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Press Releases

APALA Calls on the President Joseph Biden Administration to Immediately Impose Sanctions Against the Military Junta of Myanmar

4/30/2021

 
For Immediate Release: May 1, 2021
​Contact: Michelle Loo | michelle@apalanet.org

Washington, DC - May Day or International Workers Day is celebrated throughout the world. The workers of Myanmar courageously took to the streets to protest the military junta that staged a coup on February 1, 2021. 

The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO, stands in solidarity with the workers of Myanmar, and calls on the President Joseph Biden Administration to immediately impose sanctions against the military junta of Myanmar, including the Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise.

The international community has condemned the Myanmar military’s coup which overthrew the democratically elected government leaders of the National League for Democracy (NLD), including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. We need to increase economic pressure on the military junta by cutting off the funding source that is being used to kill and attack the people of Myanmar.

The Myanmar people, organized by unions and students, have resisted the military’s take-over and have organized street protests, strikes, and international campaigns, known as the Civil Disobedience Movement. The military and police have responded to protests with violence, including using war-grade weapons and firing live ammunition into crowds. Over 750 people have been killed, with 4,484 arrested since February 1, 2021.

Over 10 unionists have been killed and over 80 unionists have been arrested or have been issued warrants, and labor leaders are now in hiding as they continue to lead the resistance movement from underground locations within Myanmar.

There are nearly 200,000 Burmese Americans residing in the United States.  The Burmese American community is deeply concerned about the human rights violations in Myanmar, and are calling for the restoration of democracy.

APALA Organizing and Civic Engagement Fellow and Michigan Chapter member Dim Mang states, "As a Chin person, I see the military’s actions as one in a long line of oppression and blatant overturning of the will of the people of Burma. This is an issue of ethnic solidarity as well, because though the detained NLD members and other activists should be released, we must not forget about the decades of armed conflict and human rights abuses before this coup - a lot of which the NLD abetted as well. As an organizer based in the United States, this issue really does fall into a bigger picture of global solidarity against militarization and in advocacy of self-determination."

Support the movement by donating to this strike fund and learn more by checking out this toolkit created by Dim.

APALA Responds to Derek Chauvin Trial Verdict and the Murders of Adam Toledo, Ma’Khia Bryant, Daunte Wright, and the Sikh Fedex Workers in Indianapolis

4/22/2021

 
For Immediate Release: April 21, 2021
Contact: Michelle Loo,
michelle@apalanet.org 


Washington, DC - The criminal justice system has pronounced that former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is guilty of murder, nearly a year after the world witnessed him take the breath and life out of George Floyd. We received this news in the same week that Adam Toledo (13) and Ma’Khia Bryant (15) were killed by police officers in Chicago and Columbus, and a week after Daunte Wright was murdered by police officers in Brooklyn Center (outside of Minneapolis) and several Sikh Fedex workers were murdered in Indianapolis by a gunman. The Chauvin verdict is one of many outcomes that organizers and protestors have called for.  


APALA President Monica Thammarath says, “Honor how this moment makes you feel. It is okay to feel relief, anger, disappointment, or even nothing in the face of so much violence. We know the Chauvin verdict does not end violent policing in America. Let us ground ourselves in the powerful day-to-day work we do to build community safety. We are sustained by families and neighbors organizing mutual aid efforts that radically aim to care for everyone in the community. We are propelled by organizers who create alternate networks for safety, such as coordinating buddy systems and check-ins with elders. We are inspired by young people who challenge us to reimagine alternatives so that they can have bright futures. With a broken criminal justice system, this moment asks us, what is each of our roles to help make our communities safer?”


We grieve for Matthew R. Alexander (32), Samaria Blackwell (19), Amarjeet Johal (66),  Jasvinder Kaur (50),  Jaswinder Kaur Singh (70), Amarjit Sekhon (49), Karli Smith (19), and John Weisert (74) who were killed in Indianapolis.

We grieve for George Floyd, Daunte Wright, Adam Toledo, and Ma’Khia Bryant.

If you are looking to support Sikh siblings at this time, please consider directing your resources to the following organizations:
Sikh Coalition, SALDEF, Jakara Movement, Kaur Life. 


If you are looking to support local organizing to change Minneapolis’ public safety structures and systems, check out the
Yes 4 Minneapolis campaign. Sign onto this petition by The Minnesota Young Women's Cabinet, the Minnesota Youth Collective, and the Minnesota Youth Council calling for Justice for Daunte Wright and all people who have victims of state and police violence in Minnesota.

    For Immediate Release

    Contact:
    apala[at]apalanet.org

    For full list of all press releases and statements, please click here.

    ​

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Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance
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Founded in 1992, the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), AFL-CIO, is the first and only national organization of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) workers, most of whom are union members and our allies, building power for AAPI workers and communities.
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