On September 14, 2024, the Florida Asian American Justice Alliance (FAAJA) held a significant anti-Asian hate seminar at the CAMACOL building in Miami. Nearly 60 people attended the event, which aimed to address the tide of anti-Asian hate crimes and discriminatory policies.

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FAAJA South Florida Chapter President Hongwei Shang kicked off the seminar with a welcome speech, outlining FAAJA's mission to combat discrimination and promote equality. Founded in response to Florida’s controversial SB264 law, which restricts real estate purchases by citizens of certain countries, including China, President Shang emphasized the organization's commitment to protecting the rights of all Asian Americans. FAAJA's efforts have garnered support from both Democrats and Republicans who, like FAAJA, believe in the ideals of equality and justice for all. So far, FAAJA has established three chapters in North, Central, and South Florida.

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Special guest speakers included former Florida State Senator Annetta Taddeo and Texas State Representative Gene Wu. Senator Taddeo, known for being the first Latina Democrat in the Florida Senate, criticized SB264 as a discriminatory measure that wrongfully targets Asian communities under the guise of national security. She highlighted the law’s damaging effects on Chinese families, students, and business owners in Florida and complimented the establishment of FAAJA which strives to ensure that Asian voices are heard. 

 

Representative Gene Wu, a long-time advocate against discriminatory land laws, delivered the keynote speech. Wu traced the history of anti-Chinese legislation in the United States, from the Chinese Exclusion Act to more recent laws, including SB264. He explained in detail Project 2025, a blueprint for the next Republican president, which frequently demonizes and dehumanizes Chinese and other immigrant communities, labeling them as "criminals" who are "infiltrating" the U.S. He warned of the dangerous parallels between these policies and the anti-Asian sentiments of the past, urging unity within the Asian community to combat such laws and initiatives. 

 

A lively Q&A session followed Wu’s address, allowing attendees to engage directly with the speakers. Professor Ming Fang from FIU presented data on anti-Asian hate incidents and cautioned against the dangerous framing and rhetoric of Project 2025. Local leaders also spoke about the importance of collective action against hate crimes. These honorable members included FAAJA advisor Winner Tang, Vice Chair of the Asian American Federation of Florida, board members of the Chinese American United Association (ACUA), Camacol President Joe Chi, Camacol Tourism Committee Chair Jaime Rojas, and Dr. Guanghan Huang, the 96th president of the Broward County Medical Association. Other notable guests attending the event were Ariel Sepulveda, Campaign Director for the Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC); Sui Chung, Executive Director of the American Immigration Justice Alliance; Lin Qichun, President of the ACUA Florida Chapter; and Kenny Tang, Chair of ACUA Florida Chapter.

In the afternoon, FAAJA held an inauguration ceremony for its South Florida Chapter board members and advisors. Representative Wu presented certificates to the new leadership, FAAJA South Florida Chapter President Hongwei Shang, Vice Presidents Yaoyang Yan and Zengyan Pan, solidifying FAAJA’s growing presence in the state.

 

President Shang presented certificates to board members Xuefeng Zhang, Jingyu Huang, Liu Yang, Yongmei Cai, Heidi Wong, Xiaoying Fang, Yongjie Luan, and Rongjie Sun. Together with Vice President Yaoyang Yan, she also honored advisors Gen Yang, Rui Guo, Jinhong Meng, Yingxian Deng, Li Zhang, Guanghan Huang, and Xuejun Yu. Finally, on behalf of FAAJA President Meisheng Jin and the board, President Shang appointed Texas State Representative Gene Wu as Senior Advisor, expressing gratitude for his unwavering support for FAAJA.

 

At the conclusion of the event, the FAAJA South Florida Chapter board presented each attendee with a thoughtful gift—a cup featuring the FAAJA logo and a mooncake—in celebration of the Mid-Autumn Festival. This gesture fostered a sense of community and solidarity among attendees, providing a meaningful close to an afternoon focused on addressing ongoing challenges.