VOL 39 NO 26 | JUNE 27 – JULY 3, 2020

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AAPI leaders react to Supreme Court DACA ruling

By Ruth Bayang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) leaders are urging citizens to demand that lawmakers support a pathway to citizenship for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 last week that the Trump administration was not legally authorized to terminate the DACA amnesty program in 2017.

Michael Byun, the executive director at Asian Counseling and Referral Service, said 30,000 of DACA recipients are AAPIs. “For these young people, it’s an incredibly emotional victory as they have bought time to continue going to school and working in the U.S, and perhaps most importantly, living in the communities they consider home.”

President Donald Trump has said that he will renew his effort to end DACA, even though experts say there isn’t enough time to knock down the program before the November election.

Byun said DACA recipients are vulnerable until Congress takes action to protect them.

In this June 18, 2020, photo, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) students celebrate in front of the Supreme Court after it rejected President Donald Trump's effort to end legal protections for young immigrants.

Nagasaki survivor turns 100

see DACA on 4

Groups blast Momiji owners for pacifying racist guilt Washington Building Leaders of Change (WA-BLOC) is calling on Momiji Restaurant to pay reparations to a Black woman who was called the n-word by Momiji’s former general manager.

The incident, caught on video and circulated on June 22, shows the man, who is Asian, inciting a fight with a Black woman after calling her the n-word. The man then gets into a physical fight with her and another woman, before bystanders stepped in to break it up.

Momiji is located on 1522 12th Avenue—in the heart of the Capitol Hill Organized Protest Momiji owners Steven Han (left) and Lawrence Yeh

see MOMIJI on 9

Yoneko Mochizuki (left) and granddaughter Jenn Doane

By Jenn Doane SPECIAL TO THE NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY On June 27, 2020, my dear Obaachan (grandmother), Yoneko Mochizuki, will be turning a cool 100 years old. She will become a

■

centenarian—a title reserved for less than 1% of the world’s population, and a milestone that most of us can only dream of reaching.

Her birthday comes at an unprecedented time— in the midst of the global see SURVIVOR on 12

community news  3

on the shelf  5

publisher’s blog  6

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

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asianweekly northwest

38 YEARS

JUNE 27 – JULY 3, 2020

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS Murals contest

it has accepted a $555,800 grant from Pierce County Human Services CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund to support rental assistance in Pierce County for people directly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

These funds will allow KWA to provide $800 worth of rental assistance for 200 households over three months.

The eligibility requirements include employment or income loss due to COVID-19, current income at or below 50% AMI, and all must be Pierce County residents. 

Kin On nursing home completed COVID-19 testing

A portrait of Breonna Taylor at Eastern Cafe, by Mari Shiguya

We want to celebrate the diverse works of art displayed in the Chinatown-International District and are holding a contest to honor the artists behind them. Be sure to pick up our newspaper as we announce the finalists in the month of July. The murals will be selected for various categories, including “Best #BlackLivesMatter themed mural” and “Best representation of the C-ID.” 

KWA receives $555,800 CARES Grant

Korean Women’s Association (KWA) announced

ICHS Clinical Services Director Rattana Chaokhote (second from the left) leads a team of medical staff to extend COVID-19 testing at Kin On on June 11.

Kin On Rehab & Care Center has completed the COVID-19 testing of its residents and staff on June 11 and June 12, fulfilling the state’s requirement of universal testing of all nursing homes.

A total of 208 specimens were collected and tested by a team from International Community Health Services. All residents, contractors, and staff members tested negative, with an exception that one staff member had an “inconclusive” result. The staff member was retested on June 16 and the result came back negative.

The staff member exhibited no signs and symptoms and was put in a 14-day self-quarantine as a precaution, and will follow the “Return to Work” protocol. 

Distinguished Teaching Award recipients

Xiaosong Li and Ali Rowhani-Rahbar received the University of Washington’s Distinguished Teaching Award this year — one of the highest teaching recognitions at the UW. Recipients are chosen based on mastery of the subject matter, ability Xiaosong Li to engage students both within and outside of the classroom, and innovations in course and curriculum design.

Li is a professor in the Chemistry Department, as well as an associate chair for graduate education. Xiaosong was also instrumental in creating a new professional degree program and new curriculum in the Chemistry Department.

Rowhani-Rahbar is an associate professor in Epidemiology in the School of Public Health.

A former student described him as an “inspiring teacher and mentor whose voice, vision, and guidance follow you long after class is done.”  Rowhani-Rahbar

At the Chamber, we’re building a community that is stronger, more equitable, and more resilient than before.

Learn how we’re doing it at

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YOUR VOICE

■ COMMUNITY NEWS

JUNE 27 – JULY 3, 2020

asianweekly northwest

UW graduate student responds to COVID-19 crisis

By Nina Huang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY This spring, University of Washington (UW) neuroscience graduate student Su-Yee Lee put her fruit fly research on hold to help with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lee grew up in California’s Bay Area and started gaining interest in the brain and behavior in high school.

“I was really interested in investigative journalism, and I think that becoming a scientist melds information gathering and finding out more about a problem or question,” she said.

Having always been fascinated by the diversity of life on Earth, her curiosity led her to study biology with a neuroscience focus.

Lee graduated from University of California San Diego in 2015.

Throughout her time in college, Lee always worked in biology and neuroscience labs, which led her to the PhD program for neuroscience.

She started the UW program in 2017 and chose the school because

she was interested in the faculty and research offerings.

Lee studies how neurons communicate with each other, muscles coordinating movement, motor systems and circuits. She probes different modular systems.

For example, adrenaline or caffeine, she manipulates those systems to see what roles they play in altering behaviors such as walking.

“Fruit flies have great genetic tools to manipulate groups of neurons and see how that changes communications between neurons, and how that alters different behaviors,” she said.

She aspires to be a professor and run a neuroscience research lab.

COVID-19 testing The opportunity to support the COVID-19 testing came when she received an email from the UW Virology department in UW Medicine’s Department of Laboratory Medicine, seeking volunteers to help out in the testing center.

They needed people with lab experience who have run a preliminary chain reaction (PCR) —a common technique that biomedical researchers have used before which was the basis of the COVID-19 test.

Lee’s adviser was supportive of those in her lab who wanted to help, so she raised her hand, along with a few others in her lab and the UW School of Medicine.

She initially worked as a volunteer, but as things changed rapidly, the lab eventually secured funding and were able to pay them hourly. Lee helped out for two months and as her own research ramped back up, it became harder for her to balance both.

“It was a bit hard to balance my research and working there. Most of the challenges came from the uncertainty of COVID-19 and what the future would look like. Being able to work at the testing center, I was tangibly able to help out with the situation, and it helped me to see COVID-19 TESTING on 9

Su-Yee Lee

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JUNE 27 – JULY 3, 2020

38 YEARS

■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR JUN THROUGH JUN 25

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“It is up to the community, where the majority are strongly in favor of legal pathways to citizenship for these individuals, to weigh in. We must continue to fiercely advocate not only for programs like DACA, but for the rights, safety, and dignity of all undocumented immigrants.”

“For all of us who believe in the humane and moral treatment of immigrants, a vision that has been crushed by a cruel, xenophobic Trump administration again and again,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal. “For the ideal of an America inscribed in the Statue of Liberty, the beacon of hope for many around the world. Dreamers have been at the center of that: the face of inspiration, the demonstration of courage in the darkest of times, the beautiful people who put one foot after the other and push forward the change that is needed.”

CISC Executive Director Michael Itti said, “We must continue to support the Dreamers, who arrived in the U.S. from all over the world when they were children. Our core values as Americans demand that we support creating a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients, fix our immigration system, and undo anti-immigrant policies.”

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DACA from 1

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Many believe Trump could modify the rescinding of DACA in the same way he changed a travel ban on mostly Muslim countries. The ban was upheld by the Supreme Court after two revisions in over a year, including adding North Koreans and some Venezuelan officials to the ban.

“The continued existence of DACA ensures that many in our community can continue to build families, pursue education, and work without fear and threat of deportation,” said the Japanese American Citizens League in a statement. It also said it agrees with the Court’s opinion that the Department of Homeland Security’s decision to end DACA was “arbitrary and capricious.”

Megan Essaheb, director of immigration advocacy for the Washington-based nonprofit Asian Americans Advancing Justice, said that while Trump can still terminate DACA, he could also choose to support legislation that provides legal status to recipients, along with 300,000 people who have temporary status and the estimated 11 million who are in the United States without permission.

“If he chooses cruelty, it will be on him,” Essaheb said.

Byun said the Supreme Court’s decision is an important reminder that organizing works and

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he urged people to “make a commitment to be a part of this fight—to join the conversation around immigration justice, to advocate for the rights and protection of our undocumented immigrants, to show up on the streets for Black immigrants facing police violence, and to vote come Election Day.”  Ruth can be reached at editor@nwasianweekly.com.

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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.

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YOUR VOICE

■ ON THE SHELF

JUNE 27 – JULY 3, 2020

asianweekly northwest

5

Book recommendations

By Samantha Pak NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Listen, Slowly

By Thanhhà Lại HarperCollins, 2015 Mai Le is a California girl through and through and with school out, she can’t wait to spend the summer on the beach with her best friend, Montana. However, at the last minute, her parents surprise her and she finds herself on a plane to Vietnam. The purpose of the trip is to accompany her grandmother, who is going back to learn what really happened to her husband during The War. While Mai’s parents think the trip is a chance for their 12-year-old daughter to learn about her culture, Mai is American, born and bred. Aside from not really speaking the language, she doesn’t know the geography, customs, or even her distant relatives.

To survive the trip, Mai has to figure out how to balance her two worlds.

“Listen, Slowly” is a story about a girl learning about who she is and where she comes from. Mai is a strong and opinionated girl and it’s fun to see her navigate a new environment where she is as unfamiliar with most things Vietnam as the locals are with her. The embroidery and language lesson scenes are particularly amusing (who knew sheep could be so expressive?).

And while Mai’s initial obsession with going back home may seem obnoxious (I may also just be showing my age in that I had an overwhelming urge to tell her to think about others), the longer she’s in the country, the less pressing this need becomes. Over the course of a few weeks, we see her grow as she becomes friends with a girl named Ut, who loves science and is particularly obsessed with frogs, and it is great to see how that relationship blossoms.

Although the story focuses on Mai and her experiences, Lai also includes

examples of what life was like during the Vietnam War. While she doesn’t go into much detail, it is enough to catch the readers’ interest so that some may look into things themselves.

The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters

By Balli Kaur Jaswal William Morrow, 2019

Sisters Rajni, Jezmeen, and Shirina Shergill were never close growing up and now that they’re adults, they have

grown even further apart. But after their mother dies, the British-born trio — the rule-following school principal Rajni, struggling actress Jezmeen, and Shirina with the seemingly picture-perfect life after marrying into wealth and moved to Australia—travel to India to fulfill their mother’s dying wish of making a pilgrimage to the Golden Temple in Amritsar to carry out her final rites.

For the three sisters, traveling to India comes with a mix of emotions, in see SHELF on 9

Safety is a family affair

Living in a multigenerational household means taking extra precautions to keep everyone safe and healthy Limit outdoor activities and wear protective gear when necessary to go out in public. Because going the extra mile to protect yourself also protects your family.

Keeping each other safe is another way to say “I love you.”

Let AARP help. For tips and resources during COVID-19, visit

aarp.org/coronavirus

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asianweekly northwest

38 YEARS

JUNE 27 – JULY 3, 2020

■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG

MY DIARY ON

By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

I rose in the morning, feeling blissful even though Father’s Day was not my day. How could I be joyful during the coronavirus pandemic? With uncertainty and bad news overshadowing good news every day, why do I feel at peace, not just today, but the day before and the week before?

Some people cried a lot over the pandemic.

Despite the Northwest Asian Weekly’s fate being uncertain and we are struggling, not once did I cry. No lamenting. No blaming.

The amazing thing is, there is no fear in my bones. You might say I am brave. Not quite.

I have trained myself to appreciate what I have, not what I don’t. My family is healthy, and I have the gift of a productive mind and strong body. What else can I ask for?

The worst is yet to come, according to health experts, who have predicted a second wave of the pandemic in September. Wait, the first wave isn’t over yet!? Just as I was pondering why I am so positive...I received an email to put me in the right perspective.

“Remember, not getting what you want is sometimes a stroke of luck,” Jane Nishita emailed me a quote from Nobel Prize winner Dalai Lama. I cherish my friends,

who always encourage me.

A similar Chinese proverb says, “You don’t know if a misfortune is a blessing in disguise.” It reminds me that some decisions I made, between 1998 and 2001, were the best I had ever made for myself and my family. Yet, I realized it only during the pandemic.

So whatever happens to me or the Northwest Asian Weekly, I might not find out the effects until much later. In fact, I am curious how every week I can put the pieces of the newspaper together, like a tough jigsaw puzzle. It is sort of exciting when you don’t know how the seeds you plant would turn out.

People ask how I do it. No, how do we do it ? We just do, I say. And my team will respond—commitment, passion, and a mission to preserve our community’s voice.

Because of them, the Asian Weekly and its sister paper, Seattle Chinese Post, can hit the street every week and online without fail. By doing it every single week, we are giving back and supporting our community.

We have a purpose every week. That purpose ignites me more than ever. Too many people are relying on us to provide them with critical information every week.

Newspapers are considered “essential,”

Photo by Assunta Ng

Father’s Day

Hainan chicken and rice, and mustard green soup

according to our government. We are essential to the community not only in this crisis, but now and in the future. We are an essential information clearinghouse. We are an essential bridge between the Asian community and other communities.

Inspiration from current events

How does COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement speak to me? It’s not the time for us to feel sorry for ourselves or stay idle. It’s time to act. You can always make a difference with small acts of compassion each day. It may be a small thing, but it could mean the world to others.

I never sent out Father’s Day greetings.

But I did this year. Today’s fathers are more inclined to be equal partners with their wives. Instead of just being breadwinners, modern fathers do a lot more for their

family, children, and community than their dads before them. It’s the best time to acknowledge my diverse male friends’ contributions as dads.

When I sent the greetings, I expected nothing back. And I was surprised. One texted me back with a photo of his kids, I was elated. Another told me that he’s at his son’s graduation. I was thrilled to share his joy. One sent me an interesting study about Japanese Americans attorney. My brother texted me back to remind me of our late father. Instantly, I was grateful that I have two dads, my biological dad and stepfather, who shared with me many life lessons.

My son John and daughter-in-law, Tracy, did their best to make Father’s Day special for us, even though they couldn’t join us in person. John follows social distancing see BLOG next page

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JUNE 27 – JULY 3, 2020

YOUR VOICE

three times a week.

Photos by Assunta Ng

Good things are right in front of you

Jefferson Park

Elliott Bay Marina

BLOG from previous page

movies. My favorite comedian is Dave Chappelle. My favorite Black actors and actresses are too many to name. Some of my favorite movies are BlacKkKlansman, Harriett, Marshall, Malcom X, Hidden Figures, Selma, The Color Purple, Akeelah & the Bee. I also like movies starring Queen Latifah or directed by Tyler Perry.

Go a step further—show how you can support people who don’t look like you or think like you by joining their groups or donating to organizations who do good for their communities.

I am grateful for my friendship with people of all races and backgrounds.

My Black friends play a key role in alerting me to the current and upcoming movers and shakers in their community, so our organization, Women of Color Empowered, could feature them in the Asian Weekly and honor them in our events. I have always considered them as blessings in my life. Thank you to my friends, you know who you are, for making me the person I am today.

I feel nervous when I see on television that people are gathering in crowded bars and beaches in California and Florida.

Those who resist masks or ignore social distancing for whatever reason, please wear masks for yourself and others. Remember, the virus doesn’t discriminate. The consequences of getting infected are dire.

Even if you survive, you pay a heavy price.

Just ask Michael Flor, who recovered from the virus after being in the hospital for over 60 days. He will tell you that your body will never be the same. Some recovered patients have permanent damage to their respiratory system and other side effects. Flor’s kidney has been damaged. He now goes to dialysis

guidelines to the tee. Given the spiking number of COVID-19 deaths and infections now, he and my staff member Nancy pushed our office to “work at home” in early March.

Tracy cooked us mouth watering Hainan chicken and rice with mustard green soup for lunch. John insisted that he would treat us and pick up dinner for us. My husband George asked for steak. John picked up a full dinner takeout, including a bone-in steak, baked potato, and wedge salad. The chocolate cake was my request. Yes, the steak bone made me happy as I could chew and suck on it like a dog. I wonder if I was a dog in my past life? Everything was lovely and delicious.

I texted my kids afterwards, “No need to bring us lunch for the next three days,” as we have so much leftovers in our fridge.

It’s a time to accept change

Having COVID-19 and BLM together is like a Twin Pandemic, as some suggest.

It’s time for change. We need to change drastically or be a change agent. Embrace new ideas and new relationships. We all have the responsibility to make the world a better place.

For those who carry bias and stereotypes of other ethnic groups, now’s the time to admit it and change your attitude and behavior. Start with making friends with other ethnic groups. How about baking cookies for your ethnic neighbors? You make the first move. Accept them as human beings and learn from them.

Watch and support Black entertainers.

You can learn another culture in multidimensions by watching their shows and

On Father’s Day, roaming in three parks adjacent to each other (Judkins, Jimi Hendrix, and Sam Smith Park) was the highlight of our day. Walk for sanity, I say.

In the past, we hiked everywhere, far and near. With the pandemic, it’s better to walk closer to home. Our usual spots were Seward Park and Olympic Sculpture Park.

Those places are dangerous for us. We are in the high-risk age group for the virus. We felt uncomfortable when we were there.

It was crowded, the visitors didn’t wear masks, and never kept a 6-foot distance. I would assume it’s the same as Green Lake —overcrowded.

“Good things are right in front of you,” said my husband. You just have to look.

Judkins Park, Jefferson Park, Jimi Hendrix Park, Sam Smith Park, Montlake Park, Elliott Bay Marina, and Fort Dent Park in Tukwila are some of our favorites. You might have heard that there were BLM protests around the first three parks I mentioned. But other days, those parks have little traffic, and are close to the ID. Strolling around public parks is free and a wonderful way to exercise. It’s a chance to appreciate the fresh air and our city’s Parks Department’s great job of keeping it clean.

Walking a loop around the park clarifies my mind. Walking or jogging two to three park loops a few times a week is better than any medicine in curing anxiety and depression.

It’s time for sacrifice

It’s been more challenging for me to publish a community newspaper during a pandemic, when most of my staff members are working from home. In the past, we relied so much on personal interaction to make all the corrections and changes.

From the first draft to a finished product, we made at least 30 changes each round.

From captions to headlines, spacing to color, photos to graphics, switching stories to different pages, we constantly revise every tiny bit of information to make it better in appearance and content. You can

asianweekly northwest

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imagine how much more work and time is needed for me to communicate the changes back and forth through emails, texts, and phone calls. However, the sacrifices I make are insignificant, compared to the amount of business we lost during the pandemic.

The impact of lost business might not be considered a disaster compared to those who are homeless or have lost their jobs, or got infected with COVID-19.

A month ago, the New York Times published a story about hundreds and thousands of urban Italians who lost their glamorous jobs in retail, entertainment and fashion, and went to work in farms to survive. The rationale is, you go where the jobs are. It doesn’t matter if it’s picking fruit or harvesting a farm. As long as you work hard for honest money, there is no shame if you can adapt and contribute to your society, and make a living without being a burden to your family. Farmers desperately need help. I found the story inspiring. People understand the meaning of sacrifice in difficult times. Do whatever it takes to survive and protect yourself and your family. That’s resilience.

The pandemic has taught me how to survive, live wiser and better. Thanks to the book, “The Choice: Embrace the Possible”

by Dr. Edith Eva Eger, I learned that “We can choose to be our own jailers, or we can choose to be free.” A holocaust survivor, what Eger endured was so unspeakable, traumatic, and horrifying that she was only healed decades later as told in her memoir. My hardship compared to Eger at an Auschwitz concentration camp is like eating a sumptuous dim sum meal, full of choices, fun, and possibilities. Do I have any right to complain?

I choose not only to be free, but joyfully optimistic by being creative with what I have. I started writing about lessons from coronavirus in a three-part series two months ago. And I still have more to say about those experiences. You can say this is Part 4, Lessons from Coronavirus. You decide. Thanks for reading.  Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.

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asianweekly northwest

■ HEALTH

38 YEARS

JUNE 27 – JULY 3, 2020

Mental health trends and tips during uncertain times

By Kai Curry NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

within a multicultural feminist framework, observes that “most of my patients who identify as Black or as a person of color are experiencing increased anxiety, frustration, and anger.”

Washington state ranks tenth in the nation for average rate of depression, says data from QuoteWizard. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and related government measures, 88% of workers have reported experiencing moderate to

Dr. Sally Chung

With the increase of racist acts in recent weeks, Dr. Sally Chung, a clinical psychologist who owns a private practice in Bellevue said some of her patients are afraid to leave the house.

“They are thinking about ways they might have to protect themselves. There is also this awfulness of not being able to trust your neighbors or the people around you.”

Chung, who specializes in working with Black, indigenous, and people of color

Dr. Albert Tsai

extreme stress.

Dr. Albert Tsai, attending psychiatrist at Overlake Medical Center’s Adult Day Hospital program, said while many of his patients are focused on

relationship or job problems that were already concerns before the pandemic, the coronavirus, the riots, and the protests could be “the straw that breaks the camel’s back.” What he has observed in relation to COVID-19 and recent social unrest are trends of all or nothing thinking, learned helplessness, and watching too much news.

Learned helplessness is a common symptom of people who suffer from depression. It leads to a conviction that one has no control over a situation, and therefore is trapped. Tsai recommends the adage: think globally, but act locally.

“You don’t have global scale influence. Do your part.

Not meeting with immunocompromised people or those with severe health conditions, or old people. Act personally. Taking care of your hygiene. If you have a fever, stay home. Choose to stay home and social distance.”

It comes down to your “circle of control.” Maybe, suggests Tsai, you are worried about

President Trump.

“That is outside of the circle of control. Instead, look at something more like what are your goals for the day? What kind of mask do you wear? How do you wash your hands?”

Rather than, “‘Is my job going to be gone? What do I do next year with my college?’”

Tsai advises, “Make plans for the week or the day. Zoom it down to where you have a sphere of influence.”

This segues into “all or nothing thinking.” Your gym is closed so you can’t exercise at all. Because of social distancing requirements, you can’t see your friends or family at all. Yet thanks to digital technology, there are ways to reach out if we are creative. And there are ways to talk to a professional about what you are feeling, such as via telehealth. Kaiser Permanente announced over 90% of mental health visits are now happening virtually, according to QuoteWizard.

Chung corroborates national data in that she has seen “more

people looking for therapists… they are reporting increased anxiety and depression, social isolation, and loneliness,” as well as “people itching to go out—they’ve been at home for so long.”

Chung talks about the particular nature of the pandemic.

“COVID is like Schrodinger’s cat—you don’t know if you have it, but you have to act like you have it.” This resulting uncertainty increases tension and anxiety.

Additionally, “misinformation about transmission rates and which populations are most at risk… and the response our country has had makes it hard to track and test people, which contributes to the whole ‘do we have it, do we not have it?’ anxiety.”

Quarantine, or lockdown, also creates stressors. It can be difficult to be home with people with whom you have conflict.

Maybe there is risk of domestic see MENTAL HEALTH on 10

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YOUR VOICE

■ NATIONAL NEWS

JUNE 27 – JULY 3, 2020

asianweekly northwest

9

Woman apologizes after backlash from confronting homeowner

By DAISY NGUYEN ASSOCIATED PRESS SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The CEO of a cosmetics company issued an apology on June 14 after a video was widely shared online showing her and her husband confronting a man and threatening to call police because he stenciled “Black Lives Matter’’ in chalk on his San Francisco property.

The video, which has been retweeted 155,000 times, has sparked accusations of racism and led a cosmetics distributor to cut ties with Lisa Alexander, founder and CEO of LaFace Skincare.

“There are not enough words to describe how truly sorry I am for being disrespectful to him [on June 9] when I made the decision to question him about what he was doing in front of his home,“ Alexander said in

SHELF from 5 addition to their grief over their mother’s death. After traveling to the country with her mother almost 30 years earlier, Rajni vowed never to return. For Jezmeen, the trip is a welcome break after she was publicly fired from her television job. And for Shirina, whose in-laws are pressuring her with a life-changing decision, it’s a chance to reevaluate her marriage and learn how to stand up for herself.

As the name implies, “Shergill Sisters” is a story about sisters and the importance of that relationship.

Jaswal does a great job of portraying the complexities of these bonds. Despite their differences—and there are many—Rajni, Jezmeen, and Shirina are there for each other when they need it. And while they may be slow getting there, in the end, they realize that even if they may not always like each other, they are there to support one another. This made me think of my own relationship with my sister and how I could relate to one Shergill sister or another at any given moment throughout the story.

In addition, “Shergill Sisters” is a female take on the Indian travel narrative. The trio is not only navigating a

MOMIJI from 1 (CHOP)—a community that formed during Seattle’s protests against police brutality and racial injustices. Owners, Steven Han and Lawrence Yeh, said they were sorry in a video posted on the restaurant’s social media channels.

“Momiji will not tolerate this type of racist malicious behavior towards any member of our community. The manager in question was terminated immediately. His partnership is no longer valid.”

The owners said they reached out to community leaders in CHOP, Black Lives Matter (BLM), and Asians for BLM, and donated $10,000 ($5,000 each) to two organizations—WA-BLOC and Creative Justice.

Part of WA-BLOC’s mission is to dismantle systemic racism, and disrupt the school to prison pipeline for Black and brown youth. Creative Justice is an artsbased alternative to incarceration for young people in King County.

WA-BLOC released a statement calling Momiji’s donation “reactionary,” and said it “undermines the integrity and intentionality of our organization.”

WA-BLOC and Creative Justice said they have both refunded the donation, saying they “have

a statement. “I should have minded my own business.’’

The video, which first appeared on the Facebook page of James Juanillo, shows a couple asking him whether he lives in the house before asserting that they know he doesn’t live there and is therefore breaking the law.

Juanillo doesn’t answer the couple, but invites them to call the police. The couple then walk away, with Alexander responding: “Yes, we will do so.’’

The video stops short of showing what happens next.

Juanillo summed up the encounter on Twitter: “A white couple call the police on me, a person of color, for stenciling a (hash)BLM chalk message on my own front retaining wall.’’

He added that Alexander “lies and says she knows that I don’t live in my own house, because she knows the person who lives here.’’

Juanillo, who is Filipino, told KGO-TV he believes

the couple accused him of defacing private property because they didn’t think he belonged in the wealthy Pacific Heights neighborhood.

He said a police officer pulled up several minutes after the encounter and drove away after recognizing Juanillo as a longtime resident.

The social media furor over the video led Birchbox, which distributes beauty products via a subscription service, to announce on June 13 that it has cut ties with the company over Alexander’s “racist actions.’’

“When I watch the video I am shocked and sad that I behaved the way I did,’’ Alexander’s statement said. She said she was committed to learn from the experience and wants to apologize to Juanillo in person.

Alexander’s husband Robert Larkins was fired from

different country, they’re doing so in a male-dominated society in which it’s not always safe to be female.

Although this is something girls and women are likely to be aware of just by the nature of our gender, it is something male readers might not even think about or consider as they go about the world.

unexpected secrets, to say the least.

Through her personal experiences, Chung gives readers insight into the transracial adoption community.

She shares how out of place she sometimes felt within her extended family, how she hid much of the racist bullying she received , and how her adoptive parents’ colorblind approach to raising her, often saying it didn’t matter that she was Korean, left her ill equipped to deal with those situations.

Personally, I have known only a few people who are part of the transracial adoption community and so I did not know much about it. Chung shares with readers what it can be like to grow up in a community and family in which you look different from everyone else.

Despite some of the hardships she shares, Chung also shares some of the good things she has experienced, including her loving adoptive parents. Like almost anything else, adoption is a complex and complicated experience for everyone involved and Chung shows readers just one experience in her honest and heartfelt story. 

All You Can Ever Know: A Memoir

By Nicole Chung Catapult, 2018

When Nicole Chung was born prematurely (by about two months), her Korean parents put her up for adoption and ended up being raised by a white family in a small Oregon town. For as long as she could remember, her adoption story was one of divine fate: her biological parents made the ultimate sacrifice in hopes of giving her a better life.

But as she grew up, dealing with racism and prejudice she never shared with her adoptive family, she began wondering where she came from and about the real story behind her adoption. And as she comes to expect the birth of her first child, she begins her search for the people who gave her up. Her findings reveal a number of

no interest in upholding capitalism, the nonprofit industrial complex, or pacifying racist guilt.”

“This lukewarm and performative philanthropy acts as a passive escape route for the wealthy class to evade accountability and avoid getting their hands dirty to help

see BLM APOLOGY on 11

Samantha can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

dismantle the oppressive systems that disproportionately disenfranchise the communities we serve every day.”

WA-BLOC and Creative Justice said Momiji should use the $10,000 that was originally donated to pay reparations to the woman who was subjected to hate and

abuse by Momiji’s former general manager.

“Restitution is owed to the person who was directly harmed,” the statement said.

The owners of Momiji have said that they will implement racial bias training for all of their employees. 

10

asianweekly northwest

JUNE 27 – JULY 3, 2020

38 YEARS

CLASSIFIED EMPLOYMENT

University UCC church seeks Interim Music Director, 25 hours/ week, $40,000 per year salary plus benefits. Email a resume and cover letter to office@unievrsityucc.org Find the full job description at www.universityucc.org/interimmusic-director UCUCC is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applicants of all gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ability, and religious background to apply.

EMPLOYMENT

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MENTAL HEALTH from 8 violence, reports of which have increased in recent months. Other issues include “not having privacy and having one’s routine disrupted, such as not going to work, not hanging out with friends, or not even being able to go to their therapist’s office,” adds Chung. Parents have the added responsibility of educating and entertaining their children, who can’t understand why they aren’t allowed to go out and play.

All of this, says Chung, “ramps up the isolation and frustration experienced in quarantine.”

“I typically redirect patients to work with their therapists through Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which helps patients work through their initial distortions,” says Tsai. “Look for ways to untwist your thinking and unhelpful thinking styles. Read a book or exercise or practice your breathing. A lot of people have turned to meditation.

There are a lot of apps that do guided imagery meditation, such as CALM and Headspace.”

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Both Tsai and Chung recommend staying away from excessive news watching.

“It can be draining,” Tsai said.

“Pick one or two news sources, preferably ones that aren’t dramatic or sensational—and are evidence based. Put down your phone and engage in an activity that is sensory in nature, such as exercising, gardening, or baking.”

Chung similarly suggests “limiting social media and interactions with people who are stressful or toxic for you.” She emphasizes utilizing a good support network.

“Having someone with whom you can share your experiences helps you feel less alone, particularly if you are experiencing traumatic or stressful situations.”

While it has been a scary time for all, there has been hope, too, amidst COVID-19 and the protests in support of Black Lives Matter (BLM), that we might finally move forward as a nation.

“People are angry, people are hurting…people are straining to understand where these protests are

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coming from,” Chung said. “It’s been cool to see AAPIs come together to support the Black community…It’s wonderful to see people learning about events not taught in school, understanding their role in systemic racism, and processing their biases.”

She stresses the importance of talking to friends and family about racism, which might be hard.

“Your immigrant parents or immigrant grandparents don’t know anything about it. They’re not going to understand why you’re putting yourself at risk.” Chung advises showing them short articles or videos and using that opportunity to tell them why combating racism is important to you.

Chung has seen “helplessness from those that feel they’re not doing enough.” Even if a person has a good reason for not attending a protest and supports BLM or COVID-19 relief efforts through other means, “they feel guilty that they’re not doing more.” Standing up, standing together, and directing our energy towards a worthy cause can help fend off the anxiety that afflicts so many

during this time, and regain a needed sense of control.

Chung encourages her patients to acknowledge their contributions and recognize that there are multiple ways to contribute. No one way is better than another.

She helps her patients do what they can, and explores ways their advocacy, or growth, can be sustainable in the long-term.  Kai can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

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“A large percentage of the COVID-19 samples would be delivered to the lab testing center at the UW Medical Center, and we would intake those samples, enter information into the database, and then prepare them (package, freeze, or spin them down if its blood) to be sent out to another site in Eastlake where they’re tested for COVID-19,” she explained.

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protective equipment when processing samples. They processed 1,000 to 2,500 samples per day. There is a publicly available online dashboard that shows the overall daily testing volumes for COVID-19 performed at the lab.

They kept things organized for the patient and there were different tiers of sample importance, depending on location of origin and what occupation (essential worker, nursing home worker, etc.). Samples often came from locations far away from Seattle such as out of state, and those would be prioritized last.

While the experience of testing COVID-19 samples has made Lee think more about translational science, research that directly contributes to human health and medicine, she’s still focused on neuroscience.

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“Once people started looking for cures and vaccines, I saw quite a lot of creative efforts from other researchers at the School of Medicine. People were coming together and using their expertise and learnings to find a cure. I found that no matter what background you have, a cure and vaccine can come from anywhere,” she said.

Lee used to work at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in San Diego, where Jonas Salk discovered the polio vaccine. That has always been an inspiration for her.

“I see how much impact it’s had on the world. It really reinvigorates my work and bolsters my excitement to be a scientist at a time like this,” she said.  Nina can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

YOUR VOICE

■ ASTROLOGY

JUNE 27 – JULY 3, 2020

asianweekly northwest

11

Predictions and advice for the week of June 27–July 3, 2020

By Sun Lee Chang Rat — Have you gone too far in one direction?

You still have time to implement a course correction.

Dragon — As the differences become increasingly evident, it is important to reach out and try to bridge the gap.

Monkey — Is your current role is holding you back? A change might be in order to realize your potential.

Ox — Guided by a deep sense of purpose and resolve, you are a formidable force to be reckoned with.

Snake — You tend to march to your own drummer. No matter the destination, there is satisfaction in choosing your own way.

Rooster — From what you are seeing, do the figures seem slightly off? Trust your hunch and run your own numbers.

Tiger — Don’t assume that your partner knows where you stand. Check in regularly to ensure you are on the same page.

Horse — Your heart is in the right place.

However, be objective about whether the results match up to your intentions.

Dog — Be wary of someone who tells you only what you want to hear. Their goal may not align with yours.

Rabbit — If you sense that a major shift is around the corner, it behooves you to make the necessary preparations.

Goat — Are you repeating a pattern that isn’t particularly helpful? Recognizing it is the first step to avoid doing it again.

Pig — Some risks are worth more than others.

Be selective about when you are willing to go out on a limb.

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.

BLM APOLOGY from 9 his investment bank and he has also publicly apologized for the incident—the couple has said they wished to personally apologize to Juanillo, who said he hasn’t yet heard from them in person but welcomes the outreach.

“For me this experience has left me feeling vindicated and validated. I imagine that she regrets those couple of minutes,“ he said. “Do I believe that her life should be destroyed over this? No. I just hope that she realizes that what she did was racist and she can improve from this incident.’’ 

碧近山駕駛學校 碧近山駕駛學校 KING COUNTY NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids will be received for C01397C20, West Point Treatment Plant - Secondary Mixed Liquor Blower Replacement; by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, via email, at procurement.submittals@ kingcounty.gov, until 1:30 PM on July 14, 2020. Late bids will not be accepted.

There is a 5% minimum Apprentice Utilization Requirement on this contract.

There is a 5% minimum requirement for King County Certified Small Contractors and Suppliers (SCS) on this contract.

Brief Scope: Project includes replacing two existing centrifugal blowers with two new high-speed turbo blowers.

The work also includes removing and salvaging the existing blowers and related piping.

Estimated contract price: $945,000 Pre-Bid: Tuesday, June 30, 2020 at 8:30am. Bidders can attend via conference call 1-206-263-8114, then entering Conference ID 4304561. Or they can join directly through Skype by following this link: https://meet.kingcounty.gov/ megsaunders/m5st7kgt Complete Invitation to Bid Documents, including all project details, specifications, and contact information are available on our web page at: https://procurement. kingcounty.gov/procurement_ovr/default.aspx

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38 YEARS

JUNE 27 – JULY 3, 2020

SURVIVOR from 1

Japan in order to receive a Japanese education, with the hopes of one day returning to the United States. Her father abandoned them around this time, and her mother became a single parent, supporting their family of three on her seamstress wages and some additional support from friends and family.

After graduating from high school, Yoneko immediately went to work at the Mitsubishi Shipyards reading blueprints, where it is speculated that they were developing plans for the World War II battleship “Musashi.” Yoneko proudly worked as one of only two women among over 250 men in their division.

The war

Yoneko Mochizuki

coronavirus pandemic, as well as during arguably one of the world’s largest social justice movements.

Circumstances are such that our family will be unable to throw the sensational centenarian birthday bash we had been anticipating and ideating over the past few years.

However, as one way to honor her in lieu of a huge inperson celebration, we are hoping to share some bits and pieces of her incredible journey to turning 100 years old— a story of independence, perseverance, and grit—qualities inextricably linked to her longevity.

Early Life Yoneko was born in 1920 in San Francisco to owners of a music shop in Japantown. In 1925, her mother moved her and her older brother back to their hometown of Nagasaki,

In the summer of 1945, two weeks before the atomic bomb was dropped over Nagasaki, Yoneko and her family were fortuitously given a tip from a trusted friend to pack their belongings and head to the countryside. They took shelter with a family friend who lived on a farm roughly 10 miles from the city center.

Yoneko has vivid memories of the day the bomb dropped. It was a warm summer day when she noticed an irregular flash of light while doing laundry in the house.

She ran outside and witnessed a miles-high mushroom cloud sprouting up over the city in the distance. She remembers being summoned to the local train station the following day to help the injured and dying—those who could were crying for water and begging to be shielded from the hot sun. There was black rain that evening, and the city continued to smoke for days.

In the months following the atomic bombing, supplies were scarce (toilet paper was a luxury), and Yoneko recalls sweet potatoes growing to the size of watermelons, likely due to the radiation. Food shortages left them no other choice but to eat whatever produce they could acquire.

Move to the United States Yoneko was fortunate to land a coveted role as a housekeeper for a wealthy American family living in Nagasaki, and credits her dual citizenship for playing a part in this. When the family decided to relocate back to Seattle, they offered Yoneko the opportunity to come along to help with child care. In her hopes to learn English (which would

increase her job prospects), she jumped at the opportunity.

Her plan was to send money home to continue supporting her family and eventually return to Japan.

In Seattle, Yoneko went on to work for various families doing housework and child care, and took English classes in the evenings, all while sending half her income to her family back in Nagasaki. She eventually found steady work at a grocery store bakery, which led to her long-term career as a cake decorator. She continued to financially support her family in Japan, and eventually brought her mother to the United States to care for her in her old age.

Retirement Yoneko retired from the baking industry in 1980 and though it marked the beginning of a new chapter for her, she continues with her active lifestyle and her never-ending pursuit to learn, stay physically active, and socialize. She learned how to golf in her 70s, completed her first half marathon walk in her 80s (most recent half marathon completed at age 95), and volunteered at an adult day care program well into her 90s. Throughout her retirement, she has also been able to flex her artistic muscles through water color, acrylic painting, and silk screening, and has been revered for her culinary expertise—keeping up a yearly tradition of preparing and distributing hundreds of Christmas cookies to family, friends, and neighbors.

Secrets to longevity Yoneko was raised by a single mother, financially supported her family from an early age, and has witnessed and endured some of history’s most horrific and unprecedented events. Her determination to create a better life for her family and for herself demonstrates her selflessness and grit, which has ultimately defined her character and has guided her through a century of life.

Though her longevity can observably be tied to maintaining a healthy diet and regular exercise, what sets her apart is her continued desire to learn, to grow, and to give. We’re all looking forward to what the next century brings for her— or rather, what she will bring to the next century.

Happy Birthday, Obaachan.  Jenn can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.