ACR 3, as introduced, Kim. Korean-American Day.
This measure would proclaim January 13, 2015, as Korean-American Day.
Fiscal committee: no.
P1 1WHEREAS, On January 13, 1903, the history of Korean
2immigration to America began, when 102 courageous Korean men,
3women, and children landed in Hawaii after venturing across the
4vast Pacific Ocean aboard the S.S. Gaelic; and
5WHEREAS, The hopes of these Korean immigrants for America,
6the land of opportunity, were quickly hindered by social, economic,
7and language barriers of unforeseen magnitude; and
8WHEREAS, These Korean immigrants did not falter in their
9pursuit of the American dream. Through tenacious effort and
10sacrifice, they established a new home in a new land and educated
11their Korean-American children; and
12WHEREAS, Between 1904 and 1907, approximately 1,000
13Korean Americans entered the United States mainland from Hawaii
14through San Francisco, where the first Korean-American political
15organizations and Korean-language publications were established;
16and
P2 1WHEREAS, Many Korean Americans left San Francisco,
2primarily to become farmworkers. Some Korean Americans
3combined their money and resources to lease farmland near the
4towns of Dinuba and Reedley in the San Joaquin Valley and in the
5Sacramento Valley. Dozens of other Korean Americans served as
6wage laborers for mining companies and as section hands on the
7railroads in Montana, Oregon, Utah, and Washington; and
8WHEREAS, The Japanese occupation of Korea prevented
9further Korean immigration into the United States. However, many
10Korean Americans desired to establish families in the United States,
11despite the new limitations on immigration. As a result, a picture
12bride system was established, which delivered approximately 1,000
13new Korean immigrants to Hawaii, and 100 more to the Pacific
14Coast of the United States mainland, before 1924; and
15WHEREAS, San Francisco remained the center of the
16Korean-American community during this period, but there was a
17gradual migration of Korean Americans from San Francisco and
18the surrounding rural areas to southern California. As more
19employment opportunities opened up, a new, burgeoning
20community of Korean Americans began to thrive in the Los
21Angeles area; and
22WHEREAS, While the first Korean immigrants to the United
23States fought and sacrificed to establish themselves, their children
24grew up to be patriotic citizens, many of whom went on to serve
25in the Armed Forces of the United States during World War II and
26to make other important contributions to mainstream American
27society; and
28WHEREAS, The 1965 amendments to the federal Immigration
29and Nationality Act (Public Law 89-236) opened the door for a
30new wave of Korean immigrants to enter the United States. Since
31its enactment, Korean Americans have become one of the fastest
32growing groups of Asian Americans in the United States. In 1960,
33approximately 25,000 people of Korean ancestry lived in the United
34States, but by 1970, that number increased to 69,130. By 1980,
35the number of people of Korean ancestry living in the United States
36had increased over fivefold to 354,593, and by 1990, that number
37more than doubled, increasing to 798,849. In 2007, it was estimated
38that 1,555,293 people with some Korean ancestry lived in the
39United States, representing more than a sixtyfold increase since
401960; and
P3 1WHEREAS, With diligence, fortitude, and an enduring belief
2in the American dream, Korean immigrants have helped to turn
3emergent areas within the State of California into thriving and
4respectable communities, while raising their children to be
5productive Korean Americans; and
6WHEREAS, Korean Americans have become an integral part
7of mainstream American society and have made important
8contributions as Californians in the fields of finance, technology,
9law, medicine, education, sports, media, the arts, the military, and
10government, as well as other areas; and
11WHEREAS, As the Korean-American community prepares for
12a new era and creates new history, Korean Americans must instill
13in younger generations the proper appreciation for the courage and
14values of their forefathers, a deep sense of their roots, and pride
15in their own cultural heritage so that they may better contribute to
16the great State of California, rich with ethnic and cultural diversity;
17now, therefore, be it
18Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
19thereof concurring, That the Legislature of the State of California
20hereby proclaims January 13, 2015, as Korean-American Day; and
21be it further
22Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
23of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
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