Protests & Demonstrations
Andy Kim pepper-sprayed by ICE at Newark detention protest
U.S. Sen. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) was pepper-sprayed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents Monday as he tried to defuse a confrontation between federal officers and demonstrators outside a…
Starbucks Korea ‘Tank Day’ promotion draws outrage
A marketing campaign by Starbucks Korea has ignited public anger in South Korea after promotional slogans referencing “Tank Day” appeared on the anniversary of the 1980 Gwangju uprising, one of the…
New York AAPI coalition, lawmakers rally for $54.35 million in state funding
More than 100 advocates from the AAPI Equity Budget Coalition (EBC) gathered at the New York State Capitol on Feb. 10, pressing Gov. Kathy Hochul and the state legislature to include $54.35 million…
Canadian park renamed after outrage over anti-Japanese legacy
City officials of Surrey, British Columbia, have renamed Senator Reid Park to North Ridge Park following public outcry over the historical figure’s support for anti-Asian policies during the Second…
For Asian Americans, ‘No Kings’ is about more than partisanship
Asian American leaders emerged as prominent voices in the nationwide “No Kings” demonstrations on Saturday, where an estimated seven million protesters gathered across more than 2,600 cities to…
Vietnam urged to free journalist jailed for 5 years over government criticism
Five years after Vietnamese journalist Pham Doan Trang was arrested at her home in Ho Chi Minh City, an international coalition of human rights and press freedom organizations is urging authorities…
‘One Piece’ pirate flag rises as banner of dissent across Asia
A black flag bearing a cartoon skull in a straw hat, once known only to fans of the Japanese manga and anime series “One Piece,” recently became a striking emblem at some of Asia’s most turbulent…
Nepal PM resigns as army takes control following deadly protest crackdown
Nepal’s Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli resigned on Wednesday, two days after security forces fired on protesters in Kathmandu. The crackdown left at least 30 people dead and hundreds injured during…
Indonesia facing economic crisis as deadly protests continue
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto confronts mounting challenges as protests over lawmakers’ perks and economic hardship continue into their second week, with student groups meeting senior…
Former Japanese American WWII camps fuel resistance to Trump’s historical censorship
Advocates and community members rallied at Manzanar and other locations nationwide in the past weeks, opposing Trump administration policies they say threaten to obscure difficult chapters of…
Japanese Americans lead opposition to turn ex-prison into ICE detention center
Hundreds of Japanese Americans and allies gathered at Don Biddle Community Park in Dublin, California, on Saturday to protest the Trump administration’s proposal to convert a former federal women’s…
Student protests at women’s university in Seoul sparks anti-feminist backlash
Students at Dongduk Women’s University in Seoul have been occupying the main building and boycotting classes in a series of protests against the university’s potential transition to a co-educational…
Korean women react to 4B movement’s spread to the US
As the 4B movement gains traction in the U.S. following recent political events, Korean women who initiated the movement – which stands for “no marriage, no childbirth, no dating, and no sex with…
Voice actors from ‘Dragon Ball,’ ‘Cowboy Bebop’ and others speak out against AI
A group of 26 prominent Japanese voice actors, including Ryusei Nakao (the voice of Frieza in “Dragon Ball”), Koichi Yamadera (Spike Spiegel from “Cowboy Bebop”) and Romi Park (Edward Elric from…
NJ community demand justice, police reform in 3rd rally for Victoria Lee
A third rally was held for Victoria Lee, a 26-year-old fatally shot by police in her apartment during a mental health crisis in July, on Wednesday morning as community members and Korean American…
Hundreds march in New York to ‘keep Taiwan free’
Over 500 people marched in New York on Saturday to support Taiwan’s inclusion in the United Nations, up from last year’s 300. Beginning at the Chinese Consulate in midtown Manhattan and ending at the…
Thousands rally against proposed 76ers arena in Philadelphia ahead of town hall
Opponents of the proposed 76ers arena in Center City Philadelphia rallied at City Hall on Saturday, voicing concerns about its potential negative impact on Chinatown. The rally: Organized by…
Beijing’s ‘coordinated’ supporters instigated violence in SF: report
China’s government successfully exerted a repressive influence in San Francisco during President Xi Jinping’s visit in November, escalating months of coordinated efforts to silence dissent through…
Indian doctors refuse patients, demand tougher laws after sex assault, murder of colleague
Physicians across India are declining to treat non-emergency patients while demanding safer workplaces in protest of the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor in the eastern city of Kolkata…
Activists rally for justice in Fort Lee shooting of Victoria Lee
Community leaders and activists rallied outside the Fort Lee Community Center to demand justice for Victoria Lee, a 26-year-old Korean American fatally shot by police during a mental health crisis.…
6 dead, hundreds injured in Bangladesh anti-job quota protests
Six people were killed and more than 400 were injured during violent clashes in Bangladesh earlier this week as students protest the government’s job quota system. The policy, which was reinstated on…
Seattle museum closes as staffers walk out over controversial language in anti-hate exhibit
An exhibit that aimed to confront hate against minority communities led to the temporary closure of Seattle’s Wing Luke Museum after pro-Palestine staffers walked out over concerns with the program’s…
California man sentenced for driving through Stop Asian Hate rally
The man who disrupted a Stop Asian Hate rally in Diamond Bar, California, in 2021 has been sentenced to a year in federal prison. Key points:
USC cancels graduation ceremony amid valedictorian controversy, protests
The University of Southern California (USC) has cancelled its main commencement ceremony on May 10 amid continued protests regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Key points:
Shohei Ohtani honored in Japan with stamp, postcard collection
Japan Post Co. is honoring Shohei Ohtani with a stamp and postcard collection to celebrate his achievement of becoming the first Japanese baseball player to be named American League home run champ.…
Taiwan draws nearly 180,000 in Asia’s largest Pride march yet
An estimated 176,000 people attended this year’s Pride parade in Taiwan, marking the largest Pride march in Asia to date. About the event: The parade, which was in its 21st year, began and ended in…
Thousands of S. Korean teachers protest after colleague’s suicide exposes parent bullying
Thousands of teachers gathered in Seoul to protest after the suicide of a 23-year-old teacher, which they attributed to the immense pressure and harassment educators face in the nation’s education…
Philadelphia 76ers arena developers reveal planned high-rise will have 20% ‘affordable housing’
The Philadelphia 76ers have revealed new renderings for their proposed arena, which include an adjacent high-rise meant to provide affordable housing. Key details: 76 Devcorp, the developer behind…
Jollibee ex-employees stage protest over alleged illegal firings at New Jersey branch
Nine former employees of a Jollibee branch in New Jersey organized a protest against the fast food restaurant’s alleged illegal firings after they advocated for higher wages.…
Coalition of Asian American Student Organizations denounces SCOTUS affirmative action ruling in letter
The Coalition of Asian American Student Organizations (CAASO) released a letter expressing its opposition to the Supreme Court’s decision to ban affirmative action. The letter: Published online in…
‘Blasian March’ unites Black, Asian and Blasian communities in Sacramento
A march that brought together Black, Asian and Blasian (Black and Asian) communities was held in Sacramento, California, on Saturday. What it is: The event, dubbed the “Blasian March,” sought to…
Hong Kong court rejects government’s injunction to ban pro-democracy protest song
The High Court of Hong Kong has rejected a government’s injunction to ban the pro-democracy protest song “Glory to Hong Kong.” High Court’s ruling: In Judge Anthony Chan’s ruling, he noted that…
Canadian man posts ‘Chinese police station’ sign in front of local RCMP office
The act comes following a recent arrest of retired RCMP officer William Majcher, who was charged with foreign interference-related offenses on China’s behalf
Native Hawaiians ask UN to help stop construction of $2.65 billion telescope on sacred mountain
Native Hawaiians have turned to the United Nations to help them stop the construction of a gargantuan $2.65 billion telescope on the sacred mountain Mauna Kea. Background: The extremely large…
Hong Kong police offer $127,000 bounties for arrests of pro-democracy activists living abroad
Hong Kong police are offering a reward of 1 million Hong Kong dollars (approximately $127,600) for information leading to each arrest of eight self-exiled pro-democracy activists. Pro-democracy…
More than 100 SRO families in SF Chinatown rally against proposed budget cuts
Single room occupancy (SRO) tenants in San Francisco’s Chinatown protested against Mayor London Breed’s proposed budget cuts on Wednesday in fear of losing the funding meant to support their…
