Press Release

The Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) is pleased to announce the release of our 2022-23 Impact Report, which highlights our many accomplishments, new endeavors, and critical partnerships that have quickly established us as a widely-respected national non-profit organization and helped us secure our “seat at the table.” 
The Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) has spoken out time and time again to condemn words and acts of hate against the Asian American community, and continues to do so as these devastating and racially-motivated attacks continue.
Today, the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB) issued its long-awaited report on Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The report, endorsed by a majority of the Board’s members, sheds new light on abuses over the past few years, revealing that, “[i]n the reporting period covering November 2020 to December 2021, non-compliant queries related to civil unrest numbered in the tens of thousands.” Privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties groups issued the following statement responding to the report:
Coalition of 52 organizations led by Asian American Scholar Forum, Asian Americans Advancing Justice - AAJC, Chinese for Affirmative Action, and Stop AAPI Hate calls for significant reforms to Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Letter to Congress marks historic commitment from Asian American community to tackle unjust government surveillance.
The Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) joins the UNC community in grieving the devastating killing of Dr. Yan, and boldly condemns the senseless act of violence perpetrated against him and his family.
On Saturday, a gunman who was found to have posted racist writings shot and killed three Black Americans in Jacksonville, Florida near Edward Waters University, a historically Black college. In stark contrast, the day also marked an important anniversary for racial justice—60 years since the first March on Washington where approximately 250,000 Americans led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. marched against segregation, anti-Blackness, and white supremacy. The Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) joined The National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA), Asian Americans Advancing Justice-AAJC (Advancing Justice-AAJC), and several other Asian American-led organizations in attending the 60th Anniversary March on Washington to honor the ways in which the Black-led Civil Rights Movement paved the way for civil rights victories for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. As AASF joined in the recommitments of the March, they also join in expressing the collective grief experienced by Jacksonville and Black Americans across the country.
The Asian American Scholar Forum (AASF) expresses their deep condolences about the ongoing wildfires that are ravaging the island of Maui. As of this morning, the four fires engulfing the island are considered to be widespread across the island, with the town of Lahaina being particularly devastated, with a death toll of 55 individuals and rising. AASF mourns the significant losses resulting from these fires, both in terms of human life, homes, businesses, and community heritage. AASF recognizes the urgency of addressing these fires, safeguarding the environment from future disasters, and the necessity of rebuilding the community once the fires are contained.
AASF Executive Director Gisela Perez Kusakawa said, “We strongly condemn Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s antisemitic and anti-Asian words."