Boston, May 24, 2018, — Chinese History Society of New England (CHSNE) announced upcoming broadcasts on the history of Chinese Exclusion Act today. These programs will put a fitting end to the Asian Pacific Heritage Month.
Chinese immigrant detention center on Angel Island in early 1900s.
Sing Tao Chinese Radio/Sing Tao Daily reporter Yar Wei’s radio package (story) on The Chinese Exclusion Act will be broadcast this coming Friday, May 25 at 10:45 AM on Sing Tao Chinese Radio (96.1 FM) in the San Francisco Bay Area. For listeners elsewhere, you can listen to Sing Tao Chinese Radio at www.chineseradio.com.
“The PBS documentary on The Chinese Exclusion Act will air on Tuesday, May 29 between 8 and 10 PM. This documentary is coming out of WGBH as a special presentation of the American Experience series,” said Susan Chinsen of CHSNE.
The Chinese Exclusion Act was a federal law signed by President Chester Arthur on May 6, 1882, prohibiting all immigration of Chinese laborers. The act was initially intended to last for 10 years, but was renewed in 1892 with the Geary Act and made permanent in 1902. The Chinese Exclusion Act was the first law implemented to prevent a specific ethnic group from immigrating to the United States. It was repealed by the Magnuson Act on December 17, 1943.
According to Wilson Lee of Chinese American Citizens Alliance Boston Lodge, George Frisbie Hoar served as US Senator from Massachusetts from 1879 to 1904. During his tenure in the Senate, Mr. Hoar was the one US Senator voted against all Chinese Exclusion laws. CACA Boston created an award in Senator Hoar’s name in 2016.
Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu received the George Frisbie Hoar award at 2016 CACA Boston Award Gala.