Press Releases

MOUNTAIN VIEW—Accredited members of the media were invited to attend a press conference to discuss Assembly Concurrent Resolution 42 presented by Assemblymember Paul Fong (D-Cupertino) at the Ng Shing Gung Temple in History San Jose.

ACR 42 is the first formal apology from the State of California to Chinese Americans for unjust laws and discrimination dating from the Gold Rush Era to the 1940’s.  Unjust laws include foreign miner’s tax on all gold found, prohibition to marry the person of your choice, Chinese Exclusion Act, prohibition to buy a home and work for a state, county or city entity.

ACR 42 also recognizes the work Chinese in California performed on the Transcontinental Railroad and their contributions to the success of California’s fishing and agricultural industries.  In addition, Chinese in California helped build the Delta levees.

“It is time to recognize all that the Chinese have brought to California and thank them for their contributions,” says Assemblymember Fong.  “It is also time to offer apologies for the great injustices imposed on them.  We could not be the great state we are without the help of the Chinese community.”

Honored attendees included: Chinese Historical and Cultural Project, Chi-Am Circle, Asian Americans for Community Involvement, Vision New America, Asian Pacific American Leadership Institute, Asian Law Alliance, San Jose Japanese American Citizens League, Organization of Chinese, Americans Silicon Valley, Chinese American Women's Club, and Chinese American Chamber of Commerce.

Assemblymember Fong serves as Chair of the Elections and Redistricting Committee and is a member of the Banking and Finance, Higher Education, and Utilities and Commerce Committees. In addition, Assemblymember Fong serves on the Select Committees on Aerospace, Biotechnology, Community Colleges, Domestic Violence, and Innovation and the Bay Area Economy.  He represents Cupertino, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara and San Jose.