Newsom signs bill making May 17 Bruce Lee Day

“Bruce Lee represents the very best of California: innovation, diversity, determination, and the courage to challenge convention,” Haney said in a press release announcing the signing of the bill. “Born in San Francisco, he transformed martial arts, redefined Hollywood, and inspired millions around the world to pursue their potential. At a time when Asian Americans were too often absent from or stereotyped on screen, Bruce Lee helped generations see themselves represented with strength and dignity.”

Lee was born in San Francisco in 1940 and raised in Hong Kong. He became a child actor in Chinese films and later became an international star most known for martial arts. Haney’s press release said he returned to San Francisco at the age of 18 on May 17, 1959, to expand his career and global impact. Lee became a cultural icon and filmmaker who became known for his philosophy of adaptability, discipline and self-expression, the release said.

“To be the first Chinese American recognized this way is a testament to my father’s enduring legacy and the countless lives he continues to touch.” Shannon Lee, founder of the Bruce Lee Foundation and Bruce Lee’s daughter, said in the release. “From young people who found confidence and possibility in his philosophy, to families who finally saw themselves represented on screen, to athletes who still draw on his teachings of discipline and inner strength, his reach is profound. My father was a bridge between cultures through his courage, and his spirit of interracial solidarity remains as relevant as ever.”

The law’s text said the commemorative day will encourage school lessons, cultural exhibits and public events to highlight Lee’s impact and accomplishments. The Chinese Historical Society of America is currently displaying its “We are Bruce Lee: Under the Sky, One Family” exhibit at its museum in San Francisco’s Chinatown.

Haney said he hopes the annual day of commemoration will inspire people from any background to “have the power to change the world.”

The first Bruce Lee Day in California will be celebrated on May 17, 2027.