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Items tagged: equity

Forgetting the Filipino WWII Veterans in Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month

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by Erin Pangilinan

They fought alongside American soldiers in World War II and were denied benefits. They should be remembered, not continually forgotten. "To be on equal footing with anybody who served with me, that's what I want. I fought for democracy," says a Filipino World War II Veteran in this PSA.


Politicians and Corporations Attack Law School Clinics

Law school clinics are programs run by law schools that provide students the opportunity to gain practical experience by taking real cases and representing actual clients in court or in other ways.  Typically, clinics focus on various areas of need, such as domestic violence, immigration, or civil rights.  Since they provide free services to marginalized populations, clinics naturally represent the "little guy," often against government or wealthy corporations.  The New York Times reports that co


Equity, now what?

by Erin Pangilinan

Celebrating the close of Filipino American history month, the Smithsonian Museum honored the Filipino World War II veterans, who were denied equity due to the Rescission Act of 1946, which stripped Filipinos of their US citizenship and deemed them US nationals. Speakers recognized the passage of appropriated through the economic stimulus bill that was passed this year due to Senator Inouye’s leadership on the Senate Appropriations Committee.


Filipino Veterans Can Start Process of Receiving Benefits

fullequitynow Facing ever-increasing challenges, President Obama's Administration seems to be in a rush to make sure that the funds from the stimulus package start to have an immediate impact. This includes distributing the benefits to Filipino Veterans who were denied equity for their service in WWII, but have now been granted a small measure of justice. According to this article in the Philippines, Filipino Veterans can start requesting their benefits of $9,000-$15,000 ($15,000 for veterans who have become US citizens and $9,000 for non-US citizens) this Thursday. A few more of the rules have also become clearer:
“We’re very busy getting ready for that. We’re going out [to] provinces to make sure we reach people personally,” Ambassador Kristie Kenney said. ... Applications must be submitted by February 16, 2010, and claims by spouses, widows or children of veterans will not be accepted, the US embassy said. “Unfortunately it doesn’t apply to” dead veterans or their families,” Kenney said. “The legislation is clear, you have to be alive.” But she gave assurances “each case will be looked at to make sure that [they are] the right people, that they are indeed eligible. In some cases it might take longer or less longer.”
Some more info after the jump:

Filipino Vets Remain Cautiously Optimistic

fullequitynow With the signing of the economic stimulus package tomorrow in Denver, President Barack Obama will be taking a major step in rectifying one of the leading issues driving AAPI political organizing and activism in the community. On the eve of that signing, many of the Fil Vets and organizers are remaining cautiously optimistic. I guess after being denied what is rightly yours for over sixty years, I can understand why many of them are still waiting to see what happens tomorrow. For some links to some really great articles, "flip" to the other side. :)