CFER Foundation
Published April 24, 2023
CFER Led a Broad-based Coalition in a Joint Letter to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, Advocating for Equal Rights as the Only Viable Civil Rights Redress to Combat Crimes, Bigotry, And Discrimination
On April 24th, the Californians for Equal Rights Foundation (CFER) and 10 partner organizations submitted a joint letter on March 24th regarding “The Federal Response to Anti-Asian Racism in the United States.”
by
CFER
For Immediate Release
April 24, 2023
SAN DIEGO, CA – April 24, 2023- On April 24th, the Californians for Equal Rights Foundation (CFER) and 10 partner organizations submitted a joint letter to the United States Commission on Civil Rights (USCCR) in response to the commission’s public briefing on March 24th regarding “The Federal Response to Anti-Asian Racism in the United States.”
In the public statement, we called on the USCCR to anchor federal policy responses in the principle of equal protection under the law equal rights as the only civil rights protection that can alleviate discrimination and bigotry against Asian Americans. To better protect members of the Asian-American community, our coalition demands equal treatment in prosecuting these crimes and strengthening law enforcement. Our letter also argues that any meaningful solutions combatting anti-Asian discrimination must deal with the systemic issue of anti-Asian discrimination in education.
“Asian Americans are first and foremost Americans and we are entitled to the constitutional and foundational protections of civil rights,” commented Saga Conroy, CFER secretary. “Our broad-based coalition represents tens of thousands of Americans of Asian descent and other Americans who demand that policy makers adhere to the principle of equality in prosecuting these crimes and strengthening law enforcement, while at the same time confront endemic discrimination against Asian-American students in education. After all, we don’t need special treatment – we demand equal treatment!"
CFER is joined by the following groups: the American Civil Rights Project, Alliance to Protect Children, Asian American Pacific Islander Republican Alliance, Asians for Liberty, Friends of Lowell Foundation, San Diego Asian Americans for Equality, Silicon Valley Chinese Association Foundation, The Settlement Project, TOC Foundation and Tri-Valley Asian Association.
We will continue to monitor future developments at the USCCR regarding a federal response to anti-Asian racism and continue to champion genuine public awareness building on this topic.
Contact:
Wenyuan Wu
wenyuan.wu@cferfoundation.org
About Californians for Equal Rights Foundation (CFER):
We are a non-partisan and non-profit organization established following the defeat of Proposition 16 in 2020, with a mission to defend and raise public awareness on the cause of equal rights through public education, civic engagement and community outreach. In 1996, California became the first U.S. state to amend its constitution by passing Proposition 209 to ban racial discrimination and preferences. Prop. 209 requires that “the state shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting.” CFER is dedicated to educating the public on this important constitutional principle of equal treatment.