CELEBATE TODAY -1943 REPEAL of 1882 CHINESE EXCLUSION LAW

Dear Friends,

REMEMBER TO CELEBRATE TODAY --A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE AND JOY --THE  12/17/1943  REPEAL OF THE 1882 CHINESE EXCLUSION LAW . THE LAW YOU MAY RECALL WAS THE ONLY AND FIRST TOTAL U.S. IMMIGRATION EXCLUSION OF A WHOLE ETHNIC GROUP OF PEOPLE BASED ON RACE AND ETHNIC ORIGIN. THE NATIONAL ACT ALSO PROHIBITED ALL CHINESE IMMIGRANTS FROM  CITIZENSHIP AND ALL CHINESE ALREADY LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES IN 1882 FROM EXERCISING THE RIGHT TO CITIZENSHIP BY NATIONALIZATION. Remember also that although the 1943 repeal allowed immigration of 105 Chinese PER YEAR while other nations enjoyed a quota of 20,000 annually.

REAL IMMIGRATION JUSTICE FOR CHINESE CAME ONLY IN 1965 (83 YEARS LATER)  WHEN THE  NEW NATIONAL "ETHNIC ORIGIN IMMIGRATION LAW" RAISED THE CHINESE QUOTA TO 20,000-- FINALLY EQUAL TO OTHER NATIONS. THE SEVERE IMMIGRATION BAN   EFFECTIVELY  CURTAILED THE DEVELOPMENT OF THREE GENERATIONS  OF CHINESE FAMILIES IN AMERICA-- A TRAGEDY THANKFULLY NOT IMPOSED ON ANY OTHER ETHNIC AMERICAN IMMIGRANT POPULATION.

LET  US FIGHT AGAINST SIMILAR IMMIGRATION BAN AND OTHER UNCONSTITUTIONAL ACTS AGAINST

ANY OTHER AMERICANS BASED ON RACE, RELIGION AND ETHNIC ORIGIN. LET US IN THIS TIME OF ANXIETY AND FEAR BE PARTICULARLY PROTECTIVE 

OF THE RIGHTS OF MUSLIM AMERICANS AND ALL IMMIGRANTS/REFUGEES.

ALLAN and MARY SEID