(Los Angeles, CA) November 4, 2008 was a monumental day in American history. For many, faith in the possibility of uplifting the lives of all Americans was rekindled with the election of Barack Obama — not just because he is the first African American and son of an immigrant but because of his extensive background in grassroots community organizing and public service. EunSook Lee, executive director of the National Korean American Service & Education Consortium said: “President-elect Obama enjoyed the support of most voting constituencies including immigrants, Korean Americans and Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders according to exit polls we participated in. In his victory, many of us who work for change are optimistic about the prospects for realizing change.”
Locally, in Los Angeles, Korean Americans were part of the defeat of Proposition 6, which would have increased funding for prisons, increase criminal penalties for some crimes, and try youth fourteen years or older charged with a “gang-related” felony as adults, even for nonviolent crimes. Prop 6 would have also denied bail to immigrants thought to be undocumented and require local law enforcement to notify federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement of the person’s arrest and charges. Immigrant and Korean American communities successfully mobilized to defeat this draconian proposition with 70% of voters opposing the initiative...
