Chinanews.com, December 6th. The American "Chicago Chinese Forum" published an article "Chicago's historical first: the establishment of a majority of Asian constituencies is imperative" to discuss the political participation of Asian groups including Chinese in Chicago, the United States.

　　The article is excerpted as follows:

　　Over the past few decades, Chicago has been rezoning for many politically-visionary elites in the overseas Chinese community and enthusiastic people who actively promote Chinese participation in politics, so that Asian voters, including Chinese, have their own independent constituencies. And there is a city councilman (district mayor) who can truly represent his ethnicity to defend his rights and voice, and he has the same or similar blood and culture and thus has a heart-to-heart connection. This has been the common wish and goal pursued by the Chinese community for a long time. .

　　Now, this vision is closer to realization than ever before.

On December 2, local time, at the "Will Chicago produce the first constituency dominated by Chinese residents?" hosted by the Chinatown Better Unity Alliance and the Greater Chicago Association of Overseas Chinese and Overseas Chinese, Chinatown is Better The founder of the Solidarity Alliance Chen Zenghua and the administrative director Chen Benen told everyone that the three different versions of the constituency redrawing maps currently submitted to the city council have added an "Asian majority constituency", and the long-cherished wish of the Chinese seems to be realized.

　　This is a milestone in the history of the participation of Asian Americans in Chicago, especially Chinese Americans, in the history of political participation. As many media have pointed out, this has a pioneering historical significance and is a major event that deserves special attention in the Chinese community.

The Chinatown of Chicago is often referred to as a model community. The population of Chinese descent continues to grow and has made great contributions to all areas of American society.

However, in the city’s 50 districts, there is not a single constituency with a concentration of Asians, and there is no Asian district mayor, and the reasonable political demands of Asians are often ignored.

Data map: Chicago Chinatown in 2007.

("Chicago Chinese Forum" information photo/Photo by David Zhang)

　　The current Greater Chinatown areas belong to the 25 constituencies, 11 constituencies, and 12 constituencies.

Such dispersion has greatly reduced the political influence of ethnic Chinese, and many projects that benefit the Chinese cannot be approved or completed in time.

For example, the Chinatown Library has long been in disrepair due to years of disrepair and has a small capacity. There is an urgent need to build a new library that can meet the cultural requirements of the community.

However, it was because many problems could not be solved in a centralized manner across regions, so that it was delayed for several years to complete.

Not to mention the construction of high schools, the improvement of public security, etc.

　　This is completely an abnormal political ecology.

There are many reasons for this phenomenon.

There are not more than half of the Asian population concentrated in the past, and the Chinese have insufficient experience in effectively participating in politics and understanding the political strategy of the United States, and the political consciousness of the community is not strong enough to form a huge synergy.

　　Rezoning is usually carried out one year after the census every ten years.

In the past, the rezoning policy has always excluded Asian communities from political power.

The division of constituency boundaries affects those who run for public office and those who are elected.

When the decisions made by the elected have severely affected the lives of the people, these boundaries determine the extent of the impact of the policy on the community in which they are located.

The boundaries of the community should reflect the interests of all residents in the electoral district.

Once the constituency boundaries for the next ten years have been determined, the impact of the policy will last for a long time.

　　In the United States, most of the state legislatures are responsible for drawing congressional districts and state legislative districts.

The local government is responsible for redivisioning its own electoral districts.

Some states and localities use committees to perform the responsibilities of redrawing constituencies.

Although there are compulsory regulations such as population equality, the Voting Rights Act, and basic rules for protecting community of interests, compactness, and continuity, some politicians often violate the interests of individuals or political parties. In Chicago, even Asians have been excluded for a long time. The situation outside the city council.

　　However, the situation is changing.

The most recent 2020 census data shows that Asian Americans are the fastest-growing racial group in Chicago. Some advocates and community organizers have stated that this year is a year to strive for the establishment of Asian-majority electoral districts.

According to statistics, between 2010 and 2020, the number of Asian residents increased from approximately 145,000 to 190,000, an increase of 31%.

Approximately 7% of Chicago's population.

According to this ratio, the city council should have three and a half Asian mayors, and now it is zero.

　　Liu Guohua, president of the Social Service Organization-Chinese Advisory Service, recently published an article pointing out that every community in Chicago has its own characteristics and sense of community pride.

Chinatown is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Chicago and one of the most distinctive neighborhoods.

Fifty-five percent of the residents there were born in foreign countries, and most of them speak Mandarin Chinese or Cantonese at home.

Only through fair representation in the city council can the community move forward and overcome some of the biggest challenges.

　　In order to fight for the political rights that the community deserves, Chinese Americans have made long-term and arduous efforts and struggles.

In 1991, the then-Chairman of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce Chen Zenghua and the well-known overseas Chinese leader Tan Jiping worked tirelessly for Chinatown to be successfully included in the 25 constituencies and succeeded, creating conditions for the development of Chinatown.

In 2001 and 2011, a group of backbones of community organizations, represented by the Chinatown Better Unity Alliance, once again actively promoted the establishment of a majority of Asian constituencies in the city, but they were all unsuccessful.

　　In the political rivers, Chinese people continue to learn to swim by swimming.

Candidate hearings held by the Chinese have gradually received official and mainstream attention; publicity and promotion of voter registration have increased the number of registered voters in Chinatown from more than 2,000 to more than 7,000, greatly enhancing the political power of the Chinese.

Through various communication and work, the "Illinois Voting Rights Act of 2011" ("China Town Act") was promoted, and Ma Jingyi, the state's first Asian state representative in a century, was elected in 2016.

By 2020, the state legislature has five Asian state legislators.

　　As the "Asian majority constituency" is about to become a reality, we must not forget all the Chinese and people of all ethnicities who have worked hard for it.

For example, Mr. Chen Zenghua, for more than 30 years to promote the participation of Chinese people in politics, people like him, famous or unknown, can be regarded as role models.

Without them, there would be no results today.

And this achievement will have a long-term and extremely profound positive impact on the sustainable development of the Chinese community in the future and the survival and growth of future generations.

　　At present, the representatives of the Latino and African communities of Chicago in the city council are still fighting for more majority constituencies for their ethnicity.

The various constituency map versions have not yet reached a "deal", so the vote has not yet been voted.

If an agreement cannot be reached in June next year, there is also the possibility of resorting to a referendum.

Chen Zenghua pointed out at the symposium that even if the Asian constituency issue is resolved, it is only the most important part of the entire US political system, and this link is related to other links.

　　He said that achieving the current encouraging results is only the first step.

The Chinese community must unite and work together to communicate and communicate with the city government, city council and other ethnic groups. At the same time, it is necessary to speak up, speak up, and express their demands politically.

The Chinese must understand the status of the community and the current and long-term goals of the community, and they must not slack off.

He and Chen Benen both pointed out that the success of the redelineation of constituencies here will give other minorities and Chinese communities in other regions a great incentive.

　　The rezoning of Chicago's constituency is related to the vital interests of the Chinese in the future, so it is of course closely watched by all walks of life in the overseas Chinese community.

Zheng Zhenghe, chairman of the Greater Chicago Chinese Association, and Wang Xingwu, chairman of the board, said that in anticipation and hope, the overseas Chinese community should learn from the spirit of selfless dedication and silent hard work of the predecessors.

The foundation of most Asian constituencies is community unity.

We must resolutely put an end to any separatist behavior, and eliminate any resistance and interference.

We will fight for the rights and interests of the Chinese together with the "Chinatown Better Alliance" and other overseas Chinese associations.

(Mu Xin)