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WHEREAS, on May 6, 1882, President Chester Arthur signed the Chinese Exclusion Act, which was the nation’s first law to prohibit immigration solely on the basis of ethnicity; and,
WHEREAS, the Chinese Exclusion Act was based on racial hostility against Chinese, who were characterized as “unassimilable, vile heathens” and were blamed for lowering wages, taking away jobs, draining the economy, and endangering the American way of life; and,
WHEREAS, the Chinese Exclusion Act, which was renewed in 1892, 1902 and made permanent in 1904 prevented Chinese laborers from entering the U.S. and denied Chinese a pathway to citizenship for more than 60 years; and,
WHEREAS, subsequent legislation such as the 1892 Geary Act, which required all Chinese to register for and carry Certificates of Residence or risk imprisonment and deportation set a precedent for future discriminatory registries of immigrants and descendants of immigrants;
WHEREAS, the Chinese community in Pittsburgh has contributed to all sectors in our city, including government, business, arts and sciences, medicine, law enforcement, and the military, and these contributions have strengthened our economy, enriched our diverse culture, and invigorated our neighborhoods; and,
WHEREAS, OCA-Advocates of Asian and Pacific Americans-Pittsburgh Chapter has worked for the last 43 years dedicated to advancing the social, political, and economic well-being of Asian Pacific Americans (APAs) in our region, and
WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh recognizes the 135th anniversary of the Chinese Exclusion Act as a day to condemn hatred and prejudice, promote diversity and inclusivity, and reaffirm our status as a welcoming city where immigrants and refugees are embraced and valued; and,
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize the 135th anniversary of the Chinese Exclusion Act as an opportunity to restate that Pittsburgh is as a city for all and celebrate the important contributions of Pittsburgh’s Chinese community; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare May 6th, 2017 to be “Day of Inclusion” in the City of Pittsburgh and proclaims the month of May to be “Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month” in the City of Pittsburgh.