Rose Hills unveils Chinese monument

At a press conference Wednesday, June 18, in Downtown Los Angeles, Rose Hills Memorial Park & Mortuary announced that it has teamed up with the Chinese American Museum to establish “A Place of Inclusion,” a permanent monument where visitors can learn about the Chinese Exclusion Act, a Federal law that existed from 1882 until 1943 that prevented the entry of Chinese to the U.S. and excluded legal Chinese immigrants from U.S. citizenship.

The “Place of Inclusion” project builds upon the passage of House Resolution 683 – the formal expression of Regret by the United States for the Chinese Exclusion Act. The Resolution was authored by Congresswoman Judy Chu (27th District, CA).
In addition to the monument, which will be set on the grounds of Rose Hills, the project will provide a supplement to existing California fourth grade history books explaining the role of the Chinese immigrants, their contributions to U.S. history and the passage and subsequent repeal of the Chinese Exclusion Act.
Attending the ceremony were a representative from Congresswoman Chu’s office and Michael Eng, former State Assemblyman and current Trustee on the Los Angeles Community College District. He is also the author of the State’s “Day of Inclusion” (ACR 76 ).

“The purpose of this project is to remember how the rights of one ethnic group were taken unjustly, and to recognize the necessity to stand firm against any other acts of injustice,” said Bruce Lazenby, Executive Director of Business Development for Rose Hills Memorial Park & Mortuary and a member of the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. (Rose Hills is the largest cemetery property in North America, and a major supporter of the Chinese American community within the San Gabriel Valley.)

Fundraising for this community project is now underway. A draft of the textbooks is in process. A target date of June 18, 2015 has been identified for the dedication of the completed monument.

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