FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – LOS ANGELES, CA – October 7, 2021 – Today, Connie Chung Joe, CEO, Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL) joined community and elected leaders to urge Vice President Kamala Harris and congressional leaders to stand firm with immigrants, ignore the Senate parliamentarian, and protect funding in the #BuildBackBetter reconciliation package now being negotiated. Connie and fellow immigrant rights leaders participated in an act of civil disobedience action near the Los Angeles City Hall.
Protesters took the streets and extended a “YES to Citizenship” banner at the intersection of Spring and Temple Streets for 2.5 hours. Eleven leaders including Connie–representing the 11 million people now waiting for Harris and congressional leaders to deliver a path to citizenship–were arrested and charged with failure to disperse.
Those arrested along with Connie were: State Senator Maria Elena Durazo; Martha Arevalo, executive director, Central American Resource Center; Angelica Salas, executive director, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights; David Huerta, president of SEIU United Service Workers West; Pastor David J. Jaimes, Santa Ana UMC/ El Getsemani UMC/CLUE; Pastor Thomas Carey, of the Church of the Epiphany in Lincoln Heights; Felipe Caceres, SEIU 721.
“Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California is committed to fight today, tomorrow , and every day for immigrants’ rights. The budget reconciliation is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to provide our brothers, sisters, and siblings with a pathway to citizenship– to a life without fear. Vice President Harris has the power to help us achieve this. She represents California and today her state is speaking up. I am participating in today’s #YEStoCitizenship action because I come from an immigrant family, just like so many Asian and Pacific Islanders (APIs) in this country. APIs have the highest percentage of immigrants of any racial group in the US. By 2055, APIs will make up the largest immigrant population in the country. There are currently 1.74 million undocumented APIs in the United States that deserve to live their lives free of fear,” said Connie.
Photos and video clips of the day of action can be found on AdvancingJustice-LA.org
Media Contact:
Liza Ameen, (213) 241-0258
Lameen@ajsocal.org
Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL) is part of the nation’s largest legal and civil rights organization for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (NHPI). Through direct services, impact litigation, policy advocacy, leadership development, and capacity building, Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California focuses on the most vulnerable members of Asian American and NHPI communities while also building a strong voice for civil rights and social justice.