community forum on violence against asian students in philadelphia

For those of you in Boston... API Movement Building Boston and other groups will be hosting an event with students and community members active in fighting for Asian American student safety after anti-Asian attacks at South Philadelphia Highs School. Here's some details on the forum:

Program on Violence Against Asian American Students: The Philadelphia Story

Saturday, July 24, 2010
3:00-5:00 pm
Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center
38 Ash St., Boston, MA
(off Oak St., between Washington St. & Harrison Ave.),

On December 3rd, some students at South Philadelphia High School attacked other students, two dozen Asian American youth, while school personnel looked on. The Asian American students, supported by community members and others, have organized, marched and met with an unresponsive school administration. A civil rights suit is being pursued.

What happened? How did the students and community build an effective coalition, what is the legal case and situation, did anti-immigrant sentiment played any role, and are Asian American students facing similar issues locally? What can we do? We hope to discuss these and other questions with principals in Philadelphia and local activists.

Helen Gym, Asian Americans United

Cecilia Chen, Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund

Tram Nguyen, Victim/Witness Services of South Philadelphia

Students from South Philadelphia High School

Event Sponsors:

Asian/Pacific Islander Movement, Institute for Asian American Studies , Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, A-WAY Youth Collaborative, Massachusetts Asian American Educators Association, Asian American Resource Workshop

Sounds like it's going to be a really interesting discussion, from people who have been on the ground and can shed some light on the situation in Philadelphia. For more information about the Saturday's event go here: Program on Violence Against Asian American Students: The Philadelphia Story.