Minnesota Investigates Possible Criminal Charges Against ICE

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

Minnesota investigates the arrest by ICE of a Hmong American man as a possible kidnapping

In Minnesota, local authorities are investigating the arrest of a Hmong American man by federal officers as a potential case of kidnapping, burglary and false imprisonment. In January, ICE officers bashed open the front door of ChongLy "Scott" Thao's home at gunpoint without a warrant, then led him outside in just his underwear and a blanket in freezing conditions. He was returned to his home a few hours later when these ICE geniuses realized they had made a mistake -- a mistake that might mean criminal charges.

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Trump nominates former lawmaker Michelle Steel as US ambassador to South Korea

The White House announced that former California congresswoman Michelle Steel has been nominated to ‌be the U.S. ambassador to South Korea. Steel, who is Korean American and ⁠a conservative Republican, lost her bid for re-election to her Orange County congressional seat in 2024. The nomination will require congressional approval. This administration continues to elevate the worst damn people.

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How Laufey's Star-Studded "Madwoman" Music Video Came to Life With Hudson Williams, Lola Tung

Laufey has assembled an all-star cast for a sixties pool party in the new video for "Madwoman," off the deluxe edition of the Icelandic-Chinese singer's Grammy-winning album A Matter of Time. Directed by Warren Fu, the video features some of the most celebrated stars of the moment: Heated Rivalry breakout Hudson Williams, Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu, KATSEYE's Megan Skiendiel and The Summer I Turned Pretty's Lola Tung -- or, as one commenter put it, "the wasian avengers."

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Isa Briones Speaks Out on Audience Member Shouting to Her Mid-Performance

According to Isa Briones, "some people need to brush up on theater etiquette" -- specifically, the audience member who shouted out her The Pitt character's name mid-performance at Just in Time. While starring on Broadway as 'Connie Francis' in the hit musical, Briones shared that an audience member inapropriately yelled out "Dr. Santos!" during the show. "I'm not Dr. Santos. I'm not even Connie Francis. I am Isa Briones, one of the actors in the show you have paid to enjoy," Briones wrote in an Instagram story. "You are not a kid at Disneyland. You are an adult man at a Broadway show. Act like it."

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Seeking Paid Extras for Feature Film "Gold Mountain"

Hey, wanna be in a movie? Ang Lee is casting extras to be in his latest movie Gold Mountain, a historical drama set during the 1850s California Gold Rush, shooting in and around the Sacramento this July. According to the casting call, they're looking for faces of a variety of ethnicities to play townspeople, kids, railroad workers, male horseback riders, blacksmiths, butchers, wagon drivers and coal miners. If you're interested, refer to the flyer above. Good luck!

Min Jin Lee's Slow and Steady Path

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

Min Jin Lee Works Best in the Silences

Min Jin Lee's 2017 novel Pachinko was an international smash hit. But it wasn't an overnight success. Like much of her writing life, Pachinko took the slow and steady path, reaching bestseller status about a year after publication. Ahead of the highly anticipated release of her third novel, American Hagwon, this fall, she talks about why being a "slow processor" is the best way forward in these unprecedented times.

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A new program unites West Coast readers for stories of Japanese American incarceration

A new program dubbed "the largest book club on the West Coast" is uniting libraries to explore an often erased chapter of the region. For the first time ever, patrons of over 140 different library systems across Washington, Oregon, and California are joining in for the "One Book, One Coast" program. The club's first pick, George Takei's graphic memoir They Called Us Enemy, follows Takei's childhood years imprisoned in incarceration camps in Arkansas and California during World War II.

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These Filmmakers Set Out to Make an Honest Film About BTS—and Got More Than They’d Hoped For

After a nearly four-year hiatus, BTS has surged back into the spotlight. But the group's return to the pinnacle of pop wasn’t easy, as revealed in the new documentary BTS: The Return, which follows the group's seven members as they gather in a Los Angeles studio to work on their comeback album, Arirang. Director Bao Nguyen and producer Jane Cha Cutler talk about the making of the movie and the close collaboration with BTS and Hybe, the group’s parent company, that brought it to life.

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Isa Briones sings "Who's Sorry Now" from JUST IN TIME

Watch Isa Briones singing her ass off in this rendition of "Who's Sorry Now" from Just in Time. The jukebox musical tells the story of legendary singer Bobby Darin. Briones, who also stars as Dr. Santos on the medical drama The Pitt, recently joined the cast on Broaday as Connie Francis. Anything to avoid doing her charts.

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Forget Cruise and Schwarzenegger: Why Chow Yun-Fat is cinema's greatest action hero

"What makes an all-timer action star? Some stand out with their dexterous, daredevil stunts – think Tom Cruise in the Mission Impossible franchise. Others' chief selling point is their Herculean physique, as exemplified by the 1980s Hollywood trio of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, and Jean-Claude Van Damme. But set against these invulnerable, seemingly immortal beings, there's one truly remarkable action performer who has been happy to show that he is all too human -- Chow Yun-Fat, the star of some of Hong Kong's most pivotal, internationally influential action films."

Pre-Order: Auntie Kristina's Guide to Asian American Activism

And Other Items of Note From Angry Asian America.

Auntie Kristina’s Guide to Asian American Activism

I believe the children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way. But they need a guide. Kristina Wong has stepped up with a book that connects the youth to Asian American history, community and beyond: Auntie Kristina's Guide to Asian American Activism, a fun and inspiring book that shows young readers "how to love their bodies, fight for social justice, and be proud of the history that's made them who they are."

"Grounded in diverse lived experiences of featured Auntie Heroes and inspiring Young Rebels, this guide discusses the Asian American community, past and present; explores allyship with other communities of color; finds a place in national and global movements; and turns inward so young readers can practice love and self-care. Each chapter includes activism strategies for all kids--from those who love math and statistics to those who can't wait for their next art project."

Auntie Kristina's Guide to Asian American Activism hits shelves on April 14. Pre-order now.

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Vietnamese man living in US since childhood detained by ICE over expunged marijuana charge

A man who has lived in the U.S. since he was a child and has worked in Oklahoma for nearly 15 years is now being held in detention, facing possible deportation over a decades-old marijuana charge that was previously erased from his record. Hai Nguyen, who went in for a routine check-in with immigration officials last week, found himself detained by ICE and sent to a detention facility. Now he's look at deportation, and leaving behind the life, career and family he's built in the United States over the last thirty years. This shit is cruel and broken.

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In 'Bad Asians,' a friend group threatens its reputation with a viral video

Lillian Li's Bad Asians was recently highlighted as NPR's Book of the Day. In the novel, four 20-somethings from a hyper-competitive Chinese American community confront the challenges of the 2008 financial crisis and begin to let loose. Their former classmate documents their frustrations in what becomes one of the first viral YouTube videos. Li talks about the initial privacy of the early internet, exploding Asian American stereotypes, and why she wanted to write about friendship.

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'The Pitt's Isa Briones Joins 'Just In Time' on Broadway

If you heard her sing that lullabye this season on The Pitt, you are aware she had the goods. Isa Briones, who plays Dr. Trinity Santos on the hit medical drama, will be taking over the role of famed ballad singer Connie Francis next month in the Broadway musical Just in Time. The role marks a return to Broadway for Briones, who made her debut in Hadestown in March 2024.

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Newly Created Godfather Prize Will Recognize Asian American Playwrights

The Consortium of Asian American Theaters and Artists (CAATA) has created a new national, annual award for playwrights: The Godfather Prize for Playwriting. Each year, the award will honor one Asian American, Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI), South West Asia and North Africa (SWANA), Middle East and North Africa (MENA), or mixed-race playwright, as well as six to eight finalists. For more information, visit here.

Here's Where You Can Report COVID19-Related Hate Incidents

And Other Things to Know From Angry Asian America.



Stop AAPI Hate
If you have witnessed or experienced coronavirus-related micro-aggressions, bullying, harassment, hate speech, or violence, use this form to report it. In the two weeks since its launch, Stop AAPI Hate has received more than 650 reports. Some emerging trends: Women are three times more likely to report harassment than men; 61% of respondents are non-Chinese; verbal harassment/name calling is the most commonly reported type of discrimination, making up 2/3 of all reports; Asian Americans are more likely to face coronavirus discrimination in public and at businesses, especially grocery stores, pharmacies and big box retail stores.

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FBI Warns of Potential Surge in Hate Crimes Against Asian Americans
Federal law enforcement is warning of an increase in hate crimes against Asian Americans as the coronavirus crisis continues to grow, according to a new FBI analysis. "The FBI makes this assessment based on the assumption that a portion of the US public will associate COVID-19 with China and Asian American populations," according to the intelligence report, which was compiled by the FBI’s Houston office and distributed to local law enforcement agencies across the country.

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Reward Offered for Information on Naperville Battery
Police in Naperville, Illinois are trying to identify two women involved in the battery of a jogger last Saturday, March 21. What this article doesn't say, I'm told, was that the victim was an older Asian man and they yelled "Go back to China" while attacking him. Somebody, please catch these racists.

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I Will Make You Mine
Pre-order the indie film I Will Make You Mine. Written and directed by Lynn Chen, the film re-visits the characters from Surrogate Valentine and Daylight Savings, following three women who wrestle with life's difficulties while confronting their past relationships with the same man. Available on May 26.

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Isa Briones - "Blue Skies"
No spoilers, but here's Isa Briones performing a cover of "Blue Skies," as heard in the Star Trek: Picard finale.