On Monday night, 33 Vietnamese Americans were deported to Vietnam, continuing the separation of families even though Biden promised to stop deportations through his first 100 days in office. Among them were Hieu Huynh and Tien Pham — both who came to the U.S. as refugees during the American War in Southeast Asia.

On Tuesday evening, eight people were killed at three separate spas in Georgia. Six of the people killed were Asian and all but one were women. Their names are Xiaojie Tan, Daoyou Feng, Soon Chung Park, Hyun JungGrant, Suncha Kim, Yong Ae Yue, Delaina Ashley Yaun, and Paul Andre Michels.

We are devastated by these violent acts driven by white supremacy, patriarchy, imperialism, and capitalism. We are angry at the increasing violence against Asian Americans that has been fueled by our government, driven by anti-Blackness xenophobia, upheld by the school to prison to deportation pipeline. These hate crimes are happening while our communities are struggling with education, housing, employment, policing, and grief on the loss of loved ones. 

These are the moments in which white supremacy will pit our communities against each other for the scraps of dignity they think we deserve, but we will not fall for their tactics. We will continue to love ourselves and each other as we fight back against all forms of oppression. Whether it’s the policing of our Southeast Asian youth or the criminalization of our Black trans siblings or the dehumanization our women face, we will not give up. 

Instead we will love deeply, build strong relationships, learn our histories, connect our struggles, and make certain these systemic injustices don’t go on any longer. We urge our communities to take action by speaking out against these violences, centering those who are most impacted, and supporting movements for the liberation of Black, Indigenous, and people of color communities. 

To our Rhode Island community – if you or someone you know has experienced a hate crime or police violence, please call the AMOR Network Hotline at 401-645-1414. 

To our AAPI community – if you or someone you know has experience a hate crime, please report it with Stop AAPI Hate report at www.stopaapihate.org

To support Tien’s re-entry fund please donate to venmo: @/hiennguy

To support Hieu’s re-entry fund please donate to venmo: @/claireman0

To support the families of Hyun JungKim, Delain Ashley Yaun, Paul Andre Michels, Sun Cha Kim, please donate at https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/atlanta-area-spa-shootings-fundraisers 

To support local organizing efforts, check out ARISE, Ocean State Ass, the AMOR Network. To support national organizing efforts, check out Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Atlanta, Asian American Advocacy Fund, Southeast Asian Freedom Network (SEAFN), and Red Canary Song.

This year, PrYSM celebrates our 18th birthday! November marks almost two decades of Peace, Love, Power! PrYSM is the only organization in Rhode Island committed to training, developing, and supporting Southeast Asian young people, queer and trans youth of color, and survivors of police violence to become leaders and changemakers. In these tough political times, PrYSM’s steadfast dedication to liberating our communities from state violence through direct action, community programs, and movement building is vital.

As we turn 18, we are still focused on our larger vision of a community free from state violence. PrYSM’s work began with the Organizing Circle, our flagship youth development program that’s raised generations of organizers. Their leadership in winning the historic 2017 Community Safety Act set the groundwork for the Community Defense Project, a program providing direct legal resources, community support, and organizing opportunities for survivors of police violence. Last year, Organizing Circle partnered with Alliance of Rhode Island Southeast Asians for Education and Providence Student Union to launch the #CounselorsNotCops campaign for more health resources and no police officers in Providence public schools. We have forced policy makers to contend with us in numerous ways, including this past month, as we won a two year long anti-discrimination battle against the Portuguese Social Club in Cranston. PrYSM’s organizing and advocacy led the Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights to preside over a class action lawsuit that awarded compensation to dozens of our community members. And Queer Transformative Roots continues to build a family of queer and trans youth of color as they imagine and create new possibilities for cooperative-owned and community-centered living.

I will be transitioning out of my role as Executive Director. I am so grateful for all the lessons learned and the immense love I was given in PrYSM. I’m excited to announce that on January 1st, 2020, Vanessa Flores-Maldonado and Steven Dy will take over as PrYSM’s new Co-Directors! Their brilliance and passion is exactly what we need in this current political moment as PrYSM’s ongoing work continues to lead the way both locally and nationally.

We are so busy and we need your help!

1. Purchase an ad in our Annual Fundraiser! Ads range from $200-$5000 and can be purchased online at 2019 PrYSM Ad Purchase Form or in the Google form attached.

2. Purchase Tickets to our Annual Fundraiser on Friday, December 13th 2019 at 6pm! $50 per person, $450 for table of ten. Tickets can be purchased online at our Eventbrite page, www.prysm18.eventbrite.com or at the door. Confirm your attendance and help us publicize the event on social media at For Justice & Love: 18 Years of Peace, Love, Power!

3. Donate! You can donate electronically through PayPal (www.tinyurl.com/prysmpaypal) or you can send a check to the above address.

Thank you for your love. With your continued support, PrYSM will be able to fulfill our dream of a more just world for all of us. See you on December 13th! 

peace,
Sarath Suong
Executive Director

Cambodians are being picked up RI by ICE. Please read and share the following on what to do when ICE is present in your community.

When may ICE enter my home?

Immigration officers may not enter your home without permission unless they have a “warrant.” A warrant is a document issued by a court. Generally, ICE claims that a document signed by a deportation officer not a judge is a warrant. This document does not authorize them to enter your home without permission. It is important that everyone in your household knows to not open the door for ICE. ICE can enter your home if anyone gives them permission to enter. They will treat opening the door as permission and push their way in.

What do I do if ICE is at my door?

Call the Southeast Asian raid hotline at 415-952-0413. Do not open the door. Through the door, ask with agency the officers are with. ICE officers often falsely claim to be police. Ask if they have a warrant and for them to slide the warrant under the door. Check to see if the warrant was signed by a judge or deportation officer.

You can print out cards to inform the ICE officer that they do not have permission to enter and that you do not wish to speak to them. The cards are available in English, Hmong, and Vietnamese.

What if ICE is waiting outside of my home?

ICE does not need a warrant signed by a judge to arrest you outside of your home. Often, ICE waits down the street until people leave for work to arrest them.

ICE called or sent a letter asking me to check-in earlier than scheduled. What can I expect?

While ICE sometimes does reschedule check-ins, this may also mean that they are planning to detain you. Call the Southeast Asian raid hotline at 415-952-0413 for legal advice and updates on whether raids are happening elsewhere.

FOR MORE INFO AND HELP:
Visit www.searaids.org
Call the national Southeast Asian raid hotline at 415-952-0413
Call Rhode Island’s AMOR (www.amorri.org) at 401-675-1414
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