On December 17, 2023, Joseph Biden issued a statement on the 80th anniversary of the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act. The statement reviewed the harm caused to Chinese Americans by the Chinese Exclusion Act, positively affirmed the contributions of Chinese Americans to the United States, and pointed out the need to unite the people and ensure that hatred has nowhere to hide. This is the first time in 141 years that the White House has officially publicly condemned the Chinese Exclusion Act, and it is also an apology more than 100 years late, a date that will be remembered by history.
At noon on December 18, 2023, the U.S.-China Economic and Cultural Association held a banquet at Shanghai Alley, 1148 Kildaire Farm Rd, CARY 27511 to celebrate the White House's first official condemnation of the Chinese Exclusion Act.
The full text of Biden's statement is as follows:
Biden**'s statement on the 80th anniversary of the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act.
White House. December 17, 2023.
Our nation is founded on the basic idea that all people are created equal and deserve to be treated equally. But for 61 years, the Chinese Exclusion Act failed to deliver on that promise. The bill treats our immigration system as a ***, discriminating against an entire ethnic group, and subsequently further against many groups in Europe and throughout Asia. The bill, along with other areas of racism and xenophobia in the United States, is part of an era of anti-Chinese "driving out," including in Rock Springs and Hells Canyon. In 1943, the Chinese Exclusion Act was repealed, and subsequent laws were enacted to make the U.S. immigration system better reflect our values as an immigrant.
On this day of remembrance, we remember those whose lives, families and communities have been irreparably harmed. We remember the courageous, diverse voices – from Frederick Douglass to Blanche Bruce, Pearl Buck, the American Jewish Committee, and many others – who stood out in solidarity against the bill and demanded a fairer, more just immigration system. We recognize that despite the progress we have made, hatred will never go away. It will just be hidden. Today, some people still demonize immigrants and incite intolerance. This is wrong. I'm running to revive the soul of America. Unite the people and make sure we never provide a hiding place for hatred. Promoting diversity is the strength of our nation.
For generations, the Chinese population has enriched our country — from the Chinese laborers who worked so hard to build the transcontinental railroad in the 1800s, to the Chinese-Americans who served in our military, to today's writers, artists, scientists, entrepreneurs, and academics. We salute them and all the immigrants who continue to make a remarkable contribution to their country.
Looking back on history, under the influence of Chinese exclusionists, the US Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882, prohibiting all Chinese laborers from entering the United States, and also prohibiting Chinese who have obtained permanent residency from naturalizing as US citizens. It was the first and only act in U.S. history to legislate against race through Congressional legislation. At that time, the "Chinese Exclusion Act" gave rise to a series of discriminatory bills, and many discriminatory acts appeared in American society, and incidents of Chinese workers being evicted occurred from time to time. After many setbacks, the Chinese Exclusion Act was repealed in 1943. Over the years, for the injustice brought about by the ** "Chinese Exclusion Act", generations of overseas Chinese have risen up to resist, run around, and voice justice. In 2011 and 2012, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives passed historic bills to formally apologize for the Chinese Exclusion Act.
In order to get the White House to make a clear apology for the "Chinese Exclusion Act", over the years, many Chinese associations, people of insight, and Chinese congressmen Zhao Meixin, Liu Yunping, and Meng Zhaowen have done a lot of persuasion or "exerted pressure" on the White House, constantly urging the White House to make a statement.
Mr. Xue Haipei, president of the United Nations Federation of Chinese in America (UCA), is considered to be the main promoter of the relevant "apology case". He expressed hope that the White House would issue an apology statement on the 80th anniversary of the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act, and in the weeks leading up to that, it collected signatures from nearly 330 Chinese and Asian-American organizations and nearly 3,000 people, and the public signature letter served as a kick in the door, and on December 17, the White House issued a formal condemnation of the Chinese Exclusion Act. Mr. Xue said that although the White House did not issue a formal apology for the Chinese Exclusion Act enacted in 1882, it was the first time in 141 years that the White House formally condemned the Chinese Exclusion Act, which is a big step forward in the historic efforts of the Chinese and Asian American communities to pursue equal treatment. This is the result of the joint efforts of the entire Chinese community.
Mr. Wei Gaorong, Founding Chairman of the US-China Economic and Cultural Association, said that we should be prepared for danger in times of peace and not let the history of the Chinese Exclusion Act repeat itself. Recently, Florida introduced a bill specifically aimed at the Chinese, prohibiting public schools from recruiting Chinese students (graduate and doctoral students), prohibiting Chinese students from entering laboratories, and prohibiting Chinese from buying houses and land. The situation is serious, and it is also a form of discrimination against the Chinese. We need to unite and fight together.
Mr. Niu Zhiwen, vice chairman of the US-China Economic and Cultural Association, said that he had just gone to Washington to participate in the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act. More than 400 guests from all over the United States, including Chinese congressmen, attended, and the scene was very grand. Yesterday (17th), the White House issued a formal condemnation of the "Chinese Exclusion Act", which is a major victory for the Chinese in the United States and deserves special celebration.
Li Bin, director of the US-China Economic and Cultural Association, said that the number of Chinese in the United States is not large, and the proportion is not high, and the most important thing is unity. Unity is strength, and I am willing to contribute money and efforts to make a contribution to the survival of Chinese people in the United States.
Huang Liqing, director of the US-China Economic and Cultural Association, said that cases against Chinese people in the United States have occurred from time to time. For example, in the process of operating air tickets for travel agencies, it is not uncommon to encounter Chinese with J1 visas returning to China on errands and being denied entry by the visa officer when they return to the United States, even if they have a letter from their mentor, which rarely happened in the past. There are also students on F1 student visas who return to China halfway through, and the visa officer who encounters difficulties when returning to the United States will not allow them to enter the country. Today, as we celebrate our victory, we must not forget that discrimination can happen at any time. Only when the Chinese unite to shout together and fight together will they have strength.
Li Meng, president of the US-China Economic and Cultural Association, said that it is gratifying to gather together today to celebrate the White House's first formal condemnation of the "Chinese Exclusion Act." Our association is one of 330 Chinese and Asian American groups that collectively signed a protest that forced the White House to issue a formal condemnation. After hearing the news of the call for signatures, the association discussed and signed the name of the association as the president on behalf of the US-China Economic and Cultural Association. The name of the Chinese American Economic & Culture Association (CAECA) will forever remain in the archives of the White House along with the signed letter. There is still a long way to go to fight for the fair rights and interests of Chinese people in the future, and I hope that the Chinese in the United States will be more united, think in one place, and work hard in one place. If there are 3,000 associations to sign in the future, the power will be greater and the influence will be greater. I believe that a drop of water pierces a stone, an iron pestle becomes a needle, and hard work will eventually pay off. (Shaoshan).
Editor: Li Wei.
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