Washington, DC – The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), AFL-CIO, stands in solidarity with the 169 Bangladeshi detainees who are now facing deportation, many who participated in the #FreedomGiving hunger strikes last fall. These men fled the political violence of Bangladesh, and by ordering their removal, the 169 asylum seekers now face real and serious threats of imprisonment and death.

“By halting the asylum claims of Bangladeshis and South Asian refugees and migrants, the US government is subjecting them to racially and religiously discriminatory treatments,” said Gregory Cendana, APALA's Executive Director. “All elected officials must be held accountable in ensuring the safety, fair treatment, and civil rights of all people regardless of race and religion.”  
      
“We are reminded that as anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim rhetoric continues to be used as leverage for Presidential candidates of the Republican party, we are also equally disgusted by the policies sanctioned by the Democratic party ordering the mass deportations of refugees and migrants, including women and children, to their deaths,” added APALA's National President Johanna Puno Hester. “Furthermore, the racist policies that justify the racial and religious profiling that continuously criminalize Muslim and South Asian refugees and migrants need to end."

Activists have begun using the hashtag #Deported2Death to highlight the grave realities and consequences of the potential removals. APALA stands alongside Desi's Rising Up & Moving (DRUM), MPower Change and the #Not1More Campaign in calling on the Homeland Security and State Departments to stop the removal of these detainees. We must ensure their safety in allowing them to pursue their asylum claims in the United States.

APALA is encouraging our members to sign the petition to demand an immediate halt to their deportations. The petition is hosted by the #Not1More Campaign at:
http://www.notonemoredeportation.com/portfolio/state-dept-bangladesh
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Follow #Deported2Death and #Not1More on Twitter.

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​Washington, DC – On March 29, 2016 a Supreme Court vote of  4-4 upheld a 40-year-old ruling temporarily ending a decade-long campaign by anti-union special interest groups to weaken unions that represent teachers, police and firefighters, government workers, and other public service employees. APALA stands alongside the entire labor movement in celebrating a victorious pro-union ruling that protects the rights of all workers and their families. In particular, this ruling is important for women and people of color who make up a majority of the public sector workforce and rely on public sector unions for a pathway to the middle class.

"The is a huge victory not only for public sector workers but the entire labor movement," said Johanna Puno Hester, APALA National President. "The Supreme Court's decision in upholding our rights for collective bargaining sends a strong message that our democracy cannot be controlled by the wealth of select corporate interest groups.

The case known as Friedrichs vs. California Teachers Association would have restricted the ability for working people to come together in unions and assert our collective power to improve lives, workplaces, and communities. This is especially important for low-income, women, immigrants, and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) communities who are still faced with discrimination in the workforce daily

This decision comes shortly after the death of former Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, proving even more what is at stake with whoever is appointed as Scalia's replacement.
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"While we recognize the importance of this decision, we also know that our fight to protect working families is far from over," said Gregory Cendana, APALA's Executive Director. "Working families are at the heart of what has made the country prosper and we will continue to fight for justice in the streets, at the voting booth, and in our places of work. This Supreme Court victory is an important reminder that when we are united, we win.”

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Washington, DC – Statement from Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) National President Johanna Puno Hester:

“Yesterday, we were witness to Brussels, Belgium becoming the next target in a series of terrorist attacks killing at least 30 and wounding 200 others. This has come not too long after similar attacks in Ankara, Istanbul, and Paris, France. While the news has shocked and saddened many, I am appalled by how politicians have leveraged this tragedy as an opportunity to further criminalize Muslims or those they perceived to be Muslim, such as Sikh, Arab, and South Asian Americans.

The acts of individual extremists should never be used as a justification to condemn the entire Islamic faith. To do so would go against this country's fundamental beliefs in freedom and justice as laid out by our first amendment rights. What we do know however, is that when politicians rely on hateful rhetoric to advance their anti-Muslim agendas violence against Muslim communities or those perceived to be Muslim increases at an alarming rate.

As the National President of APALA I am proud to say that as an organization we are committed to standing up against hateful, bigoted and xenophobic sentiments against Muslims and those who are perceived to be Muslims. We recognize that as people of different faiths, political backgrounds, and countries of origin we are stronger when we are united. Let's not allow the divisive rhetoric of hate and bigotry prevent our communities from coming together especially in the aftermath of such a tragedy.
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We have a responsibility to care and support for and stand in solidarity with Brussel, Ankara, Istanbul, and Paris, and we have to do the same for all of our Muslim Brothers and Sisters who experience similar threats of terror daily. As a community we have call out anti-Muslim hate, bigotry and racism as we hear and see it happen in all forms and at all times.”

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