March Fong Eu Celebration of Life

I was deeply honored to speak on behalf of the California State Assembly at Secretary March Fong Eu’s Celebration of Life in Los Angeles. In so many ways, I believe March Fong Eu represents the American dream – a daughter of Chinese immigrants born behind a Chinese laundry. Hearing all the stores, it reminds me how far California has come and how far we have to go.

March preceded the #MeToo movement that is inspiring a record number of women across the country to run for office, so let’s not forget that she was winning statewide offices well before our time. We now have 27 women in the California State Legislature and 16 Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus Members. All of us have this privilege to serve because of her. Last week was a historic week where we installed Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins. The gavel was being handed from the son of a Mexican housekeeper to a daughter of a West Virginia coal miner and from today’s ceremony, I am being reminded that so much of this progress was started by a daughter born behind a Chinese laundry.