美国南加州华人联合总会关于全美近期形势的倡议书

美国南加州华人联合总会向洛杉矶县警局捐赠口罩

近日,由于乔治·弗洛伊德(George Floyd)案引发的全美抗议游行,以及突如其来的暴乱,影响和席卷了在美生活的每一个人。美国各地华人华侨也承受了更多的人身安全、防疫抗疫和政治抉择方面的压力。
 
作为在美华裔,我们强烈谴责明尼阿波利斯警察导致弗洛伊德死亡的行径,并对这种严重的不公正行为感到遗憾;我们坚定支持宪法赋予的言论自由,支持和平抗议,支持维护少数族裔权益;我们坚决反对某些社会投机分子与极端组织的打砸抢烧行为。
 
以上立场基于我们拒绝双重标准,拒绝党派立场,根据客观事实做出的公允评判:警察过度执法是错误的;民众维权是正当的;任何形式的暴力行为、打砸抢烧则是犯罪;死难案件需要独立调查,公正审判,以体现美国社会的法律秩序、公平正义与有效治理。
 
今天的美国,种族歧视现象依然存在,提高所有少数族裔的地位,也是华人的目标与责任。我们不仅要消除族裔歧视,在力能所及的范围内,还要帮助弱势群体,对附近地区的少数族裔尤其是非裔社群提供帮助与捐赠,开展文化交流,共建和谐社区。我们要接受和平游行、维护权益的理念,但坚决反对任何犯罪与扰乱社会秩序的行为。我们也要深入学习美国文化,熟悉并思考美国政治,而非依据固有的、传统的文化意识判断美国政治理念与文化价值,更不要被与事实相左的信息诱导产生极端政治倾向,乃至偏见。
 
作为华裔美国人,我们深知,如果非裔美国人无法在自己的生活中享受真正的安全与和平,我们和任何其他少数族裔也无法享受到安全和平的生活。我们常常觉得,这种不公正待遇与歧视偏见不可能发生在自己的生活与社区中,但是今天,我们已经成为新冠病毒传播期间针对亚裔美国人的一系列仇恨和种族主义行为的受害者。
 
我们呼吁,所有美国人,无论任何种族和政治背景,都应谴责在这些令人不安的情况下目睹的不公正行为。我们要与包括非裔美国人在内的所有少数族裔,以及全体美国人团结一致,为这个时代带来积极和现实的社会变革与公平正义。
 
除此之外,我们也鼓励在美华裔积极拥有公民权利,切实履行公民义务,来改变华裔与其他少数族裔在美国的地位和影响力。每个人都可以而且应该形成自己的观点,找到自己的立场,坚定自己的信仰。但如果不参与、不发声,就会永远被排除在决策过程之外。我们应积极参与:(1)人口普查。这是参与美国决策零门槛的重要一步,多一个人口就能为你的社区在接下来的十年带来多达数万美金的资源投入; (2)选民登记。多一个选民,多一次投票,就能为社区带来多一份民选官员的关注,为美国带来多一个执政者的选择,在政策制定过程中多一份决策权重;(3)勇于发声。热心参与社区服务,积极参与民主建设,利用一切可以发声的平台发声;(4)关爱他人。发扬华人“爱人如爱己,有力即相助”的人文情怀,帮助弱势群体自立于社会;(5)防疫抗疫。我们华人和相关组织,一定要融入社区,树立华人正面形象,遵守政府指令,做好防疫抗疫工作。
 
我们生活在同一个美国,热切希望所有的家人、朋友、邻舍麦田守望,拥有休戚与共的安全感。我们汲汲追寻的美国梦,是没有人生活在暴力阴影与恐怖之下实现的人间正道、普世愿景。我们竭力维护的华人利益,既要保障自身权益,更应追求公平正义与社会秩序,和美国各族裔民众一起,平等地成为这个国家的主人。我们坚信,奉献一份挚爱,倾注一腔真情,一定会与全美民众一起,共建并分享一个和平、安全与美好的生活环境。

美国南加州华人联合总会

2020年6月10日

英文版:

An open letter from the Chinese American Federation regarding the recent situation in the United States

Recently, the nationwide protests and riots triggered by the killing of George Floyd have affected everyone living in the United States. It has also taken a toll on Chinese Americans and Chinese nationals living across the country, adding pressure on their personal safety and political choices. As Chinese Americans in the United States, we strongly condemn the brutal actions of the Minneapolis police that led to George Floyd’s death, and feel strongly disappointed toward such unjust acts. We support peaceful protests, the freedom of speech granted by the Constitution, and the rights and interests of ethnic minorities. We will not tolerate the criminal behaviors by some of the social speculators and extremist organizations, as they do not represent the ultimate goals of the protests, and firmly oppose the abuse of power and violent rioting. Our stand comes from our strong opposition to double standards and partisan positions in this regard. We firmly hold that judgement should be based on objective facts: the abuse, violence, and use of excessive force by the police are wrong; Protecting the rights of the people is just; Any form of violence, smashing, or burning is a crime. These cases require independent investigations and fair trials to truly reflect the society’s fairness and effective governance.

Racial discrimination still exists today in the United States. Fighting for the equality of all ethnic minorities should be our goal and responsibility.  We should not only try to eliminate ethnic discrimination, but also help those who are most vulnerable, by providing assistance and donations to minorities communities, especially the black communities, and promoting inter-cultural exchanges; and, therefore, allows the construction of a harmonious community.  We must accept peaceful marches, but resolutely oppose any criminal behavior and disruptive social activities defined by the law. Instead of speculating or judging American political ideas and cultural values based on our own inherent and traditional thinking, we must also study American culture in depth and be familiar with/think about American politics, and not be induced by disinformation to build extreme political views or prejudices. As Chinese Americans, we are well-aware that if African Americans do not have sincere and genuine security and peace in this country, neither will we nor any other minority group. We may feel that this kind of unfair treatment will not happen in our own communities, but we have already become the victim of a series of hateful and racist acts against Asian Americans amidst the pandemic. We call on all Americans, regardless of ethnic or political backgrounds, to join us in condemning the unfair and unjust acts witnessed in these disturbing situations.  We pledge to unite all Americans as a whole with all minorities to bring positive and realistic social change and justice to all.

In addition, we also encourage Chinese Americans to actively call for equal civil rights and fulfill their civic duties to change the status and influence of Chinese, and other ethnic minorities, in the United States.  Everyone can and should form his own opinions, find his own positions, and strengthen his beliefs. However, if you do not participate or speak, you will always be excluded from the decision-making process. We should actively participate in: (1) The Census. This is an important step in the zero-threshold for participation in American decision-making. An additional population can bring up to tens of thousands of dollars in resources for your community in the next ten years; (2) Voter registration. One more voter can bring more attention to the elected officials to your community and affect the American ruling party. In this important process, your vote can create more weight on decision-making; (3) Actively participate in community service and in building strong senses of democracy by using all available platforms to make your voice heard; (4) Promote the Chinese humanistic sentiment of “love others as yourself, support others when you have the ability to,” and help the minorities become independent within the society; (5) Chinese Americans and our various organizations must integrate ourselves into the mainstream community, help them fight the pandemic, and aim to establish a positive image of the Chinese Americans. The pandemic is not over yet. Everyone must abide by the government’s orders and do our best to stop the spread of the coronavirus and prevent it from becoming worse. We all live in the United States and hope that our families, friends, and neighbors can also have the same sense of security. The American dream we are actively pursuing is one in which no one would live in fear of any sense of violence. We must uphold our importance and protect our own rights; more so, we must pursue fairness and social justice. Together, “people of all ethnicities” becomes “the people of this country.” We believe that everyone aspires to have such a future. We very much hope that, together, we can build and share a beautiful and peaceful living environment.

Chinese American Federation

Jun. 10th 2020