VOL 39 NO 11 | MARCH 14 – MARCH 20, 2020 by Northwest Asian Weekly

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 746 Seattle, WA

VOL 39 NO 11 MARCH 14 – MARCH 20, 2020 FREE 38 YEARS YOUR VOICE

APA voices in feminism

Krista Suh inventor of the pussyhat, is all about pink

NEW EXHIBIT AT THE WING LUKE

By Carolyn Bick NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Photo courtesy of Maria Batayola

As a Filipino woman of mixed heritage who immigrated to the United States with her family when she was 14 years old, Maria Batayola knows what it’s like to simultaneously feel the need for feminism and be shut out and alienated by it. Batayola was a student at the University of Washington, during the Vietnam War era, and remembers that veterans and enlisted men would hit on her, first in Vietnamese, expecting her to understand it, and then in Tagalog, the native language of the Philippines, once they learned she was Filipina. She learned to navigate these interactions, but she always did it in a way that would preserve what she calls her “likeability Asian Pacific Womens Caucus at CID Festival 1979

see APA VOICES on 16

Photo by Rachel Lee Stroud

Gov. Inslee issues emergency proclamation limiting large events Gov. Jay Inslee announced on March 11 new community strategies and social distancing plans to minimize COVID-19 exposure, particularly in counties hit hardest by the virus. Events that take place in King, Snohomish, and Pierce counties with more than 250 people are now prohibited by the state. This applies to gatherings for social, spiritual, and recreational activities. These include but are not limited to: community, civic, public, leisure, faith-based, or sporting events; parades; concerts; festivals; conventions; fundraisers and similar activities. “We recognize this new limitation will impact thousands of people, their plans, and their investments in these events,” Inslee said. “However, this is one of the most prudent

By Kai Curry NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY The day after President Trump’s inauguration, on Jan. 21, 2017, the largest single-day protest in U.S. history took place in Washington, D.C. It was the first Women’s March. On that day, over 450,000 people marched, while an estimated 3 to 5 million men and women participated in other cities across the United States. Many of us are familiar with see PINK LADY on 15

Photo from the governor's office

Krista Suh, the inventor of the pink hat.

Gov. Jay Inslee (center) at a COVID-19 press conference on March 11 with County Executive Dow Constantine (left) an ASL interpreter, and Mayor Jenny Durkan (right)

WA researcher helps discover protein that could stop COVID-19

■

impact of the LY6E protein on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), Middle East respiratory (MERS) coronavirus, and COVID-19. In all three cases, the LY6E genetic protein inhibited the viruses’ ability to initiate infection. “Because LY6E is a naturally occurring protein in humans, we hope this knowledge may help in the development of therapies that might one day be used to treat coronavirus infections,” Schoggins said. Like many scientific discoveries, this one was a byproduct of another study. The study is still awaiting peer review. Researchers concluded that therapies mimicking the LY6E pro-

Sanders, Biden virtually tied in Washington Courtesy UT Southwestern

Researchers at University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW) Medical Center, including a Washington native, have discovered a genetic protein in the human immune system that impairs the coronavirus’ ability to initiate infection, which could lead to treatments for COVID-19. Dr. Katrina Mar of Olympia ,and graduate of Western Washington University, is a postdoctoral researcher in the Schoggins lab at UTSW and co-lead author of the study. She, along with Dr. John Schoggins, associate professor of microbiology at UTSW, partnered with scientists in Switzerland and New York. The research team looked at the

UT Southwestern's Dr. Katrina Mar and Dr. John Schoggins used a mouse model for the coronavirus research.

tein could provide a key defense against coronavirus. Similar antiviral fusion inhibitors have been successfully used for HIV-1. 

see INSLEE on 13

By Staff NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Washington’s presidential primary is too close to call, and because all votes there are cast by mail or by dropping them off in a ballot box, many ballots were marked for candidates who have since dropped out of the race. Initial returns from Washington state show Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden are both polling at just over 32% in Washington state. Sanders has a slight 0.25% lead over Biden. Because voters’ ballots only had to be postmarked by March 10 or dropped at an election box by 8 p.m. on March 10, final results could take days or weeks to calculate. 

412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104 • t. 206.223.5559 • f. 206.223.0626 • editor@nwasianweekly.com • ads@nwasianweekly.com • www.nwasianweekly.com

asianweekly northwest

38 YEARS

MARCH 14 – MARCH 20, 2020

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS

From left: Michael Byun, Teresita Batayola, Maiko WinklerChin, Congressman Adam Smith, Ron Chew, Nigel Lo, and Dr. Asqual Getaneh.

Rep. Adam Smith visited the International Community Health Services (ICHS) medical-dental clinic in the Chinatown-International District on March 6, to address the impacts COVID-19, is having on the local Asian Pacific Islander community. The congressman joined Teresita Batayola, ICHS CEO, Dr. Asqual Getaneh, ICHS chief medical officer, Maiko Winkler-Chin, executive director at Seattle Chinatown-International District Preservation and Development Authority, Michael Byun, executive director at Asian Counseling & Referral Service, and Nigel Lo, CEO at KinOn. “It is critical that members of the community follow guidance of health experts and avoid misinformation about coronavirus,” said Smith. “Misinformation has led to the stigmatization of those of Asian descent based on fear and xenophobia… We must remain unified and vigilant at this critical time to combat this epidemic and to uphold our resilient and diverse communities.” 

Nisei vets featured in new book The Nisei Veteran’s Committee (NVC) and NVC

Foundation welcomed photographer Shane Sato on Feb. 29 on the release of his pictorial book about Japanese American World War II veterans. Sato presented copies of "The Go For Broke Spirit" book cover “The Go For Broke Spirit – Portraits of Legacy” Volume 2 to the Seattle Nisei veterans featured in this book including Shig Otani, Fred Shiosaki, Mickey Hiroo, Roy Kirita, George Kozu, Shig Tanagi, the late Roy Fujiwara, and the late Jimmy Kanaya. 

to retire as president later this year, and the launch of a search for a chief executive officer—a new position at the council. Board Chair Phyllis Campbell praised Inouye for the council’s successes over the past decade. “Irene has been a formidable and relentless champion of a stronger U.S.-Japan relationship and she has our enduring admiration and respect.” Campbell will lead the search for a CEO, which is expected to take several months with the goal of selecting a CEO during the second quarter. Founded in 2008, USJC’s mission is to develop and connect diverse leaders to strengthen the U.S.-Japan relationship. 

Celebrate Asia

Hirano Inouye to retire from U.S.-Japan Council

Photo by Brandon Patoc

Photo by Rick Wong

Congressman Adam Smith visits ID amid virus concerns

Conrad Tao, pianist, and composer Chen Yi at Celebrate Asia on March 8

Hirano Inouye

The Board of Directors of the U.S.-Japan Council (USJC) announced the decision of Irene Hirano Inouye

Lifelong Recreation Seattle Parks and Recreation

Arts, Fitness and Social Opportunities for Ages 50+ Drop In Traditional and Modern Asian Dance Free Jefferson Community Center 3801 Beacon Ave S Wednesdays 6-8pm Van Asselt Community Center 2820 S Myrtle St Saturdays 1:30-3:30pm

Trip: Spend the day in Portland, Oregon $70

Friday, March 20, 2020, 7am-8pm Luxury coach bus meets at Garfield Community Center 2323 E Cherry St For additional information or to register contact Anne Nguyen at 206-310-8163 or anne.nguyen@seattle.gov

Scholarships Available! www.seattle.gov/parks/find/ lifelong-recreation

Seattle Symphony held its 12th annual Celebrate Asia event on March 8 at Benaroya Hall. This year, the event celebrated new music with the winner of the Celebrate Asia Composition Competition, Adeliia Faizulina, with pre- and post-concert performances. Celebrate Asia was emceed by Aleksa Manila and hosted by Lori Matsukawa. 

YOUR VOICE

■ COMMUNITY NEWS

MARCH 14 – MARCH 20, 2020

asianweekly northwest

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to help with COVID-19 testing in Seattle area SEATTLE (AP) — The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has announced it will begin offering home-testing kits for people in the Seattle area for the new coronavirus in the coming weeks. The Seattle Times reports in a story on March 8 that it’s not clear when the project will launch, but it’s ramping up as quickly as possible. Seattle has become the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States, with 14 deaths linked to a Kirkland home.

People who think they’ve been infected can fill out a questionnaire online and request a test kit if their symptoms are consistent with the illness the virus causes. The kits will be delivered within two hours and include nose swabs. The samples will be sent to a lab at the University of Washington for testing, and results should be available in a few days. The home-testing kits mean people won’t have to go to a doctor’s office and possibly infect other people.

The online forms will also allow infected people to answer questions about their movements and contacts so that health officials can find others who might need to be tested and determine hot spots. Scott Dowell, leader of coronavirus response at the foundation, said the lab will be able to conduct about 400 tests a day, but will eventually expand to thousands a day. The foundation is known for fighting

diseases around the globe, and has developed expertise in the field. “One of the most important things from our perspective, having watched and worked on this in other parts of the world, is the identification of people who are positive for the virus, so they can be safely isolated and cared for, and the identification of their contacts, who can then be quarantined,’’ Dowell said. 

Help for small businesses affected by COVID-19 Seattle’s mayor announced on March 10 an initial recovery package to ease the financial impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. “The next few months will be tough,” said Jenny Durkan. “The City is taking some initial actions by deferring utility and (business and occupation) B&O payments, and working to directly provide businesses with loans and grants.” Eligible businesses include those that have annual taxable income of $5 million or less and currently pay City taxes on a quarterly basis. Businesses will have until late 2020 to pay their B&O under

this plan. The City estimates that 20,000 businesses could be eligible for this. In addition, Durkan’s support package has the following:

Expansion of Small Business/ Stabilization Fund. Office of Economic Development (OED) is expanding their Small Business Stabilization Fund to support income-qualified microbusinesses.

Assistance to Access SBA Loans. OED will provide direct technical assistance to local small businesses and nonprofits to ensure they can imme-

diately access the Small Business Administration’s federal loan program once it becomes available.

Relief for Utility Payments. All Seattle Public Utilities and Seattle City Light customers can set up deferred payment plans if their financial stability has been jeopardized by COVID-19.

New Small Business Recovery Task Force. The mayor has appointed former Gov. Gary Locke and former Council President Bruce Harrell to lead the COVID-19 Small Business

Recovery Task Force, which will advise on long-term policy recommendations and provide technical assistance and outreach. “It is great that the City of Seattle is stepping up and providing immediate financial relief for residents and businesses,” said Locke. “But we know that the long-term strength of our economy is being challenged. We need to devise policies and solutions to help our small business owners and workers weather this storm.” 

asianweekly northwest

MARCH 14 – MARCH 20, 2020

38 YEARS

■ NATIONAL NEWS Homeless at ‘double risk’ of getting and spreading coronavirus By ANDREW SELSKY ASSOCIATED PRESS SALEM, Ore. (AP) — They often don’t have places to wash their hands, struggle with health problems and crowd together in grimy camps. That’s what makes homeless people particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus. Almost 200,000 people live in those conditions in the United States, according to a White House report, with Washington state, California and Oregon among the states most affected by homelessness as income inequality grows and housing costs rise. And—in a possible recipe for disaster—the new virus has hit hardest on the West Coast, where nearly all of the nation’s deaths have occurred. Health officials have not yet reported coronavirus outbreaks among homeless populations, but tuberculosis and other diseases have swept through them in the past, underscoring their vulnerability. Yet few communities that are trying to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus have rolled out plans to protect the homeless and give them a place to recover in isolation, which would prevent them from passing it on. “They are double risk. One is a risk to themselves, the other is a risk to society,’’ said Chunhuei Chi, director of the Center for Global Health at Oregon State University in Corvallis. King County, which includes Seattle and has seen most of the deaths in the U.S., is one of the few places that’s taken action: installing more than a dozen module units where infected homeless people can recover, some on county-owned land flanked by apartment buildings. The units, roughly the size of a mobile home that accommodate several people, were previously used by oil workers in Texas. County officials also bought a motel where coronavirus patients can recover in isolation.

That approach needs to be replicated in many more places, said Chi, who has been closely following the global outbreak that originated in China. “This should be treated as an emergency policy, not as a permanent solution to homelessness, but more of framing it as a solution for containing the spread,’’ Chi said. San Francisco says it’s developing a plan to protect the homeless from the virus but hasn’t released details yet. A cruise ship believed to be a breeding ground for more than 10 cases has been lingering off the coast of the city. San Francisco postponed an event on March 5 at a major arena that was to provide community services for the homeless. It typically draws up to 1,000 people and was delayed to reduce the risk of exposing the homeless population to coronavirus “because they are older as a group and typically have multiple chronic medical conditions,’’ the city said in a statement. Farther south, in Los Angeles County, the health department is sending teams to over 300 homeless facilities to ensure people are washing their hands and not sharing food or utensils, department director Barbara Ferrer said. She’s urging shelters to prepare large spaces to isolate those who may become sick. Health officials in the nation’s most populous county also are planning for a possible large-scale quarantine of homeless people in case the virus spreads, and will deploy street teams to work with those living in encampments to get people with symptoms treated. Ferrer noted that health officials tell people to stay home when they’re sick, to wash their hands often and call their doctors with concerns. “My heart goes out to the fact that they live in conditions that make it almost impossible for them,“ she said of the homeless. In Oregon’s capital city, where a makeshift homeless camp has sprouted up on downtown Salem sidewalks, an

GOP congressman’s self-quarantine tweet sparks debate WASHINGTON — Two members of Congress, Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Paul Gosar, said on March 8 that they are isolating themselves after determining they had contact at a political conference in suburban Washington with a man who has tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Cruz (R-Texas) said he had brief contact with the man at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) nearly two weeks ago and would spend the next few days at his home in Texas until a full 14 days had passed since their interaction. Gosar (R-Ariz.) said he had made contact with the man at CPAC and that he and three members of his senior staff were under self-quarantine. Gosar called the disease COVID-19 in an official statement, but on his personal Twitter account, he wrote that he had “sustained contact...with a person who has since been hospitalized with the Wuhan Virus.” Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) said in a tweet that Gosar’s use of “Wuhan virus” is “an example of the myopia that allowed it to spread,” adding the virus is “not constrained by country or race. Be just as stupid to call it the Milan Virus.”

Sen. Ted Cruz

Rep. Paul Gosar

After the disease caused by coronavirus was first detected in Wuhan, China, in December, many media outlets referred to it as the “Wuhan virus.” Then, in February, the World Health Organization named the illness COVID-19, a name that was deliberately chosen so that it wouldn’t stigmatize a specific place or group of people. “The only people who seem outraged by the term ‘Wuhan Virus’ are those whose primary goal is to continue politicizing the outbreak,” Ben Goldey, the congressman’s press secretary, wrote in an email on March 9. “Our priority is ensuring the health and safety of the American people, not debating the use of the term ‘Wuhan virus.’” 

agency that aids the homeless is bringing in hand-washing stations. “The homeless population in our community would be in a very difficult position of following all the health care advice that’s coming out right now,’’ said Jimmy Jones, executive director of the agency Community Action. “If you’re in a homeless camp, it’s very difficult to wash your hands. It’s very difficult to stay clean. It’s very difficult to practice good hygiene.’’ A homeless man in a long gray coat who was walking along a sidewalk in Salem said he is not particularly worried about the coronavirus. Still, the man, who would only give his first name, Alex, and his age, 33, asked what areas it had spread to and how quickly it progresses in an infected person. “I thought it could have been quarantined over in China maybe and didn’t know how much it would spread before they had it all figured out,’’ he said. Instead of being more vulnerable to the virus, he thought younger homeless people might be better able to fight it off. “Their immune systems have already been tested more than most people,’’ Alex said. “In general, I would think they might be less susceptible, unless it’s an elderly homeless person.’’ Experts, though, say the homeless are more vulnerable because so many have underlying health conditions. So did many patients who have died. Jones, the homeless advocate, said hepatitis C, heart disease and diabetes are prevalent among many of the 1,400 people who sleep on the streets, in cars or abandoned buildings, or in the woods and fields in Salem. “If they get this particular virus, there’s a high degree of probability it’s going to impact them more severely than it does the general population, with a higher mortality,’’ Jones said. 

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MARCH 14 – MARCH 20, 2020

YOUR VOICE

asianweekly northwest

■ WORLD NEWS Dogs, cats can’t pass on coronavirus, but can test positive HONG KONG (AP) — Pet cats and dogs cannot pass the new coronavirus on to humans, but they can test positive for low levels of the pathogen if they catch it from their owners. That’s the conclusion of Hong Kong’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department after a dog in quarantine tested weakly positive for the virus Feb. 27, Feb. 28 and March 2, using the canine’s nasal and oral cavity samples. A unidentified spokesman for the department was quoted in a news release as saying. “There is currently no evidence that pet animals can be a source of infection of COVID-19 or that they become sick.” Scientists suspect the virus known as SARS-CoV-2

someone has tested positive for the virus should be put into quarantine. In general, pet owners should maintain good hygiene, including washing hands before and after handling animals, their food and supplies, and no kissing them. People who are sick should avoid contact with pets and a veterinarian’s advice should be sought if changes in a pet’s health conditions are detected. “Apart from maintaining good hygiene practices, pet owners need not be overly concerned and under no circumstances should they abandon their pets,” the spokesman said. 

that causes the disease originated in bats before passing it on to another species, possibly a small wild mammal, that passed it on to humans. However, experts from the School of Public Health of The University of Hong Kong, the College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences of the City University of Hong Kong and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) have unanimously agreed that the dog has a low-level of infection and it is “likely to be a case of human-toanimal transmission.” The dog, and another also in quarantine which has tested negative for the virus, will be tested again before being released. The department suggested any pets, including dogs and cats, from households where

KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids will be received for C01407C19, Fence and Gate On Call Construction; by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, until 1:30 PM on March 24, 2020. Late bids will not be accepted. Bid Guaranty: Not less than five percent (5%) of the Total Bid Price. There is a Voluntary Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Goal: 10% of the Contract

Price. There is a Voluntary Women Business Enterprise (WBE) Goal: 6% of the Contract Price. Work Orders to replace, repair, or install new fences, vehicle barriers, and gates including all ancillary work. Work Orders may also include automation or operator repair and adjustment or augmentation. Estimated contract price: $500,000.00

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asianweekly northwest

MARCH 14 – MARCH 20, 2020

38 YEARS

■ COMMUNITY NEWS

International District to get lighting upgrades Seattle City Light plans to upgrade the underdeck high pressure sodium light fixtures at several overpass locations in the Chinatown-International District (ID) area this month. Existing lights will be replaced with new LED fixtures, which will increase visibility and improve pedestrian and traffic safety. The installations will also

lower operations and maintenance costs for the City Light. Residents and pedestrians can expect noise from construction and heavy equipment, as well temporary parking and lane restrictions, in the immediate work area during construction hours along South King Street between 8th Avenue South and 10th Avenue South. 

Photo by Katie Chen/UW Medicine

Drive-thru COVID-19 testing UW Medicine nurses await fellow employees coming in for drive-thru testing for the COVID-19 virus at a parking garage at University of Washington Medical Center-Northwest.

A drive-thru COVID-19 employee health testing site for UW Medicine opened on March 6, at the University of Washington Medical Center Northwest in north Seattle. Testing is provided to UW Medicine staff, faculty, and trainees who have symptoms or an upper respiratory infection—fever, a new cough, and shortness of breath. After driving up to the testing center, which is run out of tents in an open-air parking garage, the employee stays in the car. A nurse, trained in infection control protocols and in using protective

equipment, greets the employee and conducts the test. Employees receive guidance on next steps, and receive results within 24 to 48 hours. To date, more than 175 staff, faculty, and trainees have asked about testing. Ninety-four have been tested for both the flu and COVID-19 as of March 8, according to Dr. Seth Cohen, medical director of infection prevention and employee health at UWMC-Northwest. So far, none of those tested at the drivethru site have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.

If anyone tests positive, that employee would be notified immediately by the employee health staff and given additional instructions on how to proceed. This usually includes home isolation unless the symptoms are worsening and the employee requires additional medical evaluation. There are other COVID-19 test sites for UW Medicine employees, including one at UW Medicine’s Harborview Medical Center in downtown Seattle. 

Our community calendar page has been suspended due to the uncertainty surrounding events over COVID-19 concerns. We apologize for any inconvenience. View the solution on page 14

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The only weekly English-language newspaper serving Washington’s Asian community. The NW Asian Weekly has one simple goal: “To empower the Asian community.” The Editorial Board reserves the right to reject any advertisement, letter or article. Subscriptions cost $40 for 52 weeks of the NW Asian Weekly and $30 for 52 weeks of the Seattle Chinese Post. The NW Asian Weekly owns the copyright for all its content. All rights reserved. No part of this paper may be reprinted without permission. 412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104 • t. 206.223.5559 editor@nwasianweekly.com • ads@nwasianweekly.com • www.nwasianweekly.com

YOUR VOICE

MARCH 14 – MARCH 20, 2020

■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

asianweekly northwest

“Meet Sonny Singh, Red Baraat’s perpetual-motion horn man” By Andrew Hamlin NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Most Americans seeing a turbanwearing Sikh, with a long beard, would not automatically assume such a man called Charlotte, N.C., his home, growing up.

Sonny Singh

But trumpeter Sonny Singh, performing with the Red Baraat band in Seattle on March 21, admits he got used to a lot of things, growing up Sikh in the South. “My childhood was deeply shaped by

being South Asian and being a Sikh,” he recalled. “My brother and I were the only two kids in the whole city who wore turbans, so there was a deep sense of isolation. Being bullied and harassed in school was a daily occurrence. “But eventually, I took refuge in music. I started playing music in gurdwaras —Sikh houses of worship—playing harmonium and tabla and singing kirtan (Sikh devotional songs). At age 9, I started playing trumpet in school and never stopped!” Religion, or at least formal religion,

didn’t drive all of Singh’s musical zeal. He dove into Nirvana and Pearl Jam, mastering a decent Eddie Vedder impersonation. But he hit the ska revival of the 1990s hard—most ska bands used horns, so his trumpeting fit right in. “The first thing I did in college was start a ska band called Turban Jones. I was really drawn to the 2-Tone movement and bands like the Specials and the Selecter in England, which put anti-racism at the center of its message and aesthetic. I’ve been an activist since I was a teenager, so these bands provided me with somewhat of a roadmap on how to combine music and activism. “A little later, I got into bands like The Clash, Rage Against the Machine, and Ozomatli who were (and still are!) all super influential to an entire generation.”

Sunny Jain

The Red Baraat band, founded by drummer/songwriter Sunny Jain in Brooklyn, N.Y., in 2008, uses North Indian Bhangra as its primary musical ingredient. Bhangra began as a folk form of Punjabi music, with dance. It’s gone around the world as a form of dance music electrified by musicians, and sometimes club DJs, who mix it with hip-hop and

other forms of Western dance music. Sonny Singh didn’t have to discover bhangra music. “It was just the music that would be on when I’d go to family parties and weddings growing up. I was also shy about dancing as a kid, and I recall on multiple occasions my parents forcing me to participate in organized, choreographed bhangra dances for some community or cultural event. My mom would draw a fake mustache on me and dress me in super gaudy and bright outfits, and I would reluctantly go along with it. “My shyness aside, the music has always been infectious and deeply intertwined with what it means to be Punjabi.” Sunny Jain met Singh in the mid2000s, and adding the trumpet player to Jain’s new project seemed like a perfect fit. The current Red Baraat band consists of Singh on trumpet and vocals, Jain on dhol (a double-headed drum) and vocals, Chris Eddleton on drums, John Altieri on sousaphone, Lynn Ligammari on soprano saxophone and vocals, and Nadav Nirermberg on trombone. Future projects for the artists include a new solo album from Sunny Jain called “Wild Wild East,” out now. Singh’s first solo album, “Chardi Kala,” is scheduled for release later this year. As for Red Baraat’s sound, Singh concluded, “It’s interesting to hear how different people hear different things. Sometimes Brazilians will come to us and say, ‘This sounds like samba.’ Or people will say, ‘This sounds like New Orleans second line music. We are drawing from a South Asian brass band tradition, but take a lot of liberties in our very NYC approach to it. “I expect the band to have a bright future ahead, to continue touring, [and] continue to evolve our sound while sticking to the core dhol and brass foundation, making people around the world move and dance with joy.”  Red Baraat performs at 9 p.m. on March 21 at the Tractor Tavern, located at 5213 Ballard Avenue Northwest in Seattle. For prices and other information, visit tractortavern.com or redbaraat.com. Andrew can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

asianweekly northwest

38 YEARS

MARCH 14 – MARCH 20, 2020

■ COMMUNITY NEWS

Women leaders Jenny Durkan

Hilda Heine

Lisa Herbold

Katrín Jakobsdóttir

Tammy Morales

Kersti Kaljulaid

Kshama Sawant

Saara Kuugongelwa

Debora Juarez

Angela Merkel

Erna Solberg

Compiled by Staff NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

youngest female head of government when she took office at age 37.

International Women’s Day was on March 8—celebrated every year around the world. This year, we wanted to highlight the women leading our city, and the world.

Ana Brnabić, Prime Minister of Serbia Brnabić is the first woman and first openly gay person to hold the office. In 2019, she was ranked by Forbes magazine as the 19th most powerful female political and policy leader.

SEATTLE Mayor Jenny Durkan 56th Mayor of Seattle and the first woman to lead the City in nearly a century. Prior to becoming mayor, Durkan was a civic leader and nationally-recognized attorney. District 1 councilmember: Lisa Herbold Resident of Highland Park for more than 15 years. Over the course of her professional life, Herbold worked on issues of access, fairness, and a commitment to a shared quality of life. District 2 councilmember: Tammy Morales Elected in 2019, Morales was a community organizer and advocate. She has worked for the Rainier Beach Action Coalition and served as a Seattle Human Rights Commissioner. District 3 councilmember: Kshama Sawant Sawant is an activist, organizer, and socialist, teacher, and is a member of Socialist Alternative. District 5 councilmember: Debora Juarez Juarez built a career focused on legal advocacy and economic development for the most marginalized communities in Washington. District 8 councilmember: Teresa Mosqueda Mosqueda’s top priority is promoting healthy communities, lifting-up working families, and creating more affordable housing for all residents through the city. District 9 councilmember: Lorena González The first Latinx elected to serve the Seattle City Council, González has over a decade of experience as a civil rights attorney and community advocate.

WORLD LEADERS Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand A self-described social democrat and a progressive, Ardern was the world’s

Teresa Mosqueda Lorena González

Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh Praised for economic growth under her tenure, Hasina is the longest-serving prime minister in the history of Bangladesh. Her political career has spanned more than four decades.

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Jacinda Ardern

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viously served as vice president and head of the Federal Department of Justice and Police.

Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany Merkel has been widely described as the de facto leader of the European Union. She was appointed Germany’s first female chancellor in 2005. Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of Norway Solberg is the second female to hold the position, and inspired by Margaret Thatcher’s “Iron Lady” nickname, Solberg has been given the nickname “Iron Erna.” Simonetta Sommaruga, President of Switzerland Sommaruga assumed the office of the presidency on Jan. 1, 2020. She had pre-

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Salome Zourabichvili, President of Georgia Zourabichvili is the first woman to be elected as Georgia’s president. She has also served on the UN Security Council’s Iran Sanctions Committee as the Coordinator of the Panel of Experts. 

Paula-Mae Weekes, President of Trinidad and Tobago Weekes took office in March 2018, becoming the first woman to do so. She served briefly as acting Chief Justice in

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Katrín Jakobsdóttir Prime Minister of Iceland Katrín is Iceland’s second female prime minister after Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir. Last month, she was named Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders.

Saara Kuugongelwa Prime Minister of Namibia Kuugongelwa is the first woman to hold the position. She is also a member of the South West Africa People’s Organization.

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Hilda Heinez, President of the Marshall Islands The first woman to hold the presidency of the Marshall Islands, Heine is also the first female president of any Micronesian country.

Kersti Kaljulaid, President of Estonia Kaljulaid is the first female head of state of Estonia since the country declared independence in 1918, as well as the youngest ever president. She was 46 at the time of her election.

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YOUR VOICE

■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG

MARCH 14 – MARCH 20, 2020

asianweekly northwest

Photos by Assunta Ng, Stacy Nguyen/NWAW

How to keep your cool during the coronavirus outbreak

Elbow bumping instead of shaking hands can help curb the spread of germs

Celebrate Asia attendance was low.

By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

you journalists, talking to too many people. Just interview them over the phone.” Call it coronavirus anxiety. Social distancing and locking myself at home would drive me and many insane. The psychological toll on us is huge. Take my profession as a journalist for instance. Staying away from crowds would hurt my job, because that’s where the action is, and it reflects the spirit of the community. It’s hard to read people’s emotions over the phone. March has been a tough month. It broke

A friend called to complain about fake Chinese news websites, spreading rumors about coronavirus in Chinatown. “Can you write and tell people not to believe it?” she begged. The best way to stop fake news from spreading is to tell your friends to avoid reading about it online. More on that later. Another friend called and warned me not to interview people face-to-face. “It’s risky for

A nearly empty Westfield Southcenter Mall on March 6

my heart when I went to the Seattle Symphony’s Celebrate Asia concert at Benaroya Hall on March 8, and the attendance was half of what it was in previous years. Originally, my March calendar was filled with 11 community events. I had planned to attend most of them, not only for coverage, but to learn something new and network with others. But the COVID-19 outbreak has turned our lives upside down. Sadly, as the tide of cancellations rose, I deleted nine of those events. Only two events were “postponed.”

Some of the cancellations include the Greater Seattle Chinese Chamber of Commerce Lunar New Year Dinner, Hop Sing Tong’s 140th anniversary dinner, Kin On nursing home’s 35th anniversary gala, March of Spring, the ArtsFund luncheon, Rotary Club of Seattle luncheon, and the Emperor of Japan’s birthday reception. Many of the organizers have worked for months planning the event. For some, it was the only fundraiser for the see BLOG on 10

■ WORLD NEWS Indian women protest new citizenship laws, joining a global ‘fourth-wave’ feminist movement By Alka Kurian THE CONVERSATION (Republished with permission) Women are among the strongest opponents of two new laws in India that threaten the citizenship rights of vulnerable groups like Muslims, poor women, oppressed castes, and LGBTQ people. The Citizenship Amendment Act, passed in December, fast-tracks Indian citizenship for undocumented refugees from Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Pakistan—but only those who are nonMuslim. Another law—the National Register of Citizens—will require all residents in India to furnish extensive legal documentation to prove their citizenship as soon as 2021. Critics see the two laws as part of the government’s efforts to redefine the meaning of belonging in India and make this constitutionally secular country a Hindu nation. Since Dec. 4, Indians of all ages, ethnicities, and religions have been protesting the new citizenship initiatives in scattered but complementary nationwide demonstrations. The uprisings have persisted through weeks of arrests, beatings, and even killings across India by the police.

anthem called “The Rapist is You.” This choreographed public flash dance, first staged in Santiago, Chile, in November, calls out the police, judiciary and government for violating women’s human rights.

Danger throughout

A Shaheen Bagh protest song. (Screencap from YouTube)

But the most enduring pocket of resistance is an around-the-clock sitin of mostly hijab-wearing women in a working-class Delhi neighborhood called Shaheen Bagh. Since Dec. 15, women of all ages —from students to 90-year-old grandmothers—have abandoned their daily duties and braved near-freezing temperatures to block a major highway in the Indian capital. This is a striking act of resistance in a patriarchal country where women— but particularly Muslim women—have

historically had their rights denied. The Shaheen Bagh protests are as novel in their methods as they are in their makeup. Protesters are using artwork, book readings, lectures, poetry recitals, songs, interfaith prayers, and communal cooking to explain their resistance to citizenship laws that, they say, will discriminate against not just Muslims but also women, who usually don’t have state or property papers in their own names. On Jan. 11, women in the Indian city of Kolkata performed a Bengalilanguage version of a Chilean feminist

India is the world’s most dangerous country for women, according to the Thomson Reuters Foundation. One-third of married women are physically abused. Two-thirds of rapes go unpunished. Gender discrimination is so pervasive that around one million female fetuses are aborted each year. In some parts of India, there are 126 men for every 100 women. Indian women have come together in protest before, to speak out against these and other issues. But most prior women’s protests were limited in scope and geography. The 2012 brutal gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old Delhi woman sparked nationwide protests, becoming a watershed event. All at once, the country witnessed the power of women’s rage. The current women-led anti-citizenship law demonstrations are even greater in number and power. Beyond Shaheen Bagh, Indian women across caste, see FEMINIST MOVEMENT on 14

asianweekly

38 YEARS

MARCH 14 – MARCH 20, 2020

BLOG from 9 year, only to see it “killed” a few days before it happened. The agony for those organizers who must decide, “Should I or shouldn’t I cancel?” Even though I am not part of those organizing committees, I feel awful reading their emails. Every cancellation creates a chain reaction, affecting those who set up the banquet room, the audio-visual team, kitchen workers, wait staff, speakers, and the performers. Many have relied on the income to pay for their school loans, feeding their family, or house mortgages. And I wouldn’t be able to report to the community about the generous donors and the event’s highlights. The loss is irreplaceable. How do you keep yourself from becoming insane during this crisis? How do you keep yourself from feeling depressed, anxious, or overwhelmed? Here are some tips which work for me.

Take it one day at a time

Being self-quarantined at home for a long period of time can make many depressed. Days can feel like years, especially when the weather is rainy and gloomy. Alex Trebek, the host of Jeopardy!, who has Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, said recently in a oneminute video, “Take it one day at a time with a positive attitude, anything is possible.“ I challenge myself to stick to my normal work schedule, and add a small project on the side. For instance, I washed my hats and caps one night. Simultaneously, I explored ways to make my day interesting such as making a special soup.

Stay healthy

At this point, I work hard not to be a burden to the health care system. Sleeping and eating well are crucial to our health. The first thing is to make sure I have a good night’s sleep every night. And I have been able to accomplish my goal during the past few weeks. It works well if I exercise for more than an hour during the day. If you feel stressed or wake up in the middle of the night, take deep breaths. It helps me to feel better, and go back to sleep. These days, I am resistant to junk food. At first, I attributed it to my will power. The truth is, I have been conscientious of my health for the past decade, and I have developed good eating habits. My taste buds have changed and processed food doesn’t really appeal to me anymore.

Stay positive

It has been really difficult to stay positive with COVID-19 fears. “Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself,” said author Paulo Coelho. Fear can overwhelm you, drive you crazy, and have a negative effect. If you have the awareness that this is happening to you, step back and retrain your brain to think differently. According to the New York Times, optimism is an acquired behavior. Despite the fact that my mother’s depression impacted my childhood, I try hard not to be like her. Ever since I was little, I refused to play the “blame” game, and took responsibility for my own wellbeing. This has influenced me to be strong and independent.

Separate fact from fiction and rumor

Research has shown that people like fake news because it is more dramatic and exaggerated. The more you read, the more it will distort your mind. Only read news from credible sources. That means knowing the people who write them, and you can go back to them to challenge what they wrote. Don’t assume everything you read or hear is the truth. Always ask questions and challenge assumptions that you and others have. Case in point: someone

spread a rumor about us. We were so glad that readers called us to verify. So make that call. If there are no phone numbers listed for you to talk to a real person, I would be very skeptical of the things that you read. International news sources that you can trust are The New York Times, The Associated Press, and Reuters. These organizations always provide both sides to a controversial story.

Photo by Assunta Ng/NWAW

northwest

Have a schedule for everything and every day

The tech world emphasizes the discipline of scheduling—not only to get things done, but to make sure you don’t skip out on your important chores. So put in your schedule for dates with your loved ones, haircut appointment, naps, meditation, calling your parents, and even watching your kid’s ball game. Once it’s on your schedule, it means you have prioritized them to be a part of your routine, and you will have a better chance of sticking to those activities.

Develop activities at home

Boredom is the enemy when you stay home. Beat boredom by preparing enough activities you can do at home and alone. You can play video games and mahjong online with unknown opponents or friends. You can do puzzles, paint, sew, knit, carpentry, lego, and golf. My nephew turned a basement into his basketball court (mainly a hoop), and friends have set up a mini golf course in a house’s spare corner. I enjoy my exercise rituals in the morning, which includes funky music for dancing, jogging, and yoga. Also, practicing your music instruments and karaoke can be fun. Reading is one of my favorite past times. Check out games, movies, and books from your local libraries. Clean ignored or forgotten items like my coin purse and my big purse. That’s one of the dirtiest items that carry germs.

Put things in perspective

My cousin and his family returned safely from a January cruise in Asia. “Whenever I think of cruises, I am scared,” he said. That’s self-induced fear. We don’t need to burden ourselves with unnecessary anxiety. The only way not to overthink is to put things in perspective. For instance, my friend said recently, “No more cruises,” as if she had forgotten the joyous time we (eight of us) had together on the New England cruise last October. The horrible news about Princess Cruises passengers who have been ill with the virus, has affected our ability to think rationally. But the cruise also gave all of us a wonderful reunion and trip. It reminds me that cruises allowed me and my husband to see the world in a way we otherwise wouldn’t have, while also saving us time and money. Gratitude is a meaningful tool during challenging days. I feel blessed that we traveled on cruises and met people, who are still my friends. We have to see issues from both sides, the good and bad. If we just condemn and see everything with a negative lens, our world view will become distorted.

Support the economy

Social distancing means you are not encouraged to dine in public. If you don’t want to dine in restaurants, why not order to-go? Restaurants’ business has plunged 20 to 50 percent. If each of us pick up food from restaurants at least once a week, no restaurants would need to close. If you don’t eat out, order food for your good friends who are too busy to cook. They would appreciate your goodwill. Just think of ways to help mom-and-pop businesses during this crisis. Don’t forget to leave a tip even though it’s a to-go order. Think of the wait staff who rely on tips to make a decent living. A small tip will light up their day. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. When you save restaurants, you save jobs.

House of Hong banner with reduced business hours posted

Change bad habits

Coronavirus attacks our respiratory system and lungs. For smokers who don’t have strong lungs, this may be a good time to quit smoking. Since we are staying home more, think of habits you want to change and had no time to work on before. This may be your opportunity.

Learn something new

This is a good time to learn something new. Learn a second language through YouTube. Go to your library. Or you can check out things online and pick up from your local library. Watch movies or read that book you’ve been meaning to read, but didn’t have time to do so before.

Postpone and not cancel

I like what Kin On nursing home did. Instead of canceling its 35th anniversary gala on March 14, it is postponing to September. To organizations that are thinking of canceling, please don’t cancel, just reschedule to a later date. You have worked so hard to organize

it, please don’t disappoint your supporters and volunteers. If you plan to do a smaller or even bigger event later, it is doable because you have more time. Don’t give in to the virus.

Have a sense of humor

Crazy people do crazy things during the coronavirus, like stocking up on toilet paper. I confess, I stock up on too much stuff. Nothing much, just bags and bags of dark chocolate. My son bought me a lot over Valentine’s Day. And I treat myself with more chocolate every day. Make sure you laugh every day. Funny videos on YouTube or comedy shows, such as Saturday Night Live and the Stephen Colbert show, cheer me up every day. Those moments will keep me going when I suddenly remember the funny faces of the Max brothers. Keep yourself busy. Enjoy social distancing with laughter. Smile even in the worst of times.  Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.

YOUR VOICE

MARCH 14 – MARCH 20, 2020

asianweekly northwest

■ EDITORIAL What’s in a name? Should we call it COVID-19 or Wuhan virus? At a World Health Organization (WHO) media briefing last month, Director-General Tedros Adhanom announced that WHO had a new name for the disease now making headlines worldwide. COVID-19. In his remarks, Adhanom said, “Under agreed guidelines between WHO, the World Organisation for Animal Health, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, we had to find a name that did not refer to a geographical location, an animal, an individual or group of people, and which is also pronounceable and related to the disease. Having a name matters to prevent the use of other names that can be inaccurate or stigmatizing. It also gives us a standard format to use for any future coronavirus outbreaks.” A month later, some conservative politicians and officials, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, are abandoning the recommended terminology, and are instead using “Wuhan virus,” a term that proliferated on news sites and in political commentary, mostly before the virus received an official name.

A State Department official said on March 9 that Pompeo was using this language to counter Chinese Communist Party misinformation. This echoes public remarks made by Pompeo, when he rejected a suggestion made last week by Zhao Lijian, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, that the coronavirus may not have originated in China, and that it was “highly irresponsible” to connect the two. Columnist Rich Lowry wrote a March 9 opinion piece in the New York Post titled, “It’s not racist to call it ‘the Wuhan virus.’” “[China’s] government tried to suppress warnings about the new coronavirus and looked the other way, giving it the room to become a national and then a global crisis. [China] deserves to be connected to the virus it did more than its share to let loose on the world — no matter what its foreign ministry or the sensitivity police say.” But it is racist, Rich Lowry. “Be just as stupid to call it the Milan Virus,” as Representative Ted Lieu, Democrat of California, eloquently tweeted.

“Be just as stupid to call it the Milan Virus.” — REP. TED LIEU Frank Snowden, the Andrew Downey Orrick professor emeritus of history and history of medicine at Yale University, told the New York Times, “People that are still calling it [the Wuhan virus] are using it in a very loaded, ethnic way, and I believe it’s mainly associated with people on the political right.” He called it “aggressive” and “politically charged.” This is not a political issue. This is a global epidemic with lives at stake. The name matters and, as the WHO intended, it should be clinical and non-descript. Let’s just stop the rumors and prejudice, put aside ignorance and bias, and work together to fight with science, reason, and cooperation. 

■ LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Mayor Durkan has done more than previous mayors? I wish to make some corrections with regards to your “Dealing with a crisis in Chinatown’’ blog in last week’s edition and to the contention that Mayor Jenny Durkan has done more than any previous Seattle mayor. Referring to the Wah Mee Massacre, it was stated that the “Mayor at that time never took the initiative to visit us.” Not true. Then-Mayor Charlie Royer had a well publicized dinner with Police Chief Patrick Fitzsimmons at a Chinatown restaurant to show that the ChinatownInternational District (ID) was a safe place to visit, dine, and shop. Moreover, the police department initiated a daily two-officer patrol throughout the ID that walked the streets past the 2 a.m. restaurant and bar closing time immediately after the Wah Mee incident. The police patrol presence, which lasted about six months or so, was a substantial

attempt to make residents and patrons of the area feel safe there. “The city has been doing more than just trying to establish better police relations in the International District,” Mayor Royer said in reference to the area’s perceived crime problem in the aftermath of the Wah Mee killings. “We made a commitment in this community six years ago that the city would provide whatever assistance was needed to make this area a good place to live and to do business.” An example of the city’s assistance at that time was its help in securing a Small Business Loan for the House of Hong’s relocation to a larger space within Chinatown. During Mayor Royer’s term, the city infused more than $4 million of its funds, $2 million of federal funds that leveraged $5 million in private investments to rehabilitate

eight buildings in the district. These projects resulted in more than 300 housing units and new commercial space for over 50 businesses. Unfortunately, I do not have a credible figure regarding the amount of the revenues the residents of the fix-upped housing spent in the small businesses in the area or the amount of revenues generated by the businesses who occupied the new commercial space. Nor do I have an estimate of the amount spent in the ID among the many employees of the nonprofits in the area that began receiving city funds during the Royer administration. My guess is that these new revenues to the area were substantial. Other mayors, beginning with Wes Uhlman and others see CHIN on 13

Reader urges support for Asians amid virus fear As a single Black father, I have always tried to teach my son lessons about culture, which I was not exposed to until much later in life. Among these lessons was taking him to the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial. I wanted him to understand that despite the “model minority” label stereotype, America has committed atrocities against Asians with little to no justification. In addition to the World War II historical black eye that still is shaded in the makeup of under-coverage, I exposed him to the legal shenanigans aimed at Chinese American railroad workers over a century ago. I gave him examples of laws (many only overturned in recent decades), specifically banning “Chinamen” from owning land in states like Oregon. I needed him to understand that we, as Black people, did not have a monopoly on receiving hate and discrimination without reason.

In modern America, it is easy to forget that Asian Americans can be the subject to the ugliness of unreasonable hate. As problematic as it is being stereotyped as math wizards, kung fu experts, and other Hollywood nonsense, the general image of Asians in the United States is “positive.” From the popularity of K-pop, to the overwhelming ubiquity of anime, Asian pop culture is bigger than ever in the U.S. Sadly, the coronavirus panic, like the fear spread during World War II, seems to be turning “nice” people into absolute bigots. The hateful memes disgust me, particularly when I see people who look like me sharing them. The blaming of a race or culture for a non-discriminatory virus sickens me. The violence against Asians pains me to my soul. The ghosts of hate past seem alive and well, as I read about the drop in business in places like Hong Kong Market in Kent and Seattle’s Chinatown-

International District. I can’t speak for all of America. I can’t speak for all Black people. I will, however, speak to my neighbors, family, and friends. Relations between Asians and Blacks are not always perfect. Hell, relationships with our own families are not always perfect. We cannot allow ourselves to be part of the problem of irrational hate against those who have shared a history of discrimination. No, it was not exactly the same. This is not a contest. It is, however, wrong and we are better than this. We owe it to ourselves to BE better than this. Our Asian fellow countrymen need our support, love, and patronage as they are reminded that they too are once again treated as “other” when it comes to the American Dream. I have made it a point to patronize see EDWARDS on 13

asianweekly northwest

MARCH 14 – MARCH 20, 2020

38 YEARS

■ COMMENTARY

Japanese American community shows Bellevue College the 3 Rs for the future By Leslie Lum SPECIAL TO NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY The Japanese American community taught an invaluable lesson to the administrators of Bellevue College, considered one of wealthiest colleges in the Washington state college system. Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) faculty, staff, and students brought in Erin Shigaki’s art installation “Never Again is Now,” an 11-foot high mural of two children standing in a concentration camp to commemorate the Day of Remembrance. It was the only Day of Remembrance commemoration in Bellevue. A member of the Bellevue College administration defaced the artist description by covering the following sentence with white out: “After decades of anti-Japanese agitation, led by Eastside businessman Miller Freeman and others, the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans included the 60 families (300 individuals) who farmed Bellevue.” The white supremacist campaigns of Miller Freeman are well documented, as are the efforts to downplay or cover up his role in driving Japanese Americans out of Bellevue. At a Remembrance Ceremony held March 3 at Bellevue College next to the art installation, Stan Shikuma, president

of the Japanese American Citizens League, stated the first R is to remember. We remember, not for recrimination, but because we don’t want to repeat history. We remember for our children. This erasure of history was so successful that even many of the social justice activists at the college did not know. The fact that this part of history continues to be literally whitewashed shows the legacy of white supremacy. The college has now had six presidents in the last eight years, and incidents of disrespect and outright harassment have occurred during the tenure of every single one. With regards to Shikuma’s second R, restoration of spirit, unity, the value of people, and trust in leadership, after the defacement, the AAPI faculty, staff, and students called in the greater community because the administration made several attempts at restoration, which seemed to amount to asking the AAPI faculty and staff to fix the mess. Administrations maintain the status quo, sometimes without seeing how much it is steeped in white supremacy. But our students learned. They learned to speak out at college forums and made eloquent statements in television interviews while the administration was unavailable for comment. They documented the process and took photographs, which were credited and used in national articles. They created art that spoke to how the defacement

impacted them personally. Faculty took classes to the defacement to give a lesson on censorship. Students learned the power of writing clearly and concisely to get a message across so that it resonates with the country. The students get it. They were the first to speak out. If there is trust engendered by this defacement, it is in the leadership of the future. Bellevue College has a graduation rate of 29% for first-time students, which is a standardized measure. But, that may not be the dismal part of the picture. Are we teaching our students the skills for the coming millennium where artificial intelligence is projected to take more and more jobs? Isn’t what they learned from the defacement—the impactfulness of art to motivate action; critically analyzing history to differentiate between revisionism and truth; communicating to mobilize; and holding institutions accountable— the skills that we need to deal with misogynist and privacy-invading technology companies and the culture around the 737 Max that tragically took lives and may cost Boeing over $18 billion in expenses and $92 billion in market value? Shikuma’s last R was rededication. If we think this is the end, we are sadly mistaken. This is only the beginning. The blowback has already started. The college has lost two of its leaders. There is anxiety

abound. Some forums are even making this a partisan issue. This is when we begin the hard work of rededication to what it means to be an American citizen, permanent resident, undocumented, and marginalized. This is when we test and retest whether we are upholding a society where all people are created equal. 

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YOUR VOICE

■ ASTROLOGY

asianweekly northwest

Predictions and advice for the week of March 14–20, 2020 By Sun Lee Chang Rat — You are not shy about expressing your views, but do consider whether the time and place is appropriate.

Dragon — Some results can take a while to materialize, but your slow and steady approach is the right one for now.

Monkey — When giving instructions, start with something simple. Depending on the level of understanding, go from there.

Ox — Are you getting a little carried away with your current project? If so, think about scaling back a bit.

Snake — Rather than spending an unexpected windfall, it would be advisable to hold on to it for now.

Rooster — Unclear as to what is expected of you? In most situations, it would be better to ask than to guess.

Tiger — Don’t underestimate the power of small changes. Taken together, they can add up to a significant sum.

Horse — With an ability to bring people together, it is no wonder you are often the life of the party.

Dog — You have a quiet persistence that does not shy away from a challenge. Soon you will reach your goal.

Rabbit — The sooner you acknowledge a piece isn’t working, the faster you can switch to a better alternative.

Goat — Once you know that action needs to be taken, then the onus is upon you to take the necessary steps.

Pig — Nervous about a new role? The combination of your experience and research should stand you in good stead.

WHAT’S YOUR ANIMAL SIGN? RAT 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 OX 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009 TIGER 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 RABBIT 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 DRAGON 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 SNAKE 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 HORSE 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 GOAT 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 MONKEY 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016 ROOSTER 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017 DOG 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018 PIG 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019

*The year ends on the first new moon of the following year. For those born in January and February, please take care when determining your sign.

CHIN from 11 (Norm Rice, Paul Schell, Greg Nickels, Mike McGinn, and Ed Murray), have done things to address the needs of the ID. While some of these mayors have done more than others, prior mayors did very little or nothing at all for the area. Nevertheless, the assertion that “the most Durkan’s predecessors did was to tour the ID with his people to learn about our needs” is incorrect. So is the claim, “She (Durkan) has out done all her predecessors and is now going to bat for our businesses.” Visiting Chinatown three times in a week, bringing the mayoral staff and having lunch with community leaders there, and claiming that the city is

for immigrant businesses, needs to be backed up with action. Talk is cheap. Instead of “inspiring her team to do more for the marginalized community, including immigrant businesses,” it would be much more meaningful if she “directed” her team to do so with specific action plans and outcomes. And, while the mayor bringing her staff for lunch in Chinatown to dispel the notion that it is not safe because of the coronavirus fears was, at best, a good gesture, it did nothing to increase business in the area. Most businesses and neighborhood commercial areas in Seattle and elsewhere are down because of the coronavirus fears. — Doug Chin

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EDWARDS from 11 an Asian-owned business even more than I usually do to help offset the irrational plague of ignorance. If finances or desire to avoid people hinder you from doing that, at least take the time before you say ignorant things or share racist memes. Viruses don’t give a damn about race. Regardless of where it started, it is here and the

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religion, and ethnicity are putting their bodies and reputations on the line. Female students are intervening to shield fellow students from police violence at campus protests. Actresses from Bollywood, Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s film industry, are speaking out against gender violence, too.

Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s secular agenda

With their non-violent tactics and inclusive strategy, the Shaheen Bagh women are proving to be effective critics of the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hindu-centric agenda. Their leaderless epicenter of resistance raises up national symbols like the Indian flag, the national anthem, and the Indian Constitution as reminders that India is secular and pluralâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a place where people can be both Muslim and Indian. The Shaheen Bagh movementâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s novel and enduring strategy has triggered activism elsewhere in the country. Thousands of women in the northern Indian city of Lucknow started their own sit-in in late January. Similar â&#x20AC;&#x153;Shaheen Baghsâ&#x20AC;? have sprung up since in the cities of Patna and even Chennai, which is located 1,500 miles from Delhi.

Global womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spring

Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Shaheen Bagh protests form part of a broader

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activists are combining attention to womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s issues with a wider call for social justice across gender, class, and geographic borders. In January 2019 alone, women in nearly 90 countries took to the streets demanding equal pay, reproductive rights, and the end of violence. Young women were also at the forefront of the 2019 pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, Lebanon, Sudan, Brazil, and Colombia. Such inclusive activism is the defining characteristic of whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s called â&#x20AC;&#x153;fourth-wave feminism.â&#x20AC;? There isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a common definition of the first three feminist waves. In the United States, they generally refer to the early 20th century suffragette movement, the radical womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s movement of the 1960s and 1970s, and the more mainstream feminism of the 1990s and early 2000s. Fourth-wave feminism appears to be more universal. Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s activists fully embrace the idea that womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s freedom means little if other groups are still oppressed. With its economic critique, disavowal of caste oppression, and solidarity across religious divides, Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Shaheen Bagh sit-in shares attributes with the womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s uprisings in Chile, Lebanon, Hong Kong, and beyond. The last time women came together in such numbers worldwide was the #MeToo movement, a campaign against sexual harassment that emerged on social media in the United States in 2017 and quickly spread across the globe. Shaheen Bagh and similarly far-reaching womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

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YOUR VOICE PINK LADY from 1 that first march and with the iconic “pink hats” the protestors wore. The Saturday after Trump’s election, Krista Suh, Asian American screenwriter, activist, and artist, was sitting in her parents’ car on the way to a camping trip to celebrate her parents’ anniversary. Suh, like many people, was agitated by the results of the election. “People were really thrown by it,” she remembered. “I like to tell people that it was so bad that my therapist called to cancel on me the next day.” Suh, living then and now in Los Angeles, wanted to do something. But what? News of the Women’s March was already bubbling up, and Suh planned to attend. But, “I felt there had to be something I could do beyond showing up.” Suh had lived in New York for college, so she knew it would be cold. How about a hat? “That felt like it had meaning because I was making it with my own hands. I’m a beginner, simplistic knitter…If I can make this hat, anyone could. That’s when it went from one to many. If we all made them, and we all sent them in, it would create a sea of pink. That’s when I knew I was on to something.” Suh was indeed on to something. The idea of the hat took off. People around the country started making them, not just Suh and her circle. Before she knew it, “ownership” of the hat was pretty much out of her hands to the point where, now, almost no one knows who thought of it. Suh is OK with that. To her, the message of the hat is greater than herself. That first year, Suh recalled, “When I went to D.C., I would see women wear the hats around town, and it was such a uniting experience. I didn’t know them, but all of the sudden, I felt like I did. It felt like a special secret, too, because they had no idea that I was the creator of it all…A couple of friends insisted that I had to take a moment to take it all in. They brought me over to this guardrail. I’m only five feet tall, and I could see, all the way down the (National) Mall, the sea of pink was really stunning.” In honor of International Women’s Day, the Northwest Asian Weekly wanted to bring Suh’s story to the forefront. Born in New Jersey, Suh has lived in Los Angeles since she was about 4 years old. Her last name comes from her father, who is from Korea, while her mother was born in Taiwan, yet her family came from Hunan, China. Growing up, Suh’s was her grandmother’s favorite—with a catch. “Grandmother was a very strong woman from Korea. She was a doctor. She went to med school in Korea and practiced there at a time when female doctors were very rare, and yet, there is a bias in Asian culture toward men.” “It’s too bad you weren’t born a boy,” Suh’s grandmother would say to her. “She was saying I am the right temperament and the right person—but I’m not a boy.” Given this background, and in spite of Suh’s grandmother’s having chosen an unconventional career, the response from Suh’s parents when she announced she would like to be a screenwriter was less than positive. “My parents are really awesome, but at the same time, in Asian culture, especially Asian American culture, there’s this deepseated fear that if you veer off the ‘correct’ path, you’ll be a loser, a failure, a slacker, a hippie…” “I think that type of pressure that Asian Americans put on themselves and their children is very debilitating. At the least, it’s quite restricting. We don’t get to allow ourselves to do really cool things that make history. It was a battle for me to become a screenwriter, not just with the typical obstacles, but also to deal with the family pressure and disappointment.” Fast forward to the first Women’s March and Suh views her challenges growing up and choosing her path as a training ground

MARCH 14 – MARCH 20, 2020

asianweekly northwest

Most people are unaware that the creator of the hat is AAPI that aligned her closely with her views on feminism. “Activism often is about standing up to those in power because your beliefs differ. For me, the first time I had to use that skill, I really learned it when I had to ideologically fight people who loved me, like my parents. Because I’ve done those trials by fire, going against Trump—it’s pretty easy.” So, what is it like wearing the pink hat? Suh acknowledges that it makes a person stand out, and at the same time, gives that person the security of being part of a collective whole. “It does help to see the hat on other people, to feel safer, because I do think it is a statement of ‘you are not alone.’” Suh told the Weekly about her trip home from the first march in D.C. “I was seated in the corner window seat and, of course, the guy next to me was in full Trump regalia…He had his red hat on, and I had my pink hat on. I felt the threat level go up. I went to the bathroom, and some ladies waiting in line for the bathroom were like, “We’ve been keeping an eye on you. We’ve been looking out for you.’” Which brings up the question—does the pink hat unite? Some say the Women’s March, and the hat, have been “kidnapped” by white women. The fact that most people are unaware that the creator of the hat is AAPI seems to corroborate this. Suh counters that giving in to this type of thinking only serves to strengthen the paradigms of a patriarchal society—that we should fight about who “owns” the hat, or the march, rather than recognizing that anyone can march and anyone can represent women, together or alone. “I don’t think that there’s one right way of doing something, and to do it any other way you’re doing it wrong…It’s a strange standard to women’s issues that we have to be perfectly united, otherwise we’re not worth hearing out. Once two women don’t get along, it’s a big deal, like a cat fight, whereas two white men might argue and they’re both respected afterwards…It’s not a binary thing…There’s a meta level where the questions themselves are sort of boxing in feminism.” This does not mean that Suh does not recognize the discrimination towards AAPI females that still needs to be addressed. Yet, “I try to come at it from a way where we’re building something together versus tearing things apart.” The color pink, too, Suh does not have a problem with. Some within the women’s movement have suggested the need to create distance from symbols historically tied to women. It’s not a new idea. Suh reminded us about a time when women went the opposite direction and chose blue. All we are doing, she claimed, is again, giving into the stereotypes of others. “I don’t think it’s about the color,” she explained. “It’s about our deep-seated fear of femininity.” Claims that pink is “too girly” or “too undignified” upset Suh. “They’re really missing the point here. It makes me sad and frustrated that somehow we associate whatever is the male association to be more dignified, to be taken more seriously. [Such as] if I wear blue, I’ll be taken more seriously. If I watch sports, I’ll be considered more cool. If I don’t spend as much money on beauty products, I’ll be more respected.” Suh’s webpage is themed in pink. And a book she wrote, DIY Rules for a WTF World, discusses how women can break away from restricting ideas of femininity and claim their power and their

inner creativity. “It was important for me to go hard with pink and not veer away with that,” she insisted. At the same time, Suh said, do whatever you like with the pink hat, also called “the pussyhat.” It’s yours. It’s ours. Its hers. It’s Asian American. It’s white. It’s LGBTQ. It’s whatever women want it to be. Suh determined “to have a light hand on the pussyhat.” To let it become part of the movement and the march. “If people wanted to make their own color hat, of course, go for it. The reason why it’s pink is to be more powerful and united, to create that sea of pink together. Individually, it stands out…but collectively, it can be different shades of pink, it can be an amazing, startling statement together. There are no rules.” Suh is radical in reclaiming pink. In saying, femininity does not equate to weakness. She is radical in letting herself be absorbed by the women’s movement, while at the same time, still participating in the movement. “On one hand, I want the whole world

to know it was me,” she admitted. “But on the other hand, it almost doesn’t matter. So many people created it together. Millions of women made this hat…I really want to focus and acknowledge how it was made by many people, but at the same time, I’m also aware of how there is a tendency for women not to brag about themselves.” That’s when Suh says that she would like to be an inspiration, “for girls of color, for little Asian girls like me, who were told they had to be a doctor lest they shame the entire family. It happened so quickly…It continues on…” Suh has plenty to say, and as an activist, artist, and screenwriter, she is adding her voice to all of our voices, no matter our background, to fight against common difficulties as women and as citizens. She hasn’t forgotten that the Women’s March happens every year, and that we still have a long way to go.  More can be found out about Krista Suh at kristasuh.com. Kai can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

asianweekly northwest

38 YEARS

MARCH 14 – MARCH 20, 2020

factor,” because of the implied expectation in said interactions that East Asian and Pacific Islander women be meek and submissive. But she didn’t find the support she needed from the feminist movements on campus, dominated as they were by white women who did not understand her position, leaving Batayola unsure of where her voice could be broadcast. This unsteady feeling was underscored by her upbringing. “As an immigrant, I was born and raised to be a Filipino woman. I am socialized and inculcated to it. … When I came here, there is no articulation, no regular articulation of what it is to be American, and what it is to be an American woman, other than the articulation of marketing and media,” Batayola said. “So, I think, for many of us who are immigrants, and I think still for the second, third, maybe even fourth generation, the [Asian Pacific American (APA)] values are still brought through––and, again, there is no universal APA value. It goes back to the specific nationality, which, in itself can be very diverse.” This is why Batayola is so excited about the exhibit at the Wing Luke Museum, called, “Hear Us Rise: APA Voices in Feminism,” which opened on March 6. The exhibit features the works of different women in the APA community, such as the visual and textual work of Tessa Hulls and that of Krista Suh, who created the Pussyhat Project. The exhibit’s main goal is to showcase APA women who are fighting gender discrimination, with the added backdrop of racism, colonialism, and imperialism, said Wing Luke senior exhibit developer Mikala Woodward. “These things are intersectional, and the way race and gender intersect for Asian women and Pacific Islander women is different than for other women of color,” Woodward said. Though she has since amplified her voice—starting in her time at the university, when she co-founded what became the Northwest Asian American Theatre, and now as part of the Asian Pacific Women’s Caucus, as well as the founding board member of what is now known as API Chaya—Batayola sees that the struggle for equal footing in the feminist movement is far from over, because of the nuances of what it means within her community. “When you’re dealing with both sexism and racism, sometimes the most predominant issue is the racism that not just affects our women, but our men and our

Photo by Auriza Ugalino

APA VOICES from 1

API Chaya Vigil 2019

families, also,” Batayola explained. “So, to that regard, the feminism isn’t just separating from the men, starting our own businesses, that kind of thing, although, that happens, too. But a perfect example of how we approached this is organizing for anti-domestic violence. … We knew it had to be a healing of the family—that women couldn’t always just leave.” Batayola serves as a member of the Wing Luke’s community advisory committee, which helped the museum create the exhibit. The committee teamed up with the Asian American Feminist Collective in New York City, hiring the group’s co-founder, Tiffany Tso, to write the informational texts, timelines, and backgrounds for the exhibit. As a Chinese Taiwanese woman, Tso holds a similar view of feminism as Batayola. From her own personal experience, Tso has often found feminism boiled down to a literal Black-and-white issue. “We are becoming a larger population, first of all, and second of all, I think we are becoming more politically engaged as a community of people who, historically, have been more disengaged, when it comes to politics,” Tso said. “So, I think the same would definitely apply to feminism, because feminism is a political identity that, I think, can be seen as controversial, for whatever reason. … I think that the identification of being an Asian American and a feminist, or a Pacific Islander and a feminist, is a complex identity that less people can really identify with.” Tso said that, for her, this identity is so complex, because of the way it mixes with traditional Chinese values. “People think that, you know, in East Asian countries like China, women are not equal, that we can’t identify

FOR FAIR REPRESENTATION

as something as radical as feminism, because you look back at traditional Chinese values, and that’s antithetical to the two things going together,” Tso said. “But I think that that is clearly not true. In every single community, in every single country, there has been a feminist movement of some sort. And maybe they don’t use those exact words, but that there are people who are practicing radical feminist ideology in every single culture, and there has always been a fight for whatever people might consider feminist fights.” And like Batayola, Tso, too, has experienced fetishization and being hypersexualized by Western society. “There is definitely this aspect of being sexualized, but without any agency. … There are several stereotypes, of course. We’re both nerdy and studious, as well as being, for some reason, like, a dragon lady that is super hypersexual and a dominatrix. How can we be both of these things all at once?” Tso said. But, Tso admitted, some of this also comes from her own upbringing. “I’ve personally felt myself coming into this realization and reckoning with my own sexuality, where I realize that so much of it was projected onto me because of either racialized stereotypes, or even, sometimes, your family, where chasteness is valued, and being pure—you know, like just saying, ‘Don’t even talk about sex.’ … I internalized a lot of things around heteronormativity and cisnormativity … and then also the way I should be viewed or how I should move through the world.” Tso said she also understands that the way she practices feminism wouldn’t necessarily work for her older female relatives, because she is part of the younger generation. “There are differences, and no one way is correct—it just is what it is, and we all adapt the way that we can,” Tso said. “I never look at the way that my mom or my aunt practiced their femininity or the way they identify themselves politically—I would never judge them or project American values onto them. This is the whole practice of Asian American feminism … we do have to have this initial lens that we do things through, that we understand the straddling of two different cultures, and that one person’s liberation doesn’t look like someone else’s liberation.”  Hear Us Rise: APA Voices in Feminism is at the Wing Luke Museum, 719 South King Street, Seattle, WA 98104. Tickets may be purchased online or at the museum. Carolyn can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

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