Detroit Asian Youth Project Celebrates 10 years of Mentorship - NBC News.com

Congratulations DAY (Detroit Asian Youth) Project on your 10 Year Anniversary Celebration today!

“The program was started in response to questions being raised at the 20-year anniversary of the Vincent Chin incident,” said Detroit Asian Youth (DAY) Project co-founder and coordinator Soh Suzuki, referring to the beating death of a Chinese American man in a Detroit suburb in 1982. “Where has the Asian American community in Detroit gone? What does it mean to organize Asian Americans in Detroit today?”

Detroit Asian Youth Project Celebrates 10 years of Mentorship - NBC News.com

Detroit Vincent Chin mural caught in the crossfire of a turf war

Statement from Grand River Creative Corridor:

Defacing of Vincent Chin Memorial mural in Detroit's Grand River Creative Corridor

Earlier this year we contacted international street artist Andrew Pisacane also known as "GAIA" about creating a mural in the Grand River Creative Corridor (GRCC) in Detroit, Michigan. We were attracted to GAIA's talent and his ability to create large scale murals that shed light on deep-rooted civil rights history. GAIA suggested doing memorial mural of Vincent Chin and provided an in depth history of his life and eventual death. Below outlines the series of events from the organization, creation, defacing, and removal of the Vincent Chin Memorial Mural:

May 2014- Details of the mural were organized and confirmed. GAIA requested that we make contact with Vincent Chin's family to approve and provide their blessing of the mural. We were led to the "American Citizens for Justice", "a nonprofit 501c3 organization serving the Asian Pacific American (APA) communities of Michigan and fighting for the civil rights of all Americans. It was founded in 1983 after the baseball beating death of Vincent Chin." Details and imagery were sorted out then mutually approved. Artist travel itinerary, accommodations, supplies, equipment and mural location were confirmed.

June 18, 2014- GAIA arrived to Detroit.

June 19, 2014- GAIA met building owner, created conversation, and building owner gave his blessing. The building owner respected the idea of a memorial mural and related to the challenges Vincent Chin faced. GAIA met Detroit graffiti artist SINTEX, who had previously had a mural on the wall. (All of the GRCC walls rotate artists every 1-3 years. Several other walls have been successfully rotate without any conflict.) GAIA explained his mural concept and SINTEX gave his blessing by saying "I've had my mural on the wall for a couple years now and now it's yours".

June 19- June 23, 2014- GAIA created the Vincent Chin Memorial Mural.

June 23, 2014- GAIA departed Detroit.

August 6, 2014- Over 100 Girl Scouts visited and toured the GRCC and were educated on the history of Vincent Chin. (see attached photo)

August 9, 2014 at 6:37am- Derek Weaver, founder and curator of the GRCC, received a text message from Detroit graffiti artist "SINTEX" that stated "The mural in the parking lot got hit..looks like justo...blk buff line all thru it..signature justo ..or justd". Derek living only 15 minutes, away drove to the mural to find that the black paint was still wet and dripping. Derek decided to try and save the mural and washed 90 percent of the black paint off with a water hose. From there, several Detroit artists offered to help fix the mural and plans were scheduled to do so.

August 11, 2014- SINTEX told Derek that the wall needed to be repainted. Derek then explained the plans to restore the mural. SINTEX expressed frustration and disapproval.

August 12, 2014- Derek received a phone call in the late afternoon from SINTEX demanding he purchase a 5 gallon of black paint to cover the mural. SINTEX stated that he spoke with the building owner and received his permission to repaint the wall. Derek told SINTEX not to repaint the wall until Derek had an opportunity to speak with the owner directly and reminded him that the wall was scheduled to be fixed.

August 13, 2014 at 7:35am- Derek received a text message from another artist that said "Omg 1/4 of the gaia mural is buffed". Derek arrived shortly thereafter and discovered that SINTEX had “buffed” the mural overnight. SINTEX accepted responsibility via Facebook posts/messages.

August 14 to Present- Several claims and threats have been made by SINTEX via Facebook, Instagram, in-person, and Phone/Text. SINTEX removed and painted over the remaining wall and started painting his own mural. He made several mentions that it was his wall and Detroit is a “No Fly Zone” and GAIA never had the right to paint it.

RESOLUTION

The Grand River Creative Corridor and the 4731 Arts Incubator will no longer support SINTEX financially or personally, his art, housing, or work space.

ABOUT SINTEX

SINTEX currently resides in the 4731 Art Incubator, located within the Grand River Creative Corridor. SINTEX was one of the lead artists in the early-age of the GRCC and painted 4 or 5 murals. SINTEX was provided a 6,000 square foot loft free of charged for 2 years. Recently, the City of Detroit inspected the loft and deemed it unsafe and uninhabitable for residential use. SINTEX was given notice in May of 2014 that his occupancy would be ending. SINTEX has made no indications of moving out of the loft.

ABOUT GAIA

GAIA is an international street artist based in Baltimore Maryland. He was invited to participate in the Grand River Creative Corridor and agreed to donate the mural to the community. GAIA visited Detroit at the end of 2013 to create a mural inside well-known Detroit business man Dan Gilbert’s parking garage. The mural was painted inside the “Z Garage” and organized by Matt Eaton of the Library Street Collective. GAIA has also participated in many other mural projects including Miami’s “Wynwood Walls”, Atlanta’s “Living Walls”, and GAIA also organizes a mural project in Baltimore called “Open Walls”. (GAIA’s full statement can be found at http://instagram.com/gaiastreetart)

STATEMENT FROM GRCC FOUNDER & CURATOR- DEREK WEAVER

“Public art is for anyone and everyone. It’s not restricted to the elite or confined inside the walls of an institution. It’s not about fighting over walls, murals, or creating conflict. It’s about creating a dialogue with the community…creating emotion, energy and positivity. The defacing of the recent Vincent Chin mural saddens all of us and is an indicator that the community in Detroit has some work to do. It shows that the “No Fly Zone” mentality still exists today and hinders the growth and the resurgence of the great city of Detroit. Our sincerest apologies to Vincent Chin, his family, the Asian American Center for Justice, and GAIA. We are happy we were able to provide the local community dialogue and enlightenment on the death of Vincent Chin during the short time the mural was up. We look forward to creating many more beautiful murals that help the community move forward.” -Derek Weaver

ABOUT THE GRAND RIVER CREATIVE CORRIDOR (GRCC)

The Grand River Creative Corridor, also known as “GRCC", is an art corridor and neighborhood revitalization project concentrated on Grand River Avenue between on a half-mile stretch just outside downtown Detroit, Michigan. Founded on July 15, 2012 by Derek Weaver, the project features over 100 murals on 15 buildings; an outdoor fine-art gallery at a bus stop; free-standing art installations; a cleanup of overgrown vegetation, trash, and vandalism; and an economic stimulus project for local businesses. The project involves over 100 local and international volunteer-artists and is an ongoing effort to transform Detroit’s infamous Grand River Avenue into a creative hub that attracts: tourists, artists, small businesses, entrepreneurs, and investors alike.

Previous media articles:

Popular Detroit artist defaces tribute to Asian American icon Vincent Chin | Motor City Muckraker

Muckraker: Well-Known Local Artist Defaces Vincent Chin Mural On Grand River  –  Deadline Detroit

Update: Chin Mural 'Defacing ... Saddens All Of Us,' Sponsoring Group Says –  Deadline Detroit

Update: Chin Mural 'Defacing ... Saddens All Of Us,' Sponsoring Group Says – Deadline Detroit

Update: Chin Mural 'Defacing ... Saddens All Of Us,' Sponsoring Group Says –  Deadline Detroit

Popular Detroit artist defaces tribute to Asian American icon Vincent Chin | Motor City Muckraker

Popular Detroit artist defaces tribute to Asian American icon Vincent Chin | Motor City Muckraker

Muckraker: Well-Known Local Artist Defaces Vincent Chin Mural On Grand River – Deadline Detroit

Muckraker: Well-Known Local Artist Defaces Vincent Chin Mural On Grand River  –  Deadline Detroit

Stephanie Chang Is Poised to Make Political History in Michigan - NBC News.com

Congratulations Stephanie Chang on winning the primary! My article on NBCNews

“Our campaign was really focused on connecting with residents individually," said Chang. "I personally knocked on all the primary voters' doors twice! One resident joked with me that I had been over to his house more than his family members and another even jokingly referenced during her sermon at church that I had been by her house too many times!”

Stephanie Chang Is Poised to Make Political History in Michigan - NBC News.com

MAPAAC Town Hall Meeting re Healthy Michigan Plan

Just received this from the Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission re Healthy Michigan Plan, fyi:

Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission to Host Town Hall on Expanded Medicaid Program and Immigration Initiatives

Detroit – On Sunday, August 17, 2014 the Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission (MAPAAC), the Healthy Asian American Project and the Vietnamese American Association of Michigan will host a town hall meeting on the Healthy Michigan Plan – a state of Michigan program to provide low-cost health care benefits to Michigan residents. The event will be held at Our Lady of Grace Church, 26256 Ryan Road, Warren from 2 to 4 pm.A translator will be available to provide the information in Vietnamese. A question and answer period will follow the presentation. “As part of MAPAAC’s work to educate the Asian Pacific community on state programs and initiatives, we are pleased to host these town halls in native languages so attendees can learn about more about opportunities available to Michigan residents,” said Jamie Hsu, MAPAAC Chair. Individuals are eligible for the Healthy Michigan Plan if they:· Are age 19-64 years
· Have income at or below 133% of the federal poverty level* ($16,000 for a single person or $33,000 for a family of four)
· Do not qualify for or are not enrolled in Medicare
· Do not qualify for or are not enrolled in other Medicaid programs
· Are not pregnant at the time of application
· Are residents of the State of Michigan
In addition to Healthy Michigan program, attendees will learn about Upwardly Global, a training program to help skilled immigrants, refugees and asylees rebuild their professional careers, and the Michigan EB-5 Regional Center, offering a visa program designed to facilitate foreign investments in new, job-creating commercial enterprises. If you would like to attend and need accommodations to do so, please call 586-713-8261. MAPAAC was established to advance the full and equal participation of Asian and Pacific Americans in the building of a greater Michigan. The Commission, made up of 21 individuals appointed by the Governor, advises the Governor and state legislature on policy matters and serves Michigan’s Asian and Pacific American population by promoting their development and welfare and recognizing their achievements. Each member of the Commission has a specific interest or expertise in Asian or Pacific American concerns.

18MillionRising | | In Search of Justice: Another Way to Remember Vincent Chin

beautiful reflection from 18 Million Rising New Media Director Cayden Mak on the legacy of Vincent Chin--and how it could change how we define "justice." http://bit.ly/1lpw1Zt

18MillionRising | | In Search of Justice: Another Way to Remember Vincent Chin

2002 Rededication to Justice Vincent Chin T-shirt

From Emily Lawsin, image and note reprinted with permission:

Tshirt designed by Ha-Hoa Hamano for 2002 Rededication to Justice: Vincent Chin 20th Year Remembrance, a 3-day Teach-In and Pilgrimage to the Gravesite in Detroit. The face includes names of hate crime victims. Rest in Peace, Vincent Chin (5/18/1955-6/23/1982).

letter from Stephanie Chang

Excerpted from a June 23, 2014 letter from Stephanie Chang who is running for State Representative in Michigan House District 6 (Detroit, River Rouge, Ecorse), reprinted with permission:

On this day in 1982, Vincent Chin, a Chinese American man, died four days after a brutal baseball bat beating by two white men in Highland Park.

This took place during times of heightened tension due to the struggling U.S. auto industry at the time. Instead of going to his wedding, his friends and family attended his funeral. Asian Americans across ethnic lines came together and organized for justice when they realized his attackers never served a full day in jail. The incident galvanized a pan-Asian American movement.

Learning about the details of the Vincent Chin case when I was in high school spurred me to want to become more active on civil rights and social justice issues. I wanted to learn and do more, especially across ethnic and racial lines. Reading about the case was a catalytic moment for me as a young activist. Learning about the Chin case led me to learn more about and later work on issues such as affirmative action, voting rights, education equity, and more.

Fifty years ago, several young men lost their lives in the name of freedom and the right to vote. In 1962, less than 7 percent of eligible Black voters were registered in Mississippi. Freedom Summer activists made great personal sacrifices so that all people could have the right to vote, as they worked alongside local residents in Mississippi. Volunteers organized Freedom Schools, registered voters, and more. At least four activists were killed, more were wounded, and over a thousand were arrested. I know that the rights we have today are due to the blood and tears shed by many who came before us.

Making sure that everyone has access to our country's democratic process became one passion of mine. I have registered people to vote, organized Election Day efforts in the Asian American community to protect the right to vote, testified on voting rights issues and redistricting, and met with several local clerks about translating election materials so that everyone can accurately cast their vote.

As long as there are efforts to suppress the vote, we have more work to do. I will be a strong voice for voting rights when elected to the Michigan State House.

Will you encourage 10 of your friends to vote in the August 5th primary this year?

With gratitude,

Stephanie Chang

To learn more about this Stephanie Chang's campaign, please check out stephaniechang.com.

Frances Kai-Hwa Wang on Role of the Media in Vincent Chin Case State Bar of Michigan Legal Milestone - YouTube

Frances Kai-Hwa Wang, Executive Director American Citizens for Justice, "Role of the Media in the Vincent Chin Case and the Birth of the Asian American Civil Rights Movement" at The State Bar of Michigan's 34th Michigan Legal Milestone commemoration of the Vincent Chin Case "From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry," Friday, June 19, 2009.



Finally got this video cut and uploaded!

Frances Kai-Hwa Wang on Role of the Media in Vincent Chin Case State Bar of Michigan Legal Milestone - YouTube

Remembering Vincent Chin video from Ankur Dholakia then of Detroit News

Thanks to Ankur Dholakia, then at Detroit News, for this clip of the Vincent Chin memorial plaque installation in Ferndale, Michigan, in 2010, which includes a short summary of the case and its significance at the beginning by former American Citizens for Justice Executive Director Frances Kai-Hwa Wang (me).







Here's another video clip of the installation ceremony from WXYZ News that does not want to embed:
Video: Dec 2010 WXYZ News: Plaque honoring murdered Asian man, Vincent Chin, unveiled in Ferndale
wxyz.com/dpp/news/region/oakland_county/plaque-honoring-murdered-man-unveiled-in-ferndale

New Vincent Chin mural in Detroit by gaiastreetart

Check out this new Vincent Chin mural being painted in Detroit by artist Gaia at Grand River Creative Corridor (on Grand River and Rosa Parks), who writes:

Still working through the first day on this piece for@grccdetroit . The primary focus of the piece is a memorial to #VincentChin who passed in 1982 in an altercation that possessed attributes of a hate crime and whose perpetrators who were given lenient sentencing in a plea bargain. Always dreamt of creating this piece, thankful to be able to finally produce it on Grand River and Rosa Parks in Detroit.

Photo by gaiastreetart

and here's the artist, Gaia:
Photo by 1xrun

UPDATE: Here's another more updated photo from grccdetroit on Instagram

Karen Wan, "The Partner Track"

Today: Ninth annual University of Michigan Law School Asian Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA) Origins Banquet, Michigan League Vandenberg Room. Dinner, music, and the announcement of the recipients of the 2014 APALSA Public Interest Fellowships. Keynote speaker, Helen Wan, attorney and author of The Partner Track.

University of Michigan Asian/Pacific Islander American Heritage Month

Click on link see events: University of Michigan Asian/Pacific Islander American Heritage Month

2014 APIA High School Conference

The APIA High School Conference is almost here! March 22 at University of Michigan. (Sorry, same day as Solo Ensembles)

More info at: umichhsc2014 | schedule

Civil Rights Icon Fred Korematsu Honored by State of Michigan at Huron High School Ceremony |

From the AAPS News about Michigan's Korematsu commemoration January 30, 2014:

Civil Rights Icon Fred Korematsu Honored by State of Michigan at Huron High School Ceremony |

Korematsu Day Michigan 2014

The Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR) and the Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission (MAPACC) will recognize Fred Korematsu on Thursday, January 30, 2014 at 12:30 p.m. at Huron High School, 2727 Fuller Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105.

Japanese American Fred Korematsu is an American civil liberties icon. Born on January 30, 1919, he courageously defied the US Government’s order to report to an assembly center after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Korematsu was convicted for his refusal but appealed his case all the way to the US Supreme Court, which ruled against him in a 6 to 3 decision in 1944.

After World War II, Korematsu moved to Michigan. Mr. Korematsu’s conviction was formally vacated on November 10, 1983 by US District Judge Marilyn Hall Patel based upon information that the War Department misled the Supreme Court with false allegations of espionage and sabotage.

Fred Korematsu’s story is one of triumph and correction over the civil wrongs against the Japanese American community. Mr. Korematsu was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Bill Clinton in 1998.

Michigan Department of Civil Rights Director Matt Wesaw will read the Certificate of Recognition signed by Governor Rick Snyder at this event. Speakers include Dr. Jamie Hsu, Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission Chair; Roland Hwang, founding member of American Citizens for Justice and secretary of the Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission; Mary Kamidoi, former internee at the Rohwer internment camp in Arkansas and officer at Japanese American Citizens League; Ron Aramaki, Redress activist and lecturer for Asian Pacific Islander American history and law at the University of Michigan; and Hao Hao, a student at Huron High School on behalf of Frances Kai-Hwa Wang, activist writer and lecturer for Asian Pacific Islander American civil rights activism and media at the University of Michigan.

All the World History and US History classes will be in attendance to hear a panel discussion about the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, how Fred Korematsu and others in the Japanese American community challenged this grave injustice, and how this case continues to affect them today and in the future, especially after 9/11. The students will also watch this video documentary, "Of Civil Wrongs and Rights: The Fred Korematsu Story."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOGSnx2k7b8

This event is not open to the public, but is open to media with credentials.

For more information about this event, contact Roland Hwang or email miapacommission@gmail.com.

For more information about the case, check out the Fred T. Korematsu Institute for Civil Rights and Education korematsuinstitute.org. More about Korematsu Day commemorations across the country at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgtAIQZUB6g

To learn more about the Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission and the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, please visit www.michigan.gov/mdcr.

Save the date! Korematsu Day in Michigan January 30, 2014

The Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR) and Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission (MAPACC) to recognize Fred Korematsu Day on Thursday, January 30, 2014, 12:30 p.m., Huron High School, 2727 Fuller Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105.

Japanese American Fred Korematsu is an American civil liberties icon who courageously defied the U.S. Government’s order to report to an assembly center after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Korematsu was convicted for his refusal, but he appealed his case to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled against him in a 6 to 3 decision in 1944. Korematsu’s conviction was formally vacated in 1983 based upon information that the War Department misled the Supreme Court with false allegations of espionage and sabotage. Korematsu’s story is one of triumph and correction over the civil wrongs against the Japanese American community. Korematsu received the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Bill Clinton in 1998.

Updates: Go to www.franceskaihwawang.com for updates.

American Citizens for Justice (ACJ) Typhoon Haiyan Relief Fundraiser December 5

Typhoon Haiyan Relief Fundraiser and Happy Hour Thursday, December 5, 2013, 5:30pm to 8:30pm, MEX, 6675 Telegraph Rd., Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, 48301. Sponsored by American Citizens for Justice / Asian American Center for Justice, Michigan Asian Pacific American Bar Association and South Asian Bar Association of Michigan.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1395439180699677/?ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular