Alliance of South Asians Taking Action (ASATA)

International Solidarity
"ILPS Anti-Imperialist Contingent Marches on August 12 in Solidarity With the Lebanese and Palestinian People"
September-October 2006
by Dave Pugh
http://www.bayanusa.org/downloads/ilps_newsletter_06.pdf

In the first major ILPS demonstration in the U.S., the Anti-Imperialist Contingent rallied at Powell and Market in San Francisco, then stepped out onto the streets in a spirited march which later joined the march and rally called by International ANSWER. Wearing red shirts and yellow bandanas, with bright banners, ILPS flags and infectious chants, the Anti-Imperialist Contingent set a radiant, militant tone for the day.

Published as an op-ed in India-West

In the summer of 1920, Indian troops were used by the British to suppress a nationalist uprising in what we now call Iraq. In 2003 and 2004, the U.S. is using economic and other means of coercion to create its own international fighting force in Iraq to use as cannon fodder, just like it uses its recruits from poor communities of color domestically.

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."

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).

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.

International Examiner
"The growing APA peace movement: Cultural groups speak out against the war"
February 19, 2003
by Sian Wu

While some bemoan the death of the American peace movement, growing numbers in Asian Pacific American activist groups seem to provide evidence of the contrary.

On Saturday, Feb. 15, Filipino American protesters in downtown Seattle could be heard chanting "Stop the U.S. war machine, from Palestine to the Philippines!" and "Support the troops - send them home!" during the large anti-war rally that attracted over 50,000 protesters, ending at Hing Hay park in the International District.

India-West
"South Asians Join SF Anti-War March"
Jan 24, 2003
by Ashfaque Swapan

SAN FRANCISCO -- South Asians enthusiastically participated in a mammoth anti-war protest here Jan. 18, though their numbers were not large, nor did the demonstrators represent a cross-section of the community as widely as the mainstream community participants.

Amid hotly debated, wide disparities of crowd estimates, police later revised the estimated crowd to be about 150,000, considered by many to be the largest anti-war protest here since the Vietnam war. A similar protest was held in Washington, D.C., and many other cities around the world.

AsianWeek
"The Year in Review: 2002"
Jan. 3 - Jan. 9, 2003
http://www.asianweek.com/2003_01_03/feature.html

2002 was a year of reconstruction, reaction and organizing. As the Bush Administration tried to expand the “War on Terrorism” on all fronts, Asian Pacific Americans had to deal with the nasty side effects, which ranged from secret midnight deportations and continued detentions to the loss of jobs. In response, community-based organizations and leaders doubled their efforts to make their voices heard. More than a few APAs said the reason they ran for office in 2002 was because they saw the need after Sept. 11, which led to some 200 APAs being elected this year. Overall, it was a year of storm clouds and well-earned silver linings.

AsianWeek
"Talk Focuses on Why the Palestinian-Israeli Crisis is an APA Concern"
May 24 - May 30, 2002
by Alison Bing
http://www.asianweek.com/2002_05_24/bay_asata.html

“Is this the talk about the Middle East?” asked one perplexed latecomer to the May 17 MidEast Forum in San Francisco. In one sense, his confusion was understandable. Let’s face it: the usual suspects for a talk on the Palestinian Israeli conflict are, well, Palestinians and Israelis — plus Arab and Jewish Americans, and maybe a handful of hippies. But in this crowd, the usual suspects were far outnumbered by Americans of South Asian, Southeast Asian and East Asian descent.

AsianWeek
"APAs March in D.C. and San Francisco Protests"
April 26 - May 2, 2002
by Tomo Geron and Neela Banerjee
http://www.asianweek.com/2002_04_26/news_dc.html

A people of color network from New York City called Third World Within (TWW) traveled to Washington, D.C., on April 20 for a massive demonstration against Israel’s occupation of Palestine.

Bay Area Asian Pacific American groups like the Japanese American Nosei Network and the Alliance of South Asians Taking Action marched in the San Francisco demonstration, which wound through the streets and ended at City Hall.

AsianWeek
"2001: The Year in Review"
January 4 - January 10, 2002
by AsianWeek Staff
http://www.asianweek.com/2002_01_04/feature.html

2001 started out with Asian Pacific Americans infiltrating a Republican administration — Norman Mineta and Elaine Chao were appointed and confirmed into top positions in the cabinet— and ended with months of the most extreme, violent anti-immigrant backlash this country has seen in years. In less than a week, after one fateful day in September that changed world history, hate crimes rose dramatically in number. Some parts of the country recorded increases in thousands of percent from the beginning of the year.

AsianWeek
"Suspected Terrorists To Be Tried in Military Tribunals"
December 6, 2001
by Ji Hyun Lim

In another step toward winning the `War on Terrorism,' the Bush administration issued a Military Order to try suspected terrorists in military tribunals on Nov. 14. President Bush maintained that as the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed forces of the United States, he would appoint three officers to conduct non-public trials for suspected terrorists.

Nichi Bei Times
"Asian Americans Turn Out For Peace Rally"
October 2, 2001
by Geoff Tani
http://www.jprn.org/nowar/japanese/press/mediaclips.htm#one

Small, separate groups of Japanese, Japanese Americans, and Asian Americans participated in a rally for peace on Saturday in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and plans for a U.S. military response.

Starting at 11 a.m., more than 10,000 people ranging widely in age, ethnicity and political agenda gathered at Dolores Park in San Francisco to hear about 35 speakers throughout the day.

KPFA Apex Express
September 20, 2001 7:00-8:00pm
interview by Pratap Chatterjee

Bhavna and Nithya from ASATA spoke on Apex Express about the impact and response of the South Asian community to the current events of hate crimes and war. Other guests include members of the South Asian Bar Association, South Asian Journalists Association, and SikhWatch.org

We mourn for those who lost their lives last week in the devastating attacks in N.Y. and D.C. We also remember and grieve those who lose their lives everyday due to institutional and interpersonal violence.

As South Asians, we stand in solidarity with communities of color, including Middle Eastern/West Asian communities (Afghanis, Arabs, Arab-Americans, Iraqi, and Iranians), rather than trying to distance ourselves from them in order to secure safety. We also recognize that many South Asians are Muslim, and deserve to be free from prejudice and discrimination as Muslims. We also stand in solidarity with people of color here and abroad, including the people of Palestine and Afghanistan.

As members of the Alliance of South Asians Taking Action (ASATA), we stand in solidarity with all Americans in grieving the tremendous loss of life, and in condemning the attacks in New York and Washington D.C yesterday. We extend our deepest sympathies to the victims and surviving families, and urge an end to all Anti-Arab backlash and the furthering of violence against innocent people in this country.