VIA Times – June 2014 Issue Vital News, Vibrant Views for Asian Americans in Chicago & Midwest
By: Mark Javier
Last month Chicago restaurateur, and Filipino American, Billy Dec, was appointed to President Obama’s Advisory Commission on Asian American Pacific Islanders (Commission). This commission works under the President’s Initiative on Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI) and is chaired by the Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan. The purpose of the Commission is to improve the quality of life and opportunities for AAPI communities. Access to federal programs and jobs are two areas that the Commission seeks to improve its engagement with AAPI communities. Billy Dec is the founder and CEO of Rockit Ranch Productions, a restaurant entertainment development company that owns and operates Sunda, Underground, Rockit Bar & Grill, Rockit Burger Bar, Ay Chiwowa and Bottlefork. On May 31, 2014, leaders and members of the Chicagoland Asian American community were invited to Sunda to hear Mr. Dec speak about his appointment and the President’s AAPI Initiative. Over a hundred people attended the event and were invited to engage with Mr. Dec, and the Commission, to provide input into the work of the Commission. Another important event that affected the Asian American community was the release of a video showing officers of the Chicago Police Department (CPD) raiding a north side tanning salon and abusing a Chinese American woman, both physically and verbally. The petite shop manager, Jianqing “Jessica” Klyzek, can be seen screaming while handcuffed behind her back and struck in the back of her head by a large CPD officer. Another officer begins an anti-immigrant verbal attack on Ms. Klyzek telling her that she is “not… American,” despite Ms. Klyzek being a naturalized U.S. citizen, and saying that he would would “put [her] in a UPS box and send [her] back to wherever…[ she] came from.” This video sent a firestorm of anger throughout the Asian American community and the community responded. On May 29, 2014 Asian Americans, along with supporters from other communities, demonstrated in front of Mayor Emanuel’s office on the fifth floor of city hall to condemn the actions of the CPD and demand a response from the mayor. Over fifty protesters chanted and held signs, while a few community members addressed the group and media. The following week, the mayor’s office engaged with Asian American leaders at city hall to discuss the incident and open a dialogue to address specific concerns. This conversation continued to June 7, 2014 when a town hall meeting was organized at the Japanese American Service Committee of Chicago. The meeting was sponsored by over thirty Asian American community groups including Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAAJ), Filipino American Lawyers Association of Chicago (FALA Chicago), Asian American Bar Association of Chicago (AABA Chicago), and many others. Politicians and government officials joined in the meeting to hear the community speak about its reaction to the CPD abuse and listen to its demands. Five action points were addressed by Asian American leaders: 1. Mayor Emanuel should make a broad statement to the entire Chicago community denouncing the conduct of the CPD against Ms. Klyzek, 2. the CPD officers who engaged in the abuse should be fired and removed from the police force, 3. the Independent Professional Review Authority should disclose the misconduct of police officers when ethnic or racial bias is involved in the misconduct, and the bias should be specifically identified by ethnicity or race, 4. 2 Chicago’s Welcoming ordinance should prohibit any city employee from using the threat of deportation against any ethnic minority, and 5. the CPD should proactively recruit and hire more Asian American police officers. Now that the Asian American community has shown that it can come together around an issue, we shall see if our political leaders will take it seriously or brush it aside. In order to accomplish its goals, the Asian American community must follow through with holding politicians accountable and not allowing them to forget this important issue. The next few weeks are a critical time for action to occur, or not occur.
