As husband to a first generation Thai American, I spent many Sundays at Wat Berkeley particularly in the recent and past years.  Initially we didn’t know anybody. We would pray for a few minutes, and conversed with a few of the regular patrons.  Gradually over time, we would be invited into the Sunday meals by […]

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors will vote on Oct. 20th on a policy to restore due process to immigrant youth that is supported by over 35 civil rights, LGBT, workers rights, labor, youth, and immigrant organizations. Come join youth, parents, and advocates on Oct. 20th at 2PM at City Hall, 2nd Floor.  Watch this […]

By Dionne Jirachaikitti On September 22, 2009, the Berkeley City Council voted 9 to 0 in support of the Berkeley Thai Temple.  The vote came as a relief to the Thai community in the Bay Area who had been waiting for over a year to know whether they would be able to continue their tradition […]

By: Karin Wang, Esq. (Republished with permission from the author. This post was originally published here) Under the nation’s first African American President and U.S. Attorney General, a much welcomed reinvigoration of our federal government’s commitment to civil rights is underway.  As a civil rights advocate, I applaud the DOJ’s refocusing on civil rights and […]

This blog post is re-posted from here with permission from the author. By  Shahid Buttar Department of Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano recently highlighted her department’s efforts to reach out to build “stronger relationships with Arab and Muslim Americans, as well as South Asian communities across the country,” seemingly reflecting an awareness of how the war […]

Posted by: Christopher Punongbayan Dear America: My name is Michael Tsui, and I’m 21 years old. I’m an undocumented student recently transferred to San Jose State University to study Computer Engineering. I want to talk to you about the DREAM Act, but before I do, I want to tell you about my story, about how […]

If you are in NYC in mid-September, you must attend this Constitution Day event that is being hosted by the Open Society Institute’s National Security and Human Rights Campaign.  Daniel Ellsberg and John Dean will appear on stage together in New York City on the evening of September 15 for a conversation about the abuse […]

Posted by: Vivian Chau "Excuse me while I try to remember…about the historical events of Angel Island,” said our tour guide. He sighed, took two deliberate steps and finally squinted at the sun as if to will the words he needed into his mouth. “The Japa—no wait—Chinese immigrants…who came here…sought a better life in America.”

Posted by: Christopher Punongbayan Below is the story of 21-year old, Stephanie, who is an advocate for the federal and California DREAM Act.   She is a member of the immigrant youth group, ASPIRE – Asian Students Promoting Immigrant Rights Through Education. My name is Stephanie and I am 21 years old. I was born in […]

Posted by: Christopher Punongbayan Below is testimony given by Ju Hong, a 19 year old student at Laney College in Oakland, in a recent legislative visit to the office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi.  Ju is the school's first Asian American student body president.  His activism is part of a […]