US NEWS CENTER
10/31/2021
International Forum on Anti-Racial Discrimination was held online recently, organized by four organizations in the U.S. and the U.K., which are Roundtable of Southern California Chinese-American Organizations (RCAO), International Chinese Alliance Against Racism (iCAAR) (UK), Professors and Experts Federation USA, and UK Society of Chinese Lawyers. The forum addressed the concerns about increasing hate crimes and violence during the pandemic, discussed the racial discrimination situation in the U.S. and the U.K., and suggested ways to promote racial equality in society and in the workplace. Over 200 people participated in the forum on Zoom.
RCAO honorary chairwoman Ms. Sue Zhang in her opening remarks said that this international forum on anti-racial discrimination is open to the public and held in English in order to strengthen our interaction and connection with the mainstream and among different ethnic groups. We want to increase public awareness of the racial discrimination, safeguard our legitimate rights and interests, and advocate for racial equality. She believed that the forum was very timely and much needed to all of us now.
RCAO Chairwoman Ms. Phoebe Chen Huang made welcome remarks on behalf of the RCAO. She indicated that the RCAO has become a leading Chinese organization in Southern California with 140 Chinese organizations as its members. The RCAO has organized several forums, including the Diversity and Inclusion Forum, the Cross Cultural Forum, and today’s international forum on anti-racial discrimination. These forums intend to promote understanding and inclusion among people with different racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
On behalf of the iCAAR and UK Society of Chinese Lawyers, President Xiaojiu Zhu MBE made a welcome speech and thanked all forum organizers and participants. She said that UK Society of Chinese Lawyers has provided support to its members and early legal advice and assistance to the community for years. The iCAAR is composed of leaders of overseas Chinese communities and legal and media professionals from more than 30 countries. It reports cases on racial discrimination regularly and encourages its members to share and exchange relevant information.
The four keynote speakers at the forum have different backgrounds, including former California State Senator and now entrepreneur, UCLA scholar, Member of Parliament in UK, and an antiracist organization leader. Two keynote speakers at the forum are from the U.S. and the other two from the U.K.
Mr. Bob Huff is the first keynote speaker from the U.S. He served in the California State Legislature for 12 years, of which he served as the Senate Minority Leader for three years. Now he and his wife Mei Mei formed Huff Strategies, LLC, specializing in government relations, community outreach and business development. Mr. Huff shared his extensive experience in advocating racial equality and discussed what we can do to deal with racial discrimination.
Another keynote speaker from the US is Dr. Min Zhou, who is Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Asian American Studies and Director of the Asia Pacific Center at the University of California, Los Angeles. She spoke about the model minority stereotype and its impact on Asian Americans. She examined the transition from the “yellow peril” in the past to the present “model” minority stereotype and its impact on Asian Americans.
Ms. Sarah Owen is the keynote speaker from the U.K. She is the first female MP of East or South East Asian descent in the UK Parliament. She has been working to highlight the worrying rise in hate crime faced by East and South East Asian communities in the UK during the pandemic, hosting the first ever parliamentary debate on the issue. Her speech discussed these issues and her campaign work against misogyny and hate against East and South East Asian people.
Mr. Suresh Grover is another keynote speaker from the U.K. He is a founder and co-Director of The Monitoring Group, UK’s national community-based antiracist organization, which was established 40 years ago. The Monitoring Group provides advocacy, research and trauma services on a daily basis. The UK’s daily newspaper, “The Guardian”, has described Suresh Grover “as one of the 100 most influential people on social policy in the United Kingdom”. His speech is titled “Racism and Anti-racism: the key features of the British experience”.
Dr. Lianlian Lin, Professor at Cal Poly Pomona and President of Professors and Experts Federation USA, made summary speech and shared her takeaways from the forum. She stressed that both U.S. and U.K are facing same challenges and we need to join forces internationally to fight against racism. She was very impressed by the personal experiences of the keynote speakers, which is very inspirational for us. She stated that we should take our share of responsibility to stop hate crime and violence.
On behalf of the forum organizing committee, Dr. Lianlian Lin expressed sincere appreciation to all speakers, organizing and co-organizing organizations, the forum work team, and all participants at the forum. Dr. Lei Xu served as MC, Dr. Ling Ding provided tech support, and Dr. Lianlian Lin and Dr. Xiaojiu Zhu were Chief Planners for the forum. Especially, Dr. Lin thanked Ms. Sue Zhang and Dr. Xiaojiu Zhu MBE, who are mother and daughter from the U.S. and the U.K., respectively, and their connection makes this international forum possible.
There are total of 36 co-organizing organizations for the forum, including 20 from the U.S., 15 from the U.K., and one from the Netherlands. The twenty co-organizing organizations from the U.S. include RCAO US-Sino Roundtable Forum, US Sichuan Chongqing Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Jilin Commerce & Culture Association, Hubei Association of Southern California USA, US-China Peace & Friendship Promotion Committee, USA-Shenyang Chamber of Commerce, Northwest Chamber of Commerce USA, Beijing Friendship Association USA, American Southwest Chamber of Commerce USA, JinGuo Committee, Boya Foundation, Dr’s Voice Foundation, RCAO Youth Leaders Council, American Chinese Experts Association, American Flying Tigers Communication Association, Wenzhou Association of California USA, Fudan University Alumni Association in Southern California, American Chinese Center for Commerce & Cultural Exchange, National Council of Chinese Americans, and the U.S. International Talent Association.
The fifteen co-organizing organizations from the U.K are London Chinatown Chinese Association, UK Chinese Business Association, UK Association for the Promotion of Chinese Education, UK-China Economics and Cultural Promotion Association, UK Chinese Entrepreneurs, Chinese Students and Scholars Association UK, UK Beijing Association, The Monitoring Group UK, iCAN, International Career Acceleration Network, UK Chinese Women Connect Association, Confederation of Chinese Association UK, Federation of UK-South China Culture And Commerce, Hunan Association, Anglo Chinese Cultural Exchange, and UK Shanxi Association. Also, the Dutch Chinese Young Entrepreneurs (DCYE) from the Netherlands is co-organizing organization of the forum.
