Support the APA Community

[Andy Len]

Dear AASU Community,

Please sign this petition, demanding an apology from Councilmember Marion Barry for his insensitive remarks to the Asian Pacific American community over the past few weeks.
www.saysorrybarry.com 

Regards,

Andy Len

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I am writing to you in request for your support of the APA community and the respect that we deserve. Councilmember Marion Barry has made several attacks on the APA community with his remarks about Asian store owners in DC, and his most recent comments about Filipino nurses.

Some of his remarks:

“We got to do something about these Asians coming in and opening up businesses and dirty shops. They ought to go. I’m going to say that right now. But we need African-American businesspeople to be able to take their places, too.”

"In fact, it is so bad, that if you go to the hospital now, you'll find a number of immigrants who are nurses, particularly from the Philippines, and no offense, but let's grow our own teachers, let's grow our own nurses, and so that we don't have to go scrounging in our community clinics and other kinds of places, having to hire people from somewhere else."

Below is a press release sent out earlier today.

Thanks,

Andy
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

MEDIA CONTACT

Vincent Paolo Villano, vpvi...@gmail.com / 202-631-9640

DC Asian Am. Groups Condemn Marion Barry's Latest Remarks; Launch "Say Sorry Barry' Campaign

Groups Urge Councilmember Barry to Apologize and Meet with Local Leaders

 

Washington, D.C. - Today, a coalition of DC Asian American advocacy groups launched the Say Sorry Barry Campaign urging DC Councilmember Marion Barry to apologize for his insensitive remarks toward the Asian American community, most recently about Filipino nurses, and to uphold his commitment to meet with local Asian American leaders. On Monday evening this week, Councilmember Barry said of the University of the District of Columbia's Nursing Program:

"In fact, it is so bad, that if you go to the hospital now, you'll find a number of immigrants who are nurses, particularly from the Philippines, and no offense, but let's grow our own teachers, let's grow our own nurses, and so that we don't have to go scrounging in our community clinics and other kinds of places, having to hire people from somewhere else."

In response to his comments the Say Sorry Barry Campaign issued a letter, part of which read:

"[W]e take issue with Councilmember Barry's claims that Filipino nurses, teachers and immigrants are not members of "our" community. In saying so, Councilmember Barry dismisses immigrants' talents and contributions to our neighborhoods because of who they are and where they come from."

The letter has received support from 27 local and national Asian Pacific American advocacy groups including Filipino Americans for Progress, the Japanese American Citizens League, and the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund.

 

Three weeks ago, Councilmember Barry faced criticism for his remarks aimed at "dirty" Asian American business owners in his ward. Following the criticism, Barry agreed to meet with the Mayor's Office of the D.C. Commission on AAPI Affairs last week. Councilmember Barry did not attend that meeting.

 

The Say Sorry Barry Campaign is urging Councilmember Barry to stop using divisive rhetoric and to understand that his Asian American constituents deserve the same respect as other District residents. As stated in the sign-on letter, the campaign hopes to support Councilmember Barry's work in improving our communities, but that work must happen on a foundation of trust and respect. 

 

To learn more or to speak to someone from the campaign, contact Vincent Paolo Villano at vpvi...@gmail.com / 202-631-9640.

# # # 

 

The Say Sorry Barry Campaign is a coalition of DC based organizations working together to hold Councilmember Barry accountable for his repeatedly using divisive  language disparaging the Asian Pacific American community. This campaign is spearheaded by Asian Pacific Americans for Progress - DC Chapter, the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance - DC Chapter. We urge Councilmember Barry to uphold his previous commitment to meet with local Asian Pacific American community leaders to build the DC we all believe in and belong to.

--
Song-En Andy Len
University of Maryland, College Park
Communication, Public Relations

Asian American Student Union
President

Vocus, Inc.

Media Researcher

Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), AFL-CIO

Media Outreach Intern

--
se.an...@gmail.com

al...@vocus.com
(571) 224-5868