UNF hosts Asian American Equality Conference

An Asian American equality conference “Solidarity and Strength: Conference on Equality and Prosperity for Asian Americans” will take place at The University of North Florida’s J.B. Coxwell Amphitheater on Saturday, May 22 from 4 to 6 p.m. The event is free and open to all.

The conference is sponsored by the Jacksonville Chinese Association and the University of North Florida’s Chinese Language and Culture Club. Speakers will discuss the surge of violence and hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) during the COVID-19 pandemic, the long-standing discrimination against and marginalization of the AAPI community, the surviving and thriving of the community, and the pursuit of solidarity among all races. A Q&A session between the audience and the speakers will take place at the end of the conference.

Speakers include:

• Dr. Wei Zhou, president of Jacksonville Chinese Association
• Ju’Coby Pittman, Jacksonville Councilwoman
• Al Ferraro, Jacksonville Councilman
• Lakesha Burton, assistant chief, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office
• Tajmaus Johnson, legislative aide, on behalf of Angie Nixon, member of Florida House of Representatives
• Dr. Russel Meyer, executive director, Florida Council of Churches
• Wen Raiti, president, National Asian American PAC FL
• Sharol Noblejas, chair, Jacksonville Major’s Asian American Advisory Board
• Isaiah Rumlin, president, National Association of the Advancement of the Colored People (Jacksonville Branch)
• Basma Alawee, Florida refugee organizer, Florida Immigrant Coalition
• Dr. Parvez Ahmed, board member, Interfaith Center of Northeast Florida
• Amudha Kanaka Sundaram, president, Indo-US Chamber of Commerce Northeast Florida
• Cristina Comstock, president, Asian Real Estate Association of America

In addition to the two organizations sponsoring the event, other supporting organizations include the Jacksonville Mayor’s Asian American Advisory Board, National Asian American PAC FL, National Association of the Advancement of the Colored People, Asian American Federation of FL, Asian American and Pacific Islander Association of Florida, Japanese Association in Jacksonville, Jacksonville Indo-US Chamber of Commerce, Interfaith Center of Northeast Florida, Jacksonville Asian Real Estate Association of America, OneJax, Florida Immigrant Coalition, Jacksonville Sister City Association, Filipino American Community of North East FL and The League of United Latin American Citizens. 

The conference is a continuation of the Jacksonville Chinese Association’s Stop Asian Hate Rally held in April.