Hi ,
This week, I want to share an issue that is deeply personal to me as an Asian American and drives my calling to work with and advocate for incarcerated people. Stories of the Asian American experience are overlooked and rendered invisible. While the 2021 Atlanta spa shootings raised public awareness of anti-Asian hate and harmful tropes of Asian women, many of us are not equipped with language to hold meaningful conversations about anti-Asian racism.
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I am one of seven AAPI MA legislators and prior to 2010, we had none. While we’ve come a long way in terms of representation, speaking from my own experience running for public office as a Japanese American I’ve often struggled to tell my own story because it doesn’t fit neatly into familiar American narratives. I’ve been met with suspicion about the validity of my family background and, at its ugliest, been told that “Asians aren’t really people of color.” Cathy Park Hong captures how I felt as I’m writing this newsletter to you in her book Minor Feelings: "The lie that Asians have it good is so insidious that even now as I write I'm shadowed by the thought that I didn't have it bad compared to others. But racial trauma is not a competitive sport."
What is so striking about the harmful power of Asian American erasure and historical amnesia is that 120,000 individuals of Japanese descent were incarcerated by the US government without due process, strictly based on their race and ethnicity. And less than 20 years later, amid the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, narratives of Asian Americans as the model minority become widespread as a way to undercut the rise of Black power and organizing. Such “positive” racist stereotypes are deceiving and confusing. To be clear, the model minority myth is deeply harmful to Asian Americans and dehumanizing to Black people as a racial wedge that re-enforces white supremacy and anti-blackness. Somerville residents who are BPS educators led on an illuminating study of how such narratives harm Asian American youth, causing anxiety, low self-esteem, mental health issues, and a lack of sense of belonging.
From the three-fifth clause, the 13th amendment, to Executive Order 9066, there is no disentangling race from incarceration. Many assume that Massachusetts and our progressive political brand must mean things aren’t as bad here as elsewhere. This is completely false. Massachusetts has the highest racial disparity in incarceration rates for Latinx people and has the 13th highest racial disparity for Black people across all 50 states according to a 2016 report by the Sentencing Project.
These are the imperatives that drive my work with and advocacy for incarcerated people in Massachusetts. I refuse to have my racial identity as an Asian American be used as a racial wedge, I refuse to remain silent on stories of previous generations’ suffering, and I refuse to be complicit in state-sanctioned violence of incarceration, a system that relies on rendering incarcerated people invisible and silenced.
The story of Fred Korematsu and his activism not only inspires me, but brings together all of these imperatives. 2024 marks the 80th anniversary since the US Supreme Court ruled against Fred Korematsu and ruled that incarcerating American citizens based on their race and ethnicity is constitutional. This year, I worked to make Massachusetts the 13th state in the nation to recognize January 30th as Fred Korematsu Day.
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During World War II, President Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, in which the US Government incarcerated over 120,000 individuals of Japanese descent with no due process. Two thirds of those incarcerated were US Citizens, including 17,000 of whom were under the age of 10 years old. Fred Korematsu refused to accept this blatant violation of his rights and resisted his incarceration to go with his family to the internment camps. He was subsequently arrested on “the suspicion of being Japanese.” |
Fred, like other Japanese civil rights activists Min Yasui, Gordon Hirabayashi, and Mitsuye Endo, challenged his imprisonment and the US Government’s actions in court. The Supreme Court ruled against Fred and this case is often cited as one of the worst Supreme Court decisions. And this ruling is still very much with us today. Whether it be Guantanamo Bay detainees, Donald Trump’s Muslim ban, or the state governments of Texas, Arizona, and Florida mass bussing migrants out of state, the targeting of a people based on ethnicity, national origin, or race is upheld by the courts under certain circumstances with the same logic as Fred’s case, but now with more refined language.
As such, I believe it is so important to tell Fred’s story, not only because Asian American history is American history, but the lessons we have to learn from it. It was truly such an honor to celebrate Fred’s birthday and to present the state’s proclamation to recognize Korematsu Day to Fred’s daughter Dr. Karen Korematsu. |
Karen’s story also deeply resonates with me because she learned of her father’s Supreme Court case not directly from him, but from a classmate’s book report in her high school history class. This highlights how isolating Fred’s experience was that he didn’t speak about it with his own family even though this case was so publicly well known. With this ruling, not only did his own country turn its back on him, but his own Japanese American community did not support him for being a “troublemaker” and rocking the boat.
Growing up within the Japanese community here in Boston, I am all too familiar with the cultural habit to keep to ourselves. This is best captured by a famous Japanese proverb: “The nail that sticks up gets hammered down.” You can hear more about Karen’s story on this More Perfect podcast episode. |
This made the celebration for Fred’s legacy at the State House all the more powerful for us. I am grateful to Governor Maura Healey and to Mayor Michelle Wu for their proclamations to acknowledge Fred Korematsu Day. We also had the opportunity to hear from a survivor of Japanese incarceration, Margie Yamamoto and from Professor Paul Watanabe who directs the Institute for Asian American Studies at UMass Boston. You can watch a short video on his annual pilgrimage to Manzanar where his family was incarcerated.
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I filed H.3119, An Act designating January 30 as Fred Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution to bring more visibility and education on Fred’s story, his fight, and his activism. I will also continue to advocate to advance racially, ethnically, and culturally inclusive curriculums in Massachusetts schools.
In a future newsletter I’ll share more about my work advocating for incarcerated people’s rights but I felt the need to share the why before the what because my connection to this issue and related narratives are less visible, less understood, and less recounted. I’ve visited prisons many times and often I’ve gone alone out of logistical necessity and because I, as a legislator, am granted a unique right to enter prisons in Massachusetts without permission or limitation. Advocates and my staff are not granted the same access as I am. I often think of Fred to keep me company when I am alone. His immense courage to stand up alone against injustice committed by the US Government gives me strength and I hope he inspires you too. Thank you for reading this far and opening your heart to understanding my story.
“If you have the feeling that something is wrong, don't be afraid to speak up.” - Fred Korematsu (1919-2005) |
Upcoming events: Community conversation on racial equity in corrections
Coming up next week, I’ll be joined with Prisoners Legal Services’ Racial Equity in Corrections Initiative (REICI) to hold a community conversation on our advocacy for equity and the humane treatment of Black and Brown incarcerated community members. We will discuss legislation that aims to dismantle structural racism within the Massachusetts Department of Correction. Join us next Thursday March 21 at 6pm. Register at here. |
Advocate for your priorities in the City Budget
I want to uplift a special City Council hearing on a very important issue, the budget! Hosted by the Finance Committee of the Somerville City Council, this is the public hearing for the annual city budget and your chance to testify on your top priorities. You can join via zoom below. |
Community Benefits Agreement summit for Somernova
Union Square Neighborhood Council (USNC) is hosting a virtual community summit on Zoom on the Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) negotiation with Rafi Properties, a developer that is seeking to expand Somernova (off Somerville Ave). If you're a resident, worker, volunteer, property owner, or local business in Union Square, I encourage you to get involved, become a member of USNC, and raise your voice on what community benefits should look like for this proposed project.
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Event updates on Beacon Hill and in Somerville
I had the distinct honor and privilege to speak at the Japan National Day Reception to celebrate the Emperor of Japan's birthday hosted by the Consulate General of Japan in Boston, Kotaro Suzuki, and the Showa Boston Institute. As a Japanese American it was such a joy to be in community with our vibrant Japanese community in Greater Boston! |
Last week, Lt. Governor Driscoll presented S.2571, An Act empowering municipalities and local governments before the Joint Committee on Revenue, which I am proud to serve on. The bill would allow municipalities to generate revenue by allowing them to access multiple new revenue streams including an increase in local option taxes on meals and lodging, new local Motor Vehicle Excise surcharge option, and new property tax exemptions for seniors. It also makes permanent a number of popular COVID-era allowances for hybrid public meetings, outdoor dining permits, and to-go cocktail sales. The bill also includes provisions to assess Chapter 90 funding, which is state aid for transportation (important to anyone who feels like they’re driving on the surface of Mars…). I asked the Lt. Governor questions around how the administration will address Chapter 70 funding, which is state aid for public schools, given the urgent state of our crumbling school buildings and the need for us to invest in educators and school support staff. I also raised my bill H.2963 on PILOTs that would allow municipalities to collect modest taxes from very large non-profit organizations.
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I met with constituents for the Alzheimer's Association Advocacy Day. We hear from constituents who are impacted by this disease all the time. The Commonwealth must ensure that insurance coverage of comprehensive biomarker testing is covered. Without this legislation, dementia diagnoses may take up to two years, increasing the long-term costs to the individual, family and the state. MA must also continue to incentivize careers and create pathways for advancement in the direct care workforce to care for and meet the needs of people suffering with Alzheimer's or Dementia, and their caretakers, families, and friends.
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Sen. Pat Jehlen, Councilor Ben Ewen-Campen, and Councilor Jake Wilson joined me for office hours at Brady Towers. It was great to discuss issues and answer questions on investing in affordable housing, rent control, future plans for the old Star Market site and repaving Highland Avenue. We hope it was an educational discussion on how state and local governments can work together to make Somerville affordable for everyone.
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In honor of Lunar New Year and the year of the dragon, a rolling parade made its way through Somerville last weekend! It was a joy to be in community with Mayor Ballantyne, Councilor Will Mbah, Brigadier General Joseph Milano and so many others including performances by the Korean Senior Drumming Team and the Wah Lum Lion Dance Troupe. Thank you to the Korean-American Citizens League of New England, Chinese American Citizens Alliance Boston Lodge and the Chinese American Heritage Foundation for organizing and hosting this beautiful event.
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Join us for office hours
I will be hosting office hours in March, please join us to ask any questions you may have about state and local government! Or just drop by to say hi and grab some coffee and pastries! -
Saturday March 16, 12pm-2pm, at Forge Baking Co. with a Zoom option available here, with Senator Pat Jehlen, Ward 5 Councilor Naima Sait, and Ward 5 School Committee Member Laura Pitone
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Monday April 8 at Properzi Manor community room, for residents only, please see flyers at the building for more details
Can’t make these dates? Please reach out anytime to erika@electerika.com or via phone at 857-264-1096, feel free to call or text, if I don’t pick up, leave a message and I or my team will call you right back. We will also host joint office hours every month so stay tuned for more dates to meet your elected officials in-person, especially as the weather gets warmer, we will be able to convene outside again! |
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As always, it is a joy and honor to serve you in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, concerns, or ideas! |
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