Anti-Asian racism isn’t new in the U.S. From the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 to the Japanese internment camps, the U.S. has a long history of racism against Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities.
The past year, however, has seen an alarming spike in anti-Asian racism largely due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic—and stoked by then-President Donald Trump’s use of the derogatory terms “China virus” and “kung flu.”
Stop AAPI Hate, which launched as a response to anti-Asian xenophobia stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, has been documenting anti-Asian attacks since March of last year. According to a recent press release, there have been at least 2,000 incidents of racism and discrimination against AAPIs between March 19 and December 31.
These recent attacks against Asian Americans, particularly elderly Asian Americans, have drawn greater public scrutiny and have sparked a national conversation on racism against Asian Americans. Combined with a greater understanding of the importance of Asian American voters, many are now turning their focus to this once-ignored community.
Below are some of the top Asian American advocacy groups that have been working to expand the civil and human rights of AAPIs.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice
Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works to advance the rights of Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders and Native Hawaiians and to help build a “fair and equitable society for all,” according to its website. It does so through public education, public policy advocacy, community organizing and litigation.
Among its areas of focus are immigration, advocating for an accurate count of Asian Americans in the U.S. Census, and increasing Asian Americans’ political power. It also uses legal advocacy on key civil rights issues that significantly impact AAPIs and immigrant communities, such as advocating in favor of the DACA program.
AAJC is part of a coalition of five Asian American advocacy organizations, including the Asian Law Caucus, AAJC-Chicago, AAJC-Atlanta and AAJC-Los Angeles. Of the five organizations, AAJC-Los Angeles has the highest revenue, with its most recent filings showing annual revenue of $11.8 million.
The Asian American Advocacy Fund is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization that describes itself as “dedicated to building a politically conscious, engaged and progressive Asian American base in Georgia.” Its policy priorities are immigrant and racial justice; census, redistricting and voting rights; and advancing educational, health and economic opportunities.
The fund works to make all of this possible through policy advocacy at the local, state and federal levels, and by supporting like-minded candidates. Recently, the organization played a key role in mobilizing Georgia’s AAPI voters during both the general and the Senate runoff elections.
The Indian American Impact Fund (IMPACT) is a Political Action Committee (PAC) that supports candidates who advocate for Indian American communities. To do so, IMPACT has created a national network of Indian American leaders who will ally with other communities of color, recruit and train Indian American candidates, and leverage political donations by Indian Americans to causes that reflect IMPACT’s values.
IMPACT seeks to ensure that Indian Americans are fully represented in politics and are a part of policy conversations, media and civic life. During the Senate runoff elections in Georgia, IMPACT invested $2.5 million to increase Asian American voter turnout.
In addition to its two PACs—one federal and one non-federal—IMPACT also has a 501(c)(3) arm called the Indian American Impact Project, which focuses on nonpartisan, non-electoral educational work regarding Indian American civic engagement and political participation.
Southeast Asian Resource Action Center
The Southeast Asian Resource Action Center (SEARAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working to empower Cambodian, Laotian and Vietnamese Americans in order to create a more equitable and just society. SEARAC seeks to increase Southeast Asian American self-determination by supporting community leaders and advocates, community engagement and community mobilization on advocacy.
Among its work, SEARAC advocates for progressive policies at both the state level in California and the national level. SEARAC seeks to bring attention to issues that are unique to Southeast Asian Americans but are often overlooked. Its policy priorities are related to education, immigration and health.
South Asian Americans Leading Together
South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that advocates for the rights of South Asian Americans. In order to fulfill its mission of dignity and inclusion for all, SAALT advocates for just and equitable public policies at both the national and local level, strengthens grassroots South Asian organizations, and informs and influences the national dialogue of issues that impact South Asian communities.
SAALT’s work includes a South Asian Legal Aid Network and supporting detained immigrants. Its policy priorities are centered primarily on racial justice, civic engagement, immigrant rights, post-9/11 backlash and gender justice. SAALT also coordinates the National Coalition of South Asian Organizations (NCSO).
The AAPI Victory Fund describes itself as “a kinder, gentle Super PAC.” Its focus is on mobilizing AAPI voters and closing the AAPI voter turnout gap. According to its website, the AAPI Victory Fund works to engage and empower progressive AAPIs to “be the margin of victory at all levels of the ballot.” During the Georgia Senate runoffs, the AAPI Victory Fund focused its efforts on mobilizing rural AAPI voters.
In addition to mobilizing voters, the AAPI Victory Fund’s goals are to build sustained power behind a common agenda, serve as a vehicle for influence and share knowledge of the AAPI community.
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It’s too early to say how the growing advocacy and electoral energy of Asian Americans will translate into concrete gains under Biden. But in one of his first acts as president, he issued a memorandum condemning racism, xenophobia and intolerance against AAPIs in the U.S.
Stop AAPI Hate responded to Biden’s memorandum, stating that while it is an important step, the administration must take further action.
“A meaningful response will prioritize policies of public education, community mediation and restorative justice to end racial bias and profiling,” said Stop AAPI Hate.
