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Calif. apologizes for past Chinese treatment
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-07-23 09:06

SACRAMENTO, California: The California Legislature unanimously apologized for the state's past persecution of the Chinese immigrants who built the state's railroads, gold mines and agriculture industry.

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The Senate earlier this month approved the resolution expressing regret for 19th Century and early 20th Century laws that "resulted in the persecution of Chinese living in California." The Assembly backed the measure in late June, and California's secretary of state put it on the state's official record Friday, the San Jose Mercury News reports.

The resolution lists the specific laws aimed at stemming immigration from China and intimidating immigrants already in the country.

Assemblyman Paul Fong, the grandson of a Chinese immigrant, says he now will try to persuade the US Congress to pass a similar resolution.