Press Release: OCAA Leads Community to Stand with Sherry Chen
For Immediate Release
March 13, 2017
Contact: Michele Young at
513-617-9152 or myoung721@aol.com
“Stand with Sherry Chen” Rally in front of the Potter Stewart U.S. Courthouse, March 14th and 15th, 11:00- 1:00 pm and Public Hearing in Courtroom 305 from 9 am-5 pm
In 2014, Sherry Chen was an award winning scientist at the National Weather Service and her work predicting floods was used by our government to avoid loss of lives and property damage from the Midwest to the East Coast. An immigrant and American citizen, she had dedicated her life to our nation. Her life was turned upside down when accused of being a Chinese spy, all charges dropped a week before trial of the Wilmington resident after a public outcry. The New York Times has called for an “explanation or apology.” Instead, in 2016, Ms. Chen was fired.
Ms. Chen wants her job and her life back and filed an appeal, a wrongful termination, race discrimination and retaliation claim. On March 14, an administrative judge for the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board will begin a two-day hearing to decide the merits of her case.
There will be rallies in front of the Potter Stewart U.S. Courthouse, Tuesday and Wednesday. Haipei Hsue, Honorary Chair of the National Council of Chinese Americans, Monica Yeung Arima, Board Member of Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association San Mateo, and several Chinese American leaders are flying in to support Ms. Chen. Many will stand for Sherry outside the Potter Stewart U.S. Courthouse from 11 am – 1 pm with speeches starting at 11:50 am.
An all-star list of Asian American organizations support Sherry Chen, including The Committee of 100, National Council of Chinese Americans, Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association, Ohio Chinese American Association, Ohio Center for Cultural Exchange, Greater Cincinnati Chinese Chamber of Commerce and several Ohio Chinese schools, among others.
Forty-two (42) U.S. Congress members have spoken out to demand full investigation of Ms. Chen’s case. Community leaders expressed their outrage.
“Ms. Sherry Chen is a loyal American citizen, an award-winning scientist that dedicated her life to the good of the country. The government’s knee-jerk reaction to false accusations against Ms. Chen sent the wrong message to the American people and has demoralized other hard working federal employees at National Weather Service that serve the country every day,” said Vincent Wang, Chairman of the Board, Ohio Chinese American Association and co-organizer of the rallies.
“This is a justice issue for all Americans, not only Asian-Americans. In our nation, it is an outrage that a citizen who proudly became a citizen and selflessly served our country was treated as a suspicious foreigner no matter how much she contributed to our nation and lost everything she built over a lifetime of virtue and hard work,” said Michele Young, 2016 OH-1 Democratic Congressional candidate and co-organizer.
“We support Sherry Chen because we don’t want such a pattern of wrongly investigating and prosecuting innocent Americans based on their race, ethnicity and national origin,” said National Asian American leader, Treasurer of National Council of Chinese Americans, Xiaojie Shau Zavon.
“Chinese Americans love this country and have made valuable contributions to all aspects of our society. Sherry Chen had her loyalty questioned and her livelihood taken from her, not because of actual wrongdoing but based on national origin, said Tessa Xuan, Executive Director of Greater Cincinnati Chinese Chamber of Commerce.
“Our federal government should reinstate Ms. Sherry Chen’s job with full back pay and benefits. There is no doubt this was a witch hunt from the get go,” said Lee Wong, Trustee of West Chester Township.
“Sherry Chen is an excellent scientist, dedicated employee and loyal citizen. What happened to her is totally unfair,” said Yumin Yin of the Board of Directors of the Ohio Chinese American Association.
“This is not a Chinese American issue or an Asian American issue. It is an American issue that strikes at our fundamental values when American citizens are targeted for their race, ethnicity, or national origin. As U.S. Representative Ted W. Lieu said, the decision to fire Mrs. Chen was a ‘saving face issue’ for the government “, said David Chen, President of Ohio Chinese American Association.
“To make sure what happened to Ms. Sherry Chen will not happen to me and other Chinese Americans, I support Sherry Chen”, said Dr. Hong Qiu, Board Director of Ohio Chinese School.
“Injustice to Sherry Chen is injustice to all Americans”, added George Meng, a Mason Chinese School teacher.
The rallies will be 11 am- 1 pm on Tuesday and Wednesday with speeches beginning at 11:50 am. Supporters are urged to attend the rally and the hearing in Courtroom 305 at 100 East Fifth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.
National and local leaders will be speaking at the rallies. The present line-up is as follows:
| March 14
11:50 Lee Wong 12:00 Tessa Xuan 12: 10 Michele Young 12:20 Kaz Sato 12: 30 Clement Tsao 12:40 Shau Zavon 12:50 Hong Qiu |
March 15
11:50 Haipei Shue 12: 00 Tessa Xuan 12:10 Michele Young 12:20 Steven Lixin Feng 12:30 Felicity Tao 12:40 George Meng 12:50 Jiyu Jia |
For more information on the rally and Ms. Chen’s case, please visit:
https://www.facebook.com/sherryhearing
City Beat: Fired government hydrologist wants her job back after criminal charges dropped
AsAm News: Rally to Support Sherry Chen Racial Discrimination Case Tuesday and Wednesday
ohiocaa.org
sherrychendefensefund.org
Media contact:
Michele Young, myoung721@aol.com, 513-617-9152
Vincent Wang, Vincent.Wang@ohiocaa.org, 765-409-2585
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Related Press Releases:
Committee 100: Committee of 100 Urges Community Support for Sherry Chen in Employment Discrimination Case
Sherry Chen Defense Fund: Sherry Chen’s Upcoming MSPB Hearing: Fighting for Fairness and Justice for Herself & the Community
Asian Americans Advancing Justice: Supports Sherry Chen in her Quest for Justice