St. Paul, Minnesota -
On July 22, 2006, 19 year old Fong Lee was shot and killed by a Minneapolis police officer.
On May 28, 2009 a Federal jury ruled that Officer Jason Andersen did not use excessive force when he shot and killed Lee, ruling against Fong Lee's family's wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Minneapolis. Lee's family asserts that Fong was unarmed and running away on foot from the police officer.
Elvis Thao, a member of the Hmong community in Minnesota, and actor, hip-hop performer and musician in Clint Eastwood's award-winning 2008 movie Gran Torino, contributes this poem in tribute to Fong Lee.
St. Paul, Minnesota -
On July 22, 2006, 19 year old Fong Lee was shot and killed by a Minneapolis police officer.
On May 28, 2009 a Federal jury ruled that Officer Jason Andersen did not use excessive force when he shot and killed Lee, ruling against Fong Lee's family's wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Minneapolis.
Elvis Thao, a member of the Hmong community in Minnesota, and actor, performer and musician in Clint Eastwood's award-winning 2008 movie Gran Torino, contributes this poem in tribute to Fong Lee.
"In the Memory of Injustice" is written and performed by Tou SaiKo Lee ft. Xaiesque and Proto-J
The Verdict:
News story by Brandt Williams Minnesota Public Radio.
The Case:
News story by Rochelle Olson Star Tribune
The poetry is accompanied by music, however we are only able to reprint the text-only version here:
In the Memory of Injustice
In the...
New America Media, the nation's first and largest collaboration and advocate of ethnic news media has issued the following statement on immigration reform.
AsianConnections.com, and more than 230 other ethnic media outlets have joined forces in supporting New America Media's call for reform.
With the massive audience reach and power of more than 230 media outlet partners, NAM is sending this message to Congress and the White House.
Released by New America Media
Time for immigration Reform is Now
The White House and members of Congress must move quickly on enacting a just and humane immigration reform package that will reunite families, reinvigorate the economy, and remove the term illegal or undocumented immigrants from the dialogue in this country.
Ethnic media, which reaches over 60 million adults in the United States, calls on Congress to move decisively on immigration reform because there are few issues as important to the nation's well-being as an overhaul of the inefficient, inhumane and economically debilitating immigration system.
More importantly, we are also urging our readers and viewers to contact their Senators and Congressmen and let them know that immigration reform must be a national priority.
The immigration system is broken not just for 12 million undocumented immigrants, but also for specialized workers blocked from joining the American economy because of narrow quotas, and mothers and fathers and brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens who must wait for...
by Sing Tao Daily - New America Media
June 29, 2009
OAKLAND -
The City of Oakland first green job training commencement was held at Laney College on Monday. The Sing Tao Daily reports 38 graduates from different ethnic groups said, We are ready to the millions of green job opportunities that President Obama had promised.
All the graduates had been previously laid off. They learned how to install solar panels; fix wind power electricity generators; produce bio-fuel and took other classes on recyclable energy resources in the 12-week training program.
According to the American Solar Energy Society, there will be 16-37 million green jobs available to people being laid off by 2030.
by Sing Tao Daily - New America Media
June 29, 2009
OAKLAND -
The City of Oakland first green job training commencement was held at Laney College on Monday. The Sing Tao Daily reports 38 graduates from different ethnic groups said, We are ready to the millions of green job opportunities that President Obama had promised.
All the graduates had been previously laid off. They learned how to install solar panels; fix wind power electricity generators; produce bio-fuel and took other classes on recyclable energy resources in the 12-week training program.
According to the American Solar Energy Society, there will be 16-37 million green jobs available to people being laid off by 2030.
Related:
Free Laura Ling and Euna Lee Vigils held in Sacramento, San Francisco, Phoenix, Paris and Washington D.C. on July 9. 2009
Today marks the 114th day since American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee were detained in North Korea.
On March 17, 2009, Laura Ling and and Euna Lee, two employees of San Francisco-based Current TV a media venture founded by former Vice President Al Gore, were shooting video along the China/North Korea border for a story they were working on about the trafficking of women in the region. They were stopped by North Korean border guards and arrested immediately thereafter. Both women were transported to Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, where they remained under arrest until their trial.
A verdict in their closed trial was reached on June 8, and both Laura and Euna were sentenced to 12 years of reform through labor for illegal entry and grave crimes against the North Korean state.
Since the sentencing, the families have received calls on a few occasions. During the second call received on the evening of July 7, Laura and Euna reported that they are being treated fairly and are being seen by physicians. In their most recent call, they asked for continued support from our country and its citizens for their amnesty.
Both Laura and Euna communicated to their families that they did violate North Korean law and confessed to all of the charges levied against them. They, along with their families, have expressed deep regret for their actions.
Laura,...
Ex-President Bill Clinton Visits North Korea Tuesday for Detained Journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee
Today marks the 139th day since American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee were detained in North Korea.
On March 17, 2009, Laura Ling and and Euna Lee, two employees of San Francisco-based Current TV – a media venture founded by former Vice President Al Gore, were shooting video along the China/North Korea border for a story they were working on about the trafficking of women in the region. They were stopped by North Korean border guards and arrested immediately thereafter. Both women were transported to Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, where they remained under arrest until their trial.
A verdict in their closed trial was reached on June 8, and both Laura and Euna were sentenced to 12 years of reform through labor for illegal entry and grave crimes against the North Korean state.
Since the sentencing, the families have received calls, and during the second call in July, Laura told her sister Lisa Ling that she and Euna did violate North Korean law and confessed to all of the charges levied against them. They expressed deep regret for their actions and asked for continued support from our country and its citizens for their amnesty.
An article in today's edition of The Korea Herald reports that Ex-President Clinton is scheduled to visit North Korea on Tuesday to secure the release of detained American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee. According to Yonhap...