Asian American Institute Monitoring Unwarranted Criminal Charges Against Straight-A Asian American Student

For Immediate Release: PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Contact: Myron Quon
(773) 271-0899 (Office)
myron@aaichicago.org

Chicago, May 2, 2007 – The Asian American Institute (AAI) announces that it is concerned by the overreaction of the McHenry County State's Attorney office that resulted in the filing of two criminal counts of disorderly conduct against Asian American high school senior, Allen Lee. In response to a creative writing assignment, Lee submitted a written essay. After reading the essay, the Cary High School principal contacted the local police who arrested Lee the next morning. Since then, Lee has been kept away from other students and has been charged with two misdemeanors. AAI will closely monitor this case of overreaction by the school authorities, local law enforcement, and the County's prosecuting attorneys.

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The Asian American Institute (www.aaichicago.org) is the region's pan-Asian nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering the Asian American and Pacific Islander community through advocacy, by utilizing coalition-building, education, and research.