RACISM IS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE
This country is built on hope and hard work, and we know that we are only as strong as the most vulnerable among us. It is this optimism and tenacity that has created one nation of immigrants that will prevail over these challenging times and specific threats.
We stand with leaders who stand with immigrants, uphold our shared values, and know that immigrants make America stronger.
Immediate action and programs are called for protecting our Seniors and most vulnerable. This involves sorting through the myriad of under-resourced, reactive and scattered responses to Anti-Asian Hate. Seminal periods of tumult and progress, such as the civil rights era, taught us that careful negotiations among the myriad of perspectives in our diverse community must be addressed. Committing to addressing community safety means also addressing the long-term and complex challenge of racial unity.
READ OUR ONE NATION REPORTS BELOW
The 2019 Report is a resource that that show immigrants make America stronger, history of the un-American Public Charge rule, and our community’s strength and engagement in the immigrant rights fight.
The 2020 Report provides the facts, data, new research, curated stories, and imagery that prove the impact of COVID-19 and the compounding effects of the simultaneous rise in anti-Asian hate in AAPI communities.
“This One Nation Commission Report is much needed and will help me make the case. If we are not grounded in facts then we are grounded in fear. I am grateful for your work in making sure that inside our government and out, we are together in common cause”
PAST STATEMENTS
ONE NATION STATEMENT ON ANTI-ASIAN RACISM
MARCH 2021
Why now? Why are we finally in the national spotlight after decades of neglect? Ask anyone in the Asian American community. We all know someone who has been spat upon, coughed on, and called racist names. We know anti-Asian racism is real. We have felt the hate. Viral videos of slashed faces and black eyes, the thousands of hate incidents this past year --physically and verbally violent, and then the Atlanta tragedy. Asians in America are being “othered”, blamed and ignored. For the virus, for the economy, for any unaddressed and complicated national ills or problems.
Our community has been sounding the alarm and organizing for years. Especially as we have experienced the dramatic rise in anti-Asian hate since the pandemic. The racist divisiveness has only been intensified by overtly anti-immigrant vitriol and claims that falsely tied Asians with the coronavirus, all exacerbated from on high over the past four years.
Anti-Asian hate and violence have been a part of the U.S. fabric for decades and decades. Throughout history, AAPIs have been unfairly scapegoated during times of tumult and economic strife. From the mass lynchings of Chinese Americans in the 1880s to the murder of Vincent Chin in the 1980s, to now. One Nation lifts up the strength and beauty of immigrants upon which this country is built. We countered the past administration’s divisive tactics that scapegoated immigrants and singled out AAPIs. From past White House operatives Sessions and Miller, to Steve Bannon who blamed immigrants and Asians for a poor economy and lost jobs.
The killings in Atlanta this week were horrifying. We express our sorrow and sympathy for the victims, their families and their communities. The startling event, and the thousands of other crimes and incidents against Asians — more than 4,000 reported just in the past year — leave Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders terrorized. Communities and local governments need to pay attention, after more than a year of our communities under siege. We will not be victims. We are speaking out, organizing, working together with our diverse communities and allies to stop the hate.
We mourn the tragedy in Atlanta. We stay united and strong in our conviction to organize and work together to change the broken systems and culture of racism, hate, and violence that have led us to this point. Let us seize the moment together. One Nation joins with our 100 strong partner organizations across the country, our supporters, and allies, to call out the anti-Asian racism for what it is, fight back together by organizing at the grassroots level, on the legal front, and at the ballot box, and to shift the narrative toward the light: One Nation Built on the Strength of Immigrants.
ONE NATION STANDS IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE BLACK COMMUNITY
JUNE 2020
Artwork by Kalaya’an Mendoza
One Nation stands in solidarity with the Black community. We are outraged by systemic racism against African Americans, most recently expressed in the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery. We stand together in grief, rage, and commitment to strengthening the movement, forging coalitions, and lifting our collective power for social change. One Nation stands united with vulnerable, targeted communities of color. A racist attack against any one of us is an attack against all of us. One Nation was formed in 2018 to fight Public Charge, raise AAPI impact in the community and political sphere, and push out our AAPI narrative, truth, data, and stories. Join with One Nation. Speak out, protest, register to vote, vote.
“People who want to fight against anti-Asian hate who ignore the plight of Black Americans are trying to walk without legs.”
Dr. Tung Nguyen, One Nation Commissioner, Chair, AAPI Progressive Action, June 1, 2020
“The bottom line is this: if we want to bring about real change, then the choice isn't between protest and politics. We have to do both. We have to mobilize to raise awareness, and we have to organize and cast our ballots to make sure that we elect candidates who will act on reform.”
Former President Barack Obama, June 1, 2020
ONE NATION STANDS WITH DACA DREAMERS
JUNE 2020
Quote from Steve Li, DACA recipient, Asian Health Services Board Member
"The United States Supreme Court is sending a loud and clear message that immigrants are a fundamental part of America’s past, present, and future. As a DACA recipient, today’s victory is a testament to the resilience and strength of community organizers, advocates, and undocumented youth sharing their stories all over the country. I believe that we can live in a world where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. We must continue to fight to include the 11 million immigrants living with the threat of deportation. The fight for immigrant justice comes hand in hand with achieving racial justice and protecting LQBTQ+ rights. The fight continues, but today we celebrate this victory and stand as #OneNation.”
One Nation Statement
One Nation stands in unity with all DACA DREAMers and those who have supported and defended their rights and safety in this country. Today’s U.S Supreme Court Ruling recognizes the benefit that DREAMers bring to America; battling on the front lines of the pandemic, serving essential roles, and contributing to our economy and society. We are one nation built on the strength of immigrants. We are honored and emboldened by today’s ruling and will continue to work in solidarity for fair laws and policies that uphold our American values on behalf of immigrants.
ONE NATION CONDEMNS THE RISE OF ANTI-AAPI RACISM
March 2020
The advent of the COVID -19 “corona virus” has brought a rise in xenophobia, racism, and discrimination against Chinese Americans and Asian and Pacific Islander Americans. One Nation condemns this dangerous and misplaced fear mongering and scapegoating. Our collective health and safety rely on protecting our rights to healthcare, fact-based preventive public health measures, and protection from discrimination and stereotyping. We join with our One Nation colleagues and leaders in the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and allied organizations in speaking out against the blatant attacks on AAPIs across the country, and on social media. We have been here before; history has shown us that national and global turmoil can and will trigger dangerous racism that targets AAPIs. One Nation is united in calling out and fighting anti-Asian and Pacific Islander American racism.
OUR WORK AND IMPACT
A hub of strategic leadership to defeat the proposed Public Charge rule and shift the narrative on immigration in America.
The One Nation Commission will issue expert recommendations and reports on the impacts and potential impacts of Public Charge in the AAPI community.
We intend to be flexible and nimble enough to have rapid response capabilities to keep relevant within the national changing body politic. The Commission is fully staffed with policy, research, and communications experts and currently funded by the East Bay Community Foundation and Asian Health Services.
The immediate focus of the One Nation Commission is to shut down the proposed federal Public Charge rule, and support the legal and policy battles, producing data, reports, stories, and media that further substantiate our position and shape the narrative that immigrants are a net benefit to society.
Strategies
Provide strategies, expertise, and support to limit or end Public Charge as a policy.
Hearings
Monitor, document, report, hold public hearings, gather existing data and information and cull new data and information when appropriate.
Legal & Policy
Lead and inform the public discourse both in and about the AAPI community and broader immigrant rights community.
Recommendations
Issue expert recommendations and reports on the impacts and potential impacts of Public Charge in the AAPI community.
Narrative Shift
Shift the narrative: from immigrants being a burden to, “This nation was built on the strength of immigrants.”
Movement Building
Strengthen the One Nation AAPI movement.
“Immigrants are a net benefit to society”