APABA ColoradoIf you would like to get involved, or for membership and general inquiries, email us at apabacolorado@gmail.com. For judicial endorsement requests, please visit our Judicial Endorsements Request page. Become an APABA member today:
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Many of us woke up the morning of January 22, 2023 after a joyful evening of Lunar New Year festivities to news of a deadly mass shooting in Monterey Park, California, a largely Asian-American suburb of Los Angeles. Like us, the victims had been celebrating the Lunar New Year. The gunman, who opened fire at a ballroom dance club and reportedly carried multiple rounds of ammunition, remains at large.
We are enraged, confused, and heartbroken by this cruel act of violence. We offer our support to our AAPI community, both local and nationwide, as we wait for details to emerge and try to make sense of an incident that feels so disturbingly close to home. We fear for those who remain in the vicinity of the unidentified gunman, and call our loved ones not with the celebratory greetings we should be sharing today, but with words of caution and concern. We are stunned by grief but prepared to mobilize to support the community of Monterey Park through the difficult process of recovery.
APABA is working to take action in the wake of this tragedy to provide support to our community and to the families harmed by this tragic act of hate. APABA is with you an we mourn together.
For those who wish to provide a donation to help support the victims of this tragedy, please see the following resource:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/monterey-park-lunar-new-year-victims-fund
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Standing Strong With The AAPI Community APABA Colorado is committed to supporting the AAPI community and honoring those whose lives have been taken in senseless acts of anti-Asian hate. One year later, we remain shocked and saddened by the horrific Atlanta shootings on March 16, 2021. The acts of violence committed against Asians and Asian-Americans in recent years are not just singular events we grieve; they are a tragic mark on the collective experience of the AAPI community. We recognize the need to provide ongoing resources to members of our community to address the impact of these events and we acknowledge with gratitude the support we’ve received from friends, neighbors, and colleagues in the last year. ***************************************************************************************************************************************** Justice Crisis
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STAND AGAINST HATE
Together with the American Bar Association, the NAPABA president and leaders of many U.S. diversity bar organizations created the following video denouncing hate and racism during this challenging time. We hope that you will take a few minutes out of your day to listen to this important message! Click here.
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APABA COLORADO'S STATEMENT REGARDING THE CORONAVIRUS
As the new coronavirus impacts the Colorado community and well beyond, the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Colorado (APABA Colorado) joins our national chapter, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), and numerous civil rights organizations around the country in condemning discriminatory and xenophobic treatment of Asians and Asian Americans in response to the coronavirus. The risk of coronavirus is not at all connected with race, ethnicity, or nationality. Countries worldwide need to address prevention and treatment issues, not just China or other Asian countries. We encourage all individuals to follow the guidelines set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and local and state public health departments in response to the coronavirus. The use by elected leaders of rhetoric such as the “Chinese Virus” when referring to the coronavirus fuels racism and bigotry—putting Asian American individuals and communities at risk—at a time when support is needed in and for all communities. APABA Colorado strongly condemns such inflammatory and irresponsible language.
Those experiencing hate crimes or incidents are encouraged to contact local law enforcement or the FBI Denver Field office.
The Denver Police Department has a number to call to report bias-motivated crimes. That number is 720-913-6458. If a bias motivated act is happening in real time, call 911. No matter your immigrant status, it is safe to call.
NAPABA provides additional resources for reporting hate crimes and bias incidents as well as pro bono representation options. Please visit https://www.napaba.org/page/HateCrimeResources for more information, as well as organizations such as:
Denver Anti-Discrimination Office
Colorado Division of Civil Rights
Asian Americans Advancing Justice
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
Asian Pacific Development Center
American Civil Liberties Union
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APABA's Mission
The mission of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Colorado ("APABA") is to represent the interests of the Asian Pacific American ("APA") community and attorneys; to speak on behalf of, and advocate, the interests and ideas of APA attorneys in Colorado; to foster the exchange of ideas and information among and between the organization’s members and other members of the legal profession, the judiciary, and the legal community; to encourage and promote the professional growth of the members of the organization; to broaden opportunities for APA lawyers and law students; to present educational programs aimed at the needs of the practice of APA attorneys; to provide an opportunity for fellowship among the organization’s members; to provide coordinated services to the Colorado community; to develop and encourage cooperation with the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association and with other organizations of minority attorneys; provide a vehicle and forum for the unified expression of opinions and positions by the organization’s members upon current social, political, economic, legal, or other matters or events of concern to the members of the organization; and to serve as a communication network among APA attorneys across the state.