Henry Tsoi’s account of 10/9/1949 San Francisco Chinatown celebration of PRC founding. A little-known piece of Chinese-American history: Tomorrow, October 9, is the 72nd anniversary of the SF Chinatown celebration of the founding of New China. 蔡福就對 1949 年 10 月 9 日舊金山唐人街慶祝中華人民共和國成立的記述。一段鮮為人知的美籍華人歷史：明天，10月9日，是美國加州舊金山唐人街慶祝新中國成立72週年。
The following is an account of the event by one of the leaders. Copy of the original chapter is attached. Also attached is the Blacklist. Feel free to share:
‘IN THE MIDST OF A STORM’ ‘在狂风暴雨之中’ (original Chinese attached)
【from Henry Tsoi’s (Rolland Lowe’s uncle) biography, “A Dramatic Life” 传奇人生】
The People’s Republic of China was established on 10/1/1949. Mao pronounced to the world: “From here, the Chinese people have stood up.” The rebirth of China gave overseas Chinese jubilation and inspiration. San Francisco organizations and student associations joined to celebrate the 12th anniversary of the Chinese Workers Mutual Aid Association in conjunction with the founding of the PRC.
Henry Tsoi （蔡福就、蔡荇洲）and Jin Yinchang (金荫昌）and others participated in the preparation.
The evening of October 9, 1949 was pleasantly cool and breezy. Overseas Chinese, young and old, went to Chinese American Citizens Alliance auditorium on Stockton Street for the celebration. American friends also came. The almost 500 people were in a happy mood.
There were two banners: “Entire Overseas Chinese stand up to build New China” and “Chinese and American peoples are forever close and friendly”. Between the two banners was the Chinese five-star flag. Flowers filled the front of the stage.
Forty minutes into the program, over forty thugs, with sticks/clubs, suddenly rushed through the entrance into the auditorium. Some of them tore down the banners and flag and trampled the flowers on the stage; others attacked participants. Many attendees were beaten and bruised. Attempting to stop the thugs, Student Wang Fushi 王福时 was surrounded by 5 of them who knocked him down and bloodies his head. It was chaos.
At that point, the MC, community leader Kew Yuen Ja 谢侨远, quickly asked the International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU) Chorus to start singing. The majestic sound of the Yellow River Cantata calmed down the atmosphere in the auditorium. People returned to their seats. Having failed to abort the meeting, the thugs left the venue. In the face of chaos, the meeting continued to its conclusion.
After the incident, Kew Yuen Ja and Henry Tsoi, and other organizers of the celebration summarized the experience. They concluded that they had underestimated the wild and cruel nature of the Kuo Min Tang (KMT)/Guomindang 国民党 reactionaries. They recalled that prior to the meeting, they had already assessed that KMT power was deep-rooted and that the celebration of the Communist victory would be dangerous. It was in acknowledgment of their lack of self-defense capability that the Longshoremen were invited to help provide security. However, they had not expected that the thugs would be so violent. They regretted that they hadn’t asked Suey Sing Tong brothers to help.
The next day, KMT expanded their offensive. In addition to announcing in the party newspaper the “victory over bandits’, they posted leaflets by “Republic of China Protection Group”. The leaflet listed Henry Tsoi in a list of 16 [actually, the list consisted of 15–aj] traitors to be eradicated. KMT made threatening phone calls to the listed people. Tongs were encouraged kill Communists, offering $3,000 per victim. Other than Thomas Tang/Tang Mingzhao 唐明照 【 of New York City–aj 】，the listed people were SF Chinatown community leaders, newspaper people, and students. Among the listed were core people in Golden Gate Weekly 金门侨报 【this paper started publication in May 1949 based on a 1945 recommendation by Dong Biwu 董必武 when he was in SF for United Nations conference–aj 】, Jungsai Daily 中西日报， SF chapter of Overseas Chinese Federation for Peace and Democracy 旅美中国和平民主联盟旧金山支盟 【This organization was initiated by General Feng Yuxiang 冯玉祥 】， New China Study Group 新中国研究会。
The reactionary KMT’s despicable behavior was met with opposition by the majority of people in Chinatown. Those who had previously disbelieved reports of KMT brutality in China had now seen their brutality locally. The reactionaries thought that they would unite with traditional organizations to attack the progressives. But more than a few Tong leaders weren’t fooled. To the contrary, they offered protection to the democratic forces.
The next day, Joe Yuey 周銳 of Suey Sing Tong called Henry Tsoi at Golden Gate Weekly. He said directly: “Mr. Tsoi, the blacklist has your name on it. Don’t worry. I have already told Law Jai 罗仔 to accompany you. Wherever you go, he will go with you.” Tsoi thanked him for the thoughtfulness of his friend and was going to say: “Let me think about it.” But he was cut off: “Don’t be hesitant. It will be hard to handle if something happens.” In this manner, Henry Tsoi accepted the protection of Suey Sing Tong. He knew he was a target with no ability to defend himself. In the face of danger, he accepted the sincerity of his friend.
In the evening, a Bing Kung Tong leader called Tsoi, offering to send someone to protect him. Tsoi felt uncomfortable and told him: “Thanks for your consideration, but just this morning, I accepted an offer from a Suey Sing brother. I can can’t turn around and accept another offer from a friend.” The person replied: “You don’t have to change. They are sending a person to express their sincerity; we will send a person to express ours. It’s even better with another person. You will be even safer. No need to be reluctant. I will send Ah San 阿山 to you immediately. Wait for him.” Henry Tsoi could not object and thanked him. Both leaders being friends, he could not treat them unequally. Consequently, both Law Jai and Ah San accompanied Henry Tsoi everywhere.
One evening, Tsoi went to his older brother’s store to pick up mail. The brother was shocked and criticized him: “Do you want to die coming out so late by yourself?!” Tsoi laughed: “What do you mean want to die? I have friends taking care of me. They are waiting for me outside.” The brother didn’t believe him. He went to look out the window and saw two tough looking men. He said: “No wonder you’re so brave. You have guards. But you still have to be careful and not take things for granted.” Tsoi got his mail. The two brothers accompanied him back home before leaving.
Johnson Choi Biz 