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2.19.2017

Read These Blogs


First-Ever Tracker Of Hate Crimes Against Asian-Americans Launched: After years of declining numbers, hate crimes against Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders are rising exponentially. Asian Americans Advancing Justice recently launched standagainsthatred.org, a website to document hate incidents and crimes against AAPIs by tracking stories about hate incidents received from people around the country.

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When Lies Overruled Rights: "When President Trump signed an executive order temporarily banning travel from seven majority Muslim countries, he hurled us back to one of the darkest and most shameful chapters of American history. Executive orders that go after specific groups under the guise of protecting the American people are not only unconstitutional, but morally wrong. My father, and so many other Americans of Japanese descent, were targets of just such an order during World War II."

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Farming Behind Barbed Wire: Japanese-Americans Remember WWII Incarceration: At 98, Riichi Fuwa doesn't remember his Social Security number, but he remembers this: "19949. That was my number the government gave me," he said. "19949. You were more number than name."

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A chilling moment to mark the 75th anniversary of the executive order that led to Japanese American internment: "The uneasy parallels between two presidents and two executive orders singling out a class of people were repeatedly invoked Saturday at a packed Little Tokyo forum about the 75th anniversary of the signing of Executive Order 9066."

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George Takei: How 'America First' puts many of us last: 'Never again': George Takei recalls his youth in a barbed wire Japanese-American internment camp, and draws parallels to Trump's recent travel ban.

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When Immigrants Are No Longer Considered Americans: Hua Hsu on his grandfather's immigration to the U.S., Fred Korematsu, and the most recent executive orders.

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5th grade charter school teacher Mika Yamamoto, fired from Michigan's Renaissance Public School Academy, where she was the only teacher of color, claims she was told by her principal, "The community is not ready for your voice.": In a seriously screwed up sequence of events, 5th grade teacher Mika Yamamoto was asked to speak about diversity, and then fired for encouraging students to speak about their oppression.

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Our Laws Period-Shame Women -- So I'm Going to Change Them: "Most Americans -- across all income levels -- believe that feminine hygiene products are basic necessities. So why is it still so hard to afford and access them?" Why Congresswoman Grace Meng is fighting for the Menstrual Equity Bill, which would make tampons more accessible.

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Jeremy Lin is still a symbol for whatever we want him to be: Five years after infusing Madison Square Garden with excitement, it's easy to feel like Jeremy Lin has become more symbol than NBA player, or even person -- everything you want him to be and nothing at all.

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Will The Great Wall Make Me Mad?: Wondering if Matt Damon starring as a white savior in The Great Wall make you mad? E. Alex Jung's got your back. Hint: Maybe, but also call your senators.

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Attention, Hollywood: It's time to give these 11 Asian stars their due: "With many noting the lack of Asian standouts among this year's nominees (Dev Patel was the sole Asian honored in an acting category), USA TODAY takes a look at a host of talents who deserve to be embraced by Hollywood's star-making machine."