ACR 110, as introduced, Wilk. Korean-American Day.
This measure would proclaim January 13, 2016, 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
P2 1organizations and Korean-language publications were established;
2and
3WHEREAS, Many Korean Americans left San Francisco,
4primarily to become farmworkers. Some Korean Americans
5combined their money and resources to lease farmland near the
6towns of Dinuba and Reedley in the San Joaquin Valley and in the
7Sacramento Valley. Dozens of other Korean Americans served as
8wage laborers for mining companies and as section hands on the
9railroads in Montana, Oregon, Utah, and Washington; and
10WHEREAS, The Japanese occupation of Korea prevented
11further Korean immigration into the United States. However, many
12Korean Americans desired to establish families in the United States,
13despite the new limitations on immigration. As a result, a picture
14bride system was established, which delivered approximately 1,000
15new Korean immigrants to Hawaii, and 100 more to the Pacific
16Coast of the United States mainland, before 1924; and
17WHEREAS, San Francisco remained the center of the
18Korean-American community during this period, but there was a
19gradual migration of Korean Americans from San Francisco and
20the surrounding rural areas to southern California. As more
21employment opportunities opened up, a new, burgeoning
22community of Korean Americans began to thrive in the Los
23Angeles area; and
24WHEREAS, While the first Korean immigrants to the United
25States fought and sacrificed to establish themselves, their children
26grew up to be patriotic citizens, many of whom went on to serve
27in the Armed Forces of the United States during World War II and
28make other important contributions to mainstream American
29society; and
30WHEREAS, The 1965 amendments to the federal Immigration
31and Nationality Act (Public Law 89-236) opened the door for a
32new wave of Korean immigrants to enter the United States. Since
33its enactment, Korean Americans have become one of the fastest
34growing groups of Asian Americans in the United States. In 1960,
35approximately 25,000 people of Korean ancestry lived in the United
36States, and by 1970, that number increased to 69,130. By 1980,
37the number of people of Korean ancestry living in the United States
38increased over fivefold to 354,593, and by 1990, that number more
39than doubled, increasing to 798,849. In 2010, it was estimated that
401,706,822 people with some Korean ancestry lived in the United
P3 1States, representing more than a sixty-sevenfold increase since
21960; and
3WHEREAS, With diligence, fortitude, and an enduring belief
4in the American dream, Korean immigrants have helped to turn
5emergent areas within the State of California into thriving and
6respectable communities, while raising their children to be
7productive Korean Americans; and
8WHEREAS, Korean Americans have become an integral part
9of mainstream American society and have made important
10contributions as Californians in the fields of finance, technology,
11law, medicine, education, sports, media, the arts, the military, and
12government, as well as other areas; and
13WHEREAS, As the Korean-American community prepares for
14a new era and creates new history, Korean Americans must instill
15in younger generations the proper appreciation for the courage and
16values of their forefathers, a deep sense of their roots, and pride
17in their own cultural heritage so that they may better contribute to
18the great State of California, rich with ethnic and cultural diversity;
19now, therefore, be it
20Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
21thereof concurring, That the Legislature of the State of California
22hereby proclaims January 13, 2016, as Korean-American Day; and
23be it further
24Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
25of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
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