SABRINA LIU
Since 1992, the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), has worked to advance worker, immigrant, and civil rights for Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) people. The organization also serves as a bridge between the broader labor movement and the AAPI community.
The Pittsburgh chapter of APALA is active in the city defending and advocating for the civil and human rights of APPIs, immigrants and people of color.
According to Sabrina Liu, spokesperson and volunteer at Pittsburgh APALA, the organization holds free workshops in English, Mandarin and Spanish to help educate Asian and Latino restaurant workers about their legal rights.
“Employers often take advantage of immigrants who may be undocumented and who do not speak or understand English well,” Sabrina explains. “We want to provide these workers with resources about their rights and what they can do if they’re being exploited by owners or confronted by police or government immigration agencies.”
Sabrina notes that APALA Pittsburgh stands with all workers and supports their right to form unions, including coffee shop, tech, library and museum workers, as well as graduate students.
“We support what all people want—and deserve,” she says. “Basic human rights, including healthcare, education, a good place to live, and meaningful work that pays a living wage and doesn’t take advantage of people.”
APALA Pittsburgh also stresses the important role of voting. The organization distributes information in English, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Korean, and other languages that encourage those who are eligible to vote to understand and participate in the voting process.
Sabrina encourages all Pittsburghers to think globally when they encounter other languages and accents in their neighborhoods, churches, workplaces, and when they’re socializing.
“Regardless of what we do for a living, we live in an interconnected global world. Understanding that and valuing and including people who speak a different language will help you be more successful.”
Learn how you can stand in support with APALA Pittsburgh, including adding language and outreach capacity for Vietnamese and Vietnamese Americans. Visit the organization’s Facebook page and Instagram. You can also log on to the national APALA site and download a labor toolkit on Anti-Asian Racism.
