Anakbayan-USA is a student and youth-led Filipino protest movement that opposes American involvement in the Philippines. ¹ It is the daughter organization of Anakbayan, which operates in Manila, and is related to BAYAN-USA, another Filipino activist group. ^{2 3}

The group opposes alleged American “imperialism” and “neoliberal trade policies” which it says favor the United States. ⁴ Anakbayan-USA supports the creation of a Palestinian state and actively calls for divestment from Israel. ⁵ It also promotes anti-capitalist views. ⁶

Background

Anakbayan-USA’s parent organization, Anakbayan, was established in 1998 in response to the collapse of the National Democratic movement, a communist movement in the Philippines against right-wing regimes. ^{7 8} Anakbayan-USA claims the United States launched a global campaign of military imperialism after the attacks of September 11, 2001 that directly impacted the Philippines. Influenced by the World Trade Organization protests of 1999, Filipino college students in Seattle, Washington formed Anakbayan-Seattle. Subsequent chapters formed in New York, New Jersey, and other major US areas until they united under the name Anakbayan-USA in 2012. ⁹

Throughout its history, Anakbayan-USA has advanced left-of-center social change related to alleged injustices committed against Filipinos by the United States and its influence, such as labor and resource exploitation, neo-colonialism, and the abuse of martial law. ^{10 11}

On March 28, 2024, Anakbayan posted a statement to its website which included an image of a Biden administration press release which had been edited by Anakbayan-USA. ¹² Anakbayan-USA’s comments called President Joe Biden “Genocide Joe,” and claimed that the United States supports “fascism” in the Philippines through the “imperialist relationship” between America and the Philippines. ¹³

Anakbayan-USA also desires complete divestment from the state of Israel. ¹⁴ In support of Palestinian causes, the group opposes supposed Jewish control of American universities and advocates that American corporations, government, and schools “disclose, divest, and defend.” ¹⁵

Campaigns

Anakbayan-USA’s primary initiative is its continued effort to overthrow regimes that have controlled the Philippine government. It maintains opposition to Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., whom it claims leads a “fascist regime.” Anakbayan-USA argues that Marcos Jr.’s government colludes with the United States to secure the “ruling elite and its imperial masters. It seeks revolution and re-education of the populace to expose the alleged neglect and maltreatment of Filipino citizens. ¹⁶

Anakbayan-USA also opposes the Philippines Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, enacted by then-President Rodrigo Duterte. It claims the government uses this law to silence dissidents and surveil the citizenry. ¹⁷

The “Take Back Our Education!” campaign argues for socialist education policies in America. Anakbayan-USA claims the United States pursues education policies that raise the price of higher education, creating a class of lower-income, uneducated, exploitable workers. The group alleges that American education serves profits and warmaking. ¹⁸

Anakbayan-USA’s initiative “Justice For Brandon Lee” seeks financial support for and greater awareness of the attempted alleged political assassinations of Brandon Lee. ¹⁹ Lee is an American citizen who moved to the Philippines to advocate left-of-center social causes. ²⁰ He was shot in what Anakbayan-USA claims was an extrajudicial assassination attempt by the Philippine military. ²¹

University Presence and Protests

Anakbayan-USA has over 25 chapters across the United States, including at the University of Washington, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), and University of California Berkeley. ²² The chapters convene at regular congresses to strategize and share their progress in advancing left-of-center social initiatives. ²³ The chapters also organize protests together, notably protesting Philippine President Bongbong Marcos’s United Nations debut in New York City. ²⁴

2006 Nurses Assistance

The Sentosa 27 refers to a 2006 controversy where one physical therapist and 26 nurses were recruited from the Philippines by Sentosa nursing home group to provide care at nursing homes in New York City under a three-year contract. The contract stipulated that an early resignation would result in a $25,000 penalty. When the employees arrived, they allegedly experienced contract violations and unkept promises regarding place of work, pay, living accommodations, and more. After the workers resigned from their posts, Anakbayan-USA helped them secure their licenses and visas despite Sentosa alleging breach of contract. ²⁵

Finances

Although no financial records exist for Anakbayan-USA, its affiliate BAYAN-USA reported

$3,057,152 in revenue in 2022, $2,722,190 in expenses, and $1,503,583 in net assets. ²⁶

1. Anakbayan-USA. Accessed June 9, 2024. https://www.anakbayanusa.com/
2. Anak Bayan USA. Accessed June 9, 2024. http://www.anakbayanusa.org/
3. Bayan USA 101. Accessed June 9, 2024. https://www.bayanusa.org/campaigns/brochure/brochure/
4. Moreno, Aaron. “The Birth of Anakbayan USA.” Anak Bayan USA. June 21, 2020. Accessed June 9, 2024. http://www.anakbayanusa.org/the-birth-of-anakbayan-usa/
5. “Filipino Youth, All Out For Palestine!” Anakbayan-USA. April 21, 2024. Accessed June 9, 2024. https://www.anakbayanusa.com/statements/filipino-youth-all-out-for-palestine
6. Anakbayan-USA. Accessed June 9, 2024. https://www.anakbayanusa.com/
7. Moreno, Aaron. “The Birth of Anakbayan USA.” Anak Bayan USA. June 21, 2020. Accessed June 9, 2024. http://www.anakbayanusa.org/the-birth-of-anakbayan-usa/
8. Buenaventura, Maxine A. and Lorena, Nicole A. “Behind the Movements.” The Guidon. July 20, 2017. Accessed June 9, 2024.  https://theguidon.com/2017/07/behind-the-movements/
9. Moreno, Aaron. “The Birth of Anakbayan USA.” Anak Bayan USA. June 21, 2020. Accessed June 9, 2024. http://www.anakbayanusa.org/the-birth-of-anakbayan-usa/
10. Moreno, Aaron. “The Birth of Anakbayan USA.” Anak Bayan USA. June 21, 2020. Accessed June 9, 2024. http://www.anakbayanusa.org/the-birth-of-anakbayan-usa/
11. “Anakbayan New Jersey Condemns Martial Law and Its Legacy.” Anakbayan New Jersey. September 24, 2015. Accessed June 9, 2024. https://anakbayannj.org/2015/09/24/anakbayan-new-jersey-condemns-martial-law-and-its -legacy/
12. Statements. Anakbayan-USA. March 28, 2024. Accessed June 9, 2024.  https://www.anakbayanusa.com/ statements
13. Statements. Anakbayan-USA. March 28, 2024. Accessed June 9, 2024.  https://www.anakbayanusa.com/ statements
14. “Filipino Youth, All Out For Palestine!” Anakbayan-USA. April 21, 2024. Accessed June 9, 2024. https://www.anakbayanusa.com/statements/filipino-youth-all-out-for-palestine
15. Statements. Anakbayan-USA. April 21, 2024. Accessed June 9, 2024.  https://www.anakbayanusa.com/statements
16. Campaigns. Anakbayan-USA. Accessed June 9, 2024. https://www.anakbayanusa.com/campaigns-abusa
17. Campaigns. Anakbayan-USA. Accessed June 9, 2024. https://www.anakbayanusa.com/campaigns-abusa
18. Campaigns. Anakbayan-USA. Accessed June 9, 2024. https://www.anakbayanusa.com/campaigns-abusa
19. Campaigns. Anakbayan-USA. Accessed June 9, 2024. https://www.anakbayanusa.com/campaigns-abusa
20. Guevarra, Ericka Cruz. “’It Is My Duty to Continue’: No Investigation a Year After SF Activist Brandon Lee Was Shot in the Philippines.” KQED. August 7, 2020. Accessed June 9, 2024. https://www.kqed.org/news/11832307/it-is -my-duty-to-continue-no-investigation-a-year-after-sf-activist-brandon-lee-was-shot-in-the-philippines
21. Campaigns. Anakbayan-USA. Accessed June 9, 2024. https://www.anakbayanusa.com/campaigns-abusa
22. Anakbayan-USA. Accessed June 9, 2024. https://www.anakbayanusa.com/
23. Simoes, Victor. “‘Makibaka! Huwag Matakot!’ Seattle Filipino Youth Attend Anakbayan U.S.A.’s Fourth National Congress.” South Seattle Emerald. March 3, 2023. Accessed June 9, 2024. https://southseattleemerald.com /2023/03/03/makibaka-huwag-matakot-seattle-filipino-youth-attend-anakbayan-u-s-a-s-fourth-national-congress/
24. “Filipinos in the US protest far-right President Marcos at his UN-debut.” Peoples Dispatch. September 22, 2022. Accessed June 9, 2024. https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/09/22/filipinos-in-the-us-protest-far-right-president-marcos -at-his-un-debut/
25. Keepnews, David M. “The Sentosa Nurses Case.” In Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice Vol. 8 No. 2. May 2007. Accessed June 9, 2024. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1527154407305226
26. Bayan. ProPublica. Accessed June 9, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/462431099 /202341359349316389/full