The Activism series consists of materials documenting Rocky Chin's organizing and professional work with the New York City Commission on Human Rights, as well as the cultural events, strikes, and demonstrations in which he was involved. Materials include newsletters, correspondence, memos, meeting minutes, conference programs, brochures, booklets, flyers, speeches, T-shirts, posters, demonstration signs, optical discs, and a VHS tape. Of note are the materials documenting the organization and implementation of the first New York City Hall conference roundtable in 1992 addressing the concerns of the city's Asian Pacific American communities. These documents include press releases, memos, correspondence, reports, schedules, invitations, speeches, summaries and lists of attendees and issues.

A large portion of the Activism series consists of research files which informs Rocky Chin's work in his various organizational roles, his work at the New York City Commission on Human Rights, his interests as a professor, and while campaigning. Some of these materials highlight various issues such as employment discrimination, Japanese American World War II incarceration and reparations, language rights, redistricting and rezoning initiatives, the Asian American studies movement, city projects (e.g. Chung Park Project, Foley Square Courthouse Project), the Vincent Chin case, negative media depictions of Asian Americans, among many other subjects. These research files include materials such as periodicals, publications, reports, legal briefs, newspaper clippings, and event and conference programs.