C.A.C.A. Commemorates 50th Anniversary of "I Have a Dream" March

The Chinese American Citizens Alliance celebrates with all Americans in commemorating the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s watershed “I Have a Dream” speech and the March on Washington, DC. Standing in front of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963, Dr. King led a march of over a quarter million people to peacefully protest and call for greater attention and action to the country’s need to address economic and employment disparities, discrimination, voting irregularities, racism and violence perpetrated upon minorities.

It is widely acknowledged that Dr. King’s call for action paved the way for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. While highly recognized as the father of the Civil Rights movement, Dr. King’s speech created a new generation of leaders who spoke out to empower communities to work at every level of government and business.

Alliance National President Ed Gor reflected, “Dr. King’s words continue to resonate today and while much progress has been made in the past 50 years, the work continues and the dreams of hope and a brighter future for all are being realized by many, but still too slowly for others in this great country. Like many other minority communities and new immigrants to the United States in the middle of the 20th century, Chinese and Chinese Americans were tremendous beneficiaries of the results of Dr. King’s work to progress our country towards the passage of the key Civil Rights Act.”

“It is still almost America’s best kept racist secret that the series of Chinese Exclusion Acts were enacted for more than 60 years from 1882 that barred people of Chinese ethnicity from entering the United States, obtaining citizenship and having basic civil rights. Though repealed in 1943, the effects and cruel injustices of racism and discrimination remained in place. At a relatively small 6-7% of the population today, Chinese and Chinese Americans, as the minority among minorities, should fully understand and embrace the impact of this great American and the monumental march he led 50 years ago,” reminded Gor.

The Alliance asks all its members, friends and supporters to reflect and live by those resonating words of Dr. King that all people should not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. On this, the 50th anniversary of his famous march to Washington. Thanks to our C.A.C.A. Washington DC Lodge President Ted Gong and other members who marched on the mall at the rally this past weekend.