APANO’s Board of Directors appointed Eugene area Board Member Melissa “Mimi” Nolledo to facilitate the writing and submission of a community response to the tasering of a University of Oregon international student from China on September 22, 2009. The following commentary was published in the Oregonian, Eugene Register-Guard, University of Oregon Daily Emerald,and submitted to the Salem Statesmen Journal.
Thanks to Mimi and our community partners who signed on to this public letter.
October 29, 2009
RE: TASERING NOT THE ONLY ISSUE
We appreciate your active reporting on the tasering of a Chinese international student living in Eugene. While we wait for more facts to emerge regarding police and landlord behavior, it is important to state the context in which Oregon’s Asians and Pacific Islanders live, regardless of residency, naturalization or citizenship status.
According to 2008 US Department of Justice statistics, our communities continue to be targeted with discrimination and violence, for reasons of intolerance, and stereotyping. In the coming years, Burmese, Bhutanese and Iraqi refugee immigrants will join our fast growing mosaic of Chinese, Korean, Indian, Filipino, Japanese, Samoan and more than 25 other ethnic communities from Asia and the Pacific. APANO (Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon), a statewide advocacy network, and the Eugene residents and community organizations signing below are concerned with safety and justice for our communities, whether they are Oregonians or international students and visitors.
This incident sends another chill throughout communities already experiencing increased racial harassment. Being Chinese or not speaking English well are not against any of our laws, not in the United States. We now have an opportunity to not only review Use of Force guidelines, but also to address Language Access, Cultural Competency, and Workforce Diversity policy issues. Let us come together and work collaboratively in finding solutions.
Sincerely,
June Arima Schumann, Co-Chair, Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon
Pamela Phan, Co-Chair, Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon
Reagan Le, Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (Eugene)
Melissa Nolledo, Eugene/Springfield Asian Council
Frances Kucera, Eugene/Springfield Asian Council
Steven Morozumi, University of Oregon Multicultural Center
Elena Nielsen, Philippine American Association of Lane County
Jason Mak, Pan Asian Community Alliance
Misa Joo, Pan Asian Community Alliance
Anselmo Villanueva, Pan Asian Community Alliance
Mike Takahashi, Japanese community
Marvy Schuman, Pan Asian community
Filed under: Civil Rights
