Washington, DC – The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA) commends the tremendous organizing efforts shown today by both Mijente’s #WallOffTrump in Cleveland and the Black Youth Project 100 (BYP100) and Black Lives Matter (BLM) protest against the National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) in DC. APALA stands in solidarity with these efforts and the broader movements to end the mass criminalization of communities of color.

In Washington, DC, protesters blocked off roads in Northeast on 4th St. and Massachusetts Avenue, lining cross walks and holding up signs demanding an end to the National Fraternal Order of Police, a private union known to protect the interests of officers who brutalize and kill civilians. The FOP boasts more than 330,000 members and recently praised the acquittal of Lt. Rice, a Baltimore police officer involved in the 2015 detainment and murder of Freddie Gray.

“It’s great to see organizers take action in the streets to demand freedom. The FOP promotes harmful, unaccountable and racist policies that allows officers to hide from any culpability for their actions. The deaths of hundreds of black people for simply being black has become all too common. APALA calls for justice and accountability from all law enforcement officers and demands an end to the FOP,” declared APALA National President Johanna Hester.

In Cleveland, OH, Mijente, a Latinx and Chicanx organizing group, also led a community effort to create a banner wall spanning two blocks around the Republican National Convention. The #WallOffTrump symbolizes the fight against hateful, xenophobic and racist rhetoric used at the convention and in the larger political climate.

“Trump’s racist, Islamophobic, hateful agenda only serves to further divide an already divided nation and also criminalize people who are not white. What he brings to the table strengthens the White status quo and will certainly be detrimental for people of color, immigrants, and women. We absolutely do need to #WallOffTrump,” added Hester.
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“As AAPI allies and co-conspirators, we won’t stand complicit in this system that disproportionately discriminates, devalues and criminalizes Black folks, immigrants and other communities of color. It’s so critical that we work together to dismantle this system that protects those in positions of power and privilege and pivot our organizing efforts to ending the mass criminalization of people of color,” stated APALA Executive Director Gregory A. Cendana.  

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Washington, DC – Yesterday, Baltimore Police Lt. Brian Rice was acquitted of all charges, including involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and misconduct, related to the 2015 arrest and death of Freddie Gray. The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA) is extremely disappointed in another acquittal in the case and the lack of accountability for Gray’s death.

“Another verdict that allows for Gray’s death to go unpunished sends a clear message that our criminal justice system only protects the status quo. Gray certainly did not kill himself,” APALA National President Johanna Hester stated. “Our criminal justice system – which time and again continues to fail and devalue black lives – needs to change. We need more accountability, more responsibility and more transparency if things are ever going to change.”

Rice’s acquittal follows the clearing of two other Baltimore officers of all charges, Edward Nero and Caesar Goodson Jr., in May and June, respectively. 25-year-old Freddie Gray was detained and sent to the hospital on April 12, 2015, where he remained in a coma before passing away on April 19. Following Gray’s death, Baltimore experienced a series of protests, uprisings and acts of civil unrest.

“The rage that Black folks and people of color feel is completely justified. Our system continues to disproportionately target and criminalize Black bodies for simply existing,” added APALA Executive Director Gregory A. Cendana. “We have every right to be enraged and refuse to be complicit in the brutality and murder of our Black brothers and sisters.”

The verdict comes at a time where racial division is at a high and joins a month that has already been plagued with violence, including the shootings of Delrawn Small, Alton Sterling, and Philando Castile and recent shootings targeting police officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge.

“Violence of any kind should not be tolerated. We cannot fight violence with violence. We need to look at the root causes and use collective action to change a system that only benefits those in power and with privilege,” Cendana stated.

APALA stands firms in the movement for Black Lives and continues to advocate for reforms and policies that promote racial, economic, and social justice for all communities of color.

Washington, DC – Today, the California Labor Federation held their Executive Council meeting in Oakland and elected APALA National President Johanna Hester to the Executive Council. She becomes the only Asian American woman to serve on this governing body.

“Johanna’s longtime commitment to workers everywhere will be a great asset to the council,” stated Art Pulaski, California Labor Federation Executive Secretary-Treasurer. “Her energy and experience will undoubtedly strengthen the commitment of unions to advocate for social, racial and economic justice for all working people.”

The California Labor Federation is dedicated to promoting and defending the interests of working people and their families in California and represents over 2 million union members across a variety of industries, including manufacturing, retail, healthcare and construction.

“Johanna is a formidable trailblazer for AAPI union leaders and for women alike. We’re thrilled to see Johanna stepping into this new role on the Executive Council,” added Josie Camacho, Alameda Labor Council Executive Secretary-Treasurer and APALA national executive board member. “Her leadership will continue to increase the visibility of the role women, immigrants and people of color have long held in labor history.”

“I am honored to serve on the council. I have been organizing, building and representing workers for nearly three decades, and one thing holds true even today: workers are still missing a voice at work. I won’t stop fighting to lift up the voices of hardworking people,” declared newly elected California Labor Federation Executive Council Member and APALA National President Johanna Hester. “I hope my election to the council will bring forth more leaders who are women, immigrants and people of color to our collective labor movement. The movement cannot – and will not – move forward without our leaders who reflect the communities we come from.”
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Hester has become a champion for home care providers and outspoken advocate for the immigrant and civil rights of workers. She currently serves as Special Assistant to Executive Director at the United Domestic Workers (UDW), an International Vice President of AFSCME and the National President of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA). 

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