Asian American Voter Turnout High on Election Day, but Many Face Problems at Polls

(New York, NY) Asian Americans, especially new citizens and first-time voters, turned out to vote in record numbers today, but many encountered barriers at polling places, ranging from inadequate language assistance, improper requests for identification, and missing names on voter rolls.

The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) dispatched over 1,400 attorneys, law students and community volunteers to over 130 polling places in 11 states with large Asian American populations, who recorded voter complaints and conducted a nonpartisan multilingual exit poll.

AALDEF executive director Margaret Fung said, "Asian Americans faced the same long lines, delays and poll worker confusion over ID requirements as other voters, but their problems were compounded by the lack of language assistance and occasional hostility toward new citizen voters."

AALDEF received hundreds of complaints from Asian American voters on their telephone hotline, 800-966-5946, and from their volunteer poll monitors in 11 states: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Illinois, Louisiana, Texas, Nevada, and Washington, D.C. The preliminary list of voting incidents:

NAMES OF REGISTERED ASIAN AMERICANS NOT ON VOTER ROLLS

CACF 10th Annual Caring for Children Awards Gala is November 12

On Wednesday, November 12 at 6pm, Saru Jayaraman, Julian Liau and Tara Tran Nyuyen, three visionary leaders, will be honored by the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF) for their dedication to advocating for the Asian Pacific American community, at the 10th Annual Caring for Children Awards Gala at Bridgewaters in New York. Bettyconfidential.com's Ernabel Demillo and Sesame Street's Alan Muraoka will emcee the evening's festivities. Individual tickets start at $225. All proceeds to benefit CACF's programs to improve the health and well-being of Asian Pacific American children, youth, and families in New York City.

Saru Jayaraman, Co-Director, Restaurant Opportunities Center United (ROC-United)
Julian Liau, Executive Director, JP Morgan Securities

Hurry - Apply for an AAJA Internship Grant before Friday April 24th!

The Asian American Journalists Association is doing a final push for students to apply for our internship grants this year. Please help us get the word out to your student members. Here's what we have:

1) Print and Online News Grants: Internship grants of up to $2,000 to students. Made possible by the Chicago Tribune Foundation and the William Woo Internship Fund.

2) Broadcast News Grants: Internship Grants of up to $2,500. Made possible by the scholarship fund of Lloyd LaCuesta and the late Sam Chu Lin. The Sam Chu Lin grant is open to males and females and the Lloyd LaCuesta grant will go to a male student.

3) Stanford Chen Internship Grants: Two grants of $3,000 each to college students who are interns at small to medium-size media.

The deadline for is Friday, April 24th. Apply here: http://www.aaja.org/programs/for_students/#journalisminternshipgrants

Regards,

Nao Vang
Student Programs Coordinator

Asian American Journalists Association
1182 Market Street, Suite 320
San Francisco, CA 94102
Telephone: 415-346-2051
Fax: 415-346-6343
Email:

Nationwide Vigils held for Journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee in court June 4 in N. Korea

Vigils for Asian American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee will be held in cities across the U.S. on Wed., June 3.

The two employees of San Francisco-based Current TV - a media venture founded by former Vice President Al Gore - were arrested March 17 near the North Korean border while reporting on refugees living in China.

Both women, allegedly accused by North Korea of crossing into the country illegally from China and committing "hostile acts," will be tried on criminal charges on June 4th.

The organizers of the vigils hope to help influence a positive outcome for Laura and Euna. Supporters are asked to please bring candles to the vigils.

Vigil Locations

New York, N.Y.
Washington Square Park (The Fountain)
6:00 pm 8:00 pm

Washington, D.C.
Freedom Plaz
14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue
6:00 pm 8:00 pm

Chicago, Il.
Chinatown Square Plaza
Cermack and Wentworth Streets
7:30 pm 8:30 pm

Birmingham, Al.
Linn Park (tentatively)
223 Carrington Lane
7:00 pm 10:00 pm

Portland, Or.
South Park Blocks
SW Park Avenue from Salmon Street to Jackson Street
6:30 pm 8:00 pm

San Francisco, Ca.
Front Steps of San Francisco City Hall
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
6:00 pm 8:00 pm

Santa Monica, Ca.
Wokcano
1413 5th Street
7:00 pm 9:00 pm

Sacramento, CA.
L Wine Lounge & Urban Kitchen / California State Capitol Park
1801 L Street