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Who: U.S. Congress What: Congress repeals the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act that prevented Chinese laborer immigration. It was the first law based on race or nationality leading to many others. Where: U.S. Significance: The repeal marked a shift in U.S. immigration policy. Done to improve relations between the U.S. and China during WWII, it later lead to changes allowing more Asian immigration. Source: https://history.state.gov/milestones/1937-1945/chinese-exclusion-act-repeal -
Who: Students at San Francisco State University and UC Berkeley. What: Protests demanded ethnic studies including Asian American studies to be put in place in colleges and universities. The first College of Ethnic Studies began at San Francisco State University. Where: California When: Fall 1969 Significance: Established Asian American Studies in higher education and fostered ethnic pride and political awareness. Source: https://www.aapinexus.org/2024/04/03/asian-american-studies-now -
Who: Vincent Chin, a Chinese American What: Murdered by two white auto workers who blamed Asians for car industry job losses. Where: Detroit, Michigan When: June 19, 1982 Significance: Sparked Asian American activism and civil rights awareness. Advocacy groups fought for stronger anti-hate crime and civil rights legislation to include Asian Americans. Source: https://www.amdoc.org/engage/resources/who-killed-vincent-chin-discussion-guide/background-information/ -
Who: President Ronald Reagan What: Signed the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. Where: United States When: Aug 10, 1988 Significance: Official apology and reparations to Japanese Americans incarcerated during WWII. It acknowledged the violation of civil liberties and injustice of the incarceration due to racial prejudice, war hysteria, and lack of government leadership. It stands against something like this happening again. Source: https://encyclopedia.densho.org/Civil_Liberties_Act_of_1988/ -
Who: AAPI communities and advocacy groups. What: Response to increased anti-Asian hate crimes during Covid-19. Due to the virus first coming from China, some Americans blamed Asians for the pandemic. This lead to increased violence and discrimination against the AAPI community. Where: U.S. When: Began March 2020 Significance: National push for civil rights protections and public awareness for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the U.S. Source: Stop AAPI Hate (stopaapihate.org)