#ASIANSRESIST

We commit to resistance for Trump's First 100 Days -- and beyond. Join us by sharing your acts of resistance, and learn about what people in your community are doing to nurture resistance and resilience. Since we are committed to our values for the next four years and beyond, we think of our work not just as a single event or action, but as a practice of freedom, something for sustained personal and movement growth.

[asiansresist]

What Happens Next?

The First 100 Days are over. But the work of social and personal transformation never truly ends.

It struck me, this week, that Trump’s first 100 days ended just before the start of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. A friend recently pointed out that one of the tasks at hand for people working to move Asian American communities is to connect our work today with a heritage of radical action. For me, spending time during these First 100 Days with both a spiritual and cultural practice of reflection has helped me ground myself in this chaotic time.

Lately I’ve been reading adrienne maree brown’s excellent new book, Emergent Strategy. In it, she describes a poster that was framed and hung on the wall in Grace Lee Boggs’ home in Detroit. It said: BUILDING COMMUNITY IS TO THE COLLECTIVE AS SPIRITUAL PRACTICE IS TO THE INDIVIDUAL. What both community and spiritual practice do is ground us–in ourselves, in our ancestors, and in each other. Connecting to our heritage of radical action is part of building that community.

Often, such history is intentionally obscured. Whether it’s worker’s movements here in the United States as well as in our countries of origin; internationalist struggles against imperialism and authoritarianism like the Ghadar Party or the movement to get the U.S. out of Okinawa; or independent publishing speaking truth to power, these stories deserve to be revisited. But we need to seek them out.

The idea that Asian Americans don’t organize, or that we are quiet model minorities, has had its day. Unearthing our radical history is one small, yet crucial, part of dismantling it. And dismantle it we must. This story others tell about us is an instrument of racial, gender, and class oppression.

In the first 100 days, many of you made pledges, plans, and practices to resist -- in every way we could. From showing up to marches to deepening the bonds between our friends and neighbors, from talking to our families about what’s at stake to caring for ourselves so that we can be stronger, together, you took on the challenge.

This Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, we’re also grounding ourselves in our legacy of radical action. Follow along on Facebook as we share 31 heroes for 31 days. I hope you find some strength, inspiration, and maybe some new ideas along the way.

– Cayden, 18MR Executive Director

[asiansresist]

STANDING WITH MUSLIMS AGAINST ISLAMOPHOBIA AND RACISM

I am leading a campaign to put these posters on the door of every classroom in my school district:

The posters were created by Jewish Voice for Peace:

https://jewishvoiceforpeace.org/standing-with-muslims-against-islamophobia-racism/

[asiansresist]

From Kristina Wong:

We hosted Chinese New Year Dinner for 71 people last Saturday Night on the first night of the Lunar New Year.  Each of the centerpieces at the seven tables was dedicated to a revolutionary person or activist born in the Year of the Rooster (Alicia Garza, co-founder of #BlackLivesMatter, Ai Wei Wei, Yuri Kochiyama, Yoko Ono, Chen Wei (Chinese dissident and human rights activist), Jyoti Amge (smallest woman in the world and actress from American Horror Story), and Nina Yuen (queer filmmaker and actor). We had icebreaker games that included questions about the Chinese Zodiac and also how to stop a fascist government.  We also pooled our money together and made a group donation to the ACLU!

Lei See (red envelopes usually filled with money) are usually given to children from married couples, but I don't believe in getting married lately. So despite not being married, I gave everyone a red envelope filled with a chocolate gold coin and a revolutionary quote front one of our roosters.   My favorite quote from Ai Wei Wei included in an envelope was " I don’t see myself as a dissident artist. I see them as a dissident government!" -Ai Weiwei

[asiansresist]

Oppression in the USA did not begin with the election of Trump and it won’t end through the resurgence of Democrats. Both parties are complicit in institutional racism, aggressive militarism, and the erosion of human rights. Resistance is a lifelong commitment that begins with taking complete responsibility for the consequences, intended or not, of my own behavior. I will strive to build a sustainable community with those who are similarly committed to personal responsibility. I will not allow anyone to force me to behave unethically.

[asiansresist]

¡Hasta la victoria siempre!

I work for a Muslim organization (I’m a Catholic myself), so I’m working daily on resistance. But that’s not enough. In addition to all the email and Facebook posts that I do already (apart from my job), I’ll commit to making at least three phone calls to Congress and/or the White House (if they ever open their phone line again). And I’ll go on at least one march or other public event a month.

[asiansresist]

to zine and be seen

I am working on a zine.  I hope to DIY publish a new issue each month.  Each issue will have specific information about the resistance: How to protest safely; what our rights are; local organizations and organizers; essays; poetry; images, etc..

Whenever there’s a march, protest, etc., I’ll be there, if only to be a body in standing in solidarity.

I will also create a safe space for dialogue and coalition building in my classroom and home.

[asiansresist]

Sabiha Basrai speaks at the Women's March. Oakland, CA

I represented the Alliance of South Asians Taking Action (ASATA) at the Women’s March in Oakland, CA where I spoke at the ending rally. I was so proud to march with resilient women and lead the crowd in shouting “Abolish All Prisons and Free Purvi Patel.”

Watch Sabiha’s speech.

[asiansresist]

I will do everything in my power to resist Trumpism and the GOP agenda. My resistance will include attending rallies, writing and calling Congressmen, donating to progressive causes, and announcing myself to others as a member of the Resistance. Trump is a danger to our country and the world.

[asiansresist]

Day 2: On this day, I cut out Yuri Kochiyama’s face. I carved her outline with an exacto knife, and was reminded of what a strong Asian American woman could be. I would later spray paint the image to use on a poster I would carry in the Women’s March of Los Angeles. Underneath her hot pink image, I wrote “Destroy White Supremacy”. Because that is the resistance message I need to hear. 

Taz Ahmed is campaign strategist at 18MR.org

[asiansresist]

#leaninhard

In the next 100 days I will lean in hard and hold myself accountable in disrupting injustice. I will encourage conversation and look for the different ways I can engage people who are wrought with fear, wrought with hate, and/or too paralyzed to do anything. How? Little acts of kindness. Sharing kind stories through email or text, lift words off of pages and call someone and read it to them. I will not stop feeding people: I love to cook and it’s the most basic thing I can do to share my love in this world. 

[asiansresist]

Day 1: I was at coffee shop and overheard a man talking in Hindi about how much he loved the inauguration speech and how happy he was that people were going to be kicked off welfare. The funny thing was this was an elderly Indian man, and we were in the heart of Los Angeles.  I knew I had to say something. So I got a New York Times and ripped out the page with the woman in the flag hijab. I folded the page up and handed it to him and said, “This is for you.” He opened it as I walked away, with shaky hands. It may be a small action, but it’s through these actions I’ll resist. 

Taz Ahmed is campaign strategist at 18MR.org.

[asiansresist]

Finding Focus & Guidance

One of the hardest things about the past few months has been the sense of overwhelm I, and most people around me, seem to be experiencing. This week in particular, the bad news has come in wave after wave, breaking over our heads every day.

For me, especially as a newcomer to a leadership role, finding the focus and balance to guide my work feels particularly urgent, and it’s definitely something that can’t be one-and-done: it needs to be sustainable in the long-term.

I am not a spiritual person but I think that divination can be meditation: a practice of centering, grounding, and finding new perspective on old problems. Yesterday I threw my first I Ching coins, after a frenzied morning of meetings with co-conspirators and partners. I was feeling a bit adrift, and focusing on where I have agency in the big obstacles I’m trying to negotiate in work and life in solitude was a great way to find that ground again.

I am committing to a practice of seeking guidance and balance every day with this meditation tool. We will need leaders who are at peace with themselves and prepared to help discover the way forward and through.

Cayden Mak is the executive director of 18MR.org.

[asiansresist]

My pledge is to recommit to my ancestors’ stories and to fully embrace their power. To remember that we have always been resilient. To invite art into my life as a tool for revolution. To work together and embrace one another across communities and movements.

Oanh-Nhi is a digital campaigner at 18MR.org.

Art by Ernesto Yerena