Asian American community leaders gathered Friday at the Clarkston Community Center for the Festival of the Arts, hosted by East x Southeast, to celebrate recent victories that give their growing voting bloc a stronger voice in local affairs.
Local policy change protects students
Four Georgia school districts – Gwinnett, DeKalb, Decatur and Atlanta Public Schools – have adopted a new regulation that bars federal immigration officials and local law‑enforcement agencies engaged in immigration enforcement from entering non‑public areas of schools without a valid judicial warrant. The rule, championed by the “Safe Space to Learn” coalition, was crafted in September by the Asian American Advocacy Fund (AAAF) in partnership with the Association of Raza Educators, We Are CASA and Demo Lab South.
“Federal immigration officials or local law‑enforcement agencies engaged in immigration enforcement operations will not be allowed access to students or entry into the non‑public areas of District facilities without a valid judicial warrant,” the policy states. Advocates say the measure provides peace of mind for families who fear that their children could be targeted simply for their immigration status.
Grassroots effort drives change
Shani Chea, Program Director at the Asian American Advocacy Fund, credited the success to sustained grassroots outreach. “We are just about 5 percent of the electorate, but that’s roughly 261,000 registered voters. Many elections are decided by 50,000 votes or less,” Chea told attendees. She noted that community members repeatedly called school‑board representatives and attended district meetings, keeping pressure on officials.
Anthony Pacheco, Community Organizing Manager at Asian Americans Advancing Justice, added, “What’s happening on the federal level affects us indirectly, but the local level affects us directly.” The coalition’s focus on local elections reflects the belief that school‑board decisions have immediate consequences for services and safety.
National challenges loom
While celebrating the state‑level win, organizers warned of a federal proposal introduced in September that would exclude non‑citizens from the U.S. Census. Chea cautioned that omitting this population could skew the allocation of resources to Asian American communities. Pacheco explained that accurate census data is also essential for expanding language‑access services and ensuring ballot‑access protections for non‑English‑speaking voters.
Encouraging civic joy
Both speakers emphasized the importance of making civic participation a joyful, family‑centered experience. Chea recalled a conversation with a parent whose son was voting for the first time: “Make it a big event. Make it joyful. Bring your friends and have a good time.” She urged residents to verify their registration and locate polling places via the Georgia Secretary of State’s Advanced Voting Location page, noting early voting runs through Oct. 30 and Election Day is Nov. 3.
The Festival of the Arts, featuring Asian‑American comedy and cultural performances, served as a reminder that community celebration and political engagement can go hand‑in‑hand, strengthening both representation and the safety of students across Georgia.
Original reporting: SaportaReport — read the source article.
