Source: China Overseas Chinese Network WeChat public account
China Overseas Chinese Network October 14 Title: The daughter of Liu Wenjian, a chinese policeman who died in the line of duty, finally won the right to inherit! Do you know the back story?
Recently, the U.S. governor of New York State Hochur signed the "An'er Law", officially recognizing in law that Liu An'er, the daughter of Liu Wenjian, a Chinese police officer who died in the line of duty, is a blood relative with the right to inherit.
After many years, this little girl, who had received widespread attention for her miraculous birth, finally got her due rights.
The inheritance rights that should have belonged to Liu An'er, why were they many years late?
It also starts with a sad story.
Data chart: On January 4, 2015, the funeral of Liu Wenjian, a Chinese-American police officer killed in New York, was held in Brooklyn. The picture shows the police at the funeral who could not suppress their sorrow and frequently wiped their tears. Photo by Ruan Yulin, China News Service
Chinese police officers died in the line of duty and mourned from all walks of life
At the end of 2014, Chinese police officer Liu Wenjian and his partner Ramos were shot dead while on duty in a patrol police car in Brooklyn, New York, causing national attention.
"Liu Wenjian died in the line of duty, he died to protect the safety of the city and the people."
Upon learning of Liu Wenjian's murder, overseas Chinese and chinese reached out to a number of associations to help Liu Wenjian's family tide over the difficulties through fundraising and other means.
In January 2015, Liu Wenjian's funeral was held in New York, and nearly 30,000 police officers and many citizens from across the United States went to see him off, and the crowd stood on several blocks of streets. A police officer said it was estimated that more than 100,000 people attended the funeral that day.
Data map: Outside the funeral home where Liu Wenjian's funeral was held, nearly 30,000 police officers and tens of thousands of people stood in a nearby street to send him on his last ride. Photo by Ruan Yulin, China News Service
In February of the same year, in honor of the two slain police officers, the then mayor of New York signed a document agreeing to name two streets in Brooklyn, New York City, after Liu Wenjian and Ramos.
In the following months, Liu Wenjian's name was successively left in several places to commemorate his heroic performance. The 8th Avenue Archway in Brooklyn, New York, the National Law Enforcement Monument in Washington, D.C., and the Heroes Memorial Wall of the New York City Police Department have all been engraved with Liu Wenjian's name.
Data map: Liu Wenjian's coffin was carried out of the funeral home, and the huge funeral procession prepared to escort Detective Liu's coffin to the cemetery for burial. Photo by Ruan Yulin, China News Service
The "Lucky Angel" was born
When Liu Wenjian died in the line of duty, he and his wife Chen Peixia were newly married. After obtaining the consent of his family, the doctor who rescued Liu Wenjian promptly extracted his sperm and froze it in case Chen Peixia made the decision to choose artificial insemination one day.
In 2017, nearly three years after Liu Wenjian's death, his widow, Chen Peixia, bore him a daughter through artificial insemination.
The baby girl named Angelina is not only the crystallization of the love between Liu Wenjian and Chen Peixia, but also the continuation of Liu Wenjian's life.
The arrival of the child surprised the whole family, and Liu Wenjian's elderly parents were touched by it.
Liu Wenjian had good news, which soon spread throughout the Chinese community, and liu Wenjian's parents and friends continued to congratulate the Liu family.
New York State Rep. Colton specially visited the Liu family and said: "The Liu family is a heroic family, and the new members will bring more positive energy to this family." ”
In March 2018, Chen Peixia took her eight-month-old daughter to visit the police station where her husband worked before his death. She said the officers were like family to their mother and daughter, and if they needed help, her husband's colleagues would help.
She also revealed that her daughter's Chinese name is Liu An'er, which "means peace in life".
Data chart: Liu Wenjian's widow walked out of the funeral home with Liu Wenjian's portrait in the company of a Chinese policewoman, preparing to escort Detective Liu's coffin to the cemetery for burial. Photo by Ruan Yulin, China News Service
The "An ErFa" has been settled through twists and turns
Yet the girl, who is considered the "lucky angel" of the New York City police, has been facing a problem since she was born. Because the special way of birth was not recognized by the relevant departments of the New York state government at that time, Liu An'er did not receive federal social welfare protection and legally inherited her parents' inheritance until she was more than two years old.
In September 2019, New York State Senator Donald Guo and State Representative Peter White proposed the Angelina's Law in the state Senate, asking the authorities to change the identification rules and allow children like Liu An'er to be recognized.
Liu An'er was born nearly three years after Liu Wenjian's death, and Liu Wenjian did not sign a written document agreeing to use his sperm in the presence of two witnesses. Under New York State's inheritance law at the time, Liu An'er could not be considered Liu Wenjian's daughter, could not apply for federal social benefits related to Liu Wenjian, and could not inherit Liu Wenjian's estate.
Guo Nader said that due to outdated laws, families who suffered accidents like Liu Wenjian could not get what belonged to them, and for heroes like him who fought on the first front, ensuring that their families could be taken care of in all circumstances is the best way to commemorate and thank them for their great sacrifices.
After more than a year, in June 2021, the "Ann Er Law" was passed in the New York State Senate.
It wasn't until October that the governor of New York finally signed the bill, and Liu's inheritance rights were officially recognized in law.
Data chart: On January 4, 2015, the funeral of Liu Wenjian, a Chinese-American police officer killed in New York, was held in Brooklyn. The picture shows the Chinese community in New York sending him off. Photo by Ruan Yulin, China News Service
Years have passed since the deaths of Chinese police officer Liu Wenjian and his partner, and every year after their deaths, memorial services are held in New York to remember their contributions to protecting the city and its people.
The "An Er Law" was signed, which is believed to bring some comfort to Liu Wenjian's family.
After signing the bill, Hochuer issued a statement saying that Liu An'er and Liu Wenjian were special cases that needed special treatment, and they were proud to help Liu An'er get the benefits she deserved. She also hopes that the signing of the case will allow Liu Wenjian's family to gain a little peace and remember him in the warmest way.
(Source: China Overseas Chinese Network Integrated American Overseas Chinese Daily, American World Journal, American Sing Tao Daily, China News Network, etc.; Author/Editor: Liang Yi)