Korean American Coalition – Los Angeles’ Statement About the Conflict in the Middle East

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 16, 2023

Korean American Coalition – Los Angeles’ Statement About the Conflict in the Middle East

Los Angeles, CA- The Korean American Coalition- Los Angeles expresses our support and stands united with the Jewish community here in Los Angeles and the people of Israel. We unequivocally condemn the atrocities and acts of terrorism committed by Hamas against innocent civilians whose victims include women, children, and the elderly. Acts of terror and the taking of hostages and innocent lives cannot be justified under any circumstances.

We mourn for the loss of all innocent lives and for all those that have been impacted during this continuing tragedy. We pray for a swift end to this conflict with minimal casualties and loss of life. We hope for a long term solution resulting in a peaceful and integrated Middle East region.

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Korean American Coalition – Los Angeles Stands in Solidarity with the Black Community

Los Angeles, CA﹣The Korean American Coalition – Los Angeles (KAC) stands in solidarity with the Black community during this incredibly painful time in our country. We stand together in demanding immediate justice for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless other named and unnamed victims before them, who have suffered abusive behavior, discrimination, and unjust treatment by law enforcement.

We stand in full support of non-violent protest﹣exercising the rights of freedom of expression and assembly. KAC calls on the authorities to provide protection for, and to honor the space of, people exercising their right to protest without intimidation and fear. KAC also firmly denounces the incitement of violence, vandalism, theft, and destruction of property, and these actions’ disproportionate and long-lasting impacts on communities of color that could draw attention away from the call for change. 

We must not let our discomfort and fear in this chaotic time distract from the core problem at hand: these protests express the pain suffered by the Black community due to years of systemic racism, injustice, and violence in violation of due process and basic human rights. This is not only a Black issue. Systemic inequities that marginalize minorities in this country oppress us all. Nonetheless, we recognize that the Black community has faced outright and direct racism for several generations. We must also recognize that fighting inequity requires a united front. The Black community’s efforts to effect change through the civil rights movements of the 1950s and 1960s paved the way for securing the rights of all communities of color, including Korean Americans. Today, we must all do our part to actively work together, in interracial solidarity and allyship against systemic racism, violence, and oppression. 

In order to effect lasting change, KAC urges its members to participate in the political process by voting, and by completing the Census. 

To advocate for the most recent victims, we ask you to contact your local representatives and: (1) text “FLOYD” to 55156 for George Floyd; (2) text “ENOUGH” to 55156 for Breonna Taylor; (3) text “JUSTICE” to 55156 for Ahmaud Arbery; and (4) call District Attorney Mike Freeman at (612-348-5550) to demand that ALL of the police officers involved in George Floyd’s killing be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

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The Korean American Coalition – Los Angeles (KAC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 1983 to promote the civic and civil rights interests of the Korean American community. KAC endeavors to achieve these goals through education, community organizing, leadership development, and coalition-building with diverse communities.

Korean Americans Reporting 2nd Highest Counts of COVID-19 Related Discrimination: Koreatown Executive Directors Call for Coordinated Government Effort Against Anti-Asian Hate

​LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – On behalf of the Korean and Korean American community we serve, the Executive Directors of Koreatown organizations issue a joint statement of grave concern regarding the recent rise in anti-Asian hate incidents, hate crimes, and stigma. Korean Americans are reported as second highest count of COVID-19 related discrimination and in response, we call upon the Governor’s Office and the Mayor of Los Angeles to establish a coordinated government effort to respond to these incidents in a cohesive and effective manner. 

​KAC was joined by the Anderson Munger Family YMCA, Center for the Pacific Asian Family, Faith and Community Empowerment (FACE), Kheir Clinic, Korean American Federation of Los Angeles (KAFLA), Korean American Family Services (KFAM), Koreatown Immigrant Workers Alliance (KIWA), Korean American National Museum, Korean Resource Center (KRC), and Koreatown Youth and Community Center (KYCC), in issuing the formal joint statement. 

​We are committed to working to ensure safety for our community. Our organizations jointly urge our elected officials, allies, and community members to speak out against these instances of hate.  We also encourage our community members to continue to report hate incidents and crimes. For any hate incidents and crime activities, people can report at Stop AAPI Hate and by calling 2-1-1 so our experiences can be counted. 

Korean American Coalition’s Statement Against Voter Suppression and Postal Service Cuts

Los Angeles – As a nonpartisan advocate for civil and civic rights, the Korean American Coalition – Los Angeles (KACLA) has long been committed to increasing civic awareness and the general social consciousness of the Korean American community. With the recent voter irregularities in the 2020 March elections and Postal Service cuts, we issue a statement against any and every act of voter suppression that threaten the very integrity of our democratic system.

The Korean American Coalition – Los Angeles (KACLA) operates as the longest running civic participation organization program in the Korean American community dedicated to advocating for free and robust voting. However, recent events not only threaten the US Postal Service’s ability to process the anticipated surge of mail-in ballots but also increase voter confusion for the November 2020 elections. Without proper funding and support for accurate information, the Post Office’s ability to deliver mail-in ballots remains in grave jeopardy.

The right to vote is the key to democracy and without it, Americans lose their fundamental right to influence our democratic system. As one of the most trusted government agencies, the US Postal Service was established to provide prompt, reliable and universal postal services for the American people including sending vote-by-mail. US Postal Service provides a public service that guarantees postal services to all 330 million Americans unlike third party, for-profit mail services.  The US Postal Service must protect and ensure the safest and most accessible way to vote as millions of American voters working long hours, those with disabilities, and those with pre-existing conditions will solely depend on voting-by-mail to cast their votes. 

However, recent events threaten the US Postal Service’s ability to deliver the anticipated surge of mail-in ballots. Contrary to the recent unsubstantiated claims about high voter fraud claims, there is no credible evidence suggesting that voting-by-mail results in election fraud. On August 21, 2020, US Postmaster General Louis DeJoy confirmed that voting by mail is safe and secure. Extensive research reveals that voter fraud is very rare and KAC condemns repeated, false allegations of fraud that make it harder for millions of eligible voters to participate in elections.  
Among other things, the US Postal Service faces a budget shortfall of 160 billion dollars.  In order for the Postal Service to fulfill its responsibility to deliver American votes safely, the Postal Service must be adequately funded. Securing America’s ability to vote by mail is not a bipartisan issue but a way to protect our fundamental right to vote transcending political lines. 

As a result, KAC strongly encourages our community members to contact your federal elected legislators and urge them to support renewed funding for the US Postal Service. Also, we can stay informed and engaged by:

Every single vote counts and your vote matters. We call upon every eligible voter in our community to participate and vote during this critical election cycle.