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Following the lifting of severe immigration restrictions in 1965, a massive influx of Chinese immigrants flooded into the old neighborhood, transforming it into a new ethnic enclave. In a community that had traditionally been ignored by City Hall, already poor living and working conditions — including overcrowding and employer exploitation — became even worse.

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Asian American Political Alliance (AAPA)

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Asian American Political Alliance (AAPA)

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Yuji Ichioka and Emma founded the AAPA in May 1968 at UC Berkeley. Ichioka coined the term "Asian American" for it during its founding.  According to Karen Ishizuka, the label "Asian American" was "an oppositional political identity imbued with self-definition and empowerment, signaling a new way of thinking.” the AAPA embraced a pan-Asian focus within their organization accepting members from Chinese, Japanese, and Filipino communities regardless of whether they were born in America or immigrants. The promotion of a pan Asian ideology brought together the formerly separated groups within Asian American communities to combat a common racial oppression experienced in the nation.

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It all started in the streets of Chinatown in 1974 for Asian Americans for Equality. Local activists were inspired to take action after a developer refused to hire Asian laborers for the large Confucius Plaza construction project. They lifted their voices, mounted months of protests, and eventually won. They developed a formidable grassroots movement in the process, which has lasted for four decades.

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Confucius Plaza, 1974. Photo by Corky Lee

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Confucius Plaza, 1974. Photo by Corky Lee

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this is a photo of a protest that occurred at Confucius Plaza in 1974. the photo shows a group of young Asian Americans protesting for work rights as they have been forced into poor living and working conditions. they recorded these protest (see man to the left holding camera) and spread them across the nation showing how they deserved justice and deserved the rights that were bestowed upon all other citizens of the free country.

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Large protest in Chinatown after the Peter Yew beating in 1975. Photo by Corky Lee

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Large protest in Chinatown after the Peter Yew beating in 1975. Photo by Corky Lee

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in this photo of a protest in Chinatown we see a huge group of Asian Americans all protesting for human rights after the Peter Yew beating. the whole community rallied together from business men to workers to mothers to children all gathered for the sole purpose of speaking out for the minority group that is themselves.

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The abuses at Confucius Plaza sparked widespread outcry throughout Chinatown. The DeMatteis Corp., which was in charge of building the government-funded project at the time, refused to obey the city's fair-hiring policies, despite requests from the young activists known as Asian Americans for Equal Employment. Protests began on May 16 and gained traction throughout the fall. “The Asians built the railroad; why not Confucius Plaza?” shouted picketers holding signs. Hundreds of people were detained.

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DeMatteis Corp. eventually gave in and agreed to hire 27 people from underrepresented groups, including Asians. It was a big triumph for the community, and Asian Americans for Equal Employment was quickly established as an organization that individuals could turn to when they had nowhere else to turn.

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Another big dispute occurred in Chinatown on April 26, 1975, enraging the community and once again putting the topic of Asian civil rights to the fore. A large crowd gathered in front of the Fifth Precinct after a minor traffic collision involving two automobiles, one white and one Chinese.

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To reflect a growing objective, the organization's name was changed to Asian Americans for Equality in 1977, three years after it was created. Leaders went out to other ethnic groups and joined coalitions working on significant domestic and international concerns.

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Yellow Power, inspired by the Black Power movement, rose in the late 1970s and 1980s. It taught that economic power would follow political representation. Those who were a part of the Yellow Power movement voted for candidates that they believe represented their issues.

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Vincent Chin, a 27-year-old engineering student from Michigan who was attacked and killed by two men who blamed Asians for the loss of auto jobs to Japan in June 1982, sparked a protest movement. The tragedy served as a wake-up call for Asian Americans, galvanizing communities and inspiring organizations like the Asian American Foundation for Equality (AAFE) to carry the battle for justice and equality to new heights.

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March 1983Protest in Detroit after Vincent Chins Death.

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March 1983Protest in Detroit after Vincent Chins Death.

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Almost a year after Vincent Chin died, Asian Americans took up peaceful protest to fightback against injustice in the justice system. The murderers of Vincent Chin were released after pleading guilty for manslaughter and were only charged with 3 months of probation and a $3000 fine. the Asian American society decided to rise and revolted against this unjustly verdict. we see signs labeled," 3000 dollars for a human life" and " A job is licensed to kill?"

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The Cleveland Elementary School Shooting January 17, 1989.

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The Cleveland Elementary School Shooting January 17, 1989.

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this is a newspaper issued after the "Stockton Schoolyard Shooting". On January 17, 1989, at Cleveland Elementary School in Stockton, California, a man named Patrick Purdy shot and killed 5 school children and injured 32 more. Purdy killed himself after the shooting but sources believe this was an Asian hate crime. The students of the school were mostly of southeast Asian and the 5 children who were killed were all Asian American.

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In 2009, AAFE responded to a fire at 22 James St. in Manhattan's Chinatown, which killed three people and injured many more. Following the immediate crisis, AAFE tried to prevent the tenement from being demolished by rallying the tenants and maintaining pressure on the owner to make repairs. Asian Americans for Equality was there to greet the residents when they returned a year later.