Our dear friends, retired San Francisco Superior Court judges Lillian Sing and Julie Tang and co-chairs of the Comfort Women Justice Coalition, wrote an opinion piece on the SF Chronicle that declared: “While Florida targets Black history, Republicans in Texas and elsewhere are trying to make life miserable for Asian Americans.”
Senate Bill 147 and Senate Bill 552, prohibit acquisition of title to real property by citizens of China, North Korea, Iran and Russia in Texas. SB147 justifies its necessity on the grounds of national security, “a catch-all phrase to override the pillars of American freedom and democracy. It deems these four countries to be enemies of the United States, especially China — propelled by the current hysteria from the diplomatic fallout over an alleged spy balloon.”
At least 11 other states are considering similar legislation. The ultra-conservative American Legislative Exchange Council is pushing many of these bills as a “model policy,” just as it has aggressively promoted anti-transgender legislation.
“On its face, SB147 exempts U.S. citizens. But it’s not difficult to imagine various scenarios where American citizens will face fallout from the bill.” Just because a person is from those countries, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they support the policies of their respective countries. “Whatever the state of official diplomatic relations between countries, these sorts of anti-free market, race-based discriminatory restrictive covenants are anathema to our nation’s values and have a disgraceful place in American history. The proposed Texas land law is eerily similar to racist laws of the past.”
On May 3, 1913, California passed the Alien Land Law prohibiting Asian immigrants from purchasing and owning land. In 1920, immigrants not eligible for citizenship were prohibited from entering short-term leases for land, and stock companies and could not acquire agricultural lands. In 1923 American-born children of Asian immigrant parents or corporations controlled by Asian immigrants were not allowed to lease or own land. These laws were directed at Japanese and Chinese immigrants, based on perceived economic threats.
Frightened Chinese American Texans like Kuo Zhang told the Dallas Morning News said the bill could affect their plans. “My husband and I are expecting a baby and we were planning to buy a house for our extended family.” A Texas A&M University graduate named Wei Wu described the bills as hateful and discriminatory, and said, “We are here, we pay taxes, we’re here to seek our dreams; we should not be discriminated against.”
“The nation just endured a 339 % increase in anti-Asian hate crimes last year. SB147 and similar legislation spreading across the country will target Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders anew.”
The bills are xenophobic, unconstitutional and should not be passed” declared the two retired Asian American Judges!