At noon on Saturday, February 12, 2022, in the Chinese community of Greater Seattle in Hatton Park in Seattle's Chinatown, a grand memorial rally and parade was held to commemorate the 136th anniversary of the 1886 deportation of Chinese in Seattle.
U.S. Congressman Adam Smith delivers a speech
After the completion of the Great Railroad across the United States, fierce labor competition and the passage of the "Chinese Exclusion Act" by the US Congress in 1882 triggered a surge of anti-Chinese sentiment in the United States at that time, and caused riots in many places. The riot against the Chinese in Seattle occurred from February 6 to 9, 1886, when the irrational rioters forced more than 300 Seattle Chinese to leave their homes in the cold winter, and even several Chinese were killed in the riot.
Former U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Locke delivers a speech
134 years later, on January 21, 2020, Seattle became the first city in the United States to report the new crown virus. When the new crown virus was called the "Chinese virus", the lives and lives of the Chinese in Seattle were again seriously threatened. Discrimination and crime against Asians, especially Chinese, have surged in the past two years.
New Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell speaks
Today's rallies and demonstrations have drawn the attention of the whole society to Chinese exclusion and its existing forms. At the same time, in the past two years, Asian Americans have experienced frequent instances of inequality. These crimes should not be repeated here. At the same time, this rally and parade also celebrates the great political and cultural contributions Chinese Americans have made to Washington State for more than 150 years. The event is the third major commemoration of anti-Chinese exclusion in Seattle's history.
King County Mayor Dow Constantine delivers a speech
Gary Locke, the former U.S. ambassador to China, delivered an impassioned speech at the rally, encouraging everyone to unite, face each other, and fight for democracy. Official representatives of the Seattle area of Washington: Bruce Harrell, the new Mayor of Seattle, King County Executive Dow Constantine, Bellevue Mayor-Bellevue Mayor Lynn Robinson, Deputy Mayor-Bellevue Deputy Mayor Jared Nieuwenhuis, Bellevue Councilman Li Ruilin, Seattle Police Chief, Former Seattle Senior Deputy Mayor and former Seattle Senior Deputy Mayor Mike Fong attended the rally and delivered speeches on community safety.
Bellevue Mayor Lynne Robinson speaks
Many Chinese associations, such as World Peace Federation, Seattle US-China Chamber of Commerce, Gee How Oak Tien Association, Washington State Cantonese Association, Washington State Beijing Association, Northeastern Chinese Association in the United State of America, United International Education LIXIN SALAAR, Washington State Hunanese Association , Seattle Wuyi Youth Association and other youth leaders shared their insights and stories about their experiences, and at the same time made suggestions for the future development of the Chinese community. The parade traveled from Xinghai Park through the historic Chinatown gate to the waterfront until it could reach the point where Seattle Chinese ancestors were forced to board a boat bound for San Francisco in 1886 and deported, then back to the park.
Bellevue Deputy Mayor Jared Nieuwenhuis delivers a speech
Nearly 500 people participated in the event organized by dozens of local Chinese-American organizations. Peace-loving people of all races gathered here to speak out for justice and for equality: PROMOTE HARMONY! STOP DISCRIMINATION!
Bellevue Councilor/Former Mayor Li Ruilin delivering a speech
Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz speaks
Our reporter interviewed the official representatives of the rally, the new Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, King County Mayor Dow Constantine, Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz, etc. When the reporter asked the president of the Seattle Wuyi Youth Association, he said: I am Tang Guohua, the president of the Seattle Wuyi Youth Association. Today's event is a commemorative event to commemorate the 1886 deportation of the Chinese in the Greater Seattle area. I hope everyone will be united. Be consistent, remember the past, face the future, stop hatred, and make the world peaceful.
