Washington, D.C. — As the nation observes Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, Democracy Forward President and CEO Skye Perryman reflected on the resilience of AANHPI communities and called on the pro-democracy community to recommit to advancing justice for all.
“In the United States, our diversity makes us stronger, and our future requires that we demand that the promises made in this nation – of freedom, equality, and the pursuit of happiness – not be mere words but be made a reality, ” said Perryman. “Across our nation’s history, AANHPI people have been a central force, living up to its promises, bringing landmark legal cases that expanded equal protection under the law, ensuring that the words of our Fourteenth Amendment didn’t ring hollow for many, and organizing across the nation to demand a brighter future for all. AANHPI communities have fought and won key victories while also being no stranger to the sting of injustice – including at the hands of federal and state governments. From the current administration’s targeting of birthright citizenship to its crusade against civil rights, diversity, equity, inclusion, and voting rights, to the historical, intentional targeting and forced incarceration of people because of their national origin, AANHPI communities have always shown resilience and persistence in the face of injustice. We all can learn from that today.
“Democracy Forward remains committed to working with our partners to use every legal tool available to reject abuses of power and demand that our fundamental rights be protected in a time when AANHPI communities, and so many other communities, are under attack. We will continue to support and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession and are forever grateful for the generation of AANHPI advocates, including those we are honored to have on our staff, who are on the frontlines of working for freedom and democracy today.”
Democracy Forward has filed more than 400 legal actions during the Trump-Vance administration, launched hundreds of investigations, and, through its Democracy 2025 initiative, organized the largest, most successful affirmative litigation effort against executive branch excesses in United States history. The team of seasoned lawyers litigates cases at all levels, from federal district courts to the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as in state and local courts across the nation, fighting to protect people and communities.
Among Democracy Forward’s ongoing legal efforts are multiple cases that challenge the ways in which the Trump-Vance administration continues to block paths towards progress for AANHPI communities in America. From policies targeting immigrants based on country of origin, the implementation of an unlawful “Innovation Ban,” and attacks on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, to the dismantling of a grant funding program to help green card holders looking to become U.S. citizens, and the freeze on more than $800 million in community violence prevention grants that threaten federal support for programs proven to keep communities across the United States safe, Democracy Forward continues to use all legal tools to challenge these unlawful actions by the administration.
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Democracy Forward is a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement. For more information, please visit www.democracyforward.org.
