Ad Unveiled

The NAKASEC Action Fund and other leading immigrant rights, faith- and labor-based organizations recently unveiled an ad calling for comprehensive immigration reform. The ad is the first of its kind to demonstrate broad community support for immigration reform in a major newspaper. On Oct. 19, a quarter-page ad appeared on the Federal Page of the Washington Post, and a full-page ad in The New York Times on Oct. 21. The ads followed on the heels of the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on immigration reform, becoming an opportune moment for communities to weigh in on the immigration debate.

NAKASEC and its affiliates held coordinated press conferences with more than 30 media outlets in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York to announce the publication of the ads.

Shortly thereafter, representatives from the NAKASEC Action Fund and YKASEC-Empowering the Korean American Community hand-delivered the ads to Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Rep. Jim Kolbe (R-AZ) and senior staff with Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA), co-sponsors of the Secure America and Orderly Immigration Act.

Local Elections

NAKASEC, the Korean Resource Center and YKASEC were engaged in educating and mobilizing Korean American voters in local elections in California and New York City on Nov. 8.

In California, the Special Election featured several complex propositions, many of which were harmful to our communities. They included potentially detrimental changes to the budget and redistricting processes. To educate voters on these propositions, KRC held workshops and attempted to reach voters through precinct walks and phone banking. A large majority of those contacted strongly opposed the propositions. In addition, NAKASEC and KRC participated in a larger effort with the Asian Pacific American Legal Center to monitor polling sites ensuring that limited-English proficient voters had full access to the electoral process on Election Day.

For the New York City mayoral race, YKASEC published and distributed 5,000 Korean-language Voter Guides, which included the responses to a questionnaire sent to the mayoral candidates. The questionnaire asked candidates to describe their positions on issues impacting immigrant communities in New York City, including affordable housing, paths to legalization for the undocumented and small business ownership. YKASEC held community forums and conducted phone banking, reaching approximately 2,400 Korean American voters. YKASEC also conducted exit polls on Election Day with the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund.

Communities

Rally Against

Minutemen

The Korean American Resource and Cultural Center joined 300 Chicago immigrant community members to let those affiliated with the Minuteman Project know that they are not welcome in Chicago. The vigilante group was in town recruiting members to join its mission of securing the border from illegal immigration. KRCC, in conjunction with other immigrant rights organizations, gathered to rally against the Minutemen. Many of KRCC’s youth joined the event, and James Kang, a KRCC youth leader, was a featured speaker at the rally.