San Jose Was Once Home to Five Chinatowns. But Then Racism.

San Jose officially apologizes to Chinese immigrants and their descendants.



Did you know that San Jose, California was once home to five Chinatowns? And then it was home to zero Chinatowns. Because racists burned them down and/or displaced and drove out the city's Chinese residents.

If you know anything about Asian American history -- and honestly, it wouldn't be a surprise if your textbooks conveniently left it out -- this kind of racist violence was a fair.ly common occurrence up and down the west coast during the mid-to-late 1800s. Anti-Chinese sentiment became institutionalized

This week, the city of San Jose unanimously approved a resolution officially apologizing to Chinese immigrants and their descendants, acknowledging its role in nearly a century of violence and discrimination, including the dismantling and destruction of the city's Chinatowns. Yeah, file this one under Too Little Too Late.

More here: San Jose Apologizes for Decades of Discrimination Against Chinese

California Passes Resolution to Celebrate "Kimchi Day"

Calfornia Assembly passes resolution officially declaring November 22 as "Kimchi Day"



The California legislature has passed a new resolution officially declaring November 22 as "Kimchi Day."

Under the bill, which was led by Californian Assemblyman Steven Choi, the day will celebrate the traditional Korean fermented side dish to promote the consumption of healthier food. Kimchi, according to the bill, is "an excellent source of probiotics, folate, beta-carotene, choline, potassium, calcium, and vitamins A, C, and K."

The bill also notes that "The increase in awareness of kimchi corresponds to higher awareness of Korean culture, including K-pop, K-beauty, K-food, and K-drama."

Okay, California. Why not? By the way, in my household, every day is Kimchi Day.

More here: California's assembly passes resolution to celebrate 'Kimchi Day'

California Bill Funds Tracking of Anti-Asian Hate Crimes

Legislators approved $1.4 million in state funding for the Stop AAPI Hate reporting center.



California passes bill allocating $1.4 million to track anti-Asian hate crimes
California legislators approved $1.4 million in state funding to help combat anti-Asian violence and racism through the Stop AAPI Hate reporting center on Monday. Assemblymember Phil Ting, chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, secured funding through the passage of AB 85, which provides $7.6 billion in additional state resources for the ongoing pandemic response. The money will be used to support Stop AAPI Hate's research and help the organization track anti-Asian incidents.

Calfornia to Officially Apologize for Incarceration of Japanese Americans During World War II

Things to Know From Angry Asian America



Calfornia to Offically Apologize for Incarceration of Japanese Americans
Almost 80 years after President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, authorizing the incarceration of 120,000 innocent Japanese Americans during World War II, the state of California will formally apologize to Japanese Americans for its role in the internment. On Thursday, the California Assembly is expected to approve a new bill, HR-77, which officially apologizes for supporting the "unjust exclusion, removal, and incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II, and for its failure to support and defend the civil rights and civil liberties of Japanese Americans during this period."

* * *


Hundreds Gather To Support Boston's Chinatown Amid Coronavirus Fears
On Saturday, nearly 400 people gathered for a community-organized "dim sum brunch" at the China Pearl restaurant in Boston's Chinatown in an effort to allay fears about the coronavirus.

* * *


NYC Taxis Are Avoiding Chinese Passengers Over Coronavirus Fears
In New York City, cabbies and ride-share drivers are reportedly discriminating against customers over fears of the Coronavirus, refusing Chinese passengers and avoiding driving to Chinese areas of the cities.

* * *


Rest in Peace, Kellye Nakahara Wallett
Kellye Nakahara Wallett, a film and television actress best known for playing Lt. Nurse Kellye Yamato on 11 seasons of the classic series M-A-S-H, died Sunday after a brief battle with cancer. She was 72.

* * *


2020 Seattle Asian American Film Festival
Heads up, Seattle cinephiles. The 2020 Seattle Asian American Film Festival is going down this week, February 20 to 23. Showcasing feature-length and short format films by and about Asian Americans across North America, SAAFF is the only film festival in Seattle to provide a space for Asian American voices, perspectives and histories by screening independent films that reflect the diversity and richness of the city’s Asian American community. For more info, go here.

Six arrested in Fresno backyard party shooting

Suspected gang members arrested in the shooting deaths of four men in November.



From The New York Times: Police in California announced Tuesday that they have arrested six suspected gang members in the shooting deaths of four men in November at a backyard gathering of family and friends that they believed was a rival gang's party.

The victims were killed November 17 when gunmen entered the back of a Fresno home through an unlocked gate and used semiautomatic weapons to open fire on people watching a football game in the backyard. Four people were killed, and six people were wounded.

More here: 6 Arrested in Killings of 4 Men at California Backyard Party

"Yeah, I pushed you": Anti-vaxxer assaults Calfornia lawmaker

And streamed it live on Facebook.



An anti-vaccine activist was cited for misdemeanor assault Wednesday after shoving a California lawmaker who has worked to tighten the state's laws for childhood vaccinations.

'Yeah, I pushed you': Anti-vaxxer cited for assaulting lawmaker while live-streaming on Facebook

54-year-old Kenneth Austin Bennett livestreamed the confrontation on Facebook, showing him exchanging words with state Senator Richard Pan before shoving him on the sidewalk near the capitol in Sacramento.

Pan, a pediatrician, has authored several bills that limit exemptions for child vaccinations, including legislation that prohibits parents from opting out of vaccinating their school-age children on account of personal beliefs.

His efforts have made him the target anti-vaccination activists, including screaming protestors, online harassment and death threats. But this is apparently the first time things have gotten physical.

Sikh man assaulted, told 'go back to your country'

An intruder broke a window at Sikh Temple Modesto Ceres and punched a temple leader.



Last week in California's Central Valley, an intruder broke into a Sikh temple, destroyed windows, assaulted a temple leader, shouted obscenities and told him to go back to his own country before fleeing.

Priest at Sikh Temple near Hughson assaulted in apparent hate crime

Amarjit Singh, who lives and works at the Sikh Temple Modesto Ceres, was at his home on temple grounds late Thursday night when a masked intruder broke two windows in his bedroom. When Singh lifted the window blinds to look out, the intruder punched him in the neck and shouted "go back, go back to your country" before fleeing.

Deputies from the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department said, inexplicably, it's too early to call it a hate crime.

Stop the Deportation of Cambodian Refugees

Stand with Southeast Asian mothers and join the social media action on May 10.



Cambodian American community members are facing imminent deportation in the next months. A majority of those facing deportation are children of refugees whose families survived and fled the genocide in Cambodia. This is part of an ongoing attack by the Trump administration, with a record year of 100 Cambodian community members deported in 2018, and plans to 200 Cambodian Americans each year over the next several years.

Mothers, and women overall, have led incredible efforts and continue to be at the front lines fighting to reunite with their loved ones separated by ICE. You're invited to join a social media action on the Friday before Mother's Day -- May 10 from 11 am - 2 pm PST -- to stand with Southeast Asian mothers and urge California Governor Gavin Newsom to stop the deportations and #PardonRefugees.

Here's the basic information:

TJ Cox declares victory in the last undecided House race

The 116th U.S. Congress will include 20 AAPI members -- the most ever.



More than three weeks after election day, we have a winner.

In California's 21st Congressional District, TJ Cox defeated three-term Republican Rep. David Valadao on Wednesday, giving Democrats a gain of seven House seats in the state and 40 nationwide.

Cox is only one of two Filipino Americans currently elected to the House of Representatives. Meanwhile, in New Jersey's 3rd District, Andy Kim became only the second ever Korean American elected to the House. Their victories, along with Michael San Nicolas' victory for Guam's delegate representative, solidifies a historic number of AAPI members in Congress.

The 116th United States Congress will include 20 AAPI members -- the most ever.

This NICU nurse cared for him as a preemie. Now he's a doctor.

28 years later, they're working at the same hospital.



As the kid of a retired nurse, this story warms my heart. A nurse in California was surprised to find herself reunited with a former patient -- then, just 29 weeks old -- now, a pediatric resident at the same hospital.

Nurse Vilma Wong has worked in the NICU at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford for 32 years. She had been caring for patients alongside Brandon Seminatore, a second-year pediatric resident, when she remembered once being the primary nurse to premature baby with the same last name.

They both quickly deduced that Brandon was, indeed, Vilma's patient almost three decades ago.

It turns out that Seminatore's mother, remembering Wong's care, had told him to look for a "Vilma" in the NICU. But he thought it was pretty unlikely that he'd find her, assuming she'd already retired. Apparently not.

"I was in shock initially but overjoyed to know that I took care of him almost 30 years ago and now he's as a pediatric resident to the same population he was part of when he was born," Wong tells Babble.

The hospital's Facebook page posted a photo of Vilma and baby Brandon, circa 1990, alongside a photo of their reunion last month. The post, of course, has since gone viral.

Two teens arrested in attack on elderly Sikh man

Suspects repeatedly punched, kicked and spit on a 71-year-old man in broad daylight.



In northern California, two teens have been arrested in the brutal assault on a 71-year-old Sikh man in broad daylight. Investigators say the attack was an attempted robbery, but the victim's family is calling it a hate crime.

2 teens arrested in connection to video of elderly Sikh man being kicked, spit on

Sahib Singh Natt was taking his daily walk around a park in Manteca when he was confronted by 18-year-old Tyrone McAllister and a 16-year-old boy, who demanded money from him. When Natt, who has trouble communicating, tried to walk away, they blocked him and the confrontation became violent.

A neighbor's home surveillance video shows one of the men kicking Natt to the ground. When he attempts to get back up, he gets kicked repeatedly. They assailants start to walk away while Natt is still on the ground, but one of them returns to kick him a few more times and spit on him.

(Warning: Video contains violence.)

They Call Us Bruce - Episode 42: They Call Us John Chiang

Jeff Yang and Phil Yu present an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America.



What's up, podcast listeners? We've got another episode of our podcast They Call Us Bruce. Each week, my good friend, writer/columnist Jeff Yang and I host an unfiltered conversation about what's happening in Asian America, with a strong focus on media, entertainment and popular culture.

On this episode, we welcome California State Treasurer and gubernatorial candidate John Chiang. He talks about his reputation as the so-called "no drama" candidate, how family tragedy informed his passion for public service, and the Good, Bad and WTF of running for Governor of California.

"Go back to your home country."

Golden West College faculty member placed on leave after being caught on camera making a racist remark.



Because you never know when you're gonna need it. Protip: in case of sudden, unexpected racist public encounters, always keep your camera ready to catch that shit go down. A Southern California college professor was recently caught on camera telling an Asian American couple to "go back to your home country."

58-year-old Tarin Olson, a teacher and counselor at Golden West College in Huntington Beach, California, was filmed telling Tony Kao and his wife that they should "go back to your home country" while they were walking in Long Beach. They were apparently on a neighborhood stroll with their baby when Olson just "nonchalantly" offered them this unwelcome advice, without provocation, as she was passing them on the sidewalk.

Kao says this wasn't their first encounter with Olson, only this time they heard her clearly.

"A few weeks back we believed we walked past the same lady and also heard her mumble something to that effect but ignored it and thought we misheard," Kao shared in a March 1 Facebook post that has since gone viral. "But this time as she walked away, I yelled to her, 'WHAT YOU SAY?'

Kao's wife recorded part of their interaction. As you can see, once Olson realizes they've got a camera on her, she tries to get the fuck out of there. But not before telling them, again, where to go.

Gunman kills three in deadly veterans home standoff

Former patient Albert Wong took several hostages before killing himself and three employees.



A former soldier and former patient of a veterans home in California took three employees hostage on Friday in a seven-hour standoff before authorities found him and three mental health professionals dead.

Gunman, 3 Hostages Dead At Veterans Home North Of San Francisco

Authorities say 36-year-old Albert Wong, armed with a rifle, burst into a morning gathering at the Veterans Home of California-Yountville, a treatment facility for elderly or disabled veterans. He took five hostages after exchanging gunfire with a Napa County sheriff's deputy. He later released two hostages.

When police stormed the facility hours later, they found Wong dead, along with three of home's employees, 42-year-old Clinical Director Jennifer Golick, 48-year-old Executive Director Christine Loeber, and 29-year-old Clinical Psychologist Jennifer Gonzalez -- all fatally shot.

Badass mother shields kids, survives shooting rampage

Tiffany Phommathep was shot five times, then drove herself to get help.



By now, you've heard about the California man who went on a violent shooting rampage Tuesday, killing five and wounding twelve others in Tehama County, before he was killed in a shootout with police.

Kevin Janson Neal killed his wife and hid her body in a hole he cut in the floor of his trailer house. He then murdered four other people during a 25-minute tear through the rural community that ended with a shooting at Rancho Tehama Elementary School. An additional six adults and six children were wounded.

But did you hear about the woman who was shot five times, using her body to shield her kids -- and lived?

Stop the Fence at Tule Lake

Proposed airport fence threatens historic site of Japanese American resistance.



The Tule Lake Segregation Center is recognized as the World War II concentration camp where thousands who protested the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans were punished for speaking out. The maximum security camp housed the largest number of detainees (housing over 18,000 prisoners at its peak), stayed opened the longest and was the place where "troublemakers" from other camps were sent.

Now considered the crucible for Japanese American resistance to incarceration during World War II, the infamous site is today preserved as a monument to one of our nation's darkest chapters. In 2006, Tule Lake was officially designated as a U.S. National Historic Landmark, the highest level of recognition for a historically significant property. In 2008, the site was dedicated as a National Monument.

But now the physical and historical integrity of Tule Lake, located in Modoc County, California, is threatened by the potential construction of a massive fence, and community members are asking for your support.

Community activist gets law license 63 years after his death

California Supreme Court grants posthumous bar admission to Sei Fujii, who was denied because of his race.



Law school is no joke. Imagine busting your ass, making it through and graduating from law school, only to learn that you are ineligible to practice law because you're not white.

That's what happened to Sei Fujii, a Japanese immigrant who was denied a license to practice law in California in 1911 because of his race. He received his license this week from the California Supreme Court -- over sixty years after his death.

Fujii immigrated to the United States in 1903 and received a law degree from the University of Southern California. At the time, California law barred legal licenses for immigrants who were ineligible for citizenship, and naturalization, according to federal law, was limited to "free white person" and those of African descent.

Store clerk fatally stabbed for refusing to sell cigarettes

32-year-old Jagjeet Singh was stabbed to death after a confrontation with a customer.



In Modesto, California, police are asking for the public's help identifying the man suspected of fatally stabbing a gas station employee, who was apparently attacked after an altercation with a customer over a fake ID.

Modesto Store Clerk Killed in Stabbing Outside Hatch Food and Gas

32-year-old Jagjeet Singh, a clerk at Hatch Food and Gas, was stabbed to death outside the store late Thursday night. According to a co-worker, Singh had gotten into a confrontation earlier in the evening with a customer who unsuccessfully attempted to buy cigarettes with a fake identification.

Later that same day, just before midnight, the unidentified man returned and stabbed Singh outside the store, leaving him critically wounded. He was rushed to the hospital, where he died on Friday.

"Paramedics responded because an employee had collapsed and they thought this to be a medical issue," Modesto police officer Eric Schuller told FOX40 News. "When they arrived on scene they found that this employee has actually been stabbed."

Man pleads no contest in hate crime against Sikh man

David Hook accused Balmeet Singh of "trying to blow up this country" before throwing a drink at him.



This week in Bakersfield, California, a man accused of yelling racial slurs, threatening violence and throwing a drink at a Sikh man back in September has pleaded no contest to hate crime charges.

Man accused in Sikh hate crime takes plea deal

40-year-old David Hook was accused of attacking Balmeet Singh outside a restaurant on September 30. Hook approached Singh and began cursing and yelling racial slurs at him. He told Singh, "You're trying to blow up this country. I should... kill you right now," before throwing a cup of soda on him.

Singh shared about the incident in a video posted to YouTube in October:

Man faces hate crime charge in attack on Sikh man

"You're trying to blow up this country. I should... kill you right now."



In Bakersfield, California, hate crime charges have been filed against a man who allegedly accosted a Sikh man outside a restaurant last month, threatening to kill him and accusing him of "trying to blow up this country."

Hate crime charge filed in attack on Sikh man outside Bakersfield restaurant

According to the Kern County District Attorney office, 40-year-old David Hook approached Balmeet Singh outside a restaurant on September 30 and began cursing and yelling racial slurs at him. He told Singh, "You're trying to blow up this country. I should... kill you right now," before throwing a cup of soda on him.

Singh shared about the incident in a video posted to YouTube earlier this month: