Washington, DC – Earlier this week, all charges related to the 2015 detainment and death of Freddie Gray against the three remaining officers were dropped. The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA) is disappointed in the prosecutors’ decision to drop all charges and demands justice and accountability for all Black lives.

“It’s extremely unfortunate that the prosecutors dropped all charges in this case,” stated APALA National President Johanna Hester. “However, what we’ve witnessed already in this case – the acquittal of three police officers of any and all charges – shows how broken our criminal justice system is. Without substantive reforms in the system and a cultural shift in how people perceive Black folks, we can’t move towards any type of racial justice.”

Earlier this year, Baltimore Police Officers Brian Rice, Edward Nero, and Caesar Goodson, Jr. were all acquitted of charges in their involvement in the case. The lack of justice and accountability for Black deaths remains all too recent with the July murders of Delrawn Small, Alton Sterling, and Philando Castile.

“Blacks folks have every right to be angry at the state-sanctioned targeting of their bodies. Freddie Gray. Alton Sterling. Sandra Bland. Eric Garner. The list goes on and on,” added APALA Executive Director Gregory A. Cendana. “We can’t – we refuse – to normalize Black deaths. I echo my disappointment with the recent news of prosecutors dropping all charges. But it’s sad to say that had those gone to trial, the result would have been the same. Without Black liberation, none of us can be free. That’s something we need to remember.”
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APALA stands firmly with #BlackLivesMatter and the Movement for Black Lives and calls for all Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to join us in organizing for Black liberation.

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​A passionate leader and a tenacious organizer in the Filipino American community, Joe Montano passed away Monday, July 25. He was a lifelong advocate for progressive issues and campaigns and dedicated his career to ensuring that the voices of Filipino Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders were heard. Joe is survived by his parents, Lori and Jose, and his two siblings, Amy and Ben.

“His passing came all too soon. His enthusiasm and positive energy were magnetic, and young folks coming into DC easily found a mentor in Joe – myself included,” reflected APALA Executive Director Gregory Cendana. “Our hearts goes out to his family, friends, and the greater community he served.”
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APALA National President Johanna Hester added: “I’m deeply saddened by Joe’s untimely passing. He inspired everyone he worked with – that’s the kind of person he was. He was so dedicated, so passionate, so bright, and our community will make sure the tireless spirit of his work lives on this election and for years to come.”

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​Washington, DC – The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA) commends the progressive plans outlined in the 2016 Democratic Party Platform, which was formally ratified at the Democratic National Convention this week in Philadelphia.

APALA and its sister organization, the Institute for Asian Pacific American Leadership & Advancement (IAPALA), submitted testimony to both the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee in June. APALA and IAPALA recommended a strong position that stands up for workers everywhere, opposes the Trans-Pacific Partnership, repairs a broken criminal justice system, protects all communities with stronger gun control measures, and disaggregates data on the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community – many of which were adopted into the final platform.

APALA National President Johanna Hester commented: “It is clear the voices of the AAPI community mattered to the drafting committee this year. Throughout the platform, we see a common thread of inclusivity and dignity and respect for all people. This is a platform that APALA can get behind, and we need to stand behind a candidate who will champion our issues and not stifle our voices.”

Members of the AAPI community that served on the platform committee included: Vida Benavides, former Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa; San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee; Karen Narasaki; and Dilawar Sayed.

“There is no question that this platform is the most inclusive of the AAPI community in history,” said National Director Christopher Kang of the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, a coalition of which APALA is a member. “It adopts our overarching priorities that would resonate throughout government: a theme of inclusion; an understanding that data should be disaggregated to fully address AAPI needs; and a belief that government services should be culturally and linguistically appropriate.”

“Even in its preamble, the mention of Filipino-American labor organizer and someone I call one of my Manongs – Larry Itliong – next to historical figures like Rosa Parks, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Cesar Chavez, and Dolores Huerta reaffirms the important achievements and the vital place our community has in American history,” reflected APALA Executive Director Gregory Cendana. “We are not a population to be forgotten heading into November’s general election.”

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Read the statement by the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans.