Community activist gets law license 63 years after his death

California Supreme Court grants posthumous bar admission to Sei Fujii, who was denied because of his race.



Law school is no joke. Imagine busting your ass, making it through and graduating from law school, only to learn that you are ineligible to practice law because you're not white.

That's what happened to Sei Fujii, a Japanese immigrant who was denied a license to practice law in California in 1911 because of his race. He received his license this week from the California Supreme Court -- over sixty years after his death.

Fujii immigrated to the United States in 1903 and received a law degree from the University of Southern California. At the time, California law barred legal licenses for immigrants who were ineligible for citizenship, and naturalization, according to federal law, was limited to "free white person" and those of African descent.

Today's Google Doodle honors Fred Korematsu Day

"If you have the feeling that something is wrong, don't be afraid to speak up."



Happy Fred Korematsu Day! On this day, January 30, we celebrate the life and legacy of civil rights icon Fred Toyosaburo Korematsu. And at long last, Google has honored Mr. Korematsu's birthday -- officially designated "Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution" -- with a hallowed homepage Doodle. All things considered, the timing could not be more appropriate.

After Franklin D. Roosvelt signed Executive Order 9066 in 1942, more than 100,000 people of Japanese descent were forcibly removed from the west coast and relocated to internment camps throughout the United States. Fred Korematsu, however, did not go quietly. He was arrested and convicted for resisting incarceration. He appealed and took his case all the way to the Supreme Court in Korematsu v. United States, but lost.

But in 1983, the U.S. District Court in San Francisco formally vacated Korematsu's conviction after evidence came to light that disputed the necessity of the internment. At the time, he told Judge Marilyn Patel that instead of a legal pardon, he wanted to be assured the U.S. government would never again take such an action.

"If anyone should do any pardoning," Korematsu said, "I should be the one pardoning the government for what they did to the Japanese American people."

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.

Students file lawsuit alleging voter intimidation

Chinese American students accuse town supervisor of voter intimidation and group defamation.



In upstate New York, a group of Chinese Americans college students have filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against a local town supervisor, alleging voter intimidation after he challenged their right to vote.

Chinese-American students sue Deerpark supervisor

Ten Chinese American students at Fei Tian College are suing Deerpark Town Supervisor Gary Spears, accusing him of voter intimidation, group defamation and violation of their civil rights after he challenged their new voter registrations in an apparent effort to suppress voter turnout.

In August, Spears challenged thirty new voter registrations by students at Fei Tian, which is located on the grounds of a local religious enclave, Dragon Springs Buddhist Inc.

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.

Calling all AAPIs attending the Selma Jubilee Bridge Crossing

Sunday, March 8 in Selma, Alabama



Who's going to Selma? The Selma Jubilee, March 5-9, is the official commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the historic voting rights demonstrations that took place in Selma, Alabama in 1965 (recently depicted in the feature film Selma). Did you know that there were Asian Americans activists who marched in Selma?

I recently heard from Craig Shimizu of the Japanese American Citizens League, who is attempting to connect AAPI individuals and organizations who are attending and participating in the Selma Jubilee, and perhaps organize groups to march together as one huge AAPI contingent on Sunday, March 8. It's a great idea.

It's time to answer the AAPI Roll Call. Here are some more details:

Submit a nomination for the 2015 American Courage Awards

Deadline for submissions extended to Friday, February 13.



Do you know someone who has shown extraordinary courage or commitment to the cause of Asian American civil rights? Advancing Justice | AAJC is accepting nominations for the 2015 American Courage Award and Distinguished Service Award. The deadline for submissions has been extended to Friday, February 13.

Here are some more details about the award and the nomination process:

Holiday Giving: Donate to The Sikh Coalition

For a nation where Sikhs can freely and fearlessly practice their faith.



Looking for a worthy cause to donate some holiday cash? Throughout the month of December, I'll try to spotlight projects, causes and organizations that could use support through your generous giving.

Did you know that the majority of Sikh children in America, who wear a turban as part of their faith, experience higher-than-average rates of bullying? According to a recent report from the Sikh Coalition, two-thirds of Sikh children in four cities said that they are bullied in school. But we have the tools to help end school bullying.

Holiday Giving: Donate to the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund

A national organization that protects and promotes the civil rights of Asian Americans.



Looking for a worthy cause to donate some holiday cash? Throughout the month of December, I'll try to spotlight projects, causes and organizations that could use support through your generous giving.

Considering making a donation to the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), a New York-based national organization which is celebrating forty years of important civil rights work for the Asian American community through litigation, advocacy, education, and organizing.

Here's AALDEF's 40th anniversary slideshow video:

Vanita Gupta to lead Justice Department's civil rights division

ACLU attorney is the first South Asian American appointed to lead the division.



On Wednesday, Attorney General Eric H. Holder appointed top civil rights lawyer Vanita Gupta to the position of Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General and Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division.

New DOJ Civil Rights Chief Vanita Gupta Known For 'Trailblazing' Work

Gupta, currently Deputy Legal Director of the American Civil Liberties Union and Director of its Center for Justice, will take over next week as acting head of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division.

Also, according to a White House official, President Obama is expected to nominate Gupta to be the permanent assistant attorney general for civil rights, a division that oversees voting rights and civil rights investigations, and has been without fixed leadership for more than a year.

Gupta will be the first South Asian American lawyer appointed to lead the division. Here's more on her background, according to the ACLU's press release:

Bay Area middle school to be renamed for Fred Korematsu

School board unanimously votes to rename Portola Middle School for Japanese American civil rights hero



Some cool news out of the Bay Area... Middle school students in El Cerrito, California will soon be attending Fred T. Korematsu Middle School, renamed in honor of the late civil rights leader who hailed from the area and was arrested for his refusal to cooperate with the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II.

El Cerrito middle school name change approved

This week, the West Contra Costa Unified School District Board of Education voted unanimously to rename Portola Middle School after the civil rights icon. A committee recommended the name change earlier this month after listening to testimony at four community meetings and two school board meetings.

Who says there are no AAPI civil rights heroes?

16-part video series profiles AAPI civil rights icons for Heritage Month



Some history for your Heritage Month... In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus is releasing a 16-part series of short videos profiling AAPI civil rights heroes, from Wong Kim Ark to Larry Itliong to Japanese American internment dissenters.

Here are the videos they've released so far:

Bay Area middle school may be renamed for Fred Korematsu

School board has plans to rename Portola Middle School for Japanese American civil rights hero



Some cool news out of the Bay Area... A new middle school campus in El Cerrito has plans to be renamed for the late civil rights hero Fred Korematsu, who hailed from the area and was arrested for his refusal to cooperate with the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II.

El Cerrito middle school may be renamed for Japanese American rights advocate

Korematsu, who was born in Oakland in 1919 and grew up in San Leandro, was arrested for defying the government's wartime incarceration of Japanese Americans. He appealed his case all the way to the Supreme Court, challenging the legality of the internment, but lost. Decades later, in 1983, Korematsu was vindicated when his case was overturned. It was a landmark moment in civil rights history.

The plan to rename Portola Middle School after Korematsu will be on the agenda for consideration by the West Contra Costa school board next week.

Fred Korematsu Day Celebration, January 26

"Stand Up For What Is Right"



If you're in the Bay Area, the Fred T. Korematsu Institute for Civil Rights and Education invites you to the fourth annual Korematsu Day Celebration. This year's event, "Stand Up For What Is Right!," will feature Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, activist and filmmaker Jose Antonio Vargas and Congressman Mike Honda. It's happening Sunday, January 26 at the Morris Daily Auditorium at San Jose State University.

Here are some more details:

Job Opportunity: OCA Civil Rights Fellowship

Spreading the word... OCA, a national organization dedicated to advancing the social, political and economic well being of Asian Pacific Americans, is seeking qualified candidates for the OCA Civil Rights Fellowship.

The program is a national advocacy fellowship based at the OCA National Center in Washington, DC. The fellow will work in key OCA program areas including, but not limited to, naturalization assistance, voter registration, hate crimes education and monitoring, and public policy. Here are some more details about the fellowship: