In a resolution initiated by Gavin Newsom and co-sponsored by Fiona Ma and Aaron Peskin, the Board of Supervisors voted on Veterans Day to support Congressman Mike Honda’s (D-Calif.) House Joint Resolution 45. The resolution calls on local congressional representatives to approve legislation granting U.S. citizenship posthumously to Chinese Americans and other Asian Pacific Americans who fought in America’s Civil War. Petitions on behalf of the veterans are now being collected in other cities including Los Angeles, Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz., to follow suit.
In a related event, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, at the urging of the Chinese American Citizens Alliance (CACA) has also proclaimed Dec. 17, as Chinese Exclusion Repeal Act Day, the 60th anniversary of the repeal of the 1882 discriminatory law.
The CACA, one of the oldest APA civil rights organizations in the country, was initially formed to fight the racially exclusionary legislation and will commemorate that anniversary at the CACA Grand Lodge in San Francisco on Dec. 20.
CACA officials point out Honda’s House joint resolution and the 60th anniversary are tied together. APAs like Edward Day Cohota, alias Sing How, formerly of Shanghai, China, fought in America’s Civil War and served in the U.S. Army for 30 years. Because of the Chinese Exclusion Act, he was denied U.S. citizenship. Without citizenship, Cohota could not rise above the rank of private or receive a federal land grant as a Civil War veteran.
“The recognition of Edward Day Cohota and the awarding of U.S. citizenship to him and others helps to illustrate that Chinese and other Asian [Pacific] Americans have a long history of patriotism in this country,” said Carolyn Chan, a national CACA leader from Albuquerque, N.M. “They’ve contributed much to this country despite the adversity they have had to face.”
This past weekend, CACA members from Albuquerque, Phoenix and Tucson, met with Sharon O’Connor, Cohota’s great-granddaughter, and his great-great grandson Britton Dornquast at a Thanksgiving dinner in Tucson. The meeting was an opportunity to see what could be done to speed up the process to win U.S. citizenship for Cohota, who died in 1935 after fighting unsuccessfully for a lifetime to accomplish that goal.
“After the dinner, we got quite a few petitions signed,” said Dorothy Lew, a CACA leader and a resource teacher from Tucson. Lew hopes American history books will include more about the contributions of APAs for this country.
Lew, the executive director of the Pan Asian Community Alliance, noted that her father and grandfather had served in the military during World War II. “Our intent is to get this issue to other Asian [Pacific] American organizations. We’ll be sending letters to our two senators and seven representatives here in Arizona and ask them for their support.”
“I think Arizona should help lead in this effort since Sharon O’Connor lives in the state,” said Eddie Yue, a national CACA board member from Phoenix. “President Bush has recognized immigrant veterans who fought in Iraq with U.S. citizenship. I can’t see why he can’t do the same for Chinese [Americans] and other Asian [Pacific] Americans who fought in America’s Civil War.”
When O’Connor spoke to the dinner guests, she found them enthusiastic and interested in her great-grandfather’s story. After a television news story about Cohota was screened, she shared with the audience family heirlooms, including her great-grandfather’s discharge papers and photographs.
“I thought they were a group of wonderful people,” O’Connor said. “They seemed very interested in helping in every way they could to make it possible for this citizenship bill to get through. My son is also enthusiastic about this and is helping to collect petitions.”
Contemplating the legislation’s significance, she added, “I think all of those men who served in that war should be given citizenship.
“I think those exclusionary acts that our government has had through the years — whether it was the internment of the Japanese [Americans] during World War II or not allowing Chinese and other Asians to come here — I just don’t support that idea. I think that people who love America and served in our Armed Forces and risked their lives for this country should have a right to be citizens.”
The Tucson psychologist realizes before President Bush can sign such an executive order, Congress will need to pass a bill to accomplish this.
“I hope Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) will investigate this matter and learn what took place,” she added. “Too many Americans don’t realize Chinese [Americans] and other Asians like my great-grandfather were not allowed to become U.S. citizens — until the law was changed.”