The Chinese Exclusion Act was a United States federal law signed by President Chester A. Arthur on May 6, 1882, prohibited all immigration of Chinese laborers. It also contributed to decades of discrimination, racism and hate towards Chinese Americans. Hate crimes towards Chinese Americans and Asian Americans rose by 1008% in your former Orange County. It also triggered many local sundown town laws that used hate violence to intimidate fear among the Chinese American community. These sentiments used our democracy against us. On May 26, 1906, the Santa Ana Board of Trustees passed resolution and the directed the Fire Marshal to burn Chinatown down to the group and remove 200 Chinese residents to gain control of the land for development.
I submitted a proposal for today’s City Council to condemn the 1906 decision and apologize to the Chinese community and to use this footnote to learn not to repeat those heinous acts and turn the page on hate. The Council unanimously approved the resolution.
On Tuesday, March 24th at 10:00 AM near the former site of Santa Ana’s Chinatown at 253 E. 3rd Street (City Parking lot on 3rd and Bush), Mayor Vincent Sarmiento signed the resolution unanimous passed City Council to condemn the actions of the 1906 Board of Trustees with the entire Council, The Chinese Historical Society, Organization of Chinese Americans, Chinese Citizens League, The Japanese American Citizens League, Korean American Coalition, Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance, members of the Lau Family who was one of first Chinese Americans to return to Santa Ana and opened a supermarket. OC Human Relations, and Santa Ana community leaders were in attendance as witnesses.
Mayor Sarmiento lead the City Council and leaders of the Chinese American community in a formal ceremony of apology before a community altar. Ceremonial lions chased evil spirit away. Two days later would have been the 116th anniversary of the burning. May 6 and 140th anniversary of the Chinese Exclusion Act.
Justice finally arrived.
Moving forward, we will make Chinatown rise again through an economic development project, monuments, street signs, murals and artwalks
Many educators took time off to attend. A video was made and an outline for a lesson plan was developed by Dr. Jeff Kim that will use the event with link to the Chinese Exclusion Action as a point of discussion. Teachers who will be teaching Asian American history will have an opportunity to use it.
We are nation builders and just want to be included as Americans.
Alan Woo
CC ‘1971 and proud member of the Board of Trustees.
