Journal 7 Aoki and Deporting Cambodian Refugees

Richard Aoki is a political activist for the Asian community. I like his character because I feel like he has a youth feeling to him. He is very rebellious and he can make jokes and he is not afraid to just express himself. He’s very smart and I think his leadership skills are really good. His actions are inspiring and ambitious. He is very assertive and I think that makes him a good leader. He provides an Asian voice. The protest in Berkeley got really intense; the students started to get militant and fight back against the police. It really showed how savage and brutal the police could be to just handle students the way they did.

The article talked about the youth’s activism against deportation. They are standing up for their rights in America and trying to push the blame onto the American government. I think the stories were really unfair and made me feel uncomfortable for the refugees. I think it’s really scary to be in a situation to choose between being in prison in America for the rest of your life or having to be sent back to Cambodia after the Khmer Rouge. I feel like growing up in a country and then having to make a decision like this is very scary and it feels like your freedom is being taken away from you. It all sounds very messed up especially if you were raised in America and got used to the lifestyle. It's like dealing with something you had no part in and being blamed for something that wasn't your fault. It feels like a lot of stress and knowing what to do in a situation like this is difficult. I really admire the AYPAL group for their strong leadership and activism.