Credit: Reader-submitted photos from the Women’s March on Washington and satellite marches across the United States, at http:\/\/blog.angryasianman.com\/<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nAs Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, We Will Resist<\/b><\/p>\n
We stand at a critical juncture in world history. The election of Donald Trump as president of the United States represents a direct threat to millions of people\u2019s safety and to the health of the planet. As Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) committed to equality, inclusion, and justice, we pledge to resist any efforts by President-Elect Trump\u2019s administration to target and exploit communities, to strip people of their fundamental rights and access to essential services, and to use rhetoric and policies that divide the American people and endanger the world.<\/span><\/p>\nMr. Trump\u2019s campaign used explicit racial appeals to win the support of disaffected white voters, promising to restore their economic and social standing by deporting millions of immigrants, building a wall, creating a Muslim registry, banning Muslim immigration, and punishing Black dissent. He also engaged in deeply misogynistic language and behavior throughout his campaign. He insulted all people of color; people with disabilities; and women \u2013 all of whom amount to the majority of America. In the global arena, he has signaled at a new nuclear arms race, promised to expand the use of torture, and disparaged the United Nations.<\/span><\/p>\nSince his election, Mr. Trump has chosen known white nationalists, corporate moguls, religious zealots, climate deniers, hawkish ex-generals, anti-Islam spokespersons, and anti-government crusaders to serve in his Administration. Right-wing extremists now dominate his party, which will control all three branches of the federal government and the majority of state legislatures, and are positioned to jeopardize the future of the Supreme Court for the next generation and beyond. Together this new realignment of forces seeks to turn back the clock on civil rights and environmental protections, to maximize corporate profits by privatizing the public sector, and to create a racially and culturally exclusive America.<\/span><\/p>\nThis is not business as usual, and we will not engage in business-as-usual tactics and strategies.<\/span><\/p>\nAs AAPIs, our lives are rooted in the long arc of U.S. history, which was born out of racial violence and has been shaped by the struggles for freedom of oppressed peoples domestically and internationally. Some of our ancestors first arrived in what is now the United States as subjects of European empire over 400 years ago. Some of us are indigenous to this country as our ancestors’ lands were occupied and colonized by the United States as they sought to expand their global military and economic power. In the centuries since, AAPIs have faced indentured servitude, exclusionary immigration laws, bars to citizenship and land ownership, mass deportation, mass incarceration, war, sexual and gender-based violence, forced displacement, vigilante violence, surveillance, and racial and religious profiling.<\/span><\/p>\nToday our movements include Southeast Asian refugees organizing to end criminalization and deportation; Muslims, Arabs, Sikhs and South Asians fighting surveillance, profiling, war, and hate violence; women reclaiming their bodies against trafficking, domestic violence, exploitation, and criminalization; low-wage workers standing up against wage theft, poor working conditions, and abusive employers; Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders building a generation to fight against generational poverty caused by loss of sovereignty, militarization of lands and people, forced displacement, and criminalization; and trans, gender-non-conforming, and queer people putting their bodies on the line to demand a different, more humane world. We have always fought injustice, and we are resolute to continue doing so.<\/span><\/p>\nThe majority of AAPI voters rejected Mr. Trump\u2019s candidacy. Indeed, while Mr. Trump won the Electoral College \u2013 a problematic system with its own deep history rooted in slavery and racial inequities \u2013 he lost the popular vote. \u00a0And with only 58% of eligible voters casting ballots in this election, the vast majority of American voters did not vote to elect Mr. Trump. He and his Administration have no mandate to govern.<\/span><\/p>\nFor all of these reasons, we commit to the following principles and ask all AAPIs to join us:<\/span><\/p>\n\n- We will center and stand up for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community members who are likely to face increased levels of hate violence, targeting, and policing. We will center and uplift the experiences and calls to action of undocumented immigrants, Muslims and those perceived to be Muslim, refugees, women, and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI) community members. We will also support the organizing and resistance strategies of AAPI groups and our allies closest to the ground in local communities.<\/span><\/li>\n
- We will defend all targets of bigotry, repression, and hate made by Mr. Trump\u2019s Administration, or caused by the Trump Effect, with a broad principle of solidarity: \u201cAn attack on one is an attack on all.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n
- We will refuse to legitimate or normalize Mr. Trump\u2019s Administration, which has already violated the core principles of American democracy by using explicit appeals to racial and religious bigotry, xenophobia, Islamophobia, and misogyny to gain political power. We will reject ideas, statements, and policies that strengthen the incoming Administration\u2019s legitimacy, including divide-and-conquer tactics or strategies that position AAPIs as a racial wedge against other communities of color.<\/span><\/li>\n
- We will reject any attempts by the Trump Administration to use AAPIs to make a case for their legitimacy and diversity, and will not compromise our values and agency to gain a \u201cseat at the table\u201d in pursuit of narrow benefits. Nor will we conflate marginal visibility for genuine power and influence for our communities.<\/span><\/li>\n
- We agree to be transparent about our engagement with the Trump Administration, and to be held accountable for our organizational strategies and decisions.<\/span><\/li>\n
- We will raise awareness about how AAPI communities are affected by discriminatory and divisive rhetoric and policies, and will stand firm in opposing them.<\/span><\/li>\n
- We will support those who assume personal and organizational risk to defend democratic institutions and practices including human, civil, and constitutional rights, against unjust laws and actions by the government, any group, or individual.<\/span><\/li>\n
- We will seek unity in pursuit of shared goals, knowing that defending democracy will require various kinds of movements and tactics to weather the coming period of increased repression, and to build a more humane and sustainable world.<\/span><\/li>\n
- We will work tirelessly toward an inclusive and democratic vision that ensures the safety, self-determination, and wellbeing of all people, and we will model this in our resistance and solidarity efforts.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Signatories *<\/b><\/p>\n
18MillionRising.org<\/span><\/p>\nAAPI Feminism Workshop<\/span><\/p>\nAlliance of South Asian American Labor (ASAAL)<\/span><\/p>\nAlliance of South Asians Taking Action<\/span><\/p>\nAPI Equality – Northern California (APIENC)<\/span><\/p>\nAsian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF)<\/span><\/p>\nAsian American Millennials Unite<\/span><\/p>\nAsian American Organizing Project<\/span><\/p>\nAsian American Psychological Association<\/span><\/p>\nAsian American Resource Workshop<\/span><\/p>\nAsian American Student Union (University of Minnesota, Twin Cities)<\/span><\/p>\nAsian American Studies, UC Davis<\/span><\/p>\nAsian Americans Advancing Justice | Asian Law Caucus<\/span><\/p>\nAsian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago<\/span><\/p>\nAsian Americans Advancing Justice | Los Angeles<\/span><\/p>\nAsian Americans United<\/span><\/p>\nAsian-American Women\u2019s Political Initiative<\/span><\/p>\nAsian Counseling and Referral Service<\/span><\/p>\nAsian Pacific American Heritage Week, University of Pennsylvania <\/span><\/p>\nAsian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA)<\/span><\/p>\nAsian Pacific American Labor Alliance – Alameda Chapter<\/span><\/p>\nAsian Pacific American Labor Alliance – Los Angeles Chapter<\/span><\/p>\nAsian Pacific American Labor Alliance – New Jersey Chapter<\/span><\/p>\nAsian Pacific American Labor Alliance – Sacramento Chapter<\/span><\/p>\nAsian Pacific American Labor Alliance – San Diego Chapter<\/span><\/p>\nAsian Pacific American Labor Alliance – San Jose\/San Mateo\/Santa Clara Chapter<\/span><\/p>\nAsian Pacific American Labor Alliance – Seattle Chapter<\/span><\/p>\nAsian Pacific American Labor Alliance – Texas Chapter<\/span><\/p>\nAsian Pacific American Labor Alliance – Washington, DC Chapter<\/span><\/p>\nAsian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO)<\/span><\/p>\nAsian Pacific Environmental Network (APEN)<\/span><\/p>\nAsian Pacific Policy & Planning Council (A3PCON)<\/span><\/p>\nAsian Prisoner Support Committee<\/span><\/p>\nAsians for Black Lives (A4BL) — San Diego<\/span><\/p>\nCAAAV Organizing Asian Communities<\/span><\/p>\nChinese for Affirmative Action<\/span><\/p>\nChinese Progressive Association – San Francisco<\/span><\/p>\nCHOW Project<\/span><\/p>\nCritical Filipinx Scholars Collective<\/span><\/p>\nDC Asian American and Pacific Islander Democratic Caucus<\/span><\/p>\nDensho<\/span><\/p>\nDepartment of Asian American Studies, UC Davis<\/span><\/p>\nDRUM – Desis Risng Up & Moving<\/span><\/p>\nEast Coast Asian American Student Union (ECAASU)<\/span><\/p>\nEmpowering Pacific Islander Communities<\/span><\/p>\nFilipino Advocates for Justice<\/span><\/p>\nFilipino American Democratic Club of New York<\/span><\/p>\nFreedom at Emory University<\/span><\/p>\nFreedom Inc.<\/span><\/p>\nFreedom Trainers<\/span><\/p>\nGABRIELA USA<\/span><\/p>\nHep Free Hawaii<\/span><\/p>\nHepatitis Education Project<\/span><\/p>\nHmong National Development<\/span><\/p>\nInstitute for Asian Pacific American Leadership & Advancement<\/span><\/p>\nIntercollegiate Taiwanese American Student Association<\/span><\/p>\nJahajee Sisters Empowering Indo-Caribbean Women<\/span><\/p>\nJapanese American Citizens League (JACL)<\/span><\/p>\nJapanese American Citizens League – New York<\/span><\/p>\nKorean American Resource and Cultural Center<\/span><\/p>\nKorean Resource Center<\/span><\/p>\nKuya Ate Mentorship Program<\/span><\/p>\nLionswrite Communications<\/span><\/p>\nMekongNYC<\/span><\/p>\nMidwest Asian American Students Union<\/span><\/p>\nNational Alliance for Filipino Concerns<\/span><\/p>\nNational Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF)<\/span><\/p>\nNational Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum – Philadelphia <\/span><\/p>\nNational Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development<\/span><\/p>\nNational Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC)<\/span><\/p>\nNational Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA)<\/span><\/p>\nNational Organization for Women’s (NOW) Inaugural Virtual Chapter: Young Feminists and Allies<\/span><\/p>\nOneAmerica<\/span><\/p>\nPenn Taiwanese Society, University of Pennsylvania<\/span><\/p>\nPhiladelphia South Asian Collective<\/span><\/p>\nPilipino American Unity for Progress, Inc. (UniPro)<\/span><\/p>\nProgressive Asian Network for Action (PANA)<\/span><\/p>\nProvidence Youth Student Movement (PrYSM)<\/span><\/p>\nRad Azns<\/span><\/p>\nREACH! Asian Pacific Islander Recruitment and Retention Center<\/span><\/p>\nReappropriate<\/span><\/p>\nServices, Immigrant Rights, and Education Network (SIREN)<\/span><\/p>\nSHK Global Health<\/span><\/p>\nSikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund<\/span><\/p>\nSpice Collective, University of Pennsylvania<\/span><\/p>\nSouth Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT)<\/span><\/p>\nSouth Asian Fund For Education, Scholarship and Training (SAFEST)<\/span><\/p>\nSoutheast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC)<\/span><\/p>\nSoutheast Asian Coalition<\/span><\/p>\nSoutheast Asian Freedom Network (SEAFN)<\/span><\/p>\nStanford Asian American Activism Committee<\/span><\/p>\nUPenn Asian Pacific Student Coalition<\/span><\/p>\nUPLIFT<\/span><\/p>\nUXO Clearance Laos<\/span><\/p>\nVietLead<\/span><\/p>\nVietUnity – Bay Area<\/span><\/p>\nVietUnity – Los Angeles<\/span><\/p>\nVisual Communications<\/span><\/p>\nWakefield Asian Club, Arlington, Virginia<\/span><\/p>\nYale Asian American Studies Task Force<\/span><\/p>\nYellow Rage<\/span><\/p>\n* List up to date as of Jan. 25, 2017. Visit\u00a0bit.ly\/AAPIStatementOfPrinciples<\/a>\u00a0to sign on. To view the press release, please visit: bit.ly\/PRWeWillResist<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"As Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, We Will Resist We stand at a critical juncture in world history. The election of Donald Trump as president of the United States represents a direct threat to millions of people\u2019s safety and to the health of the planet. As Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) committed to equality, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":10686,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"coauthors":[1370],"class_list":["post-10685","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.racefiles.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/womensmarch02.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.racefiles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10685","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.racefiles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.racefiles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.racefiles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.racefiles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10685"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.racefiles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10685\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11229,"href":"https:\/\/www.racefiles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10685\/revisions\/11229"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.racefiles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10686"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.racefiles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10685"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.racefiles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10685"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.racefiles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10685"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.racefiles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=10685"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}