Assemblyman Luis Alejo Announces Bill Dedicated to Pilipino-American Civil Rights

SACRAMENTO,CA - Assemblyman Luis Alejo announces a bill, Assembly Concurrent Resolution #74 (ACR #74) that gives justice to Pilipino-Americans who fought against discrimination in the 1920’s and 1930’s.

This bill is the first formal apology of the California State Legislature to all the Pilipino and Pilipino -American Societies in California who endured nearly 100 years of discrimination, prejudice, and hardship for Government Policies and Laws that were passed by the United States. These laws targeted Pil-Am’s by taking away their civil liberties and constitutional rights.

History of Racial Discrimination Against Pilipino And Pilipino-Americans

During this period in United States history, in the 1920’s and 1930’s, segregation was still legal in the United States. Racial tensions escalated between Americans and the incoming immigrants until the 1960’s, when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s Civil Rights Movement effectively ended segregation.     

These unfair government policies and laws made against Pilipino and Pilipino-Americans resulted in the 1930 Watsonville Anti-Pilipino Riots - were 200 anti-Pilipino citizens attacked a Pilipino club, which lead to the killing of Mr.Fermin Tobera.

Several anti-Pilipino vigilante groups around California committed many acts of violence, spreading fear on Pil-Am Communities. According to these groups, these attacks were the result of Pilipino laborers having intimate relationships with Caucasian women, depressing the work wage, and taking jobs that in their opinion belonged to Americans.

Anti-Pilipino Riots eventually broke out in the neighboring cities Stockton, San Jose, Salinas, and San Francisco.

Assembly Concurrent Resolution #74 (ACR #74) headed to the California State Senate, where state senators voted to pass the bill on Aug 22, 2011.  Pilipino-American communities in California can finally put to rest this ugly chapter in history, because on that day were the Pilipino who fought against racial discrimination and those who lost their lives finally got justice they deserve.



Picture Courtesy of:

santacruz.com 

For More Information on ACR#74:
leginfo.ca.gov

For More Information on the History of Discrimination/Anti-Filipino riots of 1930:
pinnaclenews.com

Related Link :
Alejo bill apologizes to Filipino Americans