The growing number of violent attacks against Asian-Americans shall not stand.
The Orange County Asian American Bar Association strongly condemns such attacks, those who incite them, and those who condone them.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to the victims in the Atlanta massacre.
The deliberate targeting of those among the most vulnerable in society is particularly heinous, and the fetishization and objectification of Asian women, which caused their demise, are infuriating.
Sheriff’s Office Captain Baker’s dismissive description of the incident as the result of the killer having “had a bad day” was callous, yet, sadly, not a surprising reflection of widespread apathy toward the plights of Asian Americans, most notably victims of racist attacks.
Throughout American history, vicious crimes against Asian-Americans have long been ignored and excused, by the justice system, the media, and the public at large outside of the Asian-American community. The Chinese Massacre of 1871, the Rocksprings Massacre, the Watsonville Riots, Vincent Chin - the list goes on and on. No Hollywood movies are made to document such travesties. The stories of the victims are rarely told.
It is not lost on us that the recent spate of widespread attacks on Asians have followed the rising hateful rhetoric of those with powerful voices. It is, thus, important that we, as a community, do all we can to project our own and provide a countering timbre.
In the following weeks and months, OCAABA will take specific steps to do its part to fight against the hate. We will shine a light on this issue, amplify the voices of our community, and provide resources for those joining in the fight. We call our allies to arms. We will not let this stand.
Charles W. Lin
The Orange County Asian American Bar Association (“OCAABA”) condemns the terrorist attack on the Capitol which took place on January 6. OCAABA also denounces everyone who incited the violent attacks.
The attacks were a culmination of continuing false claims of election fraud levied by those unhappy with the results, none of which have been substantiated despite the accusers having had ample opportunities to do so in over 60 separate court cases.
Hundreds stormed and breached the building, many carrying firearms. Live explosive devices were also found nearby. Yet, less than 20 people were initially arrested. Many can be seen on video simply walking back out the Capitol doors after all the looting and terrorizing.
On the other hand, countless disturbing photos and videos have surfaced showing members of Congress hiding in fear for their lives, and barricades erected by staffers to stop the perpetrators from infiltrating certain rooms.
The disparity in the treatment of the violent thugs by the Capitol police compared to the heavy-handed nature of their response to largely peaceful supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement in Washington last year should also not be lost on anyone.
America is supposed to be a “shining city upon a hill”, built on a solid foundation of laws. Unfortunately, we can claim that no longer if our democratic process can be so easily besmirched, if the very place where laws are made can be so easily usurped by the lawless without consequence.
We demand that the insurrectionists be brought to justice. We urge our local political leaders to call for an orderly transition of power. And, we encourage our fellow bar associations and all attorneys to do the same.
2020-2021 OCAABA President
OCAABA mourns the passing of United States Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. We have lost a national treasure, a warrior for equality and champion for women. I do not have words to properly articulate my personal sorrow upon learning of her passing and thus, I defer to our Chief Justice John Roberts:
"Our nation has lost a justice of historic stature," Chief Justice John Roberts said. "We at the Supreme Court have lost a cherished colleague. Today we mourn but with confidence that future generations will remember Ruth Bader Ginsburg as we knew her, a tireless and resolute champion of justice."
May her memory be a blessing.
Denise F. Crawford
2019-2020 OCAABA President
Statement from Charles Lin, OCAABA President-Elect
We are lawyers. At the heart of our profession – beyond politics – we are seekers of justice. When members of society fail to find it, we must help them do so. And, for far too long, too many black men and women have been victims of injustice.
Recent events have only provided a reminder that we, as lawyers and as a society, have much work to do.
We grieve the death of George Floyd and those of countless others like him. What happened was not an isolated incident. It was the predictable outcome of a flawed system, one that usually works for those of one color and predictably fails those of another.
We support the peaceful protesters because their fundamental demand is the same as our ideal: justice.
We condemn the instigators, the vandals and looters, who are mere opportunists, for they damage the community, erode trust, and tarnish the message of the protests.
We denounce the heavy-handed overreaching of power by law enforcement against those who make a peaceful stand against tyranny. Answering calls for justice with violent acts of injustice is one of the gravest betrayals.
We stand with the Thurgood Marshall Bar Association, other fellow bar associations, and all other organizations fighting to end racial injustice, to provide a voice to those silenced and to reject a broken system with a call to do more, to do better.
We all want to live in a world where all lives matter, where everyone receives justice sought. But, in reality, we do not and cannot, until black lives matter, too.
The words of Fred Korematsu are simple but apt: “If you have the feeling that something is wrong, don’t be afraid to speak up.”
The people are speaking, and OCAABA will do its part to amplify their voices. In the following weeks and months, we will take reinvigorated steps to fight for the ideals of justice. This is the only path forward. We hope you will join us.
Charles Lin
OCAABA President-Elect
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
You can reach us at contactus@ocaaba.org or P.O. Box 6130, Newport Beach, CA 92658.Our privacy policy can be accessed here.
The Orange County Asian American Bar Association ("OCAABA") is a 501(c)6 non-profit organization.
