In Texas, members of the Chinese community are organizing against a racist bill currently being debated in the Senate that would bar citizens from China, North Korea, Iran and Russia from purchasing property or land in the state. Republican Governor Greg Abbott has already signaled his support for the bill.

Asian Americans say the proposed legislation is a throwback to long-repealed xenophobic laws including the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the so-called alien land laws of the early 1900s, which banned Asian immigrants from owning land. This is activist Ling Luo of the Asian Americans Leadership Council speaking at a rally earlier this month.

Ling Luo: “Texas Governor Abbott wanted to ban Chinese Americans from owning properties in Texas by passing S.B. 147 and S.B. 552. Chinese Americans have to prove their citizenship if they want to buy properties. This is blatant discrimination based on race, which violates the American Constitution. We must stand in solidarity to protest these discriminatory bills. We need to stand up, speak out and fight back.”