The Week in Review: March 10 - 17
"Make Us Visible" launched an event to battle Anti-Asian Hate – AsAmNews
A Seattle, Washington-based event hosted by national organization Make Us Visible happened in early March as a call for the requirement of Asian American and Pacific Islander histories to be included into K-12 public school curriculums. Since being founded in 2021, Make Us Visible has helped bring change in multiple states like New Jersey, which became the second state within the nation to require AAPI-centered narratives within school curriculum. Make Us Visible has three pillars: Community, Advocacy, and Education. As an organization, there are currently 13 state chapters actively advocating for or continuing the support passed bills that have been set in place. At the Washington event, students, teachers, and others alike promoted inclusive education about AAPI, including Dr. Kelly Aramaki, who will serve as the upcoming superintendent of the Bellevue School District.
Asian Americans to rally nationwide 2 years after deadly Atlanta shooting - ABC News
Following the 2 year anniversary of the Atlanta Spa shooting that led to the tragic deaths of eight people, a rally to call for the end of anti-Asian hate and gun violence will pay tribute to the victims of the shooting. In addition to honoring the lives lost, attendees will pay tribute to the victims of the Half Moon Bay and Monterey Park shootings that took place during 2023’s Lunar New Year celebration in densely Asian-populated areas. The event organized by Stand by Asian Americans and other groups is planned to rally for change. It will feature several prominent speakers with rallies located in a few major cities with a focus on local solutions within each city. The rallies are open to the public and will be broadcast as a livestream, as well. What attendees hope to deliver is the determined attitudes to bring progressive change surrounding guns and safety. Attendees and family and friends of the victims of the shootings are planning to use this opportunity to mourn their loved ones.
‘Like we don’t exist’: Indigenous fear Indonesia new capital plan
Last year, the Indonesian government made a decision to move the country’s capital from Jakarta to a future Nusantara due to the rapid rate of the current capital’s sinking as a result of overpopulation and pollution. The government chose East Kalimantan as the site for the new capital, but indigenous locals and activists fear displacement. Al Jazeera interviewed Sernai, a Balik Indigenous person, who has lost parts of her home and land due to construction of a reservoir in place for the new Indonesian capital. The dam built has blocked the flow of water, leaving the Balik Indigenous people without a main source for themselves or their land. The Indigenous Peoples’ Alliance of Nusantara (AMAN) claim over 200,000 Indigenous people will be displaced come the completion of Nusantara. It has been difficult for the people on the land to declare land ownership due to lack of regulation, an issue when it comes to compensation of the land taken from the community. While those working on the Nusantara project have stated there is a need to listen to the Indigenous peoples, many believe that there has been little effort to see them as humans.
Portland Nikkei community loses historic building in Japantown – AsAmNews
The Japanese American Museum of Oregon (JAMO) held a ceremony on March 10 honoring Yamaguchi Hotel after the call for demolition of the historic building. Yamaguchi Hotel was managed by the Japanese diaspora, or Nikkei as they are referred to, including couple Shigezo and Masaye Yamaguchi. After Shigezo’s death, Masaye ran the hotel up until her and her family were sent to the Tule Lake Relocation Camp, an internment camp which held Japanese and Japanese Americans during World War II. After some time, the family was relocated to Minidoka Relocation Camp. On March 13, the demolition of the site began. According to JAMO Creative Director Chisao Hata, the destruction of the former site of Yamaguchi Hotel and other historic buildings in Portland, Oregon’s Japantown have seen more and more calls for demolition due to neglect. In 1958, Blanchet House, a homeless non-profit organization, served the community of Portland until 2012 due to lack of funds to keep the historic site in compliance with the City of Portland’s building regulations.
A bill, HB4736, proposed by Texas Rep. Tony Tinderholt seeks to deny admission to undocumented students including those of Chinese, North Korean, Iranian, or Russian citizenships. Not too long ago, two other bills were proposed targeting the citizenships mentioned from purchasing Texas property and real estate (SB147) and companies in relation to these countries from buying agricultural land (SB552). Since these bills have been introduced, protestors fear that, if passed, they will incite more anti-Asian hate in Texas. In January, protests against SB147 and SB552 have drawn similarities to past discriminatory laws that targeted Chinese citizens and those of Chinese descent.
The purpose of the three bills, according to the bills’ authors, are for the protection of national security and to keep foreign influence out of the work industry. The proposal of HB4736 comes a year after a House GOP candidate Shelley Luther called for the ban of Chinese students at Texas universities because “CCP members should not have access to [Texas] schools”. Luther is also known to be one of the many politicians who referred to COVID-19 as the “China virus” several times.
Anti-hazing legislation in the Philippines was passed as law 1995 and amended in 2018, but due to the recent death of John Matthew Salilig during the initiation process for Tau Gamma Phi fraternity, those close to Salilig and the Philippines senators are calling for stricter regulations and enforcement of the law. During his time at Manila’s Adamson University, he was studying chemical engineering. His family, friends, and Filipino netizens are demanding justice for him and others who have died at the hands of hazing.
According to Salilig’s autopsy report and postmortem exam, the 24-year-old was struck with a paddle 70 times. His body was not found until ten days after he was reported missing. While the university has cut ties with the fraternity, the members have not been kicked out and still attend the college, angering Philippines senators.
