Fil-Am leaders call for unity against hate after US airstrikes on Iran
From left: Loida Nicolas Lewis, Deidre Levy and Kalaya’an Mendoza | FILE PHOTOS
NEW YORK – Filipino American leaders and activists in New York have urged the community to stay vigilant and united against hate after President Donald Trump announced US airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities on Saturday.
Mayoral candidate Deidre Levy called on communities to “stay grounded” and condemned hate in all its forms in the face of potential backlash against Iranian and Muslim communities.
Deidre Levy | FILE PHOTO
Kalaya’an Mendoza, head of US programs for Nonviolent Peaceforce, an international humanitarian protection organization, expressed concern about the broader impact of violence.
Kalaya’an Mendoza | FILE PHOTO
“We need to protect our Iranian community members, our neighbors, our colleagues, friends and family,” Mendoza said. “The cycle of oppression back at home following the US war machine’s violence is painfully predictable.”
In a statement, Fil-Am community leader, author and lawyer Loida Nicolas-Lewis criticized Pres. Trump’s action, saying he “went to war without getting Congressional approval.”
Loida Nicolas Lewis | FILE PHOTO
“This is totally against the Constitution, which grants Congress the sole power to declare war,” she said. “Trump continues to trash the rule of law because he believes he is the law.”
Michelle Amor, who heads the Filipino American Democratic Club of New York, said presidents are bound by checks and balances for a reason.
Michelle Amor | Photo from LinkedIn
“Trump’s decision to bypass Congress and launch military strikes this weekend weakens that foundation and risks dragging the US into conflict without real accountability,” she said. “In the hands of someone with a history of overreach, this kind of move threatens both global stability and American lives.”
Lewis and Amor also echoed calls for unity against hate.
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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other Democrats assailed Trump’s decision, arguing that only Congress has the constitutional authority to declare war.
“The president’s disastrous decision to bomb Iran without authorization is a grave violation of the Constitution and congressional war powers,” Ocasio-Cortez said.
In a Facebook post, Fil-Am activist and singer Charmaine Clamor wrote, “I do not want a war with Iran! I agree with AOC (Ocasio-Cortez).”
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Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem Sunday issued a National Terrorism Advisory System bulletin regarding a heightened threat environment across the nation due to the direct involvement of the US in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran.
“It is our duty to keep the nation safe and informed, especially during times of conflict,” said Noem. “The ongoing Israel-Iran conflict brings the possibility of increased threat to the homeland in the form of possible cyberattacks, acts of violence, and antisemitic hate crimes.”
In a televised address, Trump declared that US forces had “completely and totally obliterated” Iran’s key nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.
He called the operation a “spectacular military success,” aimed at halting what he described as “the nuclear threat posed by the world’s number one state sponsor of terror.”
Iran confirmed the strikes and warned it would “reserve all options” in response. Analysts caution that Iran could retaliate against US military bases in the Middle East or try to disrupt global oil shipping.
The immediate response across the country was swift, with major cities increasing security measures.
In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul emphasized that her “top priority is the safety of all New Yorkers.” Hochul said she was receiving regular intelligence briefings and working closely with federal and local agencies to monitor the situation.
Police have been deployed to protect vulnerable sites and guard against cyber threats.
In a post on X, the NYPD said, “We’re tracking the situation unfolding in Iran. Out of an abundance of caution, we’re deploying additional resources and coordinating with federal partners.”
The department also stated that extra resources are being sent to religious, cultural and diplomatic sites across the city.
Similar precautions were taken in Washington, D.C., and other major cities, with increased patrols at synagogues, mosques and diplomatic missions. Law enforcement officials warned about the possibility of lone-wolf actors or sleeper cells and said they are working closely with federal agencies.
