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Council Member Susan Zhuang advocates for Chinese American Railroad Workers Memorial Day
0:37:35
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74 sec
Council Member Susan Zhuang speaks about the importance of AAPI Heritage Month and advocates for the passage of Resolution 844, which would establish May 10th as Chinese American Railroad Workers Memorial Day. She highlights the historical contributions and challenges faced by Chinese American railroad workers, emphasizing the need to remember this often-forgotten part of American history.
- Zhuang discusses the harsh working conditions and discrimination faced by Chinese American railroad workers
- She mentions the Chinese Exclusion Act as the first US policy to restrict immigration based on race
- The council member urges her colleagues to support the resolution as a way to recognize and remember this important history during AAPI Heritage Month
Susan Zhuang
0:37:35
Thank you, majority leader.
0:37:37
Today is the first day of AAPI heritage month.
0:37:40
By voting yes on my resolution, eight four four, you are the representatives of people are making sure we don't embrace Asian American from American's history.
0:37:52
Today, people talk about immigrants with fear, fear, and sometimes hate.
0:37:57
It's not new.
0:37:58
The Chinese American railroad workers in American history had the same problems.
0:38:04
These workers worked just for a few cents a day, and many died to build the transcontinental railroad.
0:38:12
But the survivor surviving workers were not allowed on the final picture.
0:38:18
Leland Stanford made so much money of those workers.
0:38:22
However, he endorsed the Chinese exclusion act, the first US policy to restrict immigration based on race, not only just Chinese to all Asians.
0:38:34
This is a short version of forgot forgotten history.
0:38:37
And do you see why it's so important we remember?
0:38:41
This is AAPM month.
0:38:43
Let's make history and make May 10 Chinese American Railroad Workers Memorial Day.
0:38:48
Thank you.