Dennis Kearney: "The Chinese Must Go!"
This line was said by the leader of the Workingmen's Party and the Anti-Chinese movement in San Francisco at the end of every one of his speeches. He sparked many anti-Chinese riots among Caucasian communities. When a new Californian Constitution needed to be created, Dennis Kearney sent several of his followers to delegate it. This resulted in a new discriminatory Californian Constitution.
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"The Chinamen must go. If they don't, by the eternal we will take them by the throat, squeeze their breath out and throw them into the sea"
~Dennis Kearney
~Dennis Kearney
The Constitution of "The Central anti-Coolie Club, No. 1., of Los Angeles Co."
Also, "anti-Coolie clubs" inspired by Dennis Kearney were created "to protect the white people residing in America from Chinese labor in any form."
Despite this section, many anti-coolie actions were brutally violent and resulted in the murder of many Chinese. This section along with many other anti-Chinese actions made Chinese labor less desirable to employers. Many clubs like this one had blacklists of people who employed or supported Chinese labor. These people were then harassed and humiliated. |
"...Its objects shall be to protect the white people residing in America from Chinese labor in any form, to discourage and stop any further Chinese immigration and to urge the withdrawal of the Chinese from the country, using only lawful means to attain these objects..."
Any person sympathizing with the white men and women in their opposition to the degrading and debasing influences of Chinese coolie labor may be admitted as a member of this Club, upon pledging himself or herself to support the Constitution and By-Laws and giving his or her word of honor that he or she will faithfully keep and observe each requirement thereof..." "...Sec. 3. This Club and each member thereof shall use all endeavors to protect all Chinese residents from unprovoked assaults..."
"...Sec. 4. Each member of the Club shall pledge himself not to employ Chinese labor; not to purchase any goods, wares or merchandise from any person who employs Chinese, and not in any manner to sustain, foster or encourage either the Chinese themselves or those who employ them except when necessarily compelled so to do..."
"Sec. 5. Measures shall be taken by the Club to ascertain the names of those persons in this city who employ Chinese. When any person has been so announced by this Club as a supporter of Chinese labor, no member shall hereafter purchase any article or commodities from such person, or bestow patronage upon such person in any form whatever except when necessary so to do..."
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Dennis Kearney and the his anti-Chinese beliefs inspired racism among the people resulting in a rise in the anti-Chinese attitude helping build a legacy of hate.