San Francisco, CA -- Asian Americans Advancing Justice (Advancing Justice) affiliates in Washington, D.C., Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles have joined more than 120 primarily Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community organizations from across the country in an open letter in support of equal opportunity and affirmative action in higher education. For the full text of the letter and list of signatories, click here.
In response to an administrative complaint being filed this week seeking to dismantle race-conscious admissions policies at Harvard University, Advancing Justice also issues the following statement:
We have long supported and continue to support programs to ensure equal educational access as well as a diverse and inclusive society. As civil rights organizations, we remain a strong supporter of diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity in all contexts, including in education, employment, and contracting.
"Instead of asking Americans to come together to help address serious problems in our education system, these folks are trying to divide communities. We are in this boat together and Asians won't save our children's future by pushing other communities overboard," states Christopher Punongbayan, Executive Director at Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus.
"Historically, affirmative action programs have opened doors and provided opportunities for Asian Americans and other communities of color, who have been systematically denied everything from entrance into and citizenship in this country to educational opportunities, job promotions, and leadership positions," states Betty Hung, Policy Director at Advancing Justice - Los Angeles. "Today, these programs continue to benefit communities of color and, in the education context, also has provided opportunities to members of our own ethnically diverse Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities, particularly Pilipino Americans, Southeast Asians, and many Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders."
For additional comments, the following experts from Asian Americans Advancing Justice can be reached at:
Christopher Punongbayan, Executive Director
Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus
chrisp@advancingjustice-alc.org
(415) 848-7723
Aarti Kohli, Deputy Director
Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus
aartik@advancingjustice-alc.org
(415) 848-7713
Betty Hung, Policy Director
Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles
bhung@advancingjustice-la.org
(213) 977-7500 ext. 214
Laboni Hoq, Litigation Director
Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles
lhoq@advancingjustice-la.org
(213) 977-7500 ext. 257
Mee Moua, President and Executive Director
Asian Americans Advancing Justice - AAJC
202-296-2300 x 144
comrequests@advancingjustice-aajc.org
