November 12, 2004

OCA MOURNS PASSING OF AUTHOR, HISTORIAN IRIS CHANG

The Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA), a national Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) civil rights advocacy and educational organization with over 80 chapters and affiliates nationwide, is saddened by the tragic death of Chinese American writer Iris Chang.

Ms. Chang, 36, was found dead in California Wednesday, apparently a victim of a self-inflicted gun shot to the head.

Author of "Chinese in America," and "The Thread of the Silkworm," Chang is most renowned for her controversial book, "The Rape of Nanking." Chang had been working on a book about prisoners of war at the time of her death.

"The Asian American community lost a bright and promising author and historian when Iris Chang died," said Christine Chen, OCA Executive Director. "We at OCA will choose to remember her as a provocative and dedicated scholar who advocated for justice. Our hearts go out to her family."

Iris Chang is survived by her parents, her brother, her husband and son.

About OCA
The Organization of Chinese Americans, a national civil rights organization with over 80 chapters and affiliates across the country, was founded in 1973 to ensure the civil rights of the Asian Pacific American community. It maintains its headquarters in Washington, D.C.