美國曆史中不乏這樣的案例：不論是1882年實施的《排華法案》，還是第二次世界大戰期間11萬日裔美國人被拘禁的事實，均見證了亞裔美國人由於種族偏見而承受歧視性法律和不公行為所帶來的傷害。這些都是美國引以為恥的曆史，是我們應該從國家整體的高度竭力避免重複的章節。我們必須從曆史中吸取經驗教訓，彼此互免，尋求進步。 
 
百人會明確支持保護美國國家安全，並承認確保國家有能力阻止間諜活動所帶來的威脅確實至關重要。然而，百人會支持的是基於證據的公正及妥當的調查、起訴和對間諜活動的懲罰，而不是基於種族、民族和出生地的標簽化猜忌和懷疑。過去20年間，我們目睹了李文和博士、郗小星博士和陳霞芬女士被急於審判的不幸案例。這三名華裔美國科學家或聯邦政府雇員均受到了不公正的指控和基於他們血統的懷疑，盡管最終被證明無罪，但也無法複原他們被毀的人生。
 
百人會會長吳華揚指出：“在過去的160年間，盡管華裔移民始終被貼上‘永久外國人’的標簽，但是他們卻為美國貢獻出了不可估量的財富和成就。這些很多初來美國時都是學生身份的華裔美國人在藝術、科學、商業、娛樂、政治及體育等各個領域均作出了貢獻，其中還包括八名諾貝爾獎獲得者。華裔美國人的忠誠和努力是有目共睹的，與其他族裔並無差別。”
 
在當前社會兩極分化及誤解加深風險加劇的時刻，百人會提請人們反對這種利用標簽化某一族群而煽動針對該族群恐懼心理的行為。作為美國人，我們應大聲疾呼，重申我們在堅持珍視無罪推定原則和正當程序方麵的承諾。

聯絡人： Charlotte Li, Director of Policy 
media@committee100.org or 212-371-6565

Committee of 100 Denounces Broad Brush Stereotyping and Targeting of Chinese Students and Academics

(New York, NY, February 16, 2018) — In recent remarks to the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee, FBI Director Christopher Wray opined that Chinese academics or “non-traditional collectors” — “professors, scientists, students” studying and working in the United States in “basically every discipline” — may be covertly gathering intelligence for the Chinese government. The Committee of 100 (C100), a non-partisan organization of illustrious Chinese Americans committed to promoting constructive dialogue and relationships between the peoples and leaders of the U.S. and China, and the full inclusion of Chinese Americans in the U.S., finds these comments to be disturbing and prejudicial. To target a whole group of people as being subject to greater suspicion, based purely on race and national origin, and in advance of any facts or evidence, goes against the fundamental American ideals of the presumption of innocence, due process and equal protection for all. It also fans the flames of hysteria.
 
We have seen instances in our history when Asian Americans have encountered such racial prejudice resulting in discriminatory laws and harmful actions, whether through the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 or the internment of 110,000 Japanese Americans during World War II. These incidences have been shameful chapters in American history, ones that we must collectively, as a nation, commit to not repeating. We need to learn the lessons of history, we need to do better by one another.
 
The Committee of 100 is unequivocally committed to America’s national security and recognizes the importance of ensuring our nation is able to counteract perils from espionage. However, C100 supports fair and appropriate investigation, prosecution, and punishment of espionage that is based on the evidence and not on profiling or suspicion based on race, ethnicity, or national origin. Within the last two decades, we have seen this rush-to-judgement in the cases of Dr. Wen Ho Lee, Dr. Xiaoxing Xi, and Ms. Sherry Chen — all Chinese American scientists or federal employees who were unjustly prosecuted based on suspicion of their ancestry, but who were later found to be innocent of wrongdoing, though not before having their lives ruined.
 
“For over 160 years, despite the stereotype of being ‘perpetual foreigners’, Chinese immigrants, many of whom first arrived as students, have contributed immeasurably to the richness and success of the United States, including 8 Chinese Americans winning Nobel prizes in the sciences while working in America,” notes Frank H. Wu, Chairman of C100. “In every field from the arts to the sciences, business to entertainment, politics to sports, Chinese Americans are loyal and hard-working citizens no different than their neighbors.”

At this time when there is great potential for polarization and misunderstanding, C100 cautions against stoking fears through broad-brush stereotyping of any group of people. As Americans, we need to speak up and renew our commitment to upholding our cherished principles of the presumption of innocence and due process for all. 

Contact: Charlotte Li, Director of Policy 
media@committee100.org or 212-371-6565