Alliance of South Asians Taking Action (ASATA)

India-West
"South Asian Group Campaigns Against Prop. 54"
September 12, 2003

OAKLAND, Calif. -- A number of South Asian activists, who have gathered under the umbrella group of Concerned Desis Against Prop. 54, held a kickoff event Sept. 4 to launch an awareness campaign about the harmful effects of the Oct. 7 California ballot proposition, according to a press release.

Proposition 54, if passed, would make it illegal for state and local agencies to collect data on race or ethnicity, or even to examine data from other sources, such as the federal census. This would apply to public schools, hospitals, and law enforcement, as well as to other agencies. The proposition is up for vote Oct. 7, along with the gubernatorial recall.

India-West
"South Asian Activists Protest Skewed Coverage of Murdered Woman"
Aug 25, 2003
by Lisa Tsering
http://news.ncmonline.com/news/view_article.html? article_id=de73bd9517bcc05b69809414662ec24c

MILPITAS, Calif. - "I didn't expect I would come to America under these circumstances," a tearful Sandeep "Daisy" Kaur told India-West at a vigil honoring her younger sister, Guljit, who was shot and killed by her estranged husband last month.

SiliconValleyGuru / IndiaHQ
"Bay Area prays for Guljit's soul: Bay Area Asian Community holds vigil for Guljit Rosie Kaur"
August 2003
by Mausami Kakkar
http://www.mausami.com/Articles/ProfoundThought/Guljit-SVGuru.htm

Milpitas, CA. On Saturday, August 9, 2003, it was a solemn afternoon at the Milpitas Community Center lawns where the Bay Area South Asian Community had organized a community vigil in memory of Guljit ˜Rosie Kaur. Guljit Rosie Kaur was shot and killed by her husband Inderpreet Sonny Sandhu on July 21, 2003 outside the couple's residence in Milpitas, California. On the fateful day Guljit had come to get the appraisal of her home done in an attempt to splitting her assets with her husband's they were in the final stages of their divorce.

India Abroad
"Vigil held for woman killed by husband"
August 8, 2003

A number of Bay Area advocacy and civil rights groups said they would hold a vigil for a woman shot dead by her estranged husband in a July 21 murder-suicide in Milpitas, California.

Maitri, South Asian Sisters, Asian Women's Shelter and the North American Islamic Shelter for the Abused said they would hold a daylight vigil to honor Guljit 'Rosie' Sandhu, shot and killed by Inderpreet 'Sonny' Sandhu.

Exodus (published by the East Bay Sanctuary Covenant)
"Focus on EBSC Law Students: An Interview with Rupneet Sidhu"
August 2003
by Kathryn Fischer
http://www.eastbaysanctuary.org/Exodus200308.pdf

After spending only a few hours with Rupneet Sidhu over a cup of coffee, I knew how lucky EBSC is to have her. Going into her third year at UC Hastings Law School, she is kind, intelligent, and above all, committed to working with asylum seekers. As Rupneet said, “I was interested in hearing people’s stories. I like to hear people tell their history.” It was also immediately clear that Rupneet has a great sense of humor. In explaining why she was drawn to immigration law she said, laughing, “Because I’m an immigrant. Just like if I were a criminal I’d be interested in criminal justice!” Besides her humor,one of the reasons I enjoyed speaking with Rupneet so much was the richness she brought to each topic we touched upon, challenging me to rethink familiar assumptions.

National Lawyers Guild SF Bay Area Chapter News
"9-11 Project Update"
by Robert Chlala
http://www.nlgsf.org/pdf/newsletter0703.pdf

Excerpt:

A total of 13,000 some Arabs and South Asians scheduled for deportation. 11,000 some Iraqi-Americans questioned by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). A new Office of the Inspector General report has openly critiqued the questioning of over 5,000 Arabs and Muslims for its egregious human rights abuses. The newest "enemy combatant" has been branded. Every day, it seems like a new Aschroft order has been issued, a new case has arisen, a new chapter is written in the story of post-September 11 United States.

India-West
"INS Registration Deadline Ends With Vigil"
May 2, 2003
by Sunil Adam

The gentle drizzle downtown failed to dampen activists of a medley of civil rights organizations, including a couple of South Asian groups, who held a vigil outside the INS office April 25.

Their few numbers, less than 100 (not including the many journalists present), were more than made up for by the volunteers' enthusiasm and obvious commitment to the cause they had come to espouse: Protest against the INS' "special registration" measure for people of select nationalities, more precisely, immigrant men from predominantly Muslim countries. The Friday deadline, the last of the five Federal deadlines, was meant for nationals from Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Indonesia and Bangladesh.

Movement Formations: Bi-National Research Project on Social Change Initiatives in the Philippines and the United States
May 2003
by Francis Calpotura
http://www.arc.org/Pages/pubs/movementform.html

Pakistani Ambassador Calls for Humane Treatment

Pakistanis undergoing the special registration process,” Ambasador Ashraf Jehangir Qazi assures the packed crowd of his fellow countrymen at a meeting in Washington, DC in January 5, 2003. “We are here. Call us whenever you want.” Before the meeting ended, Ambassador Qazi promised to provide free legal assistance, disseminate relevant information through their website and community newspapers, and pledged to urge Pakistani President Gen Pervez Musharraf to talk to President Bush about their concerns.

AsianWeek
"Dysfunktional Movie: Sikhs, Congress Members Demand Miramax Edit"
Apr 18, 2003
by Maricar Liberato
http://news.asianweek.com/news/view_article.html? article_id=6ebd365f5040c49ddbe3b372f79e8d48

The recent release of the movie Dysfunktional Family by Miramax Pictures has angered members of the Sikh community, prompting their demands for the removal of several highly offensive scenes from the film.

Community Images
"San Francisco Anti-War March and Rally"
April 13, 2003
by Bruce Akizuki
http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/ci/ba_nowar/aw1.html

On the day after some of the largest anti war demonstrations around the world since the Vietnam War, the San Francisco anti war march and rally on February 16, 2003 drew over 250,000 people. It was so large that organizers had to start the march earlier to accommodate all the participants.

San Jose Mercury News
"Anti-war forces try to broaden base"
April 7, 2003
by Matthai Chakko Kuruvila
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/5571454.htm

Several thousand demonstrators marched to downtown Oakland on Saturday in the East Bay's largest anti-war rally, as organizers sought to attract a more diverse and younger crowd.

``Koreans Against War in Iraq'' marched alongside the ``Alliance of South Asians Taking Action,'' which marched alongside a Filipino group. Labor unions marched next to ``Geographers for Peace and Justice'' and ``Queers for Palestine,'' nearby ``Schools not Jails.''

SiliconValleyGuru
"War condemned: Some South Asians protest the war"
[Late March 2003]
by Sam Rao
http://samrao.com/SVGmyarticles.html

San Francisco, CA: With the current war underway-signs and counter signs have sprouted at all traditional protest locations. Signs like “Support the troops” and US Flags can be seen right across the street from others saying “Against Killing Innocents Anywhere”; “NO WAR”, “What would Gandhi Think?” etc.

India-West
"South Asians Join War Protest, Remember Gadar"
March 21, 2003
by Ashfaque Swapan

SAN FRANCISCO -- South Asians joined tens of thousands of people in a somber, peaceful protest here Mar. 15, the city's fourth large-scale demonstration in five months against an imminent U.S.-led attack on Iraq. Around 20 South Asians drew parallels between protesting U.S. policy and India's own independence struggle against foreign rule as they marched with a large sign that said "Gadar Heritage Foundation."

San Francisco Chronicle
"Men from Muslim countries face deadline: Pakistanis, Saudis on temporary visas must report to immigration"
March 20, 2003
by Anastasia Hendrix

Friday is the third in a continuing series of special registration deadlines imposed by the Justice Department requiring that men from predominantly Muslim countries be fingerprinted, photographed and interviewed by immigration officials.

Sacramento Bee
"Pakistanis fleeing to Canada as registration deadline nears"
March 20, 2003
by Emily Bazar

Hundreds of Pakistani families from California to New York are fleeing to Canada, fearful that they would be jailed or deported if they complied with an end-of-week deadline to register with the federal government.

Friday's deadline for men from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia has spurred an exodus, primarily on the East Coast, that has inundated refugee relief organizations in Vermont, New York and elsewhere.

San Francisco Chronicle
"Pakistanis, Saudis on temporary visas must report to immigration"
March 20, 2003
by Anastasia Hendrix
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/03/20/BA262510.DTL

Friday is the third in a continuing series of special registration deadlines imposed by the Justice Department requiring that men from predominantly Muslim countries be fingerprinted, photographed and interviewed by immigration officials.

Contra Costa Times
"Minorities raise voices about war"
March 15, 2003
by Jack Chang
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/5399915.htm

When an anticipated tens of thousands of people take to San Francisco streets today to oppose a threatened U.S. attack on Iraq, chants of "No war on Iraq!" and "No blood for oil!" will likely mix with the scattered rhythms of "Si se puede!" and "Paz a la guerra!"

AsianWeek
"Chinatown Pre-Rally Draws Over 200 People; Chinese Americans speak out against war"
February 26, 2003

With the streets still littered with firecracker residue from Saturday's massive Chinese New Year parade, another crowd gathered on Sunday morning, Feb. 16, in San Francisco Chinatown's Portsmouth Square, this time to raise their voice in opposition to the war.

Over 200 people gathered at around 10 a.m., varying from youths to seniors and from local Chinatown residents to Chinese Americans who came from the East Bay, in a special pre-march rally organized by the Chinese Progressive Association (CPA).

AsianWeek
"Community Organizes Legal Clinics for Bangladeshis; Special registration deadline approaching quickly"
by Jennifer May Yuen
February 26, 2003

Ekushe February will carry a greater importance for the Bay Area's Bangladeshi community this year.

Feb. 21, Ekushe February -- a cultural holiday in Bangladesh -- commemorates the lives sacrificed to make Bengali one of the national languages when Bangladesh was part of Pakistan. The West Pakistani regime tried to enforce Urdu as the national language, a move strongly contested by Bengalis. On Feb. 21, 1952, a procession by Bengalis was shot at by police, resulting in four deaths. The nascent Bengali -nationalism ultimately gave birth to the free nation of Bangladesh.

India-West
"Bay Area Activists Meet to Discuss War, INS Measures"
February 21, 2003
by Ashfaque Swapan

SAN FRANCISCO -- On a weekend afternoon at the California Institute of Integral Studies here Jan. 25, about 25 people sat huddled in a small triangular room lined with book-filled shelves.

During an animated discussion, participants discussed the challenge of involving the South Asian community in activities that they considered particularly important, in this case protesting the possible U.S. attack on Iraq and confronting what most considered an ethnic witchhunt by the Immigration and Naturalization Service.