Our Mission
Fighting for security, justice, and equity
In 1972, Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus was founded as the nation's first legal and civil rights organization serving low-income, immigrant, and underserved Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. Fifty years later, we are still hard at work dismantling barriers to justice and equity. In 2020 and 2021, we faced a historic election, a devastating pandemic, and moments of tragedy and reckoning together.
Through these challenges, we remained grounded in our values and mission, committed to serving the vast diversity of communities of Asian descent, including Arab, Middle Eastern, and Muslim communities. As national awareness grew about the interlocked injustices faced by communities of color in the U.S., we remained deeply informed by and in solidarity with fights for liberation by and for Black, Indigenous, and Latinx communities.
These past two years, we continued to bring together legal services and impact litigation, community empowerment, and policy advocacy to fight for immigrant justice, economic security, and a stronger democracy–constantly adjusting our priorities and efforts in response to the ever-evolving COVID-19 pandemic. Our work has played out locally in communities across California, statewide, and nationally with our partners in the Advancing Justice affiliation.
From Our Executive Team
Read a letter from our executive team reflecting on 2020 and 2021 and looking ahead to our 50th anniversary.
Highlights from 2020 and 2021
Learn about our work with community members and partners to advance economic security, immigrant justice, and a stronger democracy.
ReadPBS Newshour: Low wage, essential workers demand better protections
Check out our Media Highlights section for more examples of local, state, and national news coverage.
WatchFrom Direct Legal Services to Impact Litigation
Read about our work representing clients in major cases and class action lawsuits from California to Georgia.
ReadHighlights
2020
The 2020 Census results are out and the results are clear: the U.S. is more multiracial and diverse than ever before. We partnered with other civil rights organizations to help communities participate. Those efforts made a big difference: Asian American and Pacific Islander communities turned out in record numbers.
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2020
Low-income AAPI families throughout California have faced tremendous barriers to economic relief throughout the pandemic. Through these tough times, we’ve assisted community members with unemployment help and protected their families and communities from retaliation, discrimination, and eviction.
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2021
We’re proud to be one of four core organizations leading the No Muslim Ban Ever coalition, which represents over 100 Muslim and immigrant rights groups. Our fight continues to support those who were harmed by the Bans and to make sure horrific policies like this do not happen again.
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2021
Formerly incarcerated immigrant and refugee community members are double punished when ICE detains and threatens them after they have earned their release from prison. In 2021, we celebrated the release of directly impacted community members and persisted in dismantling the jail- and prison-to-ICE-deportation pipeline.
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2021
In response to anti-Asian hate and violence, we trained more than 15,000 people in bystander intervention with Hollaback!. With AAPI partners, we advocated for California's $166.5 million API Equity Budget and convened the national Asian American Leaders Table address the root causes of interpersonal and state racism.
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Explore the Report
Letter from Our Executive Team
Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus' executive team reflects on 2020 and 2021.
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Programs
Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus' six programs work together and with partners across the country to advance economic security, immigrant justice, and a stronger democracy for our communities.
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Yuri Kochiyama Fellow
Chanthon Bun served as ALC’s Yuri Kochiyama Fellow in 2021. He is a formerly incarcerated Cambodian refugee, artist, and advocate.
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National Partnerships
With Asian Americans Advancing Justice, the Asian American Leaders Table, and national coalitions, we organize and elevate national campaigns, litigation strategies, and community outreach programs.
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Community-Centered Response to Anti-Asian Violence
Our teams center healing and community safety as we address the root causes of anti-Asian violence and the unconscionable lack of safety in underserved, overpoliced communities.
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Media Highlights
Read stories and news coverage about Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus' and our partners' work in 2020 and 2021.
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Litigation Highlights
Read litigation highlights from Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus' work in 2020 and 2021 with community and legal aid partners in California, Georgia, and other states.
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Policy Agenda
In 2020 and 2021, Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus advocated for local and state policy change with community members and partners throughout California.
Learn MoreOur Funders
We are grateful for the generous support of many foundations, government entities, law firms, companies, and institutional funders who make our work possible.
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Financials
Find Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus' financial information for Fiscal Years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021.
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National Partnerships
While at Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus, we are well known in the Bay Area and across California, our team also makes a national impact through our affiliation Asian Americans Advancing Justice, the Asian American Leaders Table, and coalitions like Value Our Families and No Muslim Ban Ever. These spaces are also forging deeper multi-racial, multi-ethnic relationships to help us move in solidarity within the Asian American political identity and with Black, Indigenous, Latine, and other communities of color.