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Past Events

July 31, 2023

10:00am

The Detroit Immigration Task Force joins ITF members American Citizens for Justice (ACJ), Association of Chinese Americans (ACA), and Rising Voices in inviting you to participate in a press conference Monday morning July 31st at 10am at 3143 Cass Avenue

Press Conference Save 3143 Cass Avenue announcement

Help save a building from demolition that played a pivotal role in the history of Detroit’s Asian American community!

Learn more:

Detroit Free Press on potential delay of building’s demotion  article
Detroit Free Press on City Council’s resolution to delay demolition  article
Rising Voices  statement
ACJ  letter to Councilwoman Gabriella Santiago Romero 

Let your voice be heard by contacting the following people and asking them to delay demolition until a full assessment of preservation opportunities has been made:

Malik Washington, City Council Liaison for Mayor’s Office: malik.washington@detroitmi.gov

David Bell, Director, Buildings, Safety Engineering, and Environmental Department: belld@detroitmi.gov

Rian English-Barnhill, Vice President of Government & Community Affairs for Olympia Development of Michigan: rian.barnhill@olydev.com

July 12, 2023

10:00am to 12:00pm

UNITED AGAINST HATE

IDENTIFYING, REPORTING, AND PREVENTING HATE CRIMES

Learn about identifying hate crimes, the importance of reporting, and how to report

WHERE:  NEW MT. MORIAH MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH

586 OWEN ST., DETROIT, MI 48202

RSVP to Lauren Mercer at lauren.mercer@usdoj.gov

and indicate whether you require any accommodations

Problem on following flyer not centered

June 23, 2023

Vincent Chin Gravesite

Today Arthur Park of Central Methodist Church, who was one of the marchers at the May 1983 rally for Vincent Chin, delivered his comments on the 41st anniversary of Vincent’s death.  

Today I stood in the gentle rain at the grave of Vincent Chin remembering his murder 41 years ago.  I read the following for those with me:

We are standing here today remembering a tragic injustice – the taking of the life of Vincent Chin 41 years ago.

Some of us remember that event as though it were last week. I can tell you where I was, what I was doing and what I did.

In a sense we are standing here because we are still waiting for justice and are rededicating ourselves to work for that justice.

In this case, justice won’t come in the form of a new “conviction” of those who murdered Vincent. We won’t see today the payment of a fine – long overdue.

However, the word “conviction” has another meaning. Justice for Vincent can come in the form of a shared conviction from each of us that we will expand our numbers and work together for the equality of humanity. We must work not just for the tens of thousands of Asian Americans who have experienced hatred but also for the numbers of African Americans, Native Americans, Muslims, Jews, the LGBTQIA community, asylum seekers and many others – all who in one form or another are under attack.

Today, the news reminds us daily that we are surrounded not just by those who hate but by those marketing hate. They promote hate by embracing the darkness of ignorance.

Martin Luther King Jr. should also be remembered today. Today is the anniversary of the Walk to Freedom in Detroit in 1963.

Dr. King told us, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

Our enemy is the darkness of ignorance. Our enemy has always been ignorance. We must fight ignorance with truth. We must shine our lights on this darkness.

We must embrace the conviction that we will work together for the day when the world is enlightened; when there are no longer marginalized and minoritized communities – no one to look down on, no one to abuse, no one to hate, just people equal and worthy of love.

Can we be united in our effort to promote love for the continuum of humanity?

I believe we can. Can we form the conviction that we will embrace all of the continuum of humanity with love? I believe we can.

The lessons of hate are easy, and so attractive for the ignorant. So it will take real conviction to embrace the true concept of love. I believe that this is the conviction that can bring a sense of justice for Vincent Chin – and for all of us.

Arthur K. J. Park
Chair, Committee on Peace and Justice,
CUMC, Detroit
June 17, 2023
1:00pm EDT
12:00pm CDT
10am PDT

Webinar “Addressing Anti-Asian Hate: Journey Toward Solutions” which will feature:

  • University of Michigan Assistant Professor Melissa Borja to talk about the Virulent Hate project,  
  • Senator Stephanie Chang to talk about the AAPI K-12 curriculum bill,  and
  • Roland Hwang to talk about ACJ’s work disseminating the Vincent Chin Legacy Guide, organizing the AAPI documentary film festival, and courtwatches.    

RSVP:   bit.ly/acaoca06172023  to obtain Zoom Webinar ID for the meeting.

If you were not able to watch the webinar or to view again, click below to view a recording of the webinar on the OCA’s Facebook page:

Flyer: Addressing Anti-Asian Hat

May 25, 2023

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer held signing ceremony for Fred Korematsu Day Senate Bill 18 to designate January 30 as “Fred Korematsu Day” in perpetuity.

Left to Right:  Roland Hwang, Emily Nguyen, State Senator Stephanie Chang, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, State Rep. Sharon MacDonell, Senator Senator Sam Singh, MSU  professor Naoko Wake.  (Photo by Roland Hwang)

May 24, 2023

Jim Shimoura addressed the gathering at Philippine American Community.  The gathering hosted by Asian Pacific Islander American Vote-Michigan (APIA Vote-MI) and Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission (MAPAAC), heard and met with US Trade Representative and White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) co-chair Katherine Tai, and Canadian Minister Mary Ng.

Jim Shimoura addresses meeting with USTR Tai and Canadian Minister Ng

(Photo by Roland Hwang)

April 26 – April 30, 2023

FREEP Film Festival and AAPI Film Series

To view details in the Detroit Free Press on the featured AAPI films, click: 

The AAPI Film Series 2023 was brought to you by American Citizens for Justice with generous support from Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission, Rising Voices, Just Films-The Ford Foundation.  Thank you to Kathy Kieliszewski at the Detroit Free Press and the FreeP Film Festival, Razi Jafri and the AAPI committee.

All the AAPI files were screened at the Detroit Historical Museum.  The AAPI films were FREE and open to the public. Featured films were:

  • Like a Rolling Stone: The Life & Times of Ben Fong-Torres
  • Photographic Justice: The Corkey Lee Story
  • Free Chol Soo Lee
  • In Search of Bengali Harlem
  • Wisdom Gone Wild
  • Donut King
  • Crossroads
  • Here, Hopefully
  • 38 At The Garden
  • Cambodian Futures

WHERE: The Detroit Historical Museum
13624 Michigan Ave, Dearborn, MI 48126

March 19, 2023
1:00 pm

BAD AXE: Screening followed by Q&A with Siev Family

  • Detroit Racial Equity Coalition: Racial Solidarity in Practice with the
  • Black Lives Matter Movement
  • Hosted by American Citizens for Justice
  • Funded by the Kresge Foundation
  • Refreshments from Bangkok 96 Street Food
  • WHEN: Sunday, March 19, at 1:00 PM
  • WHERE: Arab American National Museum
    13624 Michigan Ave, Dearborn, MI 48126
AAPI Film Makers gather

The AAPI Film Makers gathered at the FREEP AAPI Docs Series (Photo by Roland Hwang) 

 February 22, 2023

AAPI Community Conversation with US Attorney, Eastern District of Michigan