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UAC in the Media
Keep up with UAC in the news and media!
For Press Inquiries, please contact us at unifiedasiancommunities@gmail.com.
Unified Asian Communities building support network for COVID and beyond
May 24, 2021
Maine Beacon -- The organizers of UAC come from a variety of backgrounds and bring an array of personal experiences to their work. When the pandemic is over, or at least it’s impacts are less urgent, the leaders of UAC have many hopes and plans to move those hopes forward. “I think our goal right now is just to reach out to everybody to get the word out there that we’re here and willing to help in any way possible,” said Theresa Kim, VP and Director of Legal Resources for UAC.
Hundreds gather in Portland to condemn violence against Asian Americans
March 30, 2021
Portland Press Herald -- The vigil at Portland's Payson Park comes amis a dramatic rise in anti-Asian violence across the nation. "Now, more than ever, it is crucial that we as a community stand together against hate," Thomas Ling, Vice President of UAC, told the crowd, which exceeded 300 people.
Vigil against anti-Asian hate brings dozens to Portland, alleged victim speaks out
March 30, 2021
News Center Maine -- Maine woman says she is the victim of a March 15 attack that Portland police say was motivated by race. Leaders in Maine's Asian and immigrant communities continue to spread the message of unity following a surge in anti-Asian violence.
Mainers gather in Portland to denounce violence against Asian Americans
March 30, 2021
WGME -- Asian Americans at the vigil say their entire community is affected when one of them is harmed. “It’s really important to bring the community together and let Asians in Maine and all the communities together know they're supported,” Unified Asian Communities Legal Resources Director Theresa Kim said.
City councilor slams Portland progressive leaders for not understanding bias against Asians
March 24, 2021
Portland Phoenix -- Amy Chea, chief strategy officer of UAC, an organization that promotes civic engagement and empowerment for Maine’s Asian communities, said the country is in a “moment of distress.” At a time when many people were looking for leadership, Chea said, leaders continued to spout harmful and false rhetoric that the coronavirus pandemic was brought to the United States by Asian people. Chea said the UAC launched a GoFundMe campaign to pay for damages to the victim’s car. In just a few days, she said the campaign had raised $3,000 after setting a goal of only $1,000.
Raising Cain Podcast with the Unified Asian Communities Members
March 20, 2021
Raising Cain Podcast -- UAC joins Deb and Darrin to discuss their beliefs that everyone deserves to live in a community that fosters a sense of belonging, values compassion, and supports all races and how the latest Asian hate crimes hold biases and never stop. They aim to unify and empower the Asian community across the globe through civic engagement, service, and member-led initiatives and to educate others on acceptance and inclusion.
Portland incident adds to fears of rising anti-Asian racism
March 17, 2021
Portland Press Herald -- Asian Americans in Maine have felt racial bias and feared the possibility of an incident like the attack on a family in Portland. The leadership of Unified Asian Communities, a group formed during the pandemic to unite and support those communities in Maine, has been taking calls from people who talk about only going to the store in groups.
Portland police charge suspect in possible anti-Asian hate crime
March 16, 2021
Portland Press Herald -- Portland police have identified a suspect in the harassment of an Asian woman and her children on Forest Avenue. The incident drew a swift response from the newly formed Portland organization Unified Asian Communities.
Hate crimes against Asian Americans on the rise in Maine and across the country
March 16, 2021
WMTW News 8 -- There has been an increase in the number of hate crimes against Asian Americans across the country and in Maine during the coronavirus pandemic. The group Unified Asian Communities was created to combat violence and racism.
Portland's Asian-American community responds after police charge man in racist attack against woman, children
March 16, 2021
News Center Maine -- The 38-year-old victim, who is Asian, reported that she and her children were sitting in her vehicle when an “agitated” man, described as a white man in his 40s, started yelling at her to “go back to where she came from.” A new report reveals while hate crimes nationwide decreased by 7-percent in the last year, those against Asian Americans have spiked by as much as 150-percent. The leaders of UAC hope that they can be a voice for their community after years of silence, providing access to resources and focusing on mental health.
Immigrant leaders say more education, outreach needed in state vaccination process
January 22, 2021
Maine Beacon -- As Maine pushes forward with distributing the COVID-19 vaccine, immigrant leaders in the state are ramping up outreach efforts to ensure New Mainers have access to inoculation and information about the vaccine that can combat historically-based vaccine hesitancy. Thomas Ling, vice president of the Maine-based organization UAC, said working collaboratively with a variety of groups in the state will be crucial to having an effective vaccination strategy.