"My Parents Thought We Hade Made It. Now We Carry Papers."

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

My parents thought we had made it. Now we carry papers.

"Asian Americans, in particular, have always struggled with being perceived as perpetual outsiders, no matter how long we've lived in the country. When immigrants of my parents\' generation started families here in the 1970s, many of them figured their children would fit in and thrive here, so long as they gave their children Western names and made sure they could speak perfect American English. I always felt they went overboard, that we didn't have to whitewash ourselves to gain acceptance. A half-century later, I'm thinking maybe my parents were onto something."

ICE target was already in prison when agents detained St. Paul man in his underwear

Sorry, Wrong Asian. The images of ChongLy Thao's arrest by ICE in St. Paul sparked outrage in Minnesota and across the internet. Thao was led out of his home in freezing weather, wearing nothing but his boxers and a blanket draped around him. Agents did not present a warrant, nor did they ask Thao for identification. He was released shortly afterward. Turns out, one of the guys they were looking for was already in prison.

Alabama uses Japanese American Internment era law to charge immigrants who don’t self-register

Alabama is finding new ways -- using old laws -- to criminally charge undocumented immigrants. Federal courts in the state are using a law last applied during the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II to charge immigrants who don't register themselves.

5 arrested in local burglary ring targeting Asian American business owners

In Ohio, five people were arrested for their involvement in a highly organized burglary ring targeting Asian Americans. Authorities in the Cincinnati suburbs gathered intelligence indicating that the suspects were planning to burglarize a home and caught them in the act. The group is accused of target Asian American small business owners in the area for years.

SILK STREAM: Digital Shorts Series

Attention filmmakers! The Center for Asian American Media is launching SILK STREAM, a new digital short film series. This initiative is a contemporary, digital-first reimagining of CAAM's groundbreaking SILK SCREEN anthology, specifically designed to engage a cross-generational audience, with a strong focus on digital-native viewers. They're looking for narrative and documentary shorts that not only explore the depth of the Asian American experience but also possess a distinct visual flair and the undeniable energy of contemporary pop culture. Learn more and submit here.

Judge tosses civil rights case against Alabama cop who paralyzed Indian grandfather

Eric Parker still faces a state charge of misdemeanor assault and a civil lawsuit.



Maaaan, this is some bullshit. In Alabama, a judge threw out the case against the police officer who was accused of using excessive force on a 57-year-old Indian man, partially paralyzing him.

Judge throws out case against police officer charged in takedown of Indian grandfather

On Wednesday, Judge Madeline Hughes Haikala threw out the case against Madison police office Eric Parker, who faced up to ten years in prison for excessive force after he was caught on camera throwing Sureshbhai Patel to the ground last year during a sidewalk stop.

Another mistrial declared in Alabama police brutality case

Former cop Eric Parker is accused of using excessive force against Sureshbhai Patel.



This shit is unbelievable. The case of the Alabama police officer accused of using excessive force against a 58-year-old Indian grandfather, partially paralyzing him, has ended in a mistrial. Again.

Another Mistrial Declared For Alabama Cop Who Paralyzed Indian Grandfather

For the second time in two months, a jury has been unable to reach a verdict in the federal civil rights case against former Madison police officer Eric Park. After deliberating for three days, the jury of nine women and three men were unable to reach a unanimous verdict, and the judge declared a mistrial.

Defense blames Indian grandfather in police brutality case

"When you come to the U.S. we expect you to follow our laws and speak our language."



This is some bullshit. Former Alabama police officer Eric Parker, accused of using excessive force after he was caught on camera throwing an Indian grandfather to the ground. is on trial again. The first trial ended in a hung jury last month. And this time, the defense appears determined to blame the victim.

Defense blames Indian grandfather at start of new trial, 'follow our laws and speak our language'

The altercation left 57-year-old Sureshbhai Patel partially paralyzed and hospitalized with a fused vertebrae. His apparent crime: going for a walk. (And being brown.) Parker can be seen in police dash cam video taking down Mr. Patel with a leg sweep, slamming him into the ground.

Officers responded to a call regarding a "suspicious person" in the neighborhood. That person turned out to be Mr. Patel, who was visiting from India and staying with his son's family. Patel, who does not speak English, was on an afternoon walk when he was stopped by police. Somehow, the situation rapidly escalated from "No English," to Mr. Patel getting his face slammed into the ground.

Alabama cop indicted for assault on elderly Indian man

Officer Eric Parker is accused of using "unreasonable force" on 57-year-old Sureshbhai Patel.



Last week in Alabama, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced that the police officer who threw a 57-year-old Indian man to the ground, severely injuring him, has been indicted on civil rights violations charges.

Madison Police officer indicted for civil rights violation

Officer Eric Parker of the Madison Police Department was fired and charged with third-degree assault for using excessive force on Sureshbhai Patel, who had been visiting his family from India. The incident left him partially paralyzed and hospitalized with a fused vertebrae.

Mr. Patel, who does not speak English, was on an afternoon walk when he was stopped by police responding to a call about a "suspicious person." Police video shows Parker yanking Patel's arm and slamming him into the ground. He suffered serious injuries requiring surgery and months of rehabilitation.

Alabama cop fired for assault on Indian grandfather

Police officer Eric Parker faces assault charges for severely injuring 57-year-old Sureshbhai Patel.



In Alabama, the police officer responsible for severely injuring and putting an innocent man in the hospital, paralyzing him, has been fired from the Madison City Police Department and faces assault charges.

Alabama police fire, arrest the officer who badly injured Indian grandfather during sidewalk stop

Madison police officer Eric Parker was arrested for his use of force on 57-year-old Sureshbhai Patel, who was visiting from India and staying with his son's family. Mr. Patel, who does not speak English, was on an afternoon walk when he was stopped by police responding to a call about a "suspicious person."

Parker and other officers tried talking to Mr. Patel, but he communicate with them. When the officers tried patting him down, Patel put his hands in his pockets and pulled away. A video released by police shows an officer throwing Mr. Patel to the ground:

Police altercation leaves grandfather partly paralyzed

His apparent crime: going for a walk. And being brown.



In Alabama, police officers are accused of using excessive force on an elderly man, leaving him temporarily paralyzed and hospitalized with a fused vertebrae. His apparent crime: going for a walk. And being brown.

Grandfather visiting Alabama from India stopped by police while taking walk, left partly paralyzed

On Friday, Madison Police responded to a call regarding a "suspicious person" in the neighborhood. That person turned out to be 57-year-old Sureshbhai Patel, who was visiting from India and staying with his son's family. Patel, who does not speak English, was on an afternoon walk when he was stopped by police.

According to the police statement, there was a "communication barrier." I don't know how you go from saying "No English" to getting your face slammed into the sidewalk, but you could say things escalated.

Man files excessive force lawsuit over Alabama traffic stop

Some news from earlier this month... In Alabama, a Hyundai employee has filed a federal lawsuit against local police, claiming that officers beat and used a Taser on him while he was handcuffed during a traffic stop last fall: South Korean man files excessive force lawsuit against Prattville police.

Chang Ho Lee, who is from South Korea and works at the Hyundai Motor plant in Montgomery, filed an excessive force lawsuit against he city of Prattville and five police officers in U.S. District Court in Birmingham earlier this month.

According to the lawsuit, Lee was driving home on September 22 when he was pulled over by police for running a red light. Suspected of driving under the influence, he performed both a field sobriety test and a breathalyzer -- and passed. That's when he says officers cursed at him, took him to the ground, tased him, and struck him while he was in cuffs: