Japanese American professor targeted in racist attack
A 71-year-old Japanese American professor who teaches about racism was deliberately struck by a vehicle while cycling in Montebello.
The Rebel Yellow - Issue #70
The U.S. Supreme Court is weighing the legality of President Trump’s executive order to end birthright citizenship. In California, a Japanese American professor who teaches about racism was violently attacked in what’s being investigated as a hate crime. Meanwhile, a Filipino American artist takes center stage in the federal trial against Sean “Diddy” Combs, and an op-ed reignites debate over Asian American college admissions.
Supreme Court weighs Trump’s order to end birthright citizenship
Supreme Court justices on Thursday expressed concerns about President Donald Trump’s attempt to enforce his executive order limiting birthright citizenship as legal challenges progress through the courts.
Catch up
Trump signed an executive order on his first day back in office directing federal agencies to refuse citizenship to children born in the U.S. to parents who are not American citizens or lawful permanent residents. The order was quickly blocked by federal judges in Maryland, Massachusetts and Washington state, who all issued nationwide injunctions preventing its implementation.
Trump’s directive seeks to reinterpret the 14th Amendment’s citizenship clause, which states that all “persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States.” Since the amendment’s ratification in 1868, it has been understood to grant citizenship to almost anyone born on U.S. soil.
Dozens of states and cities, along with immigrant advocacy groups and pregnant women, filed lawsuits challenging the order, warning it would affect approximately 150,000 children born each year to parents without legal permanent resident status.
How the hearing went
Thursday’s more than two-hour argument focused primarily on whether nationwide injunctions blocking the policy should be limited in scope rather than the constitutionality of Trump’s order itself. Solicitor General D. John Sauer argued that such sweeping injunctions exceed judicial power, claiming they “operate asymmetrically, forcing the government to win everywhere while the plaintiffs can win anywhere.”
New Jersey Solicitor General Jeremy Feigenbaum countered that limiting the injunction would create practical problems. “There would be chaos on the ground where people’s citizenship turns on and off when you cross state lines,” he argued, noting that New Jersey alone handles 6,000 babies annually born elsewhere whose citizenship status would need verification.
Conservative justices Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett reportedly appeared sympathetic to arguments against piecemeal implementation.
The big picture
The case carries significant implications for both immigration policy and judicial authority. If the Supreme Court restricts nationwide injunctions, it could help the administration implement other executive actions that have been blocked by lower courts.
Liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor stated that Trump’s order violates four Supreme Court precedents, including the landmark 1898 case United States v. Wong Kim Ark, which established that children born to non-citizen parents on U.S. soil are entitled to citizenship. Asian American civil rights organizations have emphasized this precedent’s historical importance, with Advancing Justice - AAJC saying it “allowed the children of Asian immigrants to become citizens in the late 19th century despite widespread racial animus.”
The Supreme Court is expected to issue its decision by early summer, potentially addressing the underlying constitutional question as well.
Japanese American professor who lectures on racism is targeted in racist attack
A 71-year-old Japanese American professor who teaches about racism was deliberately struck by a vehicle while cycling in Montebello, California, in what authorities are investigating as a potential hate crime.
Racist assault: Professor Aki Maehara, a Vietnam War veteran, was riding his electric bicycle near his home at around 10 p.m. on April 29 when a sedan approached rapidly from behind. The driver allegedly shouted racial slurs before striking him. “I heard someone yell, ‘F’g chink!’ as I got hit, then I heard, ‘Go back to chink-land,’” Maehara recalled. The driver then fled the scene, leaving him with a concussion, facial fractures, an elbow “torn open” and extensive bruising and swelling across his upper body. Since being released from the hospital, the senior has struggled to prepare meals, bathe himself and change his bandages and bed sheets.
What the victim is saying: Maehara has expressed skepticism about the attack being random, pointing out that he was wearing a helmet with a visor. “No one can see my face. So how the hell did he know I’m Asian?” Maehara told the Los Angeles Times. The professor, who teaches about the history of racism — with his own family being incarcerated during World War II — believes the incident may be connected to previous harassment he has faced at work. He specifically recalled being targeted by extremist groups, including the KKK, while teaching at East Los Angeles Community College and Cal State Long Beach.
What’s being done: The case is under investigation. Montebello police are seeking security footage from neighborhood residents to locate and identify the driver. Meanwhile, a GoFundMe page organized by Maehara’s friend, Glorya Cabrera, aims to raise funds for a professional home health aide who can help him with daily tasks as he recovers. Additionally, advocates have launched a Change.org petition demanding a thorough hate crime investigation, potential federal involvement and public condemnation from officials.
Father of Google teen engineer rejected by multiple universities slams DEI in new op-ed
Palo Alto father Nan Zhong, who has sued multiple universities for allegedly racially discriminating against his son Stanley, has criticized DEI initiatives as becoming “a cure worse than the disease” in a recent op-ed.
Catch up
The Zhongs have filed lawsuits against institutions including the University of California system, University of Washington, University of Michigan and Cornell, alleging discrimination against Asian Americans in admissions. Their case centers on Stanley who, despite a 1590 SAT score and impressive technical achievements that earned him a PhD-level position at Google, was rejected by 16 colleges. The universities, on the other hand, have retained top legal firms, with UC reportedly retaining WilmerHale, the same firm that defended Harvard University in the landmark case it lost at the Supreme Court in 2023.
What Zhong is saying
In his May 12 op-ed for Minding The Campus, Zhong draws parallels between current campus politics and China’s Cultural Revolution, which he experienced firsthand. “I was born during China’s Cultural Revolution in the 1970s, and it’s uncanny to see some of the same tactics reemerging in America half a century later,” he recalls.
Zhong goes on to deliver a sharp critique of DEI initiatives, writing that while they may have begun with a "noble goal," in practice they "often reduce people to their skin color and treat them accordingly, leading not to diversity, equity, and inclusion, but to division, exclusion, and ultimately, insanity." He also discusses what he sees as a resurgence of Marxism on college campuses and criticizes universities' "intellectual dishonesty" in repurposing terms like "affirmative action." Harvard, he writes, is "a textbook example of hypocrisy" for maintaining legacy admissions while claiming to champion social justice.
Asked what he thought about concerns that challenging race-conscious admissions might reinforce the "model minority" stereotype, Zhong tells The Rebel Yellow, "Part of the 'model minority' stereotype comes from the perception that Asian Americans do not complain or protest. I think fighting this battle would combat that part of the stereotype."
He points to the Constitution's promise of equal protection "on an individual basis, not based on group identity," adding that he hopes Asian American youth "do not become burdened with 'being too Asian.'" He also advises, "Be themselves, pursue their passion, do great work and help others. Their dreams are American dreams too."
As for their legal strategy, Zhong believes their AI-assisted approach has been effective. “It is funny that they are pulling out the big legal guns to battle two pro se litigants,” he notes.
He agrees that AI could democratize access to legal recourse. "We are in uncharted territory. The fact that the universities have enlisted top-tier legal representation clearly indicates the gravity they assign to these lawsuits," Zhong tells The Rebel Yellow. "I certainly hope AI levels the playing field for pro se litigants like me when challenging powerful institutions. The only way to find out is to act."
Cassie Ventura, the courageous cornerstone of the sex trafficking trial against Diddy
Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, a Filipino American singer and model, was the first to publicly accuse Sean “Diddy” Combs of rape and abuse in a 2023 lawsuit — long before a federal investigation brought the music mogul’s alleged crimes into the national spotlight. Her decision to speak out, and her testimony in court this week, has become a pivotal force in the ongoing sex trafficking trial against Combs.
Ventura’s courage in breaking years of silence marked the beginning of a reckoning for one of the most powerful figures in hip-hop. While her civil lawsuit was quietly settled within 24 hours for $20 million, it opened the door for a wave of new accusations and a federal probe that ultimately led to Combs’ arrest in September 2024.
The impact of Ventura’s voice
Ventura’s complaint, filed under New York’s Adult Survivors Act, was the first public allegation of abuse against Combs. At the time, she faced significant public scrutiny, professional risk and personal retraumatization. Still, her actions set off a broader chain of events: multiple accusers came forward in the months that followed, sharing stories of alleged abuse, coercion and exploitation tied to Combs’ circle.
Federal prosecutors have since cited Ventura’s lawsuit as the catalyst for their racketeering and sex trafficking case. Her decision to come forward, observers say, made it possible for others to speak without fear of isolation. “She was the first,” a legal observer close to the case told Reuters. “Without her, this trial would never have happened.”
Testimony at the trial
Taking the stand in a Brooklyn courtroom, Ventura, now 38, recounted over a decade of alleged abuse during her relationship with Combs, which began when she was 19. She testified that Combs physically assaulted her, raped her and coerced her into participating in drug-fueled sex acts with male escorts — encounters she said were orchestrated, recorded and used to control her.
“I did whatever he told me to do,” Ventura said during her testimony. “He knew how to break me down emotionally. He made me feel like I had no way out.”
She also described a violent 2016 hotel assault, captured on surveillance video and leaked to CNN last year. Combs later issued a public apology after the footage surfaced. Ventura testified that the abuse culminated in a 2018 rape, when Combs allegedly forced his way into her apartment following a dinner meant for “closure” after their breakup.
Defense response
Combs has pleaded not guilty to charges including sex trafficking, racketeering and obstruction. He remains in custody as the trial continues. His attorneys have denied the allegations, describing them as financially motivated fabrications and accusing prosecutors of distorting the nature of past consensual relationships.
The trial, which began with opening statements on May 12, is expected to last about eight weeks. If convicted on all counts, Combs could face a minimum of 15 years to life in prison.
Interview: How Passes’ Lucy Guo carved her own path to tech leadership
A full version of this interview is available here.
Lucy Guo, who recently surpassed Taylor Swift as the youngest self-made woman billionaire, has transformed from product designer to pioneering tech founder and investor. In this exclusive interview with The Rebel Yellow, the Passes founder and CEO reflects on her unique blend of immigrant work ethic and innovative vision, challenging norms while developing new pathways for creators and fellow Asian Americans in tech.
A path bit different
Guo, 30, is the daughter of Chinese immigrant parents who were both electrical engineers. Growing up in the Bay Area, she faced familiar cultural expectations. “There was definitely that cultural expectation to become a doctor, lawyer or engineer,” she tells The Rebel Yellow. “But honestly, I always knew my path was going to be a little bit different.”
While she rejected traditional career paths, Guo embraced the core values of her heritage. “The interesting twist is that many of those immigrant values — working incredibly hard, being resourceful, persisting — are exactly what make great founders,” she explains. This foundation proved crucial as she navigated the tech landscape, where Asian American women remain underrepresented at leadership levels.
Needless to say, the “different” path was not without obstacles. “The most insidious barriers aren’t always the explicit biases — though those exist — but the subtle ones that make you question yourself,” Guo says. “As an Asian American woman specifically, I found it really annoying when I had to constantly deal with people telling me that I only won hackathons and landed the jobs that I did because I was a woman.”
Building an empire
Guo’s entrepreneurial spirit emerged early. She learned how to code and created bots on games like “Neopets” and “Runescape” to resell items. This drive led her from her product design role at Snap to co-founding Scale AI and eventually launching Passes, a platform for creators that allows them to earn directly from fans through subscriptions, exclusive content and personalized interactions.
“With Passes, I saw creators in my direct circle of friends struggle with monetization,” Guo explains. “The big platforms were taking massive cuts of their earnings, the tools for creators to build actual brands and businesses were fragmented.” Her conviction to solve this problem came at the perfect moment, as the creator economy was exploding.
Her tech-centered approach set her apart when she raised $40 million for Passes during a challenging fundraising period. “Most creator economy companies were started by non-technical people,” she notes. “We weren’t just trying to take a slice of the creator economy; we were trying to expand it by enabling creators to build sustainable businesses.” This vision has attracted high-profile creators like Bella Thorne and Shaquille O’Neal to the platform.
Championing representation
Guo understands that increased visibility comes with greater responsibility. “Becoming visible at this level has made me hyper-aware of my position as an Asian American woman in leadership positions where we’re still significantly underrepresented,” she shares. “I’ve become more intentional about visibility since representation truly matters and makes a difference for future generations.”
Her approach to mentorship reflects this awareness. She says she tries to help aspiring founders develop an “unwavering belief” in their own vision, because the world “will test that belief constantly.” She particularly focuses on network access, where many founders from underrepresented groups happen to get stuck.
“Authentic representation isn’t just about having diverse faces in photos or hitting quotas,” Guo emphasizes. “It’s about having diverse perspectives influencing decisions at every level.” This philosophy informs her investment decisions and company culture at Passes.
Your difference, your advantage
Today, Guo envisions transformative shifts in the creator economy. She believes AI will allow creators to scale their time and foresees creators building “micro-economies” around their communities as media continues to fragment.
For AAPI founders, Guo sees both challenges and opportunities. “The ‘model minority’ myth creates this perception that Asian Americans are well-represented in tech, but that representation drops dramatically at the founder and executive levels,” she observes. Still, she remains optimistic about the value of “cross-cultural fluency” in a global market.
As we celebrate AAPI Heritage Month, Guo’s message is clear: “Your difference is your advantage. For so long, many of us were taught to downplay what makes us different — our cultural backgrounds, our perspectives, our ways of thinking — in order to assimilate.”
“When you do succeed, create space for others,” she adds. “Every barrier you break makes it easier for the next person.”
Ocean Vuong’s new novel is blessed by Oprah: “most beautiful writing I’ve experienced”
Oprah Winfrey announced “The Emperor of Gladness” by Ocean Vuong as her latest book club selection during Tuesday’s “CBS Mornings” broadcast, praising it as containing “some of the most beautiful writing I’ve experienced in my lifetime.”
About the novel: Released on Tuesday, “The Emperor of Gladness” follows 19-year-old Hai who forms a profound bond with Grazina, an elderly widow with dementia. The story opens with the line “The hardest thing in the world is to live only once” and explores themes of suicide, connection and life on society’s margins. Published by Penguin Random House, it is the second novel from Vuong, who previously authored the bestselling “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous” and poetry collections including “Time Is a Mother.”
What Vuong is saying: Vuong revealed that the novel was partly inspired by his uncle’s suicide in 2012, expressing interest in what happens beyond the moment of crisis. “I’ve always thought what’s happened for that person [who survives an attempt] on day two of that decision. Day three, day 20,” Vuong said during the emotional interview. The 36-year-old Massachusetts resident called the selection an “honor” and reflected on watching his late mother’s nail salon clients discover literature through Winfrey’s recommendations. “I hope she’s proud of me. I hope she’s seeing me somewhere,” Vuong said of his mother. “This is the only thing she would have recognized. Any literary prize I won, I called her up and she said, ‘Oh, that’s nice,’ but this is the only thing that would be legible to her.”
Tony-nominated "Yellow Face" to stream on PBS starting today
David Henry Hwang’s Tony-nominated play "Yellow Face" will premiere on PBS’s Great Performances on Friday, May 16, at 9 p.m. ET. The production will also be available for streaming on PBS.org and the PBS App.
The semi-autobiographical satire stars Daniel Dae Kim as DHH, a playwright who publicly protests yellowface casting in Miss Saigon, only to later cast a white actor as the Asian lead in his own play. Directed by Leigh Silverman, the Broadway staging was filmed during its 2024 run at Roundabout Theatre Company’s Todd Haimes Theatre.
Reflecting on the show’s impact, Kim said, “This is the first Broadway show I've ever seen ... That meant a lot to me because bringing Asian Americans into the theater is important and bringing younger people into the theater.” The production received several Tony Award nominations, including for best revival of a play and acting nods for Kim and co-star Francis Jue.
Filipina American rapper makes history with trilingual Tiny Desk win
Ruby Ibarra, a Filipina American rapper and spoken word artist from the Bay Area, has won NPR’s 2025 Tiny Desk Contest with her trilingual performance of “Bakunawa.”
Why it matters: The win brings national attention to Filipino American artistry and highlights Ibarra’s unique fusion of music, language and cultural storytelling.
Driving the news: “Bakunawa,” which fuses English, Tagalog and Waray, draws on Philippine folklore and was recorded during Ibarra’s pregnancy. The track features an all-Filipina cast and ends with her unborn daughter’s heartbeat, sampled from a prenatal ultrasound.
What they’re saying: “Motherhood will definitely steer and drive the direction of how I approach music making,” Ibarra told Grammy. “I’m also asking myself, are these songs I would want to show my own daughter?” NPR’s Bobby Carter praised the performance for its authenticity and emotional depth, saying, “We’ve never seen or heard anything like Ruby.”
What’s next: Ibarra will perform her winning set at NPR’s Washington, D.C., headquarters and headline a 10-city Tiny Desk Contest On The Road tour starting June 11 in Los Angeles.
BTS’ Jin is returning to “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on May 21 to perform his new single, “Don’t Say You Love Me.” The song is the lead track of his EP “Echo,” which comes out today. This is Jin’s second appearance on “Fallon” since November, a few months after he completed South Korea’s mandatory military service. BTS is expected to regroup in July after the remaining members complete their duties.
Sandra Oh to star in Wang Xiaoshuai psychological thriller
Sandra Oh is set to star in “Child’s Play,” a psychological thriller from Chinese director Wang Xiaoshuai. The film, adapted from a short story by Alice Munro and written by Canadian playwright Hannah Moscovitch, follows Marlene Lee, the daughter of Chinese immigrants. In 1983, Marlene makes a fateful decision at an all-white summer camp to impress a friend — a choice that resurfaces decades later as she nears a major political victory and reconnects with her past.
Wang, a key figure in China’s Sixth Generation cinema, is known for award-winning dramas such as “Beijing Bicycle” (2001) and “So Long, My Son” (2019). “Child’s Play” marks his first psychological thriller and his latest international collaboration. Production is scheduled to begin in September in Toronto and North Bay, Ontario. No additional cast members or release date have been announced.
“Thunderbolts” star Geraldine Viswanathan on rising South Asian representation: “I feel really fortunate to be in the industry in this time. I think it’s our time, and we’re here, and it’s nice that it feels like a kind of clear road. Anything is possible, we’re in the Marvel Universe! And it’s exciting that there’s endless possibilities for us as well. So, it’s really not lost on me how exciting it is, and I feel really honored.”
Michelin-starred chef Brandon Jew honors Martin Yan for his lasting impact on Chinese American cuisine: “Martin is the person who allowed so many other people like me to be able to continue the legacy of Chinese American food. What you’ve done is allow us in the next generation to take on continuing to move Chinese food. … You’re talking about the texture and the flavor while entertaining everybody. That’s not easy — I could barely do it just on my own right here.”
Kaitlyn Chen waived by Golden State Valkyries ahead of WNBA season
The Golden State Valkyries have waived rookie guard Kaitlyn Chen, selected 30th overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft, as part of their final roster decisions ahead of the franchise’s inaugural WNBA season.
Why it matters: Chen, a former Ivy League Player of the Year at Princeton and a transfer to UConn, made headlines as the first player of Taiwanese descent to compete in a WNBA preseason game. Her presence drew fan interest, particularly from the Asian American community and international basketball followers.
The big picture: Despite a strong showing in training camp, Chen was edged out by a roster favoring size and international experience, with players like Belgian center Kyara Linskens and French forward Janelle Salaün securing final spots.
What’s next: The Valkyries open their regular season against the Los Angeles Sparks on May 16 at Chase Center in San Francisco. Chen now enters waivers, where other WNBA teams may claim her rights. If unclaimed, she will become a free agent eligible to sign elsewhere.
Olympians Eileen Gu and Suni Lee make Sports Illustrated Swimsuit debuts
Olympic champions Eileen Gu and Suni Lee have made their debut in the 2025 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, showcasing their versatility beyond the athletic arena. Both athletes were photographed by Ben Horton at The Boca Raton resort in Florida, joining a lineup that includes fellow Olympians Gabby Thomas and Jordan Chiles.
Gu, a three-time Olympic medalist in freestyle skiing and Stanford physics student, donned a red one-piece swimsuit by Norma Kamali. Lee, a six-time Olympic medalist and the first Hmong American to compete in the Games, wore a chocolate brown bikini by St. Agni, with her Olympic rings tattoo visible.
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