Social Justice Activists Plan to Rebuild National Movement

Mike Liu
2/8/05

Asian American grassroots activists are organizing nationally to rebuild the Asian Pacific Islander Movement as a force for social justice and social change. Organizing conferences are scheduled for Boston, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay Area. The Boston and Bay Area events will be held in February. Plans are also being made to organize a gathering in New York. Eventually activists will organize a national conference to sharpen perspectives and strategies in the fight for social justice and plan for mutual support and coordination.

In a message, organizers stated their beliefs that

-  We are building an Asian/API Movement that stands for full equality, social justice, and social change.

 -  While a lot of people are doing good work in our different issue areas, it is important to develop a larger vision, and, in the long run, a more coordinated strategy, for social change.

 -  There is a lot of class polarization, divisions between different ethnic communities, and a broad spectrum of political ideas.

 -  We see potential in increased activism, especially among youth, and that many people's consciousness has been affected by recent events such as Wen Ho Lee, 9/11, the war on Iraq, and the re-election of Bush.

 - We feel the absence of a strong progressive voice in the Asian/API Movement today, and want to rebuild that voice, not in isolation but in a way that can set a social change tone for our communities and the movement as a whole.

Organizers are involved in community, labor, student, and environmental organizing. The Asian American Movement Ezine is one organization participating in the effort.