nwasianweekly.com
May 6, 2006

(Photo by Ann-Marie Stillion)

Young Asian Americans hurry towards Jackson Street to support the immigration rally on Monday.

A show of unity at immigrants' rally

Last month, we were disappointed to see only a handful of Asian Americans among the 25,000 who marched through Chinatown/International District to demand immigration reform. What a difference a few weeks makes.

On Monday, Asian Americans were the largest racial group in the rally, outside of Latinos. With colorful signs and gigantic banners, these black-clad activists were organized and ready to support their Latino brothers and sisters. Before the march, the Asians gathered a few blocks from the starting point, then traveled as a group to merge with the rest of the marchers.

Observers estimate the total number of Asians and Pacific Islanders to be more than 500. The group looked even bigger because they marched as a unit, taking up a significant part of a city block. A number of community organizations were represented, including Asian Counseling and Referral Service, the Japanese American Citizens League, the Organization of Chinese Americans and the Korean American Voters Alliance. There were also Filipinos and South Asians, people young and old.

One Japanese American activist who was part of the march, Sharon Maeda, was heartened to see a “who’s who of the community” there, including “’60s activists, church leaders, high school and college students and faculty, professionals from CBOs, government and private sectors.”

It was a wonderful show of unity and support for Latino immigrants. The Asian community made it known that it will always stand up for other people of color, that it will always stand up for justice and civil rights.

What a way to kick off Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, which began on the same day as the immigrants’ rally.

Maeda attributed the large turnout partly to the Northwest Asian Weekly, which pointed out in a front-page article that few Asians marched in the April rally. This newspaper also printed a letter from one reader who chided the community for failing to understand that the immigration issue affects not just Latinos, but Asians as well.

Just like many Latinos, Asians came to this country as immigrants. We want to be in America not because we want a free ride or because we want an easier life. We are here to work hard — to do whatever it takes to achieve the American dream and create better opportunities for our children. Just like Latinos, Asians have taken the most dirty and backbreaking jobs in America in order to support our families.

Despite our contributions, we still must wait years and jump through hurdle after hurdle to attain American citizenship. Those of us who want to bring family over often have to wait decades due to tightened government restrictions.

Asians share a similar plight with Latinos and other immigrants. It only makes sense that we join forces. There is strength in numbers. What’s more, our unity shows lawmakers that we refuse to be pitted against one another. They can’t destroy us by dividing us.
Through unity, all of us win.

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