New York, N.Y. -- Rocky Chin, District 1 City Council Candidate and Civil Rights attorney introduced keynote speaker, the Rev. Al Sharpton at the closing activity of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association’s (NAPABA) North East Regional Conference. The banquet was held at Peking Park Restaurant.
Rocky Chin is a founding member of the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY is the affiliate of NAPABA in New York City) and the President of the AABANY Foundation. He is also the past Chairperson of the NAPABA Civil Rights Committee.
“This year’s conference, ‘Building Bridges’ captures the progress our organization and our community has achieved over the past few years. Despite magnificent strides – such as the addition of many new Asian Pacific American lawyers to the bench - we still have a long and daunting road ahead. While we can, and should, take this time to appreciate all our accomplishments, we must continue to look forward with the knowledge that many challenges still lay ahead. We must combat the injustices of racial profiling and immigrant bashing through education and, most importantly, building bridges among and between communities. I am very pleased to introduce Rev. Al Sharpton tonight. He has crossed a bridge in coming to our gathering and we have crossed a bridge by inviting him. In this year when the entire leadership of New York City will change, it is time we come together to discuss and debate what are the important issues and concerns of the day and what kind of leadership we want in the new New York City. In that discussion, with the Asian Pacific American population increasing dramatically to 10% of the entire City and with people of color now contributing to 65% of all New Yorkers, it is so very important that we find ways to come together and ways to work together. But more importantly – let us also find ways to make New York City the Greatest City in the world – where everyone is treated with dignity and respect, and every community feels they are welcome to sit at the table. Welcome, Rev. Al Sharpton. "
After Reverend Sharpton's address, members of NAPABA and their guests had a free and frank discussion with the Reverend on a variety of important local and national issues.
