Washington, DC - Under the problematic leadership of Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassely and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Republicans expressed their intent to not move forward with a confirmation vote for any U.S. Supreme Court Justice nomination made by President Obama. In the past, a Democratic Senate confirmed 11 Republican Presidential nominees to serve on the Supreme Court. Moreover, the Senate voted on a successor to the Supreme Court after a nomination was made within 125 days. The refusal to confirm any Supreme Court successor by Republican Senators blatantly rejects their constitutional responsibilities to serve in the Senate.
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“It is absolutely destructive for Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee members to hold the Supreme Court hostage for two full terms until 2017. Their disturbing course of action is impeding the Justices of our Country from administering justice in the nation’s highest court,” said Johanna Puno Hester, APALA National President. “APALA condemns the Republican Obstructionism on Supreme Court Nomination process by forestalling confirmation hearings for any Supreme Court nominations made by President Obama. We demand the Senate to uphold the constitution and swiftly give fair partisan consideration to the next nominee to serve on the Supreme Court.”

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​Washington, DC - APALA Executive Director Gregory Cendana made the following statement:
APALA continues to demand Justice for Akai Gurley and stands with his family who still have to deal with the reality of losing a loved one too soon at the hands of police. No matter the identity of an officer, we believe we must hold all cops accountable for their actions, especially when innocent lives are lost. This rings true even in the case of Officer Peter Liang, an Asian American, who was found guilty of manslaughter and official misconduct by a grand jury. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) across the country, led by those in New York, were the ones who called for Officer Liang be held accountable and continue to support Akai’s family.

Members of our community are not immune from police brutality. Examples include Cao Bich Tran, who was shot and killed by a San Jose police officer, Fong Lee, who was killed by a police officer in North Minneapolis, and Sureshbhai Patel, who was left nearly paralyzed after being brutally beaten by an Alabama police officer. In these cases, AAPIs demanded the officers involved be held accountable - no matter their race or other identities. 

Furthermore, we understand the disproportionate impact state violence has on Black lives and refuse to have Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities be used as a wedge for racial justice. In this moment, we call on AAPI organizations and the broader community to declare #BlackLivesMatter, join hands with people of color to end criminalization in our communities and fight for our collective liberation. 

Please show your support by tweeting the following:
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Officer #PeterLiang Found Guilty, @APALAnational Doubles Down on Support for #AkaiGurley & Family #AAPI #1u #p2 http://bit.ly/1Quo70t

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