In 1974, a small group of lawyers, activists, and students, inspired by the civil rights and antiwar movements of the 1960s, came together to create the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund.
Our History
In 1974, AALDEF was the first nonprofit organization on the East Coast to address the civil rights issues affecting Asian Americans locally and nationwide. We believed that the law should be used as a tool for social justice, and that lawyers should serve the needs of the people.
The Asian American population has grown ten-fold since AALDEF opened its doors forty-five years ago, from just over 1.5 million to 22 million Asian Americans nationwide. From Chinese take-out delivery workers in New York and Nepalese domestic workers in New Jersey, to Vietnamese American youth in Louisiana and Bangladeshi voters in Michigan, AALDEF brings its commitment and expertise to address the legal needs of diverse Asian American groups.
We have litigated precedent-setting cases and won millions of dollars in back wages and overtime pay for Asian immigrant workers in the restaurant, garment, hotel, construction and domestic service industries. By working in multiracial coalitions, we have brought Asian American perspectives to policy debates and have organized campaigns to stop hate violence, police misconduct, and human trafficking. After the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, AALDEF defended the civil liberties of South Asians, Arabs, and Muslims who were the targets of racial and ethnic profiling. From educational equity issues to voting rights and civic participation, AALDEF has worked with grassroots groups to ensure that Asian Americans have a greater voice in the political process and the governmental decisions affecting their daily lives. We have trained hundreds of young lawyers and students through our internship programs, encouraging them to use their legal skills to serve the community.
AALDEF’s staff of lawyers, policy advocates and community organizers are assisted by pro bono attorneys from major law firms, legal services offices, law school clinics and other volunteers. Together, we have won major legal victories, fighting uphill battles to secure human rights for all.
Timeline of AALDEF History
1974
The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund is formed at Asian American conference in New York City.
Calls for hiring of Chinese American construction workers at Confucius Plaza in Manhattan’s Chinatown.
Mounts campaign to stop the deportation of Filipino doctors, recruited to fill shortage of medical personnel in United States.
1975
Represents Chinese Americans arrested in protest against police brutality in Manhattan’s Chinatown; organizes rally to support innocent bystander Peter Yew, who was beaten by police after complaining about their mishandling of a minor traffic incident.
1976
Opens its first office at 43 Canal Street in Manhattan’s Chinatown.
1977
Wins federal ruling to establish rights of immigrant fathers to obtain permanent residency for illegitimate children from People’s Republic of China.
1978
Begins free legal advice clinics at Hamilton Madison House, Korean Senior Citizens Society and other community agencies.
1979
Intervenes on behalf of Asian American Law Students Association in Doherty v.
Rutgers Law School, defending the inclusion of Asian Americans in minority
admissions programs in suit brought by rejected white law school applicant.
Files amicus brief in U.S. Supreme Court in Fullilove v. Kreps, supporting
the public works set-aside provision for minority businesses, including Asian
American enterprises.
1980
Represents Silver Palace waiters fired for protesting against the employer who took their tips; assists in the formation of the first independent Chinatown restaurant workers’ union.
1981
Secures bilingual assistance for Chinese-speaking unemployment insurance claimants after negotiations with the New York State Department of Labor.
G.J. Eliza Realty, Inc. v. Gin Wing Mah. AALDEF wins punitive damages for
tenants at 84 Elizabeth Street in Manhattan’s Chinatown after landlord fails to
provide heat, hot water and other essential services for two years.
1982
Joins national campaign to demand federal civil rights prosecution of the murderers of Vincent Chin, the Chinese American engineer beaten to death by two unemployed auto workers in Detroit.
Files objections with Justice Department to NY redistricting plan that divided Manhattan’s Chinatown between two state assembly districts.
Speaks at NY Chinatown rally of 15,000 Chinese garment workers on strike for new ILGWU union contract.
Testifies in support of Japanese American redress before U.S. Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians.
1983
Files amicus briefs in U.S. Supreme Court supporting the rights of
undocumented immigrants to receive public education (Plyler v. Doe) and to
organize under National Labor Relations Act (Sure-Tan v. NLRB).
Organizes the first Chinatown housing fair in New York City.
Jin v. Board of Estimate. Files amicus brief arguing that English-language
notices of zoning changes violate due process rights of Chinese- speaking
tenants; favorable decision later reversed on appeal.
1984
Fred Korematsu makes first public appearance in New York City for AALDEF’s 10th anniversary celebration at Lincoln Center, featuring the East Coast premiere of Steven Okazaki’s film, Unfinished Business, about the Japanese American redress movement.
AALDEF joins NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, NOW Legal Defense and Education Fund and Council of New York Law Associates to form Public Interest Law Center at 99 Hudson Street in Lower Manhattan.
1985
Negotiates voluntary agreement with NYC Board of Elections to provide sample ballots in Chinese and hire interpreters at poll sites.
North Star Fund presents AALDEF with Frederick Douglass Award for “outstanding contributions to the struggle for political, social and economic justice.”
1986
Chinese Staff and Workers’ Association v. City of New York. AALDEF wins landmark
New York Court of Appeals ruling requiring environmental review of new
developments that may displace low-income tenants, small businesses;
construction of high-rise Henry Street Tower is blocked.
Participates in formation of Coalition Against Anti-Asian Violence, which organizes the first educational forum in New York City on hate violence against Asian Americans.
Congress passes Immigration Reform and Control Act. AALDEF, which opposed certain provisions of IRCA, conducts community education campaign about new law penalizing the hiring of undocumented immigrants.
1987
New York Times photojournalist Dith Pran receives first AALDEF Justice in Action award, honoring outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions to social justice and racial equality.
Japanese American redress activist and author Michi Weglyn receives 1987 Justice in Action Award, with AALDEF co-founder Anthony Kahng.
Represents Dr. Kaushal Sharan, one of several South Asians attacked in Jersey City by hate group named “Dotbusters”; works for passage of hate crimes law in New Jersey and testifies before U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional Rights on anti-Asian violence.
1988
Civil rights legend Gordon Hirabayashi, who resisted the curfew imposed on Japanese Americans during WWII, visits the AALDEF office.
Conducts first exit poll of Asian American voters in presidential election.
1989
After Tiananmen Square massacre, AALDEF counsels hundreds of Chinese nationals about immigration law and visa extensions.
Testifies before NYC Charter Revision Commission in support of expanded City Council.
1990
Protests casting of white British actor in lead Asian role in Broadway musical, Miss Saigon; works with NYC Human Rights Commission to organize hearings on discriminatory hiring practices of Broadway theater producers.
Wong v. City of New York. Chinatown residents sue NYPD for breaking down apartment door and assault on 7-month pregnant woman; City settles federal lawsuit for $90,000.
Educates Asian American communities about the importance of participating in 1990 Census.
1991
Works with Asian American Bar Association of NY and Lower East Siders for a Multiracial District to develop city and state redistricting plans that keep Asian and Latino communities together.
Joins Asian Law Caucus and Asian Pacific American Legal Center to create NAPALC in Washington, DC.
1992
AALDEF is the only Asian American group invited to testify before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee on expanding minority language assistance under the Voting Rights Act, affecting 200,000 Asian Americans nationwide.
Files EEOC charges and organizes the Campaign for Economic Justice at Foley Square, challenging discriminatory hiring practices in the NY construction industry.
1993
Golden Venture freighter runs aground in Far Rockaway, Queens; AALDEF represents Chinese immigrants seeking political asylum.
Ng v. City of New York. Two Chinese American families sue NYPD for raid based on anonymous tip about “illegal aliens”; City settles suit for $75,000.
1994
Leads advocacy effort to secure first fully-translated Chinese-language voting machine ballots in New York City under the Voting Rights Act.
Launches Asian American Citizenship Project in response to anti-immigrant sentiments; assists thousands of permanent residents to become U.S. citizens.
Chan v. City of New York. Off-duty police officers pistol-whip Chinese American teenager, causing serious head injuries. AALDEF wins $125,000 settlement for Chan and his three companions.
1995
Represents family of Yong Xin Huang, a 16-year old Chinese American shot in the head by New York City police officers in Brooklyn; City pays $400,000 to settle federal civil rights lawsuit.
Demands public apology from U.S. Senator Alfonse D’Amato after he uses Japanese accent to mock Judge Lance Ito.
1996
Wins consent decree in Nhem v. Fall River Housing Authority after
racially-motivated killing of Cambodian resident, improving services and
security for Massachusetts public housing tenants.
Conducts exit poll of 3,264 Asian New Yorkers in the Presidential election; 39% are first-time voters.
Nguyen v. City of New York. City settles police brutality case for $65,000
after Vietnamese American student beaten in Chinatown mall.
Ashgar v. City of New York. AALDEF sues NYPD for racial harassment and assault
of Pakistani livery driver; City settles lawsuit for $50,000.
1997
Chan v. Jing Fong. Wins $1.1 million settlement for immigrant workers at
Chinatown’s largest restaurant in two suits for back wages and tips filed by
AALDEF and NY State Attorney General.
Lizardo v. Denny’s, Inc. Files civil rights action against Denny’s restaurant
in Syracuse, NY, where Asian American students were denied service and beaten up
outside by white customers.
Rev. Jesse Jackson joins AALDEF press conference in NYC to support White House nomination of Bill Lann Lee, the first Asian American named to Justice Department’s top civil rights post.
AALDEF executive director named to Mayor’s Task Force on Police/Community Relations, formed in response to police torture of Abner Louima in Brooklyn police precinct.
1998
Represents family of Rishi Maharaj, an Indo-Caribbean man brutally beaten in Queens by white men wielding baseball bats and shouting racial slurs.
Wang v. Hua Great Procetech. AALDEF files federal lawsuit on behalf of Chinese
immigrant garment workers, seeking to establish new legal theories to hold both
the clothing manufacturer and factory owner liable for minimum wage and overtime
pay; wins settlement of $285,000.
Clinton v. Glavin. AALDEF files amicus brief in U.S. Supreme Court in support of sampling in Census 2000.
In re Montefiore Family Health Center. Files Title VI complaint against Bronx hospital after Vietnamese and Cambodian translators are eliminated; equal access to health care restored to over 8,600 individuals.
1999
Singh v. El Quijote Restaurant. AALDEF sues restaurant under Title II of the
Civil Rights Act for refusing to serve Sikh wearing turban; lawsuit settled for
$10,000 and “no headgear” rule changed to allowed religious garb.
AALDEF files Title VI lawsuit against NY State Labor Department after it announces plans to close New York City offices with bilingual staff and institutes telephone claim system; settlement includes language assistance for Chinese-speaking unemployment claimants.
Rothe Development Corp. v. U.S. Department of Defense. Files amicus brief in
Texas federal court, supporting inclusion of Asian American small businesses in
federal minority contracting programs.
Secures major Census policy change protecting confidentiality of undocumented immigrants.
2000
Organizes East Coast teach-in about the selective prosecution of nuclear scientist Wen Ho Lee, who was indicted for mishandling restricted data. A New Mexico federal judge releases Lee after nine months of solitary confinement, citing government misconduct.
Conducts multilingual exit poll of over 5,000 Asian American voters in Presidential election.
Represents four Asian American students at Binghamton University who were attacked on campus by a trio of white wrestlers shouting racial slurs; calls for federal probe into state’s prosecution of the assailants.
Begum v. Saleh. AALDEF wins settlement for Bangladeshi domestic worker who
toiled in slave-like conditions for a Bahrain consulate official.
2001
After Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, AALDEF represents South Asian, Arab and Muslim victims of hate violence and immigrant detainees held indefinitely without criminal charges; mounts major campaign to respond to ethnic and religious profiling and the post-9.11 anti-Asian backlash.
AALDEF and National Employment Law Project publish Rights Begin At Home: A Handbook for Domestic Workers,
the first legal rights handbook of its kind in the nation.
2002
Moon v. Kwan. AALDEF files federal lawsuit on behalf of Korean maintenance worker forced to work overtime without pay in midtown Manhattan hotel; after trial, judge awards Moon $440,000 for back wages.
Chen v. Street Beat Sportswear. Federal judge rules that manufacturers are responsible for the wages and overtime pay owed to garment workers employed in its factories; employer settles case for $285,000.
AALDEF is first group to reach out to Bangladeshi residents of East New York after the brutal murder of journalist Mizanor Rahman; organizes Know Your Rights trainings to address growing tide of hate violence.
Works with New York Voting Rights Consortium, a multiracial collaborative, to coordinate state and local NY redistricting plans and election reform advocacy; monitors Korean-language ballots and assistance in New York City.
Works with Beyond Ground Zero network; Testifies before Congress calling for funds to research and treat post-9/11 environmental health problems affecting Chinatown and Lower East Side residents; Assists thousands of people to access 9/11 relief programs.
2003
Provides legal assistance and representation to over 1,000 immigrants across the country affected by Special Registration, a post-9.11 policy requiring males from Muslim countries to register with immigration officials.
Releases new report, Asian Neighborhoods in New York City: Locating Boundaries and Common Interests,
a multi-ethnic Asian community survey of neighborhood concerns.
Liu v. Donna Karan International. AALDEF represents Asian and Latino garment workers in federal lawsuit against clothing manufacturer and garment factory for unpaid overtime wages; federal judge rules that employer cannot demand workers’ immigration status in discovery proceedings; DKI settles case.
Chung v. New Silver Palace. Wins federal ruling upholding waiters’ right to sue individual restaurant owners and managers who take tips or demand kickbacks. Some owners settle for $489,000; AALDEF wins $2.9 million judgment against other owners.
Grutter v. Bollinger. Files amicus brief in U.S. Supreme Court, supporting consideration of race in Michigan Law School minority admissions program.
2004
Releases new report on The Asian American Vote 2004, based on a multilingual exit poll of 10,789 Asian American voters
Releases new report, Special Registration: Government Policy As Discrimination and Xenophobia, documenting plight of working-class immigrants who were unfairly detained or deported.
Wins deferred action for Malik Muhammad Akbar, a Pakistani immigrant with serious health problems, who faced deportation after complying with Special Registration.
Testifies before U.S. House Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security, criticizing EPA’s failure to test air quality and clean up buildings affected by toxic dust from World Trade Center site.
Chatham Towers v. Bloomberg. Court rules that New York Police Department should have prepared environmental impact statement studying post 9.11 security zone around police headquarters and street closings that adversely affected Chinatown tenants represented by AALDEF.
2005
Monitors Justice Department consent decree requiring Lafayette High School in Brooklyn to implement an anti-harassment policy after Pakistani and Chinese immigrant students are attacked.
Wins $175,000 settlement in back wages for Chinese and Latina garment workers from sportswear manufacturer Jenna Lane.
Launches the Asian Anti-Trafficking Initiative, to provide legal representation to Asian women and girls trafficked to the U.S. as domestic servants, sex workers and restaurant employees.
Represents Cambodian refugees facing deportation after change in immigration laws expands list of deportable crimes.
2006
Testifies before U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee in support of 25-year reauthorization of key provisions of the Voting Rights Act.
Conducts multilingual exit poll of over 4,700 Asian American voters in 9 states for midterm elections.
Meredith v. Jefferson County Board of Education and Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 1. Files amicus brief in U.S. Supreme Court supporting use of race as a factor in voluntary school desegregation plans.
Oung v. Lowell School Committee. Wins reinstatement for Cambodian and Puerto Rican teachers in Lowell, MA who were fired after taking a flawed English fluency test required after a state English-only education initiative is passed.
As part of Beyond Ground Zero Network, establish the first health clinic at Bellevue Hospital to track and treat Chinatown and Lower East Side residents with 9.11-related health problems.
Joins national and local protests against punitive immigration enforcement bills proposed in Congress.
2007
Mamun v. Boulud. Bangladeshi and Latino workers sue celebrity chef Daniel Boulud and his Manhattan restaurant, Daniel, for failing to promote them to higher-paying positions while advancing less-skilled white workers. AALDEF wins settlement that includes pay raises and a non-discriminatory promotions policy monitored by the NYS Attorney General’s office.
Chinatown Voter Education Alliance v. Ravitz. In response to AALDEF’s lawsuit under the Voting Rights Act, New York City Board of Elections agrees to update and improve its Chinese and Korean language assistance programs.
Manhattan federal jury awards $182,000 to Susan Kim, a Korean immigrant nail salon worker who was fired after demanding regular breaks; campaign begins to reform wage and hour practices and hazardous working conditions in nail salons in NYC.
Launches New Jersey-Asian American Legal Project, which provides in-language legal assistance on workers’ rights and immigrant rights to NJ’s fast-growing Asian population; AALDEF opens office in Newark.
2008
Baoanan v. Baja. Secures T visa for Filipina immigrant worker trafficked to the U.S. by former ambassador and sues for back wages after being forced to serve as a domestic worker.
Samirah v. Sabhnani. Files federal lawsuit for back wages owed to two Indonesian domestic workers, who were physically abused by a Long Island couple found guilty of slavery and trafficking.
Ke v. Saigon Grill. After trial, federal court awards $4.6 million in back wages and damages to 36 Chinese immigrant take-out delivery workers at two Manhattan restaurants.
David v. Signal. Represents 300 Indian H2-B shipyard workers in New Orleans federal court with claims against their former employer of human trafficking, involuntary servitude, discrimination, and civil RICO violations.
Organizes first-ever National Asian American Education Advocates Summit to discuss ways to improve public education.
Conducts the nation’s largest multilingual exit poll of 16,665 Asian American voters in 11 states and Washington, DC; poll shows overwhelming Asian American support for President Barack Obama.
Releases new report, Left in the Margins: Asian Americans and the No Child Left Behind Act.
2009
Rings the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange, in celebration of AALDEF’s 35th anniversary.
Files lawsuit on behalf of tenants, churches, and community groups in state court to challenge NYC’s rezoning of Sunset Park, Brooklyn, contending that the plan would accelerate displacement of tenants and small businesses
AALDEF celebrates its 35th anniversary with 2009 Justice in Action Award recipients Sheryl WuDunn and Nicholas Kristof, New York Times columnist. Other honorees included Sandra Leung and Dale Minami.
2010
Releases report on AALDEF exit poll of 3,721 Asian American voters in 5 states in the 2010 midterm elections
AALDEF files a complaint with the Justice Department on behalf of two dozen Asian students who faced anti-Asian harassment and physical violence at South Philadelphia High School.
2011
Indian immigrant factory workers recover back wages and overtime pay from Rajbhog Foods, a national distributor of Indian snack foods in Jersey City, NJ
2012
Releases new report, “Mapping Muslims,” documenting the impacts of the New York Police Department’s extensive post-9/11 surveillance program of American Muslims in the Northeast
After trial, a Rhode Island federal judge awards $1.2 million judgment for Filipina domestic worker who was trafficked by a UAE military officer
AALDEF issues statement criticizing ESPN’s use of the racist headline “Chink in the Armor” and stereotypical images of NY Knicks player Jeremy Lin.
2013
Releases new report on “Chinatown: Then and Now,” a study documenting gentrification in three Chinatowns in Boston, New York, and Philadelphia
Files complaints with US Dept. of Education and Justice Dept., urging investigation of racial harassment against Asian American teenage basketball player Milena Clarke in a Kentucky middle school.
Speaks at DC rally as the U.S. Supreme Court hears Shelby County v. Alabama, a case that found certain provisions of the Voting Rights Act unconstitutional and limited protections for minority voters.
Members of AALDEF’s undocumented Asian youth group, RAISE (Revolutionizing Asian American Stories on the East Coast) share personal stories in their original theater production, “UndocuAsians.”
2015
Rapper Himanshu Suri (Heems) performs at AALDEF summer cocktail party at Motivo in NYC
AALDEF, as part of the Coalition to Protect Chinatown and the Lower East Side, protests against NYC’s failure to consider the Chinatown Working Group rezoning plan, which would help to prevent displacement of low-income tenants and small businesses.
2016
Releases report on AALDEF multilingual exit poll of 13,846 Asian American voters in 14 states in the 2016 presidential election
OCA-Greater Houston v. State of Texas. A federal district court blocks the Texas election law that limits access to interpreters for limited English proficient voters, in violation of the Voting Rights Act.
2017
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit affirms that Texas election law, requiring interpreters to be registered voters, violates the Voting Rights Act in AALDEF case, OCA-Greater Houston v. State of Texas.
Darweesh v. Trump. AALDEF joins Fred T. Korematsu Center for Law and Equality amicus brief in lawsuit challenging the government’s Muslim travel ban in Brooklyn federal court.
2018
More than 8,000 Asian American voters in 14 states participate in AALDEF’s multilingual Asian American Exit Poll. Voter turnout is high across the country.
AALDEF conducts free legal clinics to assist undocumented youth seeking to renew their Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status and calls for passage of a clean Dream Act at rallies in New York City.
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