DPCCC membership approved this endorsement at the April 21, 2022 regular meeting.

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220AB1287

DPCCC membership approved the following resolution at the April 21, 2022 regular meeting.

WHEREAS, the month of May was chosen as Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese citizen, Nakahama Manjiro, to the United States on May 7, 1843, but also the anniversary of the May 10, 1869, completion of the first Transcontinental Railroad, built with the back-breaking labor of nearly 20,000 Chinese immigrants; and

WHEREAS, Contra Costa County’s population is more than 18 percent Asian American and Pacific Islander and includes devoted community members who serve as artists, business owners, educators, health care professionals, lawyers and judges, elected officials, clergy members, first responders, military personnel and essential front-line service workers; and 

WHEREAS, in the 1920s and 30s, Filipino immigrants arrived in the United States seeking fortune but facing discrimination as they worked in the vast agricultural fields of California.  These manongs and manangs played a significant role in building the farm workers movement, including leading the Delano Grape Strike in 1965; and

WHEREAS, we celebrate the achievements and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders that enrich our history, society and culture, we also must be aware that AAPI history has been whitewashed and significantly erased in American curriculum, including the Chinese Exclusion Act, the Alien Land Acts, the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans, among many other issues. We must also acknowledge a darker aspect of the AAPI experience in America – structural discrimination, prejudice and injustice that most recently manifested itself in racist attacks on Asian Americans related to the COVID-19 pandemic; and 

WHEREAS, an analysis by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino, found that overall hate crimes in America’s largest cities decrease by 7 percent in 2020; while hate crimes targeting people of Asian ancestry rose by nearly 150% during the same time period; and

WHEREAS, individual AAPI populations fare very differently when disaggregated. For example, Pacific Islanders and Southeast Asians fare significantly worse in life outcomes in comparison to East and South Asians, and that colorism in AAPI populations also impact treatment and access; and; 

WHEREAS, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have distinguished themselves as leading researchers in science, medicine, and technology; innovative farmers and ranchers; distinguished lawyers, judges and government leaders; in the arts, literature, and sports; as war heroes who defended our country from fascism; and as essential service workers and peacetime healthcare heroes currently on the front lines of the pandemic; and 

WHEREAS, today more than 20 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders live in the United States and through their actions, make America a more vibrant, prosperous, and secure nation.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County celebrates May 2022 as AAPI Heritage Month, and encourages all in our community to learn more about Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage, and work to combat racism and xenophobia as we celebrate this month with cultural events and educational activities.

Susan Hildreth, Elected Representative, District 2, with input from AAPI members

Approved by the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County, April 21, 2022

DPCCC membership approved the following resolution at the April 21, 2022 regular meeting.

WHEREAS, from our Nation’s earliest days, Jewish Americans have been an essential part of the American story, greatly contributing to the religious, cultural, political, economic, and intellectual advancement of all people even while in the face of discrimination and adversity, working to realize the American dream; and 

WHEREAS, as we celebrate the rich heritage of the Jewish American community, in Contra Costa County, California and the nation, we recognize that American Jews have worked tirelessly to strengthen the promise of religious freedom and civil rights in the United States by joining together with all faiths to reject ignorance and intolerance, teach empathy and compassion, and root out hatred wherever it exists, and through our understanding and study of the Holocaust, we know the human devastation that can come from systemic prejudice, and are compelled to “never forget”; and 

WHEREAS, May has been recognized as Jewish American Heritage Month by Presidential Proclamation stating that The Jewish American experience is a story of faith, fortitude, and progress, and 

WHEREAS, in spite of the vibrant culture and contributions, we are reminded that the Jewish people have and continue to experience prejudice and discrimination in Contra Costa County, within the State of California, across the United States, and internationally, and continue to confront hostility and bigotry; and 

WHEREAS, we share the obligation and responsibility to condemn and combat anti-Semitism and hatred wherever it exists and honor Jewish Americans — past and present — who have inextricably woven their experience and their accomplishments into the fabric of our national identity.

NOW THEREFORE, the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County recognizes May 2022 as Jewish American Heritage Month. We celebrate the hard-fought progress won through the struggle and sacrifice of Jewish Americans, and we rededicate ourselves to building a world where diversity is cherished and faith is protected. 

Renee Zeimer, Elected representative, District 2 

Approved by the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County, April 21, 2022

DPCCC membership approved the following resolution at the April 21, 2022 regular meeting.

WHEREAS International Workers’ Day, also known as May Day, began in the United States and is now recognized around the world as a day to honor and fight for the rights of workers; and 

WHEREAS May First was selected as the date to honor workers and continue the campaign for an eight-hour workday that led to a general strike in 1886 and other actions by workers; and 

WHEREAS International Workers’ Day continues to be a celebration of the efforts of the working class in the United States and around the world to organize for improved workplace conditions and worker rights; and 

WHEREAS during the COVID-19 pandemic, workers have endured adversity and made significant personal sacrifices to fulfill their duties while ensuring the safety of themselves, their families, and the public; and

WHEREAS the gender and racial pay gaps that persist offer a sobering reminder of how far we have yet to go towards achieving equal rights and fair wages for all workers; and

WHEREAS labor unions play a vital role in ensuring a strong middle class by advocating for more equitable wages, humane work conditions, improved benefits, and increased civic engagement by everyday workers; and

WHEREAS Contra Costa County is home to more than 110,000 union members representing more than 85 unions in various trades and industries; 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County joins in the worldwide celebrations of workers’ rights activism taking place on May 1, 2022, and acknowledges how workers are the vital heart of every workplace, industry, and community in Contra Costa County; and

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County calls upon all elected officials to join the effort to ensure the rights of all workers are protected.

Submitted By: Craig Cheslog, Associate Member, District 5

Approved by the Democratic Party of Contra Costa County, April 21, 2022