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The California Assembly has passed a resolution apologizing for the way their predecessors severely discriminated against Chinese immigrants.
Assembly member Paul Fong of Mountain View was a co-sponsor.
"They could not own a home, they could not work for private employers or public employers who were willing to hire, they could not voice their opinions and bring forth complaints in court, they could not testify in court, they could not marry, and they could not attend public schools. In fact, Chinese were denied citizenship status in California until 1957," said Fong.
Chinese immigrants built much of the state's infrastructure in the late 19th century, following the Gold Rush.
But many were persecuted and forced to live in ghettos, and the state legislature enacted discriminatory laws. The current legislature unanimously approved the resolution issuing a formal apology.
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