Laura Ling and Euna Lee are headed back the U.S. with Bill Clinton

In this photo released by China's Xinhua News Agency, American journalists Laura Ling, left, and Euna Lee, second right, walk to a chartered plane at an airport in Pyongyang, North Korea on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2009. Former U.S. President Bill Clinton left Pyongyang early Wednesday accompanied by Lee and Ling after North Korean leader Kim Jong Il pardoned the two from their 12-year prison sentences.
(AP Photo/Xinhua, Zhang Binyang)

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton greets U.S. journalists Laura Ling (in green) and Euna Lee (in red) as they board a chartered plane at an airport in Pyongyang August 5, 2009 in this photo released by China's official Xinhua News Agency. North Korea said on Wednesday it had pardoned the two jailed American journalists after Clinton met the reclusive state's leader Kim Jong-il, a move some analysts said could pave the way to direct nuclear disarmament talks. REUTERS/Xinhua/Zhang Binyang

Statement by the President on the release of Laura Ling and Euna Lee

For Immediate Release August 5, 2009

STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT ON THE RELEASE OF LAURA LING AND EUNA LEE

South Lawn
9:37 A.M. EDT

Activist and Scholar L. Ling-chi Wang is retiring from the board of the civil rights organization that he co-founded, Chinese for Affirmative Action.

Today, L. Ling-chi Wang steps down from the board of the civil rights organization that he co-founded 40 years ago in San Francisco, the Chinese for Affirmative Action.

Wang, a professor emeritus in ethnic studies at UC Berkeley said he will continue to support CAA's work and says he has great faith in the leadership of Vincent Pan, the current Executive Director of CAA.

Wang fought for equal employment opportunities for Chinese Americans in many industries, including desegregating the all-male, all-white mainstream newsrooms of San Francisco in the late 1960s and early 70s.

Professor Wang will be interviewed by CAA Board of Trustees member Jeff Chang at its annual meeting Thursday February 4, 2010 from 5:30pm to 8:30pm at the YWCA Apartments 940 Powell Street (at Clay Street).

CAA 2010 Membership Meeting
Thursday, February 4, 2010
5:30 pm - 8:30 p.m.
YWCA Apartments
940 Powell Street (at Clay Street)

Featuring a conversation with:

Ling-chi Wang
CAA co-founder and Associate Professor Emeritus of Ethnic Studies at UC Berkeley

Jeff Chang
Writer and CAA Trustee

Vincent Pan
CAA Executive Director

Food, drinks, childcare and Cantonese interpretation provided. To RSVP or request childcare and interpretation, please contact Eric at