public safety, not enhance it, and all airlines should have strong policies in place to respond to passenger complaints that may be motivated by bias," Christopher Kang, national director of National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, said in a statement. "Especially in this time of escalating anti-Muslim hate, our Arab, Muslim, Sikh, and South Asian communities deserve that much."
Advocates Call on Southwest Airlines to Review Practices Amid Profiling Allegations - NBC News

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

House Bill Introduced to Better Track, Address Military Hazing - NBC News

my article for NBC Asian America
"This is the fifth anniversary of the death of my nephew, and justice certainly wasn't served," Chu said. "Of the three that were involved, two were let go without any punishment, and one was put into one month confinement. So it is time for the military to treat hazing seriously. Our men and women in uniform protect us and we must do what we can to protect them."
House Bill Introduced to Better Track, Address Military Hazing - NBC News

New 14,000-Square-Foot Spam Museum Opens in Minnesota - NBC News

My article at NBC Asian America
Spam musubi, Spam loco moco, Spam adobo, Spam fried rice, and budae jjigae or "army stew." According to Hormel Foods, Hawaii consumes more Spam than any other state, estimated at seven million cans per year....Spam also inspired the Hawaiian-language "The Spam Song," composed by Amy Ku'uleialoha Stillman and Daniel Ho, and recorded by Tia Carrere and Ho; and the annual Waikiki SPAM Jam, touted as the largest festival in Hawaii and scheduled for this coming weekend.

Monday, April 25, 2016

Asian American activists get busy after a former NYPD officer gets probation | Public Radio International

University of Michigan APIA Studies graduate student in PRI article re Peter Liang case
“I realized that they had a more nuanced view than I originally thought. They realize that Peter Liang had done something wrong, but were angry about the fact that he was the first to be convicted in a decade,” she says. “It made me realize the necessity to have this kind of conversation between first generation immigrants and second generation who have more access to social justice.”
Asian American activists get busy after a former NYPD officer gets probation | Public Radio International

Thursday, April 21, 2016

At Request of Sikhs, Community Service for Man who Vandalized Temple - NBC News

My article for NBC Asian America
"From the beginning, the community was not interested in punishing Mr. Durazo," Kaur said. "Instead, we were deeply invested in educating him and the surrounding community. This, we firmly believe, is the key to combating hate in America."
At Request of Sikhs, Community Service for Man who Vandalized Temple - NBC News

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Liang Sentencing Prompts #APIs4BlackLives, #Justice4Liang Responses Amid Accountability Debate - NBC News

My article for NBC Asian America
"But if we believe in racial justice, we cannot excuse an officer for killing an innocent, unarmed Black man and failing to provide medical help—just because he is Chinese like us. Instead, we should unite our community to fight for the indictment of white officers, or those of any race, and stand in solidarity with other communities of color who demand justice for all victims,"
Liang Sentencing Prompts #APIs4BlackLives, #Justice4Liang Responses Amid Accountability Debate - NBC News

Adoptees Travel to Congress to Advocate for Citizenship Bill - NBC News

My article for NBC Asian America
"This day of action is one day of escalation to show the broad support for getting this bill passed, but the adoptee-led efforts will continue until the work is done," Emily Kessel, advocacy director at NAKASEC, told NBC News. "I was adopted from South Korea and my adoptive parents naturalized me. But even if they wouldn't have taken this step, I would still automatically be a U.S. citizen. But how can it be that there are intercountry adoptees, who were also adopted by U.S. parents, but they do not have citizenship?"
Adoptees Travel to Congress to Advocate for Citizenship Bill - NBC News

Sikh-American Teenager Who Wrote Bullying Book Forced to Remove Turban at Airport - NBC News

My article for NBC Asian America
"I refused at first but when they threatened me that I could not fly, I agreed, provided they gave me a mirror to retie my turban," Pannu said. "Before I removed my turban, Agent Hernandez asked the dreaded asinine question, 'Is there anything we need to be aware of before you remove your turban?' I politely answered that there is a lot of long hair and something called the brain underneath."
Sikh-American Teenager Who Wrote Bullying Book Forced to Remove Turban at Airport - NBC News

Sunday, April 17, 2016

I WAN JAN PUPPET THEATER OF TAIWAN at AADL in May

NEWS RELEASE
April 8, 2016
I WAN JAN PUPPET THEATER OF TAIWAN
SPECIAL PRESENTATION (TUESDAY, MAY 24)
AND
RELATED EDUCATIONAL EVENT (MONDAY, MAY 23)
BOTH AT 7 PM AT THE DOWNTOWN LIBRARY

Co-Sponsored By The Ann Arbor District Library; the Michigan Taiwanese American Organization; The University of Michigan Lieberthal-Rogel Center for Chinese Studies and the Stearns Collection of Musical Instruments.


Tuesday, May 24
  • 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm Special International Puppetry Event: I Wan Jan Puppet Theater of Taiwan performs "A Chance Encounter Leads to Marriage" at Downtown Library: 1st Floor Lobby
Founded by Tien-Lu Li in 1931, I Wan Jan is one of the finest hand puppet troupes in Taiwan and around the world.  The name I Wan Jan describes the vivid, life-like hand puppet movements when controlled by their skillful masters. 

I Wan Jan has performed on an invitation-basis around the globe since 1971, most recently in11 Mexico cities in 2015.  Their performances are often seen at international puppet festivals. In 2016, I Wan Jan will visit New York, Houston, and Ann Arbor for this special performance for the public at the Ann Arbor District Library. 

The troupe will perform the acclaimed “A Chance Encounter Leads to Marriage.”  This event is cosponsored by the Ann Arbor District Library; the Michigan Taiwanese American Organization; The University of Michigan Lieberthal-Rogel Center for Chinese Studies and the Stearns Collection of Musical Instruments. 

Live music is an integral part to an authentic, traditional hand puppet performance. Besides two puppeteers, the visiting troupe consists of eight musicians performing drums (single skin drum, flat drum), gong, cymbals, erhu, Chinese flute, dulcimer, and suona (Chinese double­reeded horn).  A Q & A with the audience will follow.

This classic performance will showcase the puppets’ fine movements, such as the young male character folding a fan, the female character holding an umbrella, older male smoking, the clown decking chair, and street entertainers’ bustling martial arts and acrobatic acts.
The story begins with the play boy, DU-Xing, and his servants going into the market to watch street entertainment. PAN-Rong also arrives at the market with his daughter, PAN Yu-Zhi, to watch the show. DU Xing falls head-over-heels at PAN Yu-Zhi’s beauty and decides to kidnap her for himself. PAN-Rong’s cries for help attract XIAO Jin-Jun, a scholar well-versed in martial arts who comes flying to the rescue. 

Although he was fluent in both southern and northern styles of folk drama music, Master Li was also credited for creating a new style of music called Wai Jiang School by blending rich Beijing Opera elements with the traditional Northern Style of folk drama music.  After his passing in 1998, many of Master Li’s works have been digitized for future generations to enjoy (http://ltl.gac.ntnu.edu.tw/).  His vision, persistence, and efforts in the authentic, traditional puppetry have kept this art form alive today.

For more information about this event, call the Library at 327-4555 or visit our website at aadl.org.


Monday, May 23
  • 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm Lecture: The Art of Taiwanese Glove Puppet Theater at Downtown Library: Secret Lab – grades 6 - adult
This presentation will explore the history, styles, and main themes of glove puppet theatre in Taiwan as well as its relationship to other Chinese theatrical and artistic forms.  This event is in coordination with the glove puppet theatre performance by the I Wan Jan Puppet Theater on Tuesday, May 24 at 7pm at the Downtown Library.

Glove puppet (also called hand puppet) theatre is a traditional theatrical art form that combines aspects of folk arts such as woodcarving and embroidery with traditional music and Chinese dramatic forms based on famous historical novels.

This form of puppet theatre has been practiced in Taiwan since it was introduced by immigrants from the southeastern coastal provinces of Fujian and Guangzhou in about the 18th century. Overtime in Taiwan, it developed some distinctive Taiwanese characteristics with the use of the local dialects and artistic styles, as well as theatrical and technical innovations to engage an ever-changing audience.

Ann Arbor residents and Eastern Michigan University Professors, Guey-Meei Yang and Tom Suchan, will lead this presentation. Guey-Meei Yang is a Professor of Visual Art Education with a specialization in multicultural art education and technology integration. Tom Suchan researches medieval Chinese religious art. In addition to their individual fields they have collaborated on a number of joint publications and research projects.

For more information about this event, call the Library at 327-4555 or visit our website at aadl.org.  The Downtown Library is located at 343 South Fifth Avenue in Ann Arbor.
*******

Friday, April 15, 2016

Thursday, April 14, 2016

California Advocates Push 'AHEAD' with Data Disaggregation Bill - NBC News

my article for NBC Asian America
"Our communities have been systemically neglected by lumping us all under the 'Asian' umbrella," said Dinh. "This bill recognizes that beyond each race and ethnicity box is our community's fight for self-determination — for our community's needs and unique strengths to be revealed, not concealed, by transparent data systems."
California Advocates Push 'AHEAD' with Data Disaggregation Bill - NBC News

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Speaking at UM Law School on panel with Peter Liang's defense attorneys Friday

I've been invited to speak at the University of Michigan Law School this Friday, April 15, 12:00-1:00 pm, Hutchins Hall 220, on a panel with Peter Liang's defense attorneys.
Officer Peter Liang and the Asian-American Community: Scapegoating, Justice, or Something Else?
Officer Peter Liang was the first NYPD officer convicted in over a decade for a line-of-duty shooting against the tense political and social backdrop of a post-Ferguson world. Officer Liang’s defense attorneys, Rae Koshetz and Robert Brown, and local journalist and activist Frances Kai-Hwa Wang will discuss Liang’s legal case and the posture of Asian-Americans and other minority groups within a highly racialized criminal justice system.

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Army Grants Accommodations to 3 Sikh-American Soldiers to Serve with Turbans, Beards - NBC News

my article for NBC News
"In the past two weeks, we just witnessed the military double the number of accommodations that have been granted to Sikh soldiers in over 30 years," Amandeep Sidhu, partner at McDermott Will & Emery, told NBC News. "These recent religious accommodations represent significant progress for our clients, but still contain troubling restrictions that allow the Army the option to revoke the basic freedom of practicing their faith while serving our country. The Army is making progress, but these recent accommodations alone do not absolve the [Department of Defense] from ending the broader ban that prohibits Sikhs from serving like every other American."
Army Grants Accommodations to 3 Sikh-American Soldiers to Serve with Turbans, Beards - NBC News

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

85 South Asian Men Deported Following Start of #Deported2Death Campaign - NBC News

my article for NBC
"In the last six months, the detainees have been victims to civil rights violations," Gregory Cendana, executive director of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance said in a statement. "We have to keep pressuring the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security in order to halt further deportations. We must see to it that these men find the justice they deserve and continue to fight the mass criminalization of our communities and all people of color."
85 South Asian Men Deported Following Start of #Deported2Death Campaign - NBC News

Attackers of Elderly California Sikh Man Charged with Hate Crimes - NBC News

my article for NBC Asian America
"We are glad to see that arrests have been made in this heinous crime," Harsimran Kaur, legal director of The Sikh Coalition, which is representing Bal, told NBC News. "We thank Chief Dyer and the Fresno Police Department for their tireless effort investigating this case and for recommending that the suspects be charged with a hate crime enhancement."
Attackers of Elderly California Sikh Man Charged with Hate Crimes - NBC News

Monday, April 4, 2016

Mai Der Vang Wins 2016 Walt Whitman Award for 'Afterland,' Poetry Collection on Hmong Experience - NBC News

My article for NBC Asian America
"I have loved her work for years, and I dare say Whitman would love her work: brave, visionary, and true," Fresno poet laureate Lee Herrick told NBC News. "Her voice is simultaneously American, Asian American, and Hmong American in its singular beauty and originality. It is a groundbreaking book from an important new voice. Great poetry should widen our notion of the human condition, and Vang's poems do that and much more."
Mai Der Vang Wins 2016 Walt Whitman Award for 'Afterland,' Poetry Collection on Hmong Experience - NBC News

Sunday, April 3, 2016

Advocates Concerned Bangladeshi Asylum Seekers May Be #Deported2Death - NBC News

my article for NBC Asian America
"I left Bangladesh and traveled across a dozen countries to escape political repression and save my life," Jahed Ahmed, an asylum seeker and DRUM member, said in a statement. "Instead, I ended up rotting away in detention for over 10 months. The U.S. government gave the names of many of the detainees to the Bangladeshi government, and they then leaked them to the media. Our asylum cases and hunger strikes have become a political issue for the Bangladeshi government, and now the Obama Administration wants to deport me back to where I will be disappeared, tortured or killed."
Advocates Concerned Bangladeshi Asylum Seekers May Be #Deported2Death - NBC News

Friday, April 1, 2016

Sikh-American Army Officer Wins Ability to Serve with Beard, Turban - NBC News

My article for NBC News Asian America
"My military service continues to fulfill a lifelong dream," Singh said in a statement. "My faith, like many of the soldiers I work with, is an integral part of who I am. I am thankful that I no longer have to make the choice between faith and service to our nation."
Sikh-American Army Officer Wins Ability to Serve with Beard, Turban - NBC News