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Council Member Susan Zhuang speaks on the history of Chinese American railroad workers
0:57:45
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Council Member Susan Zhuang delivers remarks on the often-overlooked history of Chinese American railroad workers, highlighting their contributions to the Transcontinental Railroad and the subsequent Chinese Exclusion Act. She emphasizes the importance of remembering this history and calls for support of Resolution 844 to make May 10th Chinese American Railroad Workers Memorial Day.
- Zhuang discusses the absence of Chinese workers in historical photos despite their significant contributions
- She mentions the discovery of Chinese workers' remains along the railroad and their work on the Long Island Railroad
- The council member criticizes Leland Stanford's support of the Chinese Exclusion Act after profiting from Chinese labor
Susan Zhuang
0:57:45
Thank you, majority leader.
0:57:46
Today, I'm here to talk about American history, which was missing in most of textbooks and the society related to my August.
0:57:56
Many workers who build the Transcontinental Railroad are Chinese, but you will not see any Chinese railroad workers in the group photo making the completion of the railroad in 1869.
0:58:10
However, one hundred years later, nearly 2,000 pounds of bones from Chinese workers were found from the desert of Central Pacific Railroad sections.
0:58:22
Under each railroad sleeper, they are the skeleton of a Chinese railroad workers right here in our city.
0:58:29
In 1876, Chinese railroad workers arrived to Brooklyn to work on the Long Island Railroad Railroad.
0:58:37
Leland Stanford made a lot of money from Central Pacific Railroad, which was built by Chinese workers.
0:58:45
He used the wealth to cofound Stanford University.
0:58:49
After, however, after less than twenty years later, he endorsed the Chinese Exclusion Act.
0:58:58
It was the first major US law to restrict immigration based on national origin and race.
0:59:05
The first federal federal law prohibited all immigrants of Chinese labors and denying Chinese and other Asian residents already in The US become citizens.
0:59:17
We cannot erase the contribution of immigrants who gave everything to our country.
0:59:23
Let's remember the history, not repeat the history today.
0:59:28
Chinese American history need to be cherished and respected.
0:59:32
I'm grateful to be here to share the forgotten history of America and make May tenth Chinese American Railroad Workers Memorial Day.
0:59:41
I want to thank my colleague, Bob Holden, to give me his resolution, and I thank all my colleagues who cosponsored this resolution, and please support resolution eight four four.
0:59:52
Thank you.