1874

In Chu Lung v. Freeman 92 U.S. 275 (1874), twenty-two Chinese women fought for their dignity.

In Chu Lung v. Freeman, 92 U.S. 275, Chu Lung and 21 other Chinese women who arrived in San Francisco were classified as "lewd and debauched" and, therefore, must be prostitutes. Upon hearing testimony from a witness that only lewd Chinese women wore colorful bellybands, the judge found all 22 women guilty. However, the Supreme Court sided with the women. It ruled that Congress, not the states, had the power to regulate immigration. It declared that California law requiring a bond for all ill-defined class of people overstepped its boundary and that the women should be released.

1874年,22位華人女性從香港坐船到舊金山,移民官認為她們是來賣淫,因此拒絕她們入境。這些女性找了律師,在法庭與美國政府激辯聯邦的權利、州的權利以及婦女的權利。

一位傳教士作證說,淫蕩的中國女性都穿著大紅大綠的內衣。法官發現這些女性在衣袖裡果然都穿著花色鮮豔的內衣,因此判定她都是妓女。22位女性不服,上訴到聯邦巡迴法院,這次她們贏了。美國政府立刻上訴到最高法院。18783月最高法院的判決出爐,22位女性勝訴並立即被釋放。大法官米勒說:移民官不得有任意給人貼標籤及歧視的權力。這是華人女性在美國最高法院的第一個案例。

The names of the 22 Chinese women in the Supreme Court files (1874)

Photo Credits: Records of the United States Supreme Court

 

 

 

///此展獻給邱彰律師摯愛的兒子陳澤民

 

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