The Eureka Program; Definition: The swift, without the use of violence, removal of entire Chinese population.
The inhumane removal of Chinese from Eureka was a catalyst for other West Coast communities to do the same if they felt in the least that their own Chinese population was a detriment to their economy, safety, or quality of life. 55 anti-Chinese riots took place in the western United States. Eight months after the expulsion of Chinese from Eureka, anti-Chinese sentiment in the west reached a destructive climax as expulsion took place in Tacoma Washington, violent attacks in Rock Springs Wyoming, and various other forms of rebellion in Washington’s Squak Valley and Seattle. The state of California even issued a law in 1891 that stated "the coming of Chinese persons into the State, whether subjects of the Chinese Empire or otherwise is prohibited." What makes Eureka and Humboldt County so significant is that the area took pride in the absence of Chinese. The Humboldt County business directory of 1890 stated with pride, “The Only County in the State Containing No Chinamen” while a pamphlet of the Survey of Fieldbrook published "Ten Reasons Why Humboldt County is the Best County on The Pacific Coast for Business" with one of the reasons being because if had no Chinese and none need apply. It also made Eureka known to outsiders as stated in a Humboldt Times article, “In the Chinese territory across the sea every man, woman and child know that Eureka is a bad place for Chinamen.” Other communities in the Humboldt region, after seeing how Eureka dealt with the Chinese, followed suit. In January 1886, Ferndale and Rohnerville forced their Chinese to leave while a couple months later in March Crescent City made efforts to remove their Mongolians. That same year, Arcata also banished their Chinese population. However, the Chinese did make attempts to fight back. In 1886 the Chinese Six Companies brought suit against Eureka which became known as Wing Hing vs. Eureka case. The Chinese sued for six million dollars in damages that they suffered through the expulsion but the court dropped the case concluding that the Chinese owned no land in the Eureka area and their property was worthless anyway, also, Chinese could not testify against Whites. Eureka made it clear that they did not want any Chinese to return or for that manner anything to do with the Chinese. Exactly one year following the banishment, citizens of Eureka met to renew their vows to keep Chinese out of their city and to assist any other local communities in their own removal of their Chinese. The Eureka City Council also approved the following declaration: No Chinese shall ever be employed, either directly or indirectly on any work of the city, or in the performance of any contract or sub-contract of the city, except in punishment of a crime. Nor shall any provisions, supplies, materials, or articles of Chinese manufacture or production ever be use or purchased by or furnished to the city. This assertion was eventually repealed in 1943, but it would still be another 11 years before the first Chinese successfully settled in Eureka. Ironically, he started a business that is still operational today. That man was Ben Chin, and after serving in the United States Army with the Military Police during World War II, moved to Eureka to open the area’s first Chinese restaurant. “I was the first to pierce the anti-Asian curtain that was drawn across the North Coast,” said Chin. He had no idea the magnitude of the racial barrier he was breaking down. Although he was rightfully entitled to start a business, strong anti-asian sentiment still followed him. According to Chin, “They’d (the whites) call every 10 minutes and say ‘Get out of town. We don’t want your kind’”. Amidst this strong racism, Chin and his wife Mary persevered. “They call me a legend,” Chin said, “At first it was hard, but it paid off, I’ve been blessed with success. Every restaurant I owned was a success.” Chin was a very important hero in this ongoing anti-Asian story not only for being the first to return, but for sparking hope in other Asians wanting to settle in the North coast. Today, there are 12 or more Chinese restaurants and more than 300 Chinese-Americans that are in Eureka alone. Chin's acceptance into Humboldt county was quite a shock as others Asians before him had tried yet to no avail. In the early 20th century a Chinese man was scheduled to speak on the local KIEM radio and when it was his time the radio "mysteriously" went down for the exact time he was supposed to present. Another instance was a group of Japanese ambassadors that were supposed to travel to the North Coast to see the gigantic redwood trees. The Japanese were driven straight through the county and were not allowed to make any stops. For the most part, until Chin, Asians tried their best to stay out of Humboldt County which was much to the local white's liking. As for the modern 21st century, there are still not many Chinese in the area. According to Ray Wang, director of HSU's Department of World Languages and Culture, “"There are 100 million [Wangs] in China and here I found there were none. I couldn't believe it." With numbers like that it is hard to believe that Chinese have fully recovered from their harsh expulsion, or that Humboldt County has gotten over their distaste for the ethnicity. However, the region has improved in many aspects. No longer do locals see frequent articles or attend meetings addressing the “yellow” or “chink” problem or publicly use the phrase “The Chinese Must Go!” It is only natural that there are not many Chinese in the Eureka area as no public apology has been made, and knowledge that such a large hatred for one’s race once existed doesn’t put that area high on the Chinese’ list. The Chinese Expulsion from Eureka was a reaction to racial tension and unintentional violence that in turn was a catalyst for later discontent and racism throughout the west that would last for over half a century and unfortunately, is a dark time for the history of the north coast that nobody will ever be able to erase. -Jace Jackson
The inhumane removal of Chinese from Eureka was a catalyst for other West Coast communities to do the same if they felt in the least that their own Chinese population was a detriment to their economy, safety, or quality of life. 55 anti-Chinese riots took place in the western United States. Eight months after the expulsion of Chinese from Eureka, anti-Chinese sentiment in the west reached a destructive climax as expulsion took place in Tacoma Washington, violent attacks in Rock Springs Wyoming, and various other forms of rebellion in Washington’s Squak Valley and Seattle. The state of California even issued a law in 1891 that stated "the coming of Chinese persons into the State, whether subjects of the Chinese Empire or otherwise is prohibited." What makes Eureka and Humboldt County so significant is that the area took pride in the absence of Chinese. The Humboldt County business directory of 1890 stated with pride, “The Only County in the State Containing No Chinamen” while a pamphlet of the Survey of Fieldbrook published "Ten Reasons Why Humboldt County is the Best County on The Pacific Coast for Business" with one of the reasons being because if had no Chinese and none need apply. It also made Eureka known to outsiders as stated in a Humboldt Times article, “In the Chinese territory across the sea every man, woman and child know that Eureka is a bad place for Chinamen.” Other communities in the Humboldt region, after seeing how Eureka dealt with the Chinese, followed suit. In January 1886, Ferndale and Rohnerville forced their Chinese to leave while a couple months later in March Crescent City made efforts to remove their Mongolians. That same year, Arcata also banished their Chinese population. However, the Chinese did make attempts to fight back. In 1886 the Chinese Six Companies brought suit against Eureka which became known as Wing Hing vs. Eureka case. The Chinese sued for six million dollars in damages that they suffered through the expulsion but the court dropped the case concluding that the Chinese owned no land in the Eureka area and their property was worthless anyway, also, Chinese could not testify against Whites. Eureka made it clear that they did not want any Chinese to return or for that manner anything to do with the Chinese. Exactly one year following the banishment, citizens of Eureka met to renew their vows to keep Chinese out of their city and to assist any other local communities in their own removal of their Chinese. The Eureka City Council also approved the following declaration: No Chinese shall ever be employed, either directly or indirectly on any work of the city, or in the performance of any contract or sub-contract of the city, except in punishment of a crime. Nor shall any provisions, supplies, materials, or articles of Chinese manufacture or production ever be use or purchased by or furnished to the city. This assertion was eventually repealed in 1943, but it would still be another 11 years before the first Chinese successfully settled in Eureka. Ironically, he started a business that is still operational today. That man was Ben Chin, and after serving in the United States Army with the Military Police during World War II, moved to Eureka to open the area’s first Chinese restaurant. “I was the first to pierce the anti-Asian curtain that was drawn across the North Coast,” said Chin. He had no idea the magnitude of the racial barrier he was breaking down. Although he was rightfully entitled to start a business, strong anti-asian sentiment still followed him. According to Chin, “They’d (the whites) call every 10 minutes and say ‘Get out of town. We don’t want your kind’”. Amidst this strong racism, Chin and his wife Mary persevered. “They call me a legend,” Chin said, “At first it was hard, but it paid off, I’ve been blessed with success. Every restaurant I owned was a success.” Chin was a very important hero in this ongoing anti-Asian story not only for being the first to return, but for sparking hope in other Asians wanting to settle in the North coast. Today, there are 12 or more Chinese restaurants and more than 300 Chinese-Americans that are in Eureka alone. Chin's acceptance into Humboldt county was quite a shock as others Asians before him had tried yet to no avail. In the early 20th century a Chinese man was scheduled to speak on the local KIEM radio and when it was his time the radio "mysteriously" went down for the exact time he was supposed to present. Another instance was a group of Japanese ambassadors that were supposed to travel to the North Coast to see the gigantic redwood trees. The Japanese were driven straight through the county and were not allowed to make any stops. For the most part, until Chin, Asians tried their best to stay out of Humboldt County which was much to the local white's liking. As for the modern 21st century, there are still not many Chinese in the area. According to Ray Wang, director of HSU's Department of World Languages and Culture, “"There are 100 million [Wangs] in China and here I found there were none. I couldn't believe it." With numbers like that it is hard to believe that Chinese have fully recovered from their harsh expulsion, or that Humboldt County has gotten over their distaste for the ethnicity. However, the region has improved in many aspects. No longer do locals see frequent articles or attend meetings addressing the “yellow” or “chink” problem or publicly use the phrase “The Chinese Must Go!” It is only natural that there are not many Chinese in the Eureka area as no public apology has been made, and knowledge that such a large hatred for one’s race once existed doesn’t put that area high on the Chinese’ list. The Chinese Expulsion from Eureka was a reaction to racial tension and unintentional violence that in turn was a catalyst for later discontent and racism throughout the west that would last for over half a century and unfortunately, is a dark time for the history of the north coast that nobody will ever be able to erase. -Jace Jackson