Fwd: RELEASE: Asian American Center for Advancing Justice Applauds the Introduction of Congressional Resolutions Expressing Regret for Chinese Exclusion Laws

[Connie Choi]

FYI.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Rachanee Srisavasdi <rsris...@apalc.org>
Date: Thu, May 26, 2011 at 2:04 PM
Subject: Fwd: RELEASE: Asian American Center for Advancing Justice Applauds the Introduction of Congressional Resolutions Expressing Regret for Chinese Exclusion Laws
To: Staff <st...@apalc.org>

If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may see it online . Share This:   NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION                 May 26, 2011            CONTACT: Leonie Campbell-Williams (202) 492-4591 lcam...@advancingequality.org    Asian American Center for Advancing Justice Applauds the Introduction of Congressional Resolutions Expressing Regret for Chinese Exclusion Laws     Washington – The Asian American Center for Advancing Justice commends Representatives Judy Chu (D-CA) and Judy Biggert (R-IL), and Senators Scott Brown (R-MA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), and Marco Rubio (R-FL) for introducing House and Senate Resolutions, calling on Congress to formally acknowledge and express regret for the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Laws.    “The introductions of these resolutions during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month are very timely,” said Karen K. Narasaki, president and executive director of the Asian American Justice Center. “It is important to recognize the historical and current contributions of Asian Americans to the United States.”   Enacted between 1882 and 1904, the Chinese Exclusion Laws were a set of laws that severely restricted the naturalization and immigration into the United States of people of Chinese descent.  Although the laws were repealed in 1943, Congress has never formally acknowledged or expressed regret for the harm and destruction these discriminatory laws caused in the Asian American community.   “The Chinese are the only racial group ever specifically banned from the United States, and the impact of these exclusionary laws were profound, in severely hindering the Asian American community’s ability to grow and integrate into the United States as earlier immigrants were able to,” said Stewart Kwoh, president and executive director of the Asian Pacific American Legal Center.   Despite racist exclusionary laws such as these, Asian Americans have contributed to the American economy and society for as long as they have been here.  In the 1800s, they were pivotal in building the Transcontinental Railroad.  Throughout American history, they have played a key role in industries important to economic growth, starting businesses and supporting communities.   “These laws, which have had long-standing consequences, have been obscured in Congress and the American public,” said Tuyet Le, executive director of the Asian American Institute. Titi Liu, executive director of the Asian Law Caucus, added: “Acknowledging the unconstitutionality of these laws is necessary to ensuring that other groups in the future are not similarly discriminated against.”   The Asian American Center for Advancing Justice ( http://www.advancingjustice.org/) works to promote a fair and equitable society for all by working for civil and human rights and empowering Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other underserved communities, and  is comprised of the Asian American Justice Center in Washington, D.C. ( http://www.advancingequality.org),  the Asian American Institute in Chicago ( http://www.aaichicago.org/), the Asian Law Caucus ( http://www.asianlawcaucus.org/) in San Francisco and the Asian Pacific American Legal Center ( http://www.apalc.org/) in Los Angeles. Asian Pacific American Legal Center 1145 Wilshire Blvd, 2nd Floor | Los Angeles, CA 90017 Tel: 213.977.7500 | Fax: 213.977.7595 | in...@apalc.org This email was sent to rsris...@apalc.org. To ensure that you continue receiving our emails, please add us to your address book or safe list. manage your preferences | opt out using TrueRemove®. Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails. email marketing by The Raben Group powered by

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Connie Choi
Staff Attorney, Immigration & Citizenship Project
___________________________________
ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN LEGAL CENTER
Member of Asian American Center for Advancing Justice
1145 Wilshire Blvd, 2nd Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90017
T (213) 977-7500 x 267
F (213) 977-7595
cc...@apalc.org
www.apalc.org


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