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The Principles of Unity of the Asian Left Forum The forum was based on a general agreement of the following "Principles of Unity." 1) We recognize that capitalism is a source of oppression for our people and poor and working people everywhere. We reject assimilation or “partnership” into the market economy as a solution to racism and white supremacy in America. We believe that any truly democratic agenda for Asian Americans must revolve around the concerns of working-class Asian Americans. 2) We oppose imperialism as a global manifestation of capitalism. Today, imperialism takes the primary form of economic exploitation through treaties, trade, embargoes, multinational corporations, the IMF, and the World Bank. These economic policies are backed by military force. Therefore, we support the movements for national liberation, national democracy, and self-determination that transfers power to the people. 3) We understand that racism and capitalism are driven by patriarchal domination. In other words, we understand that gender and sexual oppression shape the experiences of race and class oppression. This is why Asian immigrant women workers are channeled into particular industries such as garment manufacturing, domestic service, and Silicon Valley industries. Patriarchal domination --of both the capitalist elite and the local Asian community -- says that Asian women are appropriate for these flexible, domestic, and highly exploitative arenas of work. Therefore, our struggles against racism and capitalism must simultaneously be struggles against patriarchy. 4) We oppose homophobia and heterosexism both within the movement and without. We believe that gay, lesbian, and transgendered struggles advance the movement. 5) We see sexism manifest itself within progressive struggles. We oppose male chauvanism and male supremacy in all its forms. 6) We recognize that working-class immigrants are a fundamental source of new struggles in this period. 7) We acknowledge the crucial role that youth have to play in building a new movement and seek to build bridges of understanding between generations. 8) We oppose right-wing nationalism, ethnic chauvinism, and class exploitation within Asian American communities. We support revolutionary nationalisms and multinational solidarity. 9) We seek links between our struggles and those of other people of color. 10) We reject sectarian politics and we strive to build a united front and organize around the mass lines in our activist work. 11) We seek to build struggle at the grassroots level and develop models of practice which empower people. 12) We reject and struggle against different levels of immigration documentation. In other words, we do not defer to nor accept the differences between “citizens,” the “documented” (permanent residents), and the “undocumented,” nor any other category of immigration offered by the national government. We understand such differentiation to a be a violent act – one which seeks to criminalize and police immigrant communities. 13) We understand that state institutions such as the educational system, the criminal courts, and INS uphold the interests of racist and patriarchal capitalism. Our struggles at these state locations must therefore be framed with an anti-capitalist critique.
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