On February 7, community members braved the rain and gathered at Hing Hay Park in the Chinatown International District (CID) for a rally and march commemorating the 140-year anniversary of the 1886 Seattle Chinese Expulsion.
Connie So, University of Washington professor and board member of the greater Seattle chapter of OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates, opened the rally with some history. The full rally was translated into Cantonese by Alan Lai, retired CISC (Chinese Information and Services Center) interpreter.
Chinese residents were first welcomed in Seattle in the 1860s when workers were needed to build railroads and work in coal mines. However, after completion of the transcontinental railroad, widespread unemployment hit the West Coast and anti-Chinese sentiment erupted.
This unrest eventually led to the national Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882 that suspended all Chinese immigration for 10 years. But white Americans were not satisfied, and anti-Chinese racism and violence that was brewing in towns and cities across the West Coast and American West erupted in Seattle. On February 7, 1886, a mob began to forcibly drive 350 Chinese immigrants from their homes and to the waterfront, forcing them to board a steamer to San Francisco.
“Chinese laborers became the targets of anger and mob violence,” So said during the rally. “Anti-Chinese expulsion spread throughout the Northwest.”
The Chinese Exclusion Act legally ended in 1943 but it had continued impacts. Chinese Americans were subject to redlining laws and policies shutting them out of banking, finance, law, real estate. Even cemeteries were segregated.
So framed the violence perpetuated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and today’s federal policies against immigrants, refugees, and citizens of color as a continuation and return of this 18th century anti-immigrant, anti-BIPOC hate.
“We hope that people can reflect and learn from our bitter history,” So said. “We must stop scapegoating immigrants, refugees, people of color, women, LGBTQ+, non-Christians, and those deemed different.”
Asian American City Council members in the region, and Washington State Representatives, also had a large presence at the rally. Seattle City Council member Eddie Lin, Newcastle City Council member Sun Burford, Issaquah Council member Kelly Jiang, Mercer Island Council member Julie Hsieh, Edmonds Council member Will Chen, and Renton Council member Kim-Khnah Van all spoke to the crowd; along with State Representatives Janice Zahn and Sharon Tomiko Santos.
Some leaders spoke of their own history, and why remembrance is essential.
“Although I have been in the United States since I was 10 from Hong Kong, I went through middle and high school in the Federal Way District and I did not learn about the Chinese exclusion act until seven years ago,” said Representative Zahn “That is not okay.”
Zahn continued to talk about how within her own family, her own parents went through many trials in China and Hong Kong. However, as in many Asian families, her parents never talked about their struggles. The more society learns about history, the more society makes sure it doesn’t happen again,” Zahn said.
“Yesterday when I was in Olympia, I saw a video of one of our community [members] being picked up by ICE and dragged out of his car,” Zahn said. “Last week in Issaquah I heard about 10 people being dragged out of their community. This is not okay.”
There are constitutional rights and due process to protect Washington’s communities, Zahn said. “We have to speak up when any of our rights are being trampled.”
During the rally, some political figures shared in no uncertain terms their concerns about ICE.
Van, a Renton City Council member, told her own story as a child refugee from Vietnam. Since 2016, she has made sure to carry her passport with her as a form of identification.
“For us as refugees and immigrants and ethnic citizens, we’ve always had this in our mind,” Van said “What we need is ICE out. We need to abolish ICE and hold the government accountable.”
Wing Luke Museum civic engagement specialist Wren Wheeler, and FIFA Organizing CEO Peter Tomozawa also made an appearance to gather support for the new Chinese American Legacy Artwork Project which would permanently commemorate the Seattle Chinese Expulsion. Currently, there is no commemorative plaque or work of art at the waterfront informing people about the 1886 Chinese Expulsion.
The planned installation, designed by artist Stewart Wong, consists of a 14-foot stainless steel and bronze sculpture. Six human figures will flank an ‘X,’ one side with three figures representing the white mob that forcibly expelled Chinese laborers, and the other featuring three of the Chinese laborers. The ‘X’ symbolizes division and displacement while the fractured scale above invites reflection on society’s ongoing struggle for racial justice. The installation will be placed at Alaskan Way South and South Washington Street, near the place where mobs forced Chinese immigrants onto a steamship in 1886.
The project is currently gathering support through a petition and funding. During the rally, community members lined up to sign the petition.
“When we do not preserve our history, when we do not remember and share our history, then history will repeat itself, ” Rep. Santos said.
The rally ended with a march from today’s Chinatown to Jackson Street and proceeded to the waterfront where Seattle’s original Chinatown was located in the 1800s. The international Lion Dance Team with sifu Tony Au led the march. Rain continued to pour throughout the rally and march, but community members, including Chinese seniors, persisted in support and remembrance.
“No matter how old we are, no matter what we can or cannot do, we can contribute something,” Representative Santos said. “If it’s telling your stories, we always need someone to preserve our stories. If it’s teaching, teach our young people their history. And if it’s standing in the rain in support of those who are currently incarcerated, we will stand in the rain.”
