Coalition Presents Asian-American Day

The newly-created Asian American Political Action Coalition launched into action yesterday, sponsoring Harvard's first-ever Asian American Awareness Day.

The group, formed last month by members of several Asian-American organizations on campus, stood outside the Science Center for five hours yesterday morning passing out lime-green ribbons attached to fliers describing hate crimes and acts of discrimination committed against Asian-Americans

"We are trying to bring together the Asian-American community for an important cause," said member Joyce M. Koh '01, who is also co-president of the Korean Association.

Members of the group said that there has often been a feeling of disunity and political apathy within the Asian-American community at Harvard, but said they hope that their organization can change the prevailing attitude.

"We are trying to show that we're not apathetic," Koh said.

The group's fliers listed several incidents of alleged prejudice against Asian-Americans, including the U.S. government's incarceration of Wen Ho Lee, a Taiwanese-born nuclear physicist accused of breaching national security while working in Los Alamos Laboratories.

Lee has been accused of stealing U.S. nuclear weapons technology secrets for China and has been held in solitary confinement without bail since December.

"We want to make the Harvard community aware that racial profiling, hate crimes, discrimination and other acts of prejudice do happen to Asian-Americans," member June Mee Kim '01 said.

The members said they believe their day's efforts were successful, as several students stopped to speak to members and sign a petition for the release of Lee.

"We had to get more copies and ribbons several times," Kim said. "Most of the people who talked to us also signed the petition."

Since the group is relatively new, members said they wanted to make their presence known before the beginning of reading period and final exams. May is also Asian-American Pacific Heritage Month.

Kim says they plan to continue their efforts next year through events and speakers aimed at the Asian-American community.

"Many students feel that its time for Asian-Americans to take a more politically active role," Kim said. "In the fall is when we will start buckling down."