[Miami - June13, 2011] Chinese Community celebrates Father’s Day with Health Day on Saturday, June 18, 2011, from 11 am to 2 pm at Chinese Baptist Church of Miami – 595 SW 124 Avenue, Miami, FL 33184.

◆ Health Screening with blood check, Glucose and Cholesterol screening by Hialeah Hospital
◆ “Hep B Free” presentation by Dr. So Ling Li, Broward Internal Medicine, and Gilead | HEPATICHealth
◆ Overall Senior Health Concerns presentation by Dr. Antonio Wong, Doctors Plus Medical Centers
◆ Senior Medicare Patrol Program by Centers for Medicare/Medicaid Services
◆ Bone Marrow information by the Icla da Silva Foundation

A light lunch will be provided by Gilead | HEPATICHealth.

Health Day is organized by Florida Chinese Federation, Chinese American Benevolent Association, Miami Chinese Welfare Council, Organization of Chinese Americans – South Florida Chapter, Sir Fernando Muy Memorial Foundation, United Chinese Association of Florida, and World Kwong Tung Community Association.

Come and join us for a day of health and fun and win some raffle prizes.

For additional information, please contact Winnie Tang 305-753-8791 and Stella Li (Cantonese-speaking) 305-785‐8978.

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Organizations:

Florida Chinese Federation: founded in 1994, is a community-based organization for promoting charitable, cultural and educational programs.

Chinese American Benevolent Association: is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, founded in 1959 by the first Chinese American settlers in South Florida.

Miami Chinese Welfare Council: dedicated to making the lives of older Chinese people easier and more fulfilling as well as promoting cultural understanding.

Organization of Chinese Americans – South Florida Chapter: founded in 1987, s one of OCA’s 80+ chapters and affiliates across the nation. OCA, founded in 1973 as Organization of Chinese Americans, is a national organization dedicated to advancing the social, political and economic well-being of Asian Pacific Americans in the United States.
Sir Fernando Muy Memorial Foundation: raises funds and supports causes with these donations from the community, to issues important to Sir Fernando – scholarship, immigration and business programs.

United Chinese Association of Florida: is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization established in 2003, whose mission is to promote Chinese culture and encourage Chinese Americans integrate into the mainstream society to enhance social harmony in our diverse community, through the sponsorship of social, cultural and educational programs.

World Kwong Tung Community Association – Miami Chapter: its mission is to unite and strengthen collaboration among Cantonese worldwide in cultural understanding, economic development and welfare benefits; as well as to actively participate at community charities at the local level.

Gilead | HEPATICHealth: is a research-based biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and commercializes innovative medicines in areas of unmet medical need.

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OCA-South Florida Chapter is delighted to support “Leader of the Future” Award Competition — a statewide essay-writing contest — sponsoring by Asian American Federation of Florida (AAFF) South Florida Region.

This Competition is in conjunction with the upcoming AAFF/FMCRC/LDBF Summit — to encourage youth participation and identify future community leaders that can be mentored and who can potentially bring Asian Americans in Florida to a higher level of achievement.

The competition is open to youth between the ages of 15 and 25, who are Florida residents, have an Asian background, and are currently enrolled in high school, college or postgraduate school.

The essay must be 1,000 words or less, about strategies on “How to Empower Youth to Become Future Leaders of Our Community”, and must answer three basic questions:

Part 1 – The Asian American Federation of Florida (AAFF) aims to combine the strengths of Asian community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, schools, media, and businesses; promote Asian heritage; and achieve social, civic, economic and political empowerment for Asian American communities in Florida. If you were the President of AAFF, what specific project will you initiate to achieve these goals?

(The youth contestant may want to visit the AAFF website to have a clear understanding of what AAFF is all about and what it is trying to accomplish. See http://www.asianamericanfederation.org).

Part 2 – Why is there a need to have a strong Asian American Federation of Florida and how can it create a positive impact on the community? What are some of our strengths and weaknesses as Asians that we need to work on for better results for the community?

Part 3 – How can the current leadership encourage youth to be involved with the Asian American Federation of Florida? What can the youth bring to the current leadership and the community to improve and develop individuals, family and community, as part of the Federation and otherwise?

Essays must be submitted by EMAIL – and sent to joybruce@aol.com.

Please submit the following information:
1) Name and Age
2) Ethnicity
3) Address & phone number
4) Name of School (and grade, or level of learning)
5) A short resume including extra-curricular activities and personal accomplishments (if any)

The essay must be submitted ON WORD or PDF FORMAT, AS AN ATTACHMENT WITHOUT IDENTIFYING MARK OR NAME. Entries will be judged based on the content of the essay and the ideas presented.

The three best essays will be chosen for formal presentation by the respective authors who will become part of a panel of speakers on JUNE 17, 2011 during the AAFF Summit at Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Winners will receive:
1) Two nights free hotel accommodation at Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa
(June 15/16 or June 16/17) in Fort Lauderdale – for all 3 winners
2) “Leader of the Future” Awards – for all 3 winners
3) CASH PRIZE:
First Prize - $500
Second Prize - $250
Third Prize - $150

Asian American Federation of Florida
A 501(c)(3) coalition that aims to foster unity and collaboration among the various Asian Pacific American organizations and to improve the relationship of a culturally diverse Asian Pacific American community in Florida. The AAFF is a statewide organization made up of more than 70 Bangladesh, Burmese, Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Iranian, Korean, Laotian, Taiwanese, Thai, Turkish and Vietnamese faith-based and community-based organizations, businesses and media.

659 NE 125 Street, North Miami, FL 33161
305-981-3232 | Fax: 305-9813231 | www.asianamericanfederation.org |
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As of March 31, Florida has recorded only 51% return rate, compared to the national Census return rate of 52%.

“It is very important for you to fill out the Census Form and return it TODAY… the Census Day… to help your COMMUNITY reach an accurate count for our fair share of funding,” says Dennis Murasaki, Vice President of OCA-South Florida Chapter. “If you could not reach the mail box today, you still can mail the Census Form back after April 1. In next few days, US Census Bureau will send out the 2nd waive Census Forms to majority of household. If you have already completed one earlier, you don’t need to do it again. If you misplaced or had not done yet, please fill out this form and mail it back to help your community for better funding to serve you.”

“If you need any assistance to complete your Census Form, there are over hundreds of Questionnaire Assistance Centers in the community,” states Igor Ellis, Treasurer of OCA-South Florida Chapter. “For Chinese, you may visit Coral Springs Chinese Cultural Association in Coral Springs, FL, for the help or call 866-935-2010 in Chinese – Mandarin and 866-872-6868 in English.”

In addition, there are many Be-Counted sites for residents do not receive any Census Forms but want to be counted so they may pick up Be-Counted Census forms in the community. A few of them are in the Asian community including: Chung Hing Oriental Market, PK Oriental Mart, Hong Kong Noodles Restaurant, Little Saigon Restaurant and Dhaka Bazar in North Miami Beach, as well as Coral Springs Chinese Cultural Association in Coral Springs. For more information of Questionnaire Assistance Centers and Be-Counted sites as well as current return rate, please click the link: http://2010.census.gov/2010census/take10map/.

“What we do now will affect our community for the next ten years. PLEASE SEND BACK YOUR CENSUS FORM NOW – not later,” states Dr. Joy Bruce, President of Asian American Federation of Florida. “After April 1, we still need you to mail it back if you don’t want any Census worker to knock on your door.”

US Census can make your voice heard.

Asian community and your community can benefit from the $400 billion federal funding for better serving you.

Founded in 1973 and headquartered in Washington, DC, OCA’s mission is to advance the social, political and economic well-being of APAs. OCA-South Florida Chapter is a proud partner with US Census Bureau, members of Asian American Federation of Florida and Florida Chinese Federation of Florida, is partner with NANAY, Inc., United Chinese Association of Florida, Thai-American Association of South Florida, and many others to engaging local communities on health care and immigration reforms, and advocating on state legislation’s Alien Land Law.

OCA-South Florida Chapter | PO Box 562124 | Miami, FL 33256 | 305-753-8791 | F: 305-278-8775 | OCA-SFL@juno.com | http://khung.com/OCA-SFL

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URGENT PRESS RELEASE

Florida Asians Join Internet March to the Mailbox

Miami, Florida – March 31, 2010

Tomorrow, April 1, is Census Day – the day in which all households in the nation are asked to return their 2010 Census forms in the mail. This is the 23rd time that residents of the United States, including Asians, will have been counted as required by Article 1 of the U.S. Constitution. It is only held every 10 years,

A Census undercount can cost billions of dollars in federal funding. In Florida, the PriceWaterHouse Coopers Census Study reported a 200,670 estimated undercount during the 2000 Census, with an approximate loss of $91.6 Million on federal funding of eight major programs over a ten year period, 2002-2012. The eight programs are Medicaid, Foster Care, Rehabilitation Services Basic Support, Child Care and Development Block Grant, Social Services Block Grant, Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant, Adoption Assistance, and Vocational Education Basic Grants.

The Asians in Florida, in particular, have received very little support from the government, due to their lack of awareness on how the Census could affect them. The 2000 Census, only 266,256 Asians were counted throughout the State of Florida, with the highest count being recorded in Broward (36,581), Miami (31,753) and Orange County(30,033).

“We have a much higher number than that,” says Dr. Joy Bruce, President of the Asian American Federation of Florida that is pushing for an accurate count of Asians in the State. “It is important for us to get accurately counted so that the government and mainstream media will be aware of how much we are contributing to society, and what kind of services, resources and programs we need to meet the needs of our community.”

The Census helps the government identify where to build new roads, schools, hospitals and important community initiatives and programs important to the Asian population, such as education and English-language programs. It helps identify areas where Asians might need services of particular importance to certain racial or ethnic groups, such as screening for heart disease, strokes or diabetes.

As of March 29, Florida has recorded only 41% return rate, compared to the national Census return rate of 46%.

With only one more day before Census Day, the Asian American Federation of Florida is asking all its members to join the INTERNET MARCH TO THE MAILBOX – by sending this e-mail to all their constituents, families, friends and acquaintances, and encouraging them to send back the Census forms NOW, not later.

“It will make a tremendous difference to the Asians for the next ten years, if we all push for an accurate count NOW,” says Winnie Tang, US Census Partnership Specialist for Florida. “The census is an easy, important and safe way to make a difference in your community.”

• The census is easy. One of the shortest census forms in history, the 2010 Census form asks 10 questions and takes about 10 minutes to complete.

• The census is safe. Participation in the census is required for all citizens and noncitizens, and confidentiality is protected. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share respondents’ answers with anyone, including other federal agencies and law enforcement entities. All Census Bureau employees take an oath of nondisclosure and are sworn for life to protect the confidentiality of the data. The penalty for unlawful disclosure is a fine of up to $250,000 or imprisonment of up to five years, or both.

What we do now will affect our community for the next ten years. PLEASE SEND BACK YOUR CENSUS FORM NOW – not later.

NANAY and the Asian American Federation of Florida are partners with the 2010 Census. The census will be mailed or delivered to over 130 million households in less than a year, but it’s never too early to start letting people in your community know about it! CENSUS DAY IS APRIL 1, 2010.

Please visit our website at http://www.nanay.com to know about our services to elders and youth.
Please visit our website at www.asianamericanfederation.org to know more about the Asian American community in Florida.
Please visit our website at http://www.ace-international-philippines.org to know more about our projects in the Philippines.

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[Miami, FL - October 14, 2009] OCA-South Florida Chapter strongly supports active participation at the upcoming 2010 Census.

OCA-South Florida Chapter is joining Filipino-American Coalition of Florida for a Statewide Asian meeting on Sunday, October 25, at Orlando Marriott Hotel Downtown – 400 W. Livingston Street, in Orlando.

“We are very excited that this Statewide Asian meeting is a historic opportunity to bring together Florida Asian community members from across the state to work together for the betterment of Asian community in Florida”, states Winnie Tang, President of OCA-South Florida Chapter. “Most importantly, the first project is a timely issue – 2010 Census initiative.”

“It is very important for us to be counted so we will receive our share of funding for our community development,” says Dennis Murasaki, Vice President of OCA-South Florida Chapter. “Therefore, it is equally important for us to take the first step to attend this first-ever Statewide Asian Meeting to strategize how to outreach our Asian community effectively and be counted in the 2010 Census.”

Two weeks ago, Thursday, October 1, 2009 is the half-year out mark for the 2010 census.

The CENSUS is coming — and will shape our future for the next 10 years.

The accuracy of the census directly affects our nation’s ability to ensure equal representation and equal access to important governmental resources for all Americans.

Founded in 1973 as Organization of Chinese Americans, OCA is a national Asian Pacific American social justice organization and headquartered in Washington, D.C. OCA is an official 2010 Census Partner and a Census Information Center. OCA-South Florida Chapter was founded in 1987 and is an official 2010 Census Partner. OCA-South Florida Chapter is one of 80 chapters and affiliates around the country.

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The Filipino-American Coalition of Florida is hosting a STATEWIDE MEETING of All Interested Asian and Asian American Organizations in Florida on SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2009 (8:30 am – 2:30 pm) at

Orlando Marriott Hotel Downtown
400 W. Livingston St.
Orlando, FL
407-843-6664

GOAL: To unite and coordinate the Asian organizations across Florida so we can be more empowered, more solid and more effective in addressing issues that affect our community (beginning with 2010 Census).

SUNDAY – OCTOBER 25, 2009

Statewide Asian Meeting
Agenda

7:30 am -8:30 am
Breakfast at Hotel/Registration

8:30 am – 9:00 am
Welcome, Call To Order and Self-Introductions
Lita Martija, Filam Coalition Convenor – Facilitating

9:00 am – 9:15 am
Rationale for Statewide Asian Coalition Meeting
Joy Bruce – Presenting

9:15 am – 12:00 am
Statewide Asian Organizational Issues – Open Forum
Val Dagani, Esq. – Facilitating

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
– LUNCH

1:00 pm – 1:15 pm
2010 Asian Census Overview – Powerpoint Presentation
Winnie Tang – 2010 Census Partnership Specialist & Team Leader of Florida Asian Team

1:15 pm – 2:00 pm
2010 Statewide Asian Census Action Plans (Focus Group Discussions)
– Individual Asian Leaders Facilitating Special Focus Groups

2:00 pm – 2:30 pm
2010 Asian Census Focus Group Action Plan Summary Reports

2:30 pm
– Adjournment

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PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE A REGISTRATION FEE OF $35 PER ATTENDEE TO COVER BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND MEETING VENUE.

PLEASE CONFIRM PARTICIPATION AND RSVP BY OCT 21 (FOR MEETING ATTENDANCE) via email to: Leilani.Fontanilla@ FLHOSP.ORG (Meeting Coordinator)

A Special Room Rate is available for those planning to stay overnight (Deadline for Room Reservation: Oct 17)

A FILAM-COALITION MEETING IS ALSO SCHEDDULED TO BE HELD THE DAY BEFORE (SATURDAY – OCT 24, 2009) AT THE SAME VENUE. A SEPARATE FORMAL ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY THE FILAM COALITION CONVENOR, LITA MARTIJA.

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Wednesday, April 1, 2009 is the one-year out mark for the 2010 census.

The CENSUS is coming — and will shape our future for the next 10 years.

The accuracy of the census directly affects our nation’s ability to ensure equal representation and equal access to important governmental resources for all Americans.

In fact, census data is the basis for determining how $300 billion per year in federal funds is distributed to state and local governments. This money is used for schools, road systems, healthcare for low-income children, veterans’ services and senior nutrition programs, and public services that benefit our state and our communities.

“Since our community is over 60% immigrant population with high language challenges, we are at greater risk of not getting counted than others, thus leaving our communities with fewer resources,” says Winnie Tang, President of OCA-South Florida Chapter. “Therefore, our chapter is urging South Florida’s Chinese and Asian communities to participate in 2010 to ensure a fair and accurate census count as one of the most significant civil rights and equal rights issues facing our country today.”

Founded in 1973 as Organization of Chinese Americans, OCA, a national Asian Pacific American social justice organization, is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and has over 80 chapters and affiliates around the country. OCA is an official 2010 Census Partner and a Census Information Center. OCA-South Florida Chapter was founded in 1987 and is an official 2010 Census Partner.

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[Miami, Florida -- March 3, 2009] OCA-South Florida is most delighted to support the Women’s International Film Festival (WIFF) by hosting an Asian Night on Thursday, March 5, 2009 at Cinema Paradiso – 503 SE 6 Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL.

At the WIFF’s Asian Night – East Meets West – A reel-life Journey through the lives of women from China, Taiwan and India featuring seven films and documentaries about women and produced and/or directed by women.

“OCA-South Florida commends WIFF for their effort to support and promote women, who represent only 5-7% of the global film industry,” states Winnie Tang, President of OCA-South Florida Chapter and member of WIFF’s Board of Directors. “Among these films, we are proud to see Andrea Lwin, one of our local Asian American young women, who produces a short film of herself hoping to catch her big-break in Hollywood after moving from Fort Lauderdale.”

“At this Asian Night, we also cherish the documentary of the extraordinary work of the late Iris Chang – The Rape of Nanking – the forgotten holocaust of World War II,” says Winnie Tang. “It was a great loss of the Chinese American community that Historian Iris Chang won many battles but lost the war raging within her in 2004.”

For more information / tickets, please contact 305-693-9800 or www.womensfilmfest.com.

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WOMEN’S International film festival
In cooperation with

South Florida Economic Foundation

present

EAST MEETS WEST

A REEL-LIFE JOURNEY THROUGH THE LIVES OF WOMEN FROM

CHINA, TAIWAN AND INDIA

March 5th – Thursday (6-10pm)

at

Cinema Paradiso

503 SE 6 Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Capacity to Transform

Directed by Mary Buckley

28 minutes • 6:00pm

USA/India Documentary – World Premiere

Capacity to Transform, a moving portrait of three Indian NGO leaders, Ksmama Metre, Mallika Sarabhai and Sheela Patel. A physician, a performing artist, and a sociologist guide women centered community networks to establish self- reliance programs. Basic human needs such as housing, health care, clean water, and education are the agenda items; and community women are finding exciting and empowering solutions to meet the challenges.

Gearing Up

Directed by Sheetal S. Agarwal

Hong Kong, 27 minutes • 6:30pm

East Coast Premiere

The Indian Institutes of Technology (‘IITs’) are regarded as the hardest engineering school in the world to enter, with a success rate of 2% in the entrance examination. Their alumni have run international companies (Sun Microsystems, Vodafone, Citigroup etc) and can be found everywhere from Silicon Valley to Wall Street. ‘Gearing Up’ is the story of four teenagers leading up to the IIT entrance examination – considered by many as the most important in their lives.

In Search Of The Bene Israel

Producer & Director: Sadia Shepard

38 minutes • 7:00pm

Regional Premiere/Florida Premiere

When filmmaker and author Sadia Shepard’s Jewish Indian grandmother married her Muslim grandfather and moved to Pakistan, she became separated from the Bene Israel community of Bombay that she was raised in. Before Shepard’s grandmother died, she promised her that she would return to her birthplace to learn about the way of life she had left behind. In Search of the Bene Israel is the story of the filmmaker’s journey to reconnect with the Bene Israel, a group of less than 5000 who believe that they were shipwrecked in India 2000 years ago and are in the process of a community-wide migration to Israel.

Artemesia

Directed by Chiang Hsiu-chiung

Taiwan, 85 minutes • 8:00 pm

The movie follows Wu Ai-tsao who, like the plant that gave its name to the film, has to adapt to its environment in order to survive. A devoted mother, Wu tries to strike a balance between her conservative upbringing and her children raised in a fast-changing society.

Forgive

Directed by Manjinder Virk

United Kingdom, 14 minutes • 9:15pm

World Premiere

Not everything can be forgiven but some things can be forgotten. Forgive tells the heartbreaking story of a father and a son. Two conversations, five years apart, alter their paths for the rest of their lives.

SLANTED

Directed by Andrea Lwin

USA, 6 minutes • 9:30 pm

The story a Chinese Muslim family who have lived in Fort Lauderdale since the 80s. True to their culture, Jinda and Nyunt Lwin share their house with their three grown children. The story revolves around 26-year old Andrea, an aspiring actress, who must navigate the culturally limited world of Fort Lauderdale’s acting community in the hopes of catching her “big break” so she can finally move to Hollywood and free herself from her meddling immigrant parents.

Iris Chang, The Rape of Nanking

Directed by Bill Spahic

Canada, 96 minutes • 10:00pm

Regional Premiere

Iris Chang: The Rape Of Nanking is a feature documentary about a young Chinese-American author’s journey into the darkest reaches of humanity as she researched and wrote her best selling book, ‘The Rape of Nanking’. Iris Chang’s harrowing experience and dogged determination uncovers in graphic detail the forgotten holocaust of World War II when almost 300,000 Chinese women, children and soldiers were in a matter of weeks systematically raped, tortured and murdered by the invading Japanese forces.

TICKETS: 305-653-9700

www.womensfilmfest.com

[Miami, Florida -- November 9, 2008] OCA-South Florida Chapter, one of 80 chapters and college affiliates of a national Asian Pacific American organization, is disappointed that Amendment 1 — Alien Land Law 1926 — was defeated on Tuesday, 11/4/08, apparently because some voters incorrectly assumed it would prevent illegal immigrants from owning property.

On the day when Florida helped make history by giving its Electoral College votes to the first African-American president, Florida also voted to keep, in its Constitution, an 80-year-old discriminatory provision that every other state has purged from its governing document.

On November 4, 52% of Florida voters voted “No” to keep this outdated provision. By opposing this measure, some voters erroneously believed this old law could be used to prevent foreign terrorist groups or illegal immigrants from buying real estate.

Most importantly, 48% of over 3.4 million Floridians (including most civil rights and immigrant groups) supported this initiative without any resistance.

Here is a brief history behind this provision.

The Alien Land Law was originated in the early 1900s. It was feared that Asian immigrants, primarily those from Japan, would work for less on farms and saved up money to buy land. American farmers felt threatened. In 1913, California was the first state to adopt the policy of “alien land laws” banning foreigners ineligible for citizenship to own or purchase any land or property based on their ethnicity. At that time, Asian immigrants were the only group not permitted to become citizens.

In 1926, the law was added to the Florida Constitution in Article I, Section 2 because Floridians worried that Japanese farmers, 30,000 of whom had been tossed off their farms by alien land laws in California, would come East.

This measure was based on two Naturalization laws: the original Naturalization Act of 1790 provided that “[a]ny alien being a free white person… may be admitted to become a citizen…” This was amended in 1870, after the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution, to provide that naturalization be permitted only of “aliens, being free white persons and to aliens of African nativity and to persons of African descent”.

Others were referred to as “aliens ineligible to citizenship”.

Asian-American groups began a state-by-state campaign to remove this vestige of the Jim Crow era. Kansas, Wyoming and New Mexico were the most recent states to do so. Florida should have done so on Tuesday, 11/4.

Prior to the Election, Florida voters were confused with the language of Amendment 1 on the long paper ballot. They wanted to know what a “Yes” vote would mean, since it read, “Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to delete provisions authorizing the Legislature to regulate or prohibit the ownership, inheritance, disposition, and possession of real property by aliens ineligible for citizenship.”

After Election 2008, Florida remains the only state to still have such an outdated law in its Constitution.

“OCA doesn’t think the defeat of the Amendment 1 meant that Floridians are against Asian Americans. This is simply a misinterpretation of the language,” states Winnie Tang, President of Organization of Chinese American – South Florida Chapter. “Even an attorney friend of mine thought that a “No” vote would delete the provision.”

“After this defeat of six years hard-work, it only energizes us to work more closely with the state legislature to get this in the 2010 ballot,” continued Tang. “We would like to thank the media for getting this information to the public and a coalition will be formed so that we will be better prepared for 2010.”

“It is unfortunate that the language of the provision was unclear and may have allowed people to believe that this law would help illegal immigrants gain benefits or access,” voices Josephine Gordy, member of the Miami-Dade County of Asian American Advisory Board. “We will continue our efforts to outreach and educate the public on this part of our state history.”

“Although this law is not enforceable, we need to delete it from the Constitution,” states Dr. Joy Bruce, President of NANAY. “Otherwise, this will be kept in the book from generation to generation as it is now. That’s why we will continue to fight until it gets deleted.”

“As I had experienced the climate in which language such as the Alien Land Law was acceptable, it is with great satisfaction that I see that almost all the states have rescinded this law,” states Dennis Murasaki, member of Japanese American Citizen League – Atlanta Chapter. “With time Florida voters also will remove this law, closing a dark chapter in our country’s history.”

For more information, please contact Winnie Tang at 305-753-8791 or visit OCA-South Florida Chapter.

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New York Times Article:

In Florida, an Initiative Intended to End Bias Is Killed

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/06/us/06florida.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=winnie%20tang&st=cse&oref=slogin

DW News of New York Article in Chinese:

多维专访：奥巴马效应无助歧视亚裔宪法删改
DW News: Obama’s victory doesn’t help to remove dicriminated against Asian’s Constitution (Translated Title)

http://www.dwnews.com/gb/MainNews/SinoNews/Oversea/2008_11_7_17_51_43_33.html

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Amendment #1 Repeals Alien Land Law of 1926 in Florida

Constitutional amendment to delete provisions authorizing Legislature to regulate or prohibit ownership, inheritance, disposition, & possession of real property by aliens ineligible for citizenship. Amends Section 2, Article I.

[Miami, Florida -- October 13, 2008] OCA-South Florida Chapter, one of 80 chapters and college affiliates of a national Asian Pacific American organization, urges Floridian voters to vote “YES” on Amendment #1 to repeal the so-called Alien land law of 1926 from the Florida Constitution.

Florida is the final and only state to still have a constitution with vestiges of racial discrimination in the book: a rule allowing legislators to ban Asian immigrants from owning land.

The laws cropped up in the early 1900′s amid fear that Asian immigrants, primarily those from Japan, would work for less than Americans on farms and saved up money to buy land. California was the first to adopt the policy in 1913 – alien land laws banned foreigners ineligible for citizenship to own or purchase any land or property based on their ethnicity.

Alien land laws

Anti-Japanese prejudice was common in the early 1900′s on the West Coast, especially in California. Some whites feared that the immigrants would take away their jobs, while others, notably farmers, were resentful of the bountiful crops raised by the Japanese farmers.

Created to ban Japanese farmers from leasing or owning property, the “alien land law” was adopted by California in 1913.

Alien Land Laws soils Florida

Similar acts were passed in other states.

Back then, Floridians were mostly worried that Japanese farmers, 30,000 of whom had been tossed off their farms by alien land laws in California, would come East.

In 1926, the law was added to the Florida Constitution in Article I, the section that lays out basic rights such as the right to own property, except in the case of “aliens ineligible for citizenship”.

At that time, only Asians were ineligible to become U.S. citizens.

Immigration Laws

The measure was meant to keep “aliens ineligible for citizenship” from owning land. This clause derived from two Naturalization laws: the original Naturalization Act of 1790 provided that “[a]ny alien being a free white person… may be admitted to become a citizen…” This was amended in 1870, after the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution, to provide that naturalization was permitted only of “aliens, being free white persons and to aliens of African nativity and to persons of African descent”. Others were referred to as “aliens ineligible to citizenship”.

Asian immigrants were classified as neither, and thus were denied American citizenship. The 1924 Immigration Act not only barred Asians from immigrating to the United States, but also made those of Asian descent already in the United States ineligible for naturalization. Whites and blacks, however, could still become naturalized.

Repeal success and failure

In 1952, the California Supreme Court found the Alien Land Law of 1913 unconstitutional. Most states did away with the law between 1940 and 1960.

The effort to get rid of the measure where it remained was revived in 2000 by a group of University of Cincinnati law review students who discovered only four states still had it on the books, Wyoming, Kansas, New Mexico and Florida. In 2001, Wyoming and Kansas repealed their anti-Japanese laws.

But Florida and New Mexico laws were in the state constitutions, requiring voter approval to have them struck. Voters in New Mexico defeated the proposed amendment first time by a vote of 46 to 54 percent in 2004 and then 70% approved by the voters over in 2006. Leaving Florida is the final state with the law.

Action in Florida

“All of the alien land laws are now unconstitutional under federal law, but they should still be repealed,” Jack Chin, a professor at the University of Arizona who ran the Alien Land Law Project with law students of University of Cincinnati to draw attention to the issue. In 2001, over 100 legal scholars from around the nation supported this project by signing a letter calling for its removal to Florida legislature.

Since 2002, OCA-South Florida Chapter has been working with Senator Geller, former Rep. Brutus, Rep. Brise and other state legislators to push for the removal of the discriminatory language from the Florida State Constitution.

For the past 6 years, OCA-South Florida Chapter has worked with local community organizations such as NANAY Inc., Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Florida, ACLU, NAACP Miami-Dade Chapter, Florida Chinese Federation, United Chinese Association of Florida, Filipino American Coalition of Florida and many other groups throughout Florida to support the repeal of alien land law.

Finally, in May 2007, 83 State Representatives and 39 State Senators supported Senator Geller’s push to delete the “bizarre” and “racist” wording from the State Constitution .

Florida Voters will make that choice in November.

Constitution Language

The measure of the offending provision is not apparent to the naked eye.

Ironically contained in Article I, section 2 – a portion of the constitution spelling out basic, inalienable rights – the phrase states “except that the ownership, inheritance, disposition and possession of real property by aliens ineligible for citizenship may be regulated or prohibited by law.”

Ineligibility targeted people’s races not their actions

Voting to support the amendment would be “purely symbolic” because neither Asians or any other ethnic group are barred from citizenship based on their races.

Today in Florida, Americans of Asian descent own property; their rights are guaranteed by the U.S. Supreme Court.

By removing the discriminatory language to support the proposal, Floridian voters would close a final dark chapter of the state’s history – a racist law.

It should be clear that the “ineligibility” Law is targeted toward people based on race, not by their actions. This is why it was ruled as unconstitutional because it’s about who you are, not what you do.

“Although the alien land law is not enforced today and is, in fact, illegal under federal court rulings and equal-protection law and it doesn’t look right to still have this language in the 21st Century,” said Winnie Tang, OCA-South Florida Chapter President. “We have worked with the State Legislature and community groups for over 5 years and, in May 2007, won the first battle to finally place the repeal of alien land law on 2008 Ballot. Now, we need to work with voters to put the final say to remove it from the State’s Constitution.”

“These laws are still on the Florida Constitution – not because anyone still wants them there – but because there were so many racially discriminatory provisions in our state statute books that it has taken decades to find them, long after they had been declared federally unconstitutional,” says Dr. Joy Bruce, Founding President of NANAY, Inc. “To set the records straight, we are asking for the removal an 82-year-old rule from the Florida State Constitution that has never been put to use. This amendment is long overdue.”

“Florida will have this amendment relating to Property Rights/Ineligible Aliens on the November ballot. Before you cast you ballot, read and understand the amendment. Your ‘YES’ vote will remove outdated and discriminatory language from our Florida Declaration of Rights.,” stated Rita Acoba, member of Panhandle Asian Republican Women Network, Panama City.

For more information, please contact Winnie Tang or visit OCA-South Florida Chapter.

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[Miami, Florida - October 1, 2008] The NANAY, Inc. and OCA – South Florida Chapter will conduct the first-ever voter education — Presidential Debate Watch Party in the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.

This election is about connecting with friends and neighbors.

So bring a friend or neighbor to a Presidential or Vice Presidential Debate Watch Party! It’s okay if they haven’t decided who they’re supporting. That’s the purpose of watching the Debate with them, and getting energized by the excitement in the room!

There are hundreds of Debate Watch Parties throughout America. Some are organized by individuals, some are organized by groups/clubs, some are non-partisan, and some are organized by the campaign. This one is by Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.

What:

Vice Presidential Debate Watch Party

When:

8 to 10 p.m. on Thursday, October 2, 2008

Where:

NANAY Community Center
659 NE 125 Street, North Miami, FL 33161

Why:

Historically, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) have not participated actively in our democratic process. Voter turnout in our community lags behind that of whites, African-Americans and Latinos. The percentage of the Asian American population registered to vote remains among the lowest of all ethnic groups. As the fastest growing minority group in the United States, and as a group with an increasing number of community-specific social and political challenges, it is increasingly important that APAs play an active role in American politics and government.

AAPIs are 2.2% of the total population of Florida (18 millions). AApIs have increased to nearly 400,000 in Florida – five folds since Census 2000 — but too few AAPIs vote.
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This non-partisan Presidential Debate Watch Party is sponsored by NANAY (National Alliance to Nurture the Aged and the Youth) and OCA-South Florida Chapter.

The purpose of the Presidential Debate Water Party is to watch and listen the debate between two Vice President candidates, Joe Biden and Sara Palin, so watchers will have first opportunity to share their feedback and standings after hearing Candidate’s positions and make informed decisions before voting.

As part of AAPI Get-Out-The-Vote initiative, we welcome everyone to come to the Debate Watch Party so those has not yet registered to be registered before the Voter Registration deadline October 6 for eligible to vote this November.

“As advocates for AAPI, we want to provide more opportunities for Asian American and Pacific Islander community to learn more about this November Presidential election,” said Winnie Tang, President of OCA-South Florida Chapter. “This Presidential Debate Watch Party is one of significant avenues to help members of our community cast their votes come November.”

“We need to know how the candidates stand on various issues that will affect our Asian American and Pacific Islander community so that we can make informed decisions when we vote,“ said Dr. Joy Bruce, President of NANAY, Inc. “I am glad Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are finally speaking up and getting heard.”

For more information, contact Winnie Tang at 305-753-8791.

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N A N A Y, Inc., founded in 1994, is a charitable organization dedicated to promote the health, welfare and well being of the elders, youth, and community
NANAY, Inc.
659 NE 125 Street, North Miami, FL 33161
305-981-3232 | F 305-981-3231 | www.NANAY.com |

OCA, founded in 1973 as Organization of Chinese Americans, a national organization dedicated to advancing the social, political and economic well-being of Asian Pacific Americans in the United States. South Florida Chapter founded in 1987 in Miami.
OCA-South Florida Chapter
P O Box 562124, Miami, FL 33256
305-753-8791 | F 305-278-8775 | OCA-SFL@juno.com | http://khuang.com/OCA-SFL |

What:

Candidates Forum on Asian Pacific American Issues

When:

2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008

Where:

NANAY Community Center
659 NE 125 Street, North Miami, FL 33161

Why:

Historically, Asian Pacific Americans (APAs) have not participated actively in our democratic process. Voter turnout in our community lags behind that of whites, African-Americans and Latinos. The percentage of the Asian American population registered to vote remains among the lowest of all ethnic groups. As the fastest growing minority group in the United States, and as a group with an increasing number of community-specific social and political challenges, it is increasingly important that APAs play an active role in American politics and government.

APAs are 2.2% of the total population of Florida (18 millions). APAs have increased to nearly 400,000 in Florida – five folds since Census 2000 — but too few APAs vote.

Who:

Invited Presidential Candidates:
- Senator John McCain, Republican Party
- Senator Barack Obama, Democratic Party

Invited US House of Representatives 18th District Candidates:
- Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Incumbent, Republican Party
- Annette Taddeo, Candidate, Democratic Party

Invited US House of Representatives 21st District Candidates:
- Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Incumbent, Republican Party
- Raul Martinez, Candidate, Democratic Party

Invited US House of Representatives 25th District Candidates:
- Mario Diaz-Balart, Incumbent, Republican Party
- Joe Garcia Raul Martinez, Candidate, Democratic Party

This non-partisan forum is sponsored by NANAY (National Alliance to Nurture the Aged and the Youth) and OCA-South Florida Chapter and is supported by 20 co-sponsoring community organizations. Each candidate has been invited to make a short introductory statement to be followed by a question and answer session on a range of issues that impact Asian Pacific American community.

The purpose of this Forum is to give candidates for President and House Representatives an opportunity to address a wide range of issues that affect community sustainability and livability in our community and country. At the Forum, APAs will hear Candidate’s positions and make informed decisions before voting.

As part of APA Get-Out-The-Vote initiative, new voters’ registration will be available.

“As advocates for APA, we want to know who is truly committed to making a positive difference for Asian Pacific American community,” said Winnie Tang, President of OCA-South Florida Chapter. “Information gained from this forum will help members of our community cast their votes come November.”

“We need to know about issues that will be put on ballot in November and how candidates feel about Asian Pacific American issues so that we can make informed decisions “ said Dr. Joy Bruce, President of NANAY, Inc. “I am glad that Asian Pacific Americans are finally speaking up and getting heard.”

For more information, contact Winnie Tang at 305-753-8791.

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