Washington, DC – The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA) released the following statement from Monica Thammarath, APALA 1st Vice President and Co-Chair for the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) Education Committee, in response to the Justice Department’s announcement to investigate affirmative action programs that allegedly discriminate against white applicants:
 
“We are deeply disturbed that affirmative action is under attack again. APALA has long held that inclusivity and cross-racial, cross-cultural understanding in our schools is key to preparing our students for an increasingly globalized society. Our education system continues to endure structural flaws of racism that disproportionately impact communities of color, including the diverse Asian American and Pacific Islander community. This move is a very real threat to our education system and democracy in general as it directly inserts the administration’s white supremacist agenda of ‘America First’ on the education and development of students across the country. Alongside our labor and community partners like the National Education Association, American Federation of Teachers, and the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, APALA will continue to advocate for racial justice in education for all communities of color.”

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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 D.C. – The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO, is the first and only organization of Asian Pacific American workers and union members. APALA supports Affirmative Action and opposes the attacks on the Harvard University Affirmative Action program.

The United States government and many institutions of higher education have a long history of institutional racism and overt policies of racial discrimination that have harmed people of color within our society.

Affirmative Action policies were established to help correct generations of racial discrimination, and to promote racial inclusion.

Higher learning institutions, including Harvard University, for generations promoted exclusionary admissions policies that prevented fair participation from African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, Native Americans, and women. The reason there has been a change in the racial and gender composition in higher education institutions such as Harvard University is due to Affirmative Action.

This country still has a long way to go in addressing racial justice. There are still huge disparities in the K-12 public education system, where large numbers of racial minorities face substandard, underfunded schools, with alarmingly high drop-out rates. Standardized tests which are largely used by higher education institutions for admissions decisions have been also proven to have racially discriminatory impact.

Racial barriers still exist within communities of color, including African Americans, Latinos, and certain Asian and Pacific Islander groups. In the employment arena, Affirmative Action policies have opened up opportunities for Asian Pacific Americans in the work force, and have challenged unfair racially discriminatory practices that have harmed Asian Pacific Americans in hiring and promotion. 

Anti-Affirmative Action advocates within the API community argue that African Americans and Latinos who enter higher education through Affirmative Action are taking positions that would otherwise go to Asian Americans. This is a fallacious and divisive position. Affirmative Action takes into account racial and economic barriers that have limited opportunities for students of color, and rejects the notion that test scores and grades should be the sole determinant of admissions. Affirmative Action allows for race and ethnicity to be considered in admissions decisions among fully qualified candidates. In fact, Harvard and other private universities still have “legacy” programs that provide special admissions privileges for sons and daughters of alumni, which also re-enforces racial disparity.

The Asian Pacific American community should not be used as a divisive force by conservative, anti-Affirmative Action forces who oppose racial justice and racial inclusion. Asian Pacific Americans should stand in solidarity with African Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans in defending and expanding Affirmative Action.

​Asian Pacific Americans will never obtain justice and equality until all communities of color obtain justice and equality. APALA supports Affirmative Action at Harvard University, in higher education, and in the work place. 

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