From Victim to Warrior

Story of Elizabeth Chan

Elizabeth was married to the love of her life in the late 60s while living in Cambodia. When the brutal Khmer Rouge genocide (1975 - 1979) took place, everything that mattered to her was looted from her. First, her two toddler daughters died of starvation and illness, and then her husband was dragged out of their shack and tortured to death. She still hears his last words:  “Honey, help me. They are killing me.” 

After the tragic loss of her husband and two daughters, Elizabeth fled to Thailand with her two sons. In 1981, when she was 29, they arrived in the U.S. as refugees. The boys were 5 and 8 years old.  Like all other Cambodian refugees, Elizabeth and her sons were resettled in high crime and poor neighborhoods in Oakland. The boys were bullied in their neighborhood. However, her younger son was always protected by his older brother. 

Elizabeth’s trauma does not end here.  Her older son was killed in a car accident at age 18 and the younger one losing his anchor fell into a deep depression, withdrawing from everyone including his mother. After making some bad decisions in his youth, he ended up in jail. Once released, he started a new chapter in his life, working full time, getting married, and having children.  However, In March 2019, ICE notified Elizabeth’s only son that he was going to be detained and deported to Cambodia. 

When Elizabeth joined the CERI community in 2013, she did not share her story with anyone. She did not want to remember her past. However, In March 2019, when ICE notified Elizabeth’s only son that he was going to be detained and deported to Cambodia, Elizabeth broke her silence and joined the first Cambodian anti-deportation campaign at CERI.  This time, she refused to accept the loss. 

Elizabeth, who was known to be a deeply traumatized, quiet, and soft-spoken survivor, became a fierce resistor, participating in every rally that was organized to release the detainees.  She went to the capital to speak to legislators and advocated for her son and others’ release. Her efforts helped get two Oakland Cambodian community members pardoned and two others, including her son, post-conviction relief. They are all now home in the Bay Area and safe from deportation.