Court decisions can change the course of history. And while the “model minority” myth often characterizes Asians living in the U.S. as hard-working, successful and cooperative citizens, historically, many have had to fight unjust laws to be recognized as full-fledged Americans. From questions of land ownership to immigration, here are four cases where Asian Americans fought injustice in the courts.
Chy Lung v. Freeman
A California law passed in 1875 authorized state immigration officials to inspect people coming to the state and screen out those deemed “lewd and debauched.” These individuals would be denied entry to the U.S. unless the captain of the ship transporting them paid a bond for them.
Chy Lung was one of 22 women detained aboard a ship from China in 1875. The women were denied entry because they had traveled to the country without their husbands or children.
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