APRIL 2021 MARCH FOR FREEDOM BONTA MAKES HISTORY AS CALIFORNIA’S FIRST FILIPINO AMERICAN ATTORNEY GENERAL SACRAMENTO – On April 23rd, Governor Gavin Newsom swore in As- semblymember Rob Bonta as Califor- nia’s 34th Attorney General. A national leader in the fight to reform our justice system and stand up to the forces of hate, Bonta is the first Filipino American “Free Burma” rally was held recently in Washington, DC, when about 100 dem- onstrators gathered and marched to show support for the cause of the Monks in in the state’s history to serve in the role. Myanmar (formerly known as Burma). Photocredit : INM “California and the nation need leaders like Rob Bonta to meet this pivotal moment in our history with the Philippine Embassy in Washington reassures courage, energy and tenacity it will Filipino community of efforts for the early release take to shape a society more reflective engage a broad array of groups – com- Xavier Becerra, who was recently sworn and increase of vaccine supply in the Philippines of our values,” said Governor Newsom. munity leaders, law enforcement, the in as Secretary of the U.S. Department “Carrying the lessons of his remarkable Legislature and more – in a meaningful of Health and Human Services. The WASHINGTON, D.C., - The Philippine upbringing at the center of historic dialogue, so that California continues Governor announced the nomination Humanitarian Coalition (PHC), Philippine social justice movements, Rob has been to build bridges and advance together last month at the historic International Medical Association MDC, US Filipinos for Good at the forefront of courageous fights in a direction that does justice to all our Hotel in San Francisco, a site where Governance DC (USFGG) and US Medicare PH for racial, economic and environmen- communities.” Asian and Pacific Islander Californians hosted a virtual community forum on 29 April tal justice from day one. As Attorney Confirmed by the Legislature, famously rallied in 1977 to save the 2021 where Deputy Chief of Mission Renato General, Rob brings to bear the legal Bonta was selected by Governor homes of elderly residents and preserve Villa reassured participants of the Embassy’s and moral authority to effectively Newsom to fill the position vacated by their community. (Related story on Page 2) continued efforts to engage and negotiate with the US Government and vaccine manufacturers to achieve the early release and increase of vac- FIGHTING FAKE cine supply in the Philippines, regardless of the Celebrating Winners numerous challenges our country is currently Renato Villa VACCINATION CARDS Deputy Chief of Mission facing. DCM Villa also upraised the participants on the PH Government’s vaccine procurement efforts in the United States and through other vaccine sources includ- ing the WHO COVAX Facility. NASA’s Perseverance Mars Rover extracts first oxygen from red planet Peter Spears, Frances McDormand, Chloé Zhao, Mollye Asher, and Dan Janvey pose backstage with the Oscar® for Best Picture during the live ABC SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Attorney Telecast of The 93rd Oscars® at Union Station in Los Angeles, CA on Sunday, General Sean D. Reyes has called on April 25, 2021. credit: Matt Petit / A.M.P.A.S. Twitter, eBay, and Shopify to act imme- diately to prevent people from selling fake CDC vaccination cards on their Frances McDormand with the Oscar® for Actress and Yuh-Jung platforms. In a letter to the companies’ Youn with the Oscar® for Actress in CEOs, a bipartisan coalition of attorneys a Supporting Role pose backstage during the live ABC Telecast of general raises concerns about the The 93rd Oscars® at Union Station public health risks of this fraud. in Los Angeles, CA on Sunday, April 25, 2021.credit: Matt Petit / “It’s sad but not surprising that A.M.P.A.S. fraudsters continue to take advantage of people during the Pandemic, but we’re Technicians at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory lower the Mars Oxygen In- fighting back to protect Utahns,” said Situ Resource Utilization Experiment (MOXIE) instrument into the belly of the Perseverance rover. (Photo: NASA/JPL-Caltech) Attorney General Reyes. “Some of these fraudsters we can investigate but many use tactics that evade prosecution. So, DHS announces extension we’re asking social media platforms to help us crack down on ads and promo- of REAL ID full enforcement deadline tions designed to exploit vulnerable WASHINGTON – Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas has citizens.” announced the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is extending the REAL ID Legitimate vaccination cards are full enforcement date by 19 months, from October 1, 2021 to May 3, 2023, due to given by providers when they admin- circumstances resulting from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has ister the vaccine. People who buy fake significantly impacted states’ ability to issue REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and cards can have their own information Daniel Kaluuya poses backstage Emerald Fennell poses backstage identification cards, with many driver’s licensing agencies still operating at limited added to the card or add it in them- with the Oscar® for Best Actor in a with the Oscar® for Original selves, so it appears they have been Supporting Role during the live ABC Screenplay during the live ABC capacity. Telecast of The 93rd Oscars® at Union Telecast of The 93rd Oscars® at “Protecting the health, safety, and security of our communities is our top vaccinated when they have not. These Station in Los Angeles, CA on Sunday, Union Station in Los Angeles, CA deceptive cards threaten the health April 25, 2021.credit: Matt Petit / on Sunday, April 25, 2021.credit: priority,” said Secretary Mayorkas. “As our country continues to recover from the CO- A.M.P.A.S. Matt Petit / A.M.P.A.S. VID-19 pandemic, extending the REAL ID full enforcement deadline will give states of our communities, slow progress in needed time to reopen their driver’s licensing operations and ensure their residents getting people protected from the virus, (To see more photos about the OSCARS, see the Back Page) can obtain a REAL ID-compliant license or identification card.” and violateInternational many state News laws. Media • INTERNATIONAL • NATIONAL • LOCAL • Teen sisters donate books that give voice to Muslim girls By Noelani Kirschner school — approached the Parent were not only in demand in their Zena discovered her now-favorite Teacher Association at their school community but throughout the United novel, The Lines We Cross by Randa When Mena and Zena Nasiri were and asked for funds to buy books States and the world. To date, the orga- Abdel-Fattah, through their research. in elementary school, they wanted to featuring Muslim women for all of nization has donated more than 1,000 The book explores the experiences do a class project on Muslim women in the libraries in their school district in books to 66 schools, public libraries and of a young Muslim woman who has history, but soon ran into a roadblock. Michigan. mosques in the United States and seven immigrated to the United States from “We went to our local library and The association agreed, international destinations, including Afghanistan. couldn’t find any books on any Muslim and with its help Mena and Zena France, Hong Kong, Morocco, Nigeria Mena quickly read it, too. “It was women,” said Zena. “That was the first donated 200 books to each of the 21 Mena (left) and Zena Nasiri hold books that and the United Kingdom. such an amazing experience seeing a feature female Muslim main characters in time we realized there was a lack of di- schools. front of the Blair Memorial Library in Claw- Mena and Zena have researched character like us in a book,” said Mena. versity and representation in the books With that success, they started son, Michigan, where they donated books in sites online to assemble a list of roughly “It brought us back to that time in fourth in our community.” a nongovernmental organization, August 2019. (Courtesy of Deyar Nasiri) 300 books portraying powerful Muslim grade when we couldn’t find any books The two sisters — who are now Girls of the Crescent, to find books donate them to public schools in the area. women to donate or recommend to about Muslim women and felt like it a junior and senior in secondary about strong Muslim women and The sisters discovered these books interested parties. was a pervasive issue.” Governor Newsom swears in Rob Bonta Buckingham Palace mourns as Attorney General of California the passing of Prince Philip “Thank you, Governor Newsom face across America today. People see our justice system, and we will attack The Buckingham Palace for the faith and trust you have placed institutions that work well for those with the forces of hate and white supremacy. continues to mourn the passing in me. Serving as California’s Attorney wealth and power – at the expense of I’m excited to get to work!” Bonta of Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth General is the honor of a lifetime,” said everyone else. We see hate on the rise. continued. II’s husband, on April 9 at the age Attorney General Rob Bonta after he was And too often, justice and accountability Labor, environmental and crimi- of 99. sworn in as the new Attorney General for those who harm others feel out of nal justice reform advocates welcomed of California, assuming the position reach. As The People’s Attorney, I won’t the appointment. A statement issued by the vacated by Xavier Becerra, who was back down when I see Californians hurt. The son of activists, Bonta grew palace just after his death on April recently sworn in as Secretary of the Together, we will get justice for families up in a trailer in La Paz, where his 9 spoke of the Queen’s “deep sor- U.S.