VOL 40 NO 17 | APRIL 24 – APRIL 30, 2021

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VOL 40 NO 17 APRIL 24 – APRIL 30, 2021

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AAPI leaders Chinese American history react to Chauvin month bill snags over intent guilty verdict

Rep. My-Linh Thai

By Mahlon Meyer NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

was rarely taught in schools.

Now, there seems to be a solution. Washington State House Bill 5246 calls on the state to deem January “Chinese American history month” and encourages schools to “designate time for appropriate activities” to commemorate “the

If you have been reading this paper long enough, you probably know that during the 19th and 20th centuries, Chinese Americans faced appalling mistreatment at various times in this country. You probably also know that the subject

see BILL on 13

Virtual Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration

AAPI Against Hate youth-led group protests racism against Asians

Photo by Rod Mar.

Linda Yang of WA Asians for Equality, argues that racism against Asian Americans includes affirmative action in education.

and commitment to A jury on April 20 meaningful reform. found former MinneWe must continue apolis Police officer our work, not just by Derek Chauvin guilty acknowledging the of murder and manexistence of systemic slaughter in the death racism and bias, but of George Floyd. by fighting every day Chauvin knelt on to forever eradicate Floyd's neck for more this impediment to than 9 minutes last Derek Chauvin health, justice, and year in one of the most consequential trials of the equal opportunity for all.” — Black Lives Matter era. The ju- Kim-Khanh Van , Renton City rors deliberated for more than 10 Councilmember hours over two days before com“It is a testament to the power ing to their decision.

The verdict sparked immediate of mass action with multiracial, reaction from Asian American working-class solidarity. All and Pacific Islander (AAPI) advo- credit goes to the rank-and-file cacy groups and lawmakers. activists in the Black Lives Matter “George Floyd’s life mattered movement for this victory.” — and Black Lives Matter. Guilty Kshama Sawant, Seattle City verdicts are steps toward justice, Councilmember but we cannot expect real change see CHAUVIN on 2 without sustained accountability

Virtual API Heritage Month celebration in 2020.

Seattle Center Festál presents Asian Pacific Islander (API) Heritage Month Celebration in partnership with the Asian Pacific Directors Coalition.

The event, from 12–2 p.m on May 2, will be broadcast online at facebook.com/apiheritage.

It seeks to preserve and promote the culture, heritage, and contributions of APIs in the Pacific Northwest region.

This streaming event is free and open to the public.

Organizers have packed the two-hour celebration with traditional music, dance, and interactive activities reflective of the 26 ethnic cultures that comprise the API community. The Filipino Youth Activities Drill Team will perform, along with the International Lion Dance Team.

The stream also features Huraiti Mana, a

■

Polynesian Dance Troupe based in Seattle; a Laotian traditional dance troupe called Kinnaly; Northwest Wushu, the Chinese art of fighting; Te Fare O Tamatoa, showcasing music dance and culture of Tahiti; and Hālau Hula Ka Lei Mokihana I Ka Ua Noe, perpetuating Hawaiian culture through Hula.

University of Washington student-based groups Sayaw Filipino Folk Dance and K-pop dance group The Kompany will also join in the celebration.

The day offers community conversations addressing #StopAAPIHate and COVID-19 vaccinations. The celebration will also include the ever popular Alan Sugiyama Hum Bow Eating Contest, along with an API food demonstration.  View the program details at seattlecenter.com/ events/featured-events/festal/api-heritage-monthcelebration.

Anson Huang and Madeleine Magana speaking as part of AAPI Against Hate at Hing Hay Park on March 13

By Kai Curry NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY How do you start a movement?

The youth leaders of the newly formed organization, AAPI Against Hate, are finding out.

Spurred by the recent rise in antiAsian crime across the nation, several local young people have come together to lend a hand and make a difference.

“If you feel really impassioned about something that’s going on, you’ve got to get involved, especially with issues like this concerning human rights and human wellness. There’s nothing that’s going to change if nobody gets involved,” stated Nathan Duong, one of the five founding members of the group.

“We all get involved in different see AAPI on 13

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39 YEARS

APRIL 24 – APRIL 30, 2021

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS Biden names Moritsugu as AAPI liaison

On April 14, President Joe Biden named Erika Moritsugu, a Capitol Hill veteran and vice president of a women’s rights advocacy group, as his liaison to the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.

Erika Moritsugu In a statement announcing her appointment, the White House said Moritsugu will “be a vital voice to advance the president and the administration’s priorities.”

Biden committed to creating a senior-level role focused on the AAPI community after he received criticism from Democratic Sens. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii for the lack of AAPI representation in his cabinet. 

Hua receives 2021 Mayor’s Award for Achievement in Film

On April 8, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan presented Vivian Hua and Northwest Film Forum (NWFF) the 15th Annual Mayor’s Award for

Vivian Hua

CHAUVIN from 1 “I am relieved that a jury held Chauvin accountable for murder, and it is my sincere hope that this guilty on all counts verdict is the first step in the long march towards justice. The U.S. Senate has no more excuses. It’s time to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act to rebuild trust in policing and improve public safety for all people,

Achievement in Film.

The award recognizes an individual or entity for exceptional work that has significantly contributed to the growth, advancement, and reputation of Seattle as a filmmaking city.

Hua is a writer, filmmaker, organizer, and executive director of NWFF since October 2018. As a nonprofit film and arts center located in Capitol Hill, NWFF presents hundreds of films, festivals, community events, multidisciplinary performances, and public discussions each year. 

Ang Lee awarded BAFTA’s highest honor

Ang Lee, the Oscar-winning director of “Life of Pi” and “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” is the first Chinese to be awarded the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA)’s lifetime achievement Ang Lee award.

The 74th BAFTA Awards ceremony was held on April 10 and 11 at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

“Lee is one of the world’s most pioneering and revered contemporary filmmakers whose ground-breaking films are highly acclaimed spanning multiple genres throughout his producing, writing, and directing career,” BAFTA said in a statement. 

regardless of zip code or background.” — Rep. Marilyn Strickland “Today’s verdict brings accountability for the murder of George Floyd, who should and would be alive right now were it not for a system that permits and too often excuses the use of excessive force—predominantly against Black people. Ending the use of dangerous tactics like choke

Paull Shin dies

The first Korean American elected to the Washington State legislature has died peacefully in his home April 12.

Dr. Paull H. Shin was 85 years old.

Born in Korea in 1935, Shin lost his family at an early age and survived, often begging for food on the streets of Seoul. He became a houseboy Paull Shin for a group of U.S. Army officers and in 1954, one of them, a dentist named Dr. Ray Paull, adopted him and brought him to his home in Utah. Despite knowing little English, Dr. Shin completed his GED in 18 months. He was an American and Asian history professor at Shoreline Community College for 31 years, and was very active serving in the Korean American community.

Shin is survived by his wife, two children and their spouses, five grandsons and spouses, three great grandchildren so far, his adopted American family, his Korean family of four brothers and their spouses and children, one sister and spouse and children.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mukilteo Boys & Girls Club, Veterans of Foreign Wars or World Vision, and memories may be shared at beckstributecenter.com. 

holds and no knock warrants and limiting the immunity that shields police from accountability for their actions are essential for ending police brutality.” — Rep. Judy Chu (D-California) “Asian Americans will be part of the ongoing fight for police accountability.” — the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund 

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■ COMMUNITY HEALTH

WA Notify: What is it and how it works Washington Exposure Notifications (WA Notify) is an important tool to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Just like wearing a mask, distancing and keeping gatherings small, WA Notify is a simple tool to protect our community. WA Notify works through smartphones, without sharing any personal information, to alert users if they may have been exposed to COVID-19. It is completely private, and doesn’t know or track who you are or where you go. Studies show that the more people who use exposure notification technology, the greater the benefit. Data models in Washington state show that even a small number of people using WA Notify would reduce infections and deaths.

iPhone users:

1. Go to Settings 2. Scroll down to Exposure Notifications 3. Click “Turn On Exposure Notifications” 4. Select United States 5. Select Washington

Android users:

1. Go to the Google Play Store 2. Search WA Exposure Notifications to find the app 3. Download the Washington Exposure Notifications app Once you add WA Notify to your phone, here’s how it works to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

1. When two people using WA Notify on their

smartphones are near each other, their phones exchange random codes using Bluetooth. The code is completely anonymous, with no location tracking or exchange of personal information.

2. When someone in Washington tests positive and public health reaches out to them, they will be asked if they have WA Notify and given a verification code.

3. The person who tests positive then enters the verification code into WA Notify. This is voluntary.

4. Anyone who also has WA Notify and has been near the user who tested positive for a significant length of time in the last 14 days will receive an anonymous alert that they may have been exposed to COVID-19.

5. Notifications have a link to information about what to do next to protect yourself and others. They do not contain any information about who tested positive or where the exposure may have happened.

No. Contact tracing identifies who a person that tests positive for COVID-19 has been in contact with.

WA Notify does not track or trace information about the people you are in contact with, so it doesn’t do “contact tracing.” The app doesn’t collect or exchange any personal information, so it isn’t possible for any entity to know who you have been in contact with.

Do I need WA Notify if I’ve been vaccinated?

Yes. Even after you are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you still need to practice the usual pandemic precautions. Vaccines are an effective way to protect yourself, but there is still a small risk that you could become infected or infect others who have not been vaccinated.  For more information, go to WANotify.org.

FAQs Do I have to pay for WA Notify?

No. WA Notify is free.

■ COMMUNITY NEWS

Photo by Assunta Ng

Not Your Model Minority March

April 17 “Not Your Model Minority” protest at Hing Hay Park.

SEATTLE — Dozens of people gathered at Hing Hay Park on April 17 for a “Not Your Model Minority March” protest.

This was in solidarity with Asians and Pacific Islanders (API) “as we stand against the acts of gendered colonial violence and white supremacy affecting API communities,” said an event flyer.

Various people spoke, including Amy Zhang, a resident physician in the University of Washington (UW) Department of Anesthesiology. She shared

Is WA Notify a contact tracing app?

her personal experience of COVID-related racism in March last year as she walked to work at Harborview Medical Center.

Zhang said a man started yelling racist slurs at her and made threats of sexual violence.

“It affected my lifestyle habits,” Zhang said. “I stopped walking outside and started driving a lot more, including to and from work, at great personal expense.” see MARCH on 12

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Lawsuit over Indonesia 737 crash claims autothrottle problem SEATTLE (AP) — A lawsuit filed in Seattle against Boeing alleges that a malfunctioning autothrottle system on an older 737 jet led to the crash of the Sriwijaya Air plane into the Java Sea in Indonesia last January, killing all 62 people on board.

The Seattle Times reported that the lawsuit, filed on April 15 in King County Superior Court on behalf of 16 families of crash victims, cited previous incidents involving malfunctions of the 737 autothrottle system, arguing the history suggests the system should have been redesigned.

Boeing in a statement extended sympathy to the families and loved ones of people who died in the Jan. 9 crash but added that “it would be inappropriate to comment while our technical experts continue to assist with the investigation, or on any pending litigation.”

This 737 that crashed had been

parked for nine months last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic air travel downturn. Indonesian aviation regulators issued a new certificate of airworthiness for the jet in December that allowed it to fly again.

According to the preliminary report into the crash of Flight SJ182 by the Indonesian National Transportation Safety Committee, maintenance logs showed that pilots repeatedly reported issues with the autothrottle in the days before the fatal flight and that technicians tried to fix the problem by cleaning switches and connectors.

The plane nose dived into the ocean near the Thousand Island chain in heavy rain shortly after it took off from Jakarta.

Sriwijaya Air had had only minor safety incidents in the past, though a farmer was killed in 2008 when a plane went off the runway while landing due to a hydraulic issue. 

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■ NATIONAL NEWS

39 YEARS

Sikh community calls for gun reforms after FedEx shooting

Taiwanese-born Chang gets racist tweets after Indians error

By CASEY SMITH and RICK CALLAHAN

By TOM WITHERS AP SPORTS WRITER

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Members of Indianapolis’ tight-knit Sikh community joined with city officials to call for gun reforms as they mourned the deaths of four Sikhs who were among the eight people killed in a mass shooting at a FedEx warehouse.

At a vigil attended by more than 200 at an Indianapolis park on April 17, Aasees Kaur, who represented the Sikh Coalition, spoke out alongside the city’s mayor and other elected officials to demand action that would prevent such attacks from happening again.

“We must support one another, not just in grief, but in calling our policymakers and elected officials to make meaningful change,” Kaur said.

“The time to act is not later, but now.

We are far too many tragedies, too late, in doing so.”

The attack was another blow to the Asian American community a month after authorities said six people of Asian descent were killed by a gunman in the Atlanta area and amid ongoing attacks against Asian Americans during the coronavirus pandemic.

About 90% of the workers at the FedEx warehouse near the Indianapolis International Airport are members of the local Sikh community, police said.

Kiran Deol, who attended the vigil

in support of family members affected by the shooting, said loopholes in the law that make it easier for individuals to buy guns “need to be closed now,” and emphasized that anyone who tries to buy a firearm should be required to have their background checked.

“The gun violence is unacceptable.

Look at what’s happened ... it needs to be stopped,” Deol said. “We need more reform. We need gun laws to be harder, stronger, so that responsible people are the ones that have guns. That’s what we want to bring awareness to.”

Satjeet Kaur, the Sikh Coalition’s executive director, said the entire community was traumatized by the “senseless” violence.

“While we don’t yet know the motive of the shooter, he targeted a facility known to be heavily populated by Sikh employees,” Kaur said.

There are between 8,000 and 10,000 Sikh Americans in Indiana, according to the coalition. Members of the religion, which began in India in the 15th century, began settling in Indiana more than 50 years ago.

One of the victims of the April 15 shooting was Amarjit Sekhon, a 48-year-old Sikh mother of two sons who was the breadwinner of her family.

Kuldip Sekhon said his sister-in-law began working at the FedEx facility in see SIKH on 12

NYPD: Man menaced, made anti-Asian remark to undercover cop NEW YORK (AP) — A New York man is facing hate crime charges after police said he made threats and anti-Asian American remarks—to an undercover officer assigned to a hate crimes task force.

Juvian Rodriguez, 35, was arrested on April 9 after the alleged confrontation near Penn Station.

According to news accounts, when reporters outside a police station asked Rodriguez for comment, he replied only, “Your mother!”

Police say Rodriguez intentionally engaged with the undercover officer, told him to “go back to China’’ before he ended up in a “graveyard,’’ and threatened to slap and stab him in the face.

He is facing misdemeanor charges

that include menacing and harassment as hate crimes, and aggravated harassment related to a person’s race, ancestry or certain other characteristics, court records show.

The arrest comes amid a national spike in reports of anti-Asian American hate crimes. The New York Police Department recently announced it was increasing patrols and adding undercover officers in areas with significant Asian American populations.

“The next person you target, whether it’s through speech, menacing activity or anything else, walking along a sidewalk or on a train platform, may be a plainclothes New York City police officer. So think twice,“ Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said at the time. 

CLEVELAND (AP) — Indians manager Terry Francona called racist social media messages sent to first baseman Yu Chang “stupid and ignorant” and said they have no place in baseball or “anywhere.”

On April 13, Chang shared some antiAsian postings he received on Twitter after he made a costly error in the ninth inning of the April 12 game in Chicago.

The throwing error allowed the White Sox to score the winning run.

Chang, who is Taiwanese, posted some of the tweets on his account while asking for tolerance. One of the messages referred to the shape of his eyes and another referred to the coronavirus.

“Exercise your freedom of speech in a right way, I accept all comments, positive or negative but DEFINITELY NOT RACIST ONES,” Chang wrote.

“Thank you all and love you all.“ He included the hashtag StopAsianHate.

Chang’s tweet included a screenshot of three of the messages. Two of the accounts seem to have been deleted.

Soon after his posting, the 25-year-old Chang received an outpouring of positive responses and support from Indians fans and others across social media.

Francona said he texted with Chang earlier in the day and met with him along with the player’s interpreter before the April 13 game at Guaranteed Rate Field.

“First, I wanted to make sure he was OK and that he understands the lunacy or the idiocy that was said is not shared by hopefully very many people, certainly not in the Indians organization,” Francona said. “Truth be told, man, it’s really simple: errors are part of the game.

“But ignorance and racism, they shouldn’t be anywhere. Those comments that have nothing to do with baseball, it’s just an excuse for somebody to be stupid and ignorant. That’s really what it is.”

Francona said Chang was handling the see CHANG on 12

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■ WORLD NEWS

APRIL 24 – APRIL 30, 2021

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Head of Tokyo Olympics again says games will not be canceled

By STEPHEN WADE AP SPORTS WRITER

Seiko Hashimoto

TOKYO (AP) — The head of the Tokyo Olympics was again forced to assure the world on April 16 that the postponed games will open in just over three months and not be canceled despite surging COVID-19 cases in Japan.

Organizing committee president Seiko Hashimoto was asked at a news

conference if there were any conditions under which the Olympics would be canceled.

The question comes as the general secretary of ruling LDP political party, Toshihiro Nikai, raised the possibility the day before.

“There are a variety of concerns but as the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee we are not thinking about canceling the games,“ Hashimoto said.

Nikai, the No. 2 person in the LDP party, was asked in an interview if cancellation was still an option.

“Of course,” he replied, adding that if the Tokyo Games caused a surge in infections “there would be no meaning to having the Olympics.”

Nikai tried to backtrack later, and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga issued a statement on April 15

saying there is “no change to the government position to do everything to achieve a safe and secure Olympics.”

Hashimoto acknowledged Nikai’s concern and suggested it was probably shared by the Japanese public. Polls show as many as 80% in Japan oppose holding the Olympics during the pandemic.

“The fact that he (Nikai) is concerned is a point that we need to take seriously as Tokyo 2020,” she said. “His comment has reminded us of how tedious it was for us to feel confident or be fully prepared for delivering the games.”

COVID-19 cases have been rising across Japan.

Despite this, the International Olympic Committee and see OLYMPICS on 12

■ NATIONAL NEWS Police chief apologizes eBay auction of Japanese internment after probe finds he art pulled after protest mocked Asians

By BRIAN MELLEY ASSOCIATED PRESS LOS ANGELES (AP) — The auction of a series of sketches purportedly drawn by an artist at the Japanese internment camp at Manzanar was canceled on April 6 after groups protested it was offensive and immoral to profit off the misery of incarcerated people.

The auction was halted by eBay hours before it was to conclude after company executives met with Japanese American groups who called the sale “hurtful, and a degrading reminder of the mass roundup and incarceration.’’

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“It’s seems unethical and immoral to put this artwork up on eBay to the highest bidder,“ said Shirley Higuchi, author of “Setsuko’s Secret: Heart Mountain and the Legacy of the Japanese American Incarceration.’’ “When you sell artwork created during an oppressive time for money ... that’s against what our society feels is moral.’’

In a letter to eBay, the Japanese American National Museum and Japanese American Citizens League and other groups cited the current wave of attacks on Asian Americans in the U.S. that has see EBAY on 11

LIHUE, Hawaii (AP) — pain,” Raybuck said in the The police chief on the Hastatement. “I look forward waiian island of Kauai has to the opportunity to apolapologized after a discrimogize directly to those who ination investigation found have been hurt by my words he mocked people of Asian and I hope that we may redescent. pair our relationships movKauai Police Chief Todd ing forward.”

The investigation by the Raybuck, speaking in a vidKauai Police Commission eo posted on social media, found Raybuck violated said his comments were Todd Raybuck county discrimination pol“insensitive and improper as the chief of police,” The Garden Island icies and created a hostile work environment for an officer based on race. newspaper reported last week.

“In hindsight, I recognize regardless of see KAUAI on 12 my intent, my words have caused people

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APRIL 24 – APRIL 30, 2021

39 YEARS

■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR APR 22

THE IMPACT OF BIDEN’S CHINA POLICY ON THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST 4-5 p.m.

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■ WORLD NEWS Sketch mocking Chinese launches racism debate in Italy

By COLLEEN BARRY ASSOCIATED PRESS MILAN (AP) — A sketch on a popular Italian TV show mocking Chinese people has launched a debate about racism, and satire, in Italy.

While Asian and Black activists took to social media to share their experiences with racism growing up in Italy, including how it can be fomented by satire, the TV hosts at the center of the uproar said they have been subjected to a “wave of hatred,” including death threats.

Michelle Hunziker and Gerry Scotti, hosts of the satirical show “Striscia la Notizia” (“The News Crawls”) on the private Mediaset network, apologized for the sketch during which they made slanted-eye gestures and mimicked a Chinese accent as they introduced a segment.

“We are pained, deeply,” Hunziker told Corriere della Sera in an interview published a day after she apologized on Instagram. “We were in good faith: we are very sorry knowing that we bumped against the sensitivity of someone. But what is happening is frightening: we received a real wave of hatred that is being spread in an instrumentalized way.”

Hunziker spoke of an organized campaign against the co-hosts, that also targeted the Trussardi fashion house founded by the family of her husband, Tomaso Trussardi.

“We are talking about almond-shaped eyes made by Gerry and me, when in China there are unspeakable things happening, on which we should concentrate if we want to speak of human rights.”

The producers of the show, however, see RACISM on 11

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APRIL 24 – APRIL 30, 2021

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I am fine with my J&J vaccine

By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Photos by Assunta Ng

My husband and I were inoculated on March 13. How did we feel? We were delighted and relieved that we got the J&J vaccine, especially my husband. I was fine with any of the vaccines. By chance, my husband got his wish. It was a painless and fast process. From entering the pharmacy to getting the shot, it took less than 10 minutes. My husband felt nothing at all, even after weeks. For me, my head was a little heavy, right after injection. But it wasn’t strong enough that I couldn’t work.

That afternoon, I even covered the first protest against anti-Asian violence at the Hing Hay Park in Chinatown. For two days, I forgot to remove the bandage for my shot from my arm. It tells you how quickly we were able to go back to our normal life after inoculation.

Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine

There were two different reactions after I got my Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine weeks ago. The immediate one was envy and jealousy as some people also wanted the one-shot J&J instead of the two-shot Moderna and Pfizer. Soon, these same people were worried about me when federal officials paused the J&J vaccine after six women suffered from blood clots, which was possibly linked to the vaccine.

On April 13, my husband and I received warning texts and phone calls from friends and relatives after the announcement about the J&J vaccine. I appreciate their concern, but do I have to be concerned? Did they really understand what the issue was about?

Reading the gist of news George Liu is getting his J&J vaccine at Sy Pharmacy on the Southend

Or are they trying to scare me, however unintentional?

The first text I received about the J&J pause on April 13 was at 7 a.m., after ‘extremely rare’ blood clots developed, according to the Federal and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) officials. That’s a disturbing headline. I was calm when I read the text because I knew there was more to the story.

The next line was “six out of more than 6.8 million who received the vaccine developed blood clots.” If you continue

reading, that line will tell you those were rare cases. Fewer than one in a million vaccinated were affected. But only one has died so far out of close to 7 million people inoculated. Those who were frightened by the headline only read or heard one line, and didn’t bother to read the rest of the story. So readers are not digesting what the story is about, and don’t know the facts.

The Northwest Asian Weekly editor, who also got the J&J vaccine, joked, “See if I will die two weeks from now?” She had the vaccine in early April.

I have to confess that before I became a journalist, I did what many people do.

Without realizing it, most people tend to sensationalize the news by sharing with others the scariest parts and the worst case scenarios, leaving out crucial facts or the full picture of the story. Because that’s what they see and read.

The news media wants to get your attention first and most people take the bait by focusing only on disasters—what happens and when, and skip the “who, how, and why.” Those are the key elements in the news. If you just read the headline, you not only miss the story, you have misread and see BLOG on 15

The vaccines are here.

For those getting the shots, giving the shots, or waiting patiently...

Thank you.

8

asianweekly northwest

39 YEARS

APRIL 24 – APRIL 30, 2021

■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Theatre Of f Jackson Reaching out to the ID for a new look

Photo by Frank Phillips

upon renovations.

“It’s difficult to look beyond this project, because our future hinges on securing our lease and getting the remodeling underway,” West concluded. “We’re excited to see where this project goes—it’s something I’ve been penciling out in one form or another for 15 years.

“We would love to be an active part of

Theater Off Jackson

By Andrew Hamlin NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY It began life as a garage for taxis, the space at 409 7th Avenue South in the Chinatown-International District (ID).

It began hosting art and theater events in the 1980s. It was formally designated Theatre Off Jackson (TOJ) in 1987. But for its next phase, as the COVID-19 restrictions begin to lift, depends very much on you.

The Reimagine TOJ Upstairs Project, devoted to remodeling the upstairs space at the Theatre, reaches out to the public, both in the ID and beyond, to imagine the best possible look and function for the upstairs space. Folks wishing to chime in can respond to the online survey at theatreoffjackson.org through April 30, midnight.

“Disappearing arts and culture spaces in Seattle is not a new thing and neither is gentrification,” explained Susan Lieu, a Seattle performance artist with a longstanding connection to the Theatre, and currently a consultant with the Reimagine project.

“With COVID closures, the TOJ board and staff spent much of the last year envisioning its future. The pandemic furthered their resolve to continue being of service to the neighborhood and the local artists who need space to create, produce, and perform their work.

“But to secure the longevity of the TOJ downstairs space, they [have] to secure the upstairs space. There are obvious things to improve the upstairs space, including enclosing the driveway, updating the building’s facade, renovating the bathrooms, and installing an HVAC system. These projects already have some seed funding from Historic South Downtown. But exactly who will use the space and how, while remaining an affordable and sustainable venue, has been the paramount question as TOJ starts to consider more extensive remodeling.”

The survey aims to reach a wide range of respondents, including, naturally, people who find a sense of belonging in the ID. But Lieu and TOJ Executive

Director Patti West also hope to reach people interested in sustainable arts institutions—theatre, arts, and nonprofit organizations looking for a base, even pop-up food and drink businesses looking for a temporary base.

“I first worked at TOJ in 1989 on a show as a lighting technician,” West recalled. “I became a staff member of the Northwest Asian American Theatre (NWAAT) in the 1990s. When NWAAT closed operations in 2005, I was one of the organizers of a new business called Theatre Off Jackson (named after the theater space). We started the new business to save the theater space from closing.

My original job at TOJ (the business) was producing director. We started as an all-volunteer organization.

As a cofounder, original duties included everything from getting the organization up and running, to tending bar, box office, marketing, and the list goes on.Over time, we expanded our staff, positions became modestly paid, and I was promoted to executive director. My duties changed to include leading more strategic, long-term planning, and helping TOJ mature into a solid, sustainable organization. I do still occasionally get to run the box office!”

Since the survey has many target audiences, Lieu created the two-part survey to gather information about community needs and—for those interested in becoming partners in the space—to understand their specific requirements. As a nonprofit, TOJ wants to keep costs as low as possible to theatre, arts, and nonprofit organizations, which also means they need to make the numbers work for everyone without going under.

In addition to the survey, TOJ has already hosted two Zoom Town Hall meetings on the situation, and plans to hold another one on April 25, 2–3 p.m.

Consult the TOJ homepage for details on how to join in.

TOJ hopes to use the results from the survey to negotiate a long-term lease for the space from their landlords, and continue fundraising for the decided-

the neighborhood for years to come. In the short-term, we look forward to reopening, welcoming people back into the space, and seeing them around the ID before and after the shows.”  Andrew can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

YOUR VOICE

■ ON THE SHELF

APRIL 24 – APRIL 30, 2021

asianweekly northwest

9

Strong and complex AAPI females Book recommendations

By Samantha Pak NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Rent a Boyfriend

By Gloria Chao Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2020 Introducing your boyfriend to your parents is nerve-wracking under the best circumstances, but for Chloe Wang, coming home from college for Thanksgiving will be especially stressful.

That’s because not only are her parents meeting her boyfriend for the first time, she is as well.

In order to get her parents off her back about accepting a proposal from the wealthiest—and sleaziest—guy in their Asian American community, Chloe hired Drew Chan from Rent for your ’Rents, a company that specializes in providing fake boyfriends trained to impress even the most traditional Asian parents.

Drew, an artist whose parents cut him off after he dropped out of college to pursue his dreams, started working for the company to pay the bills. His job with Chloe begins like any other but of course, the two begin to fall for each other. And there lies confusion and hilarity.

“Rent a Boyfriend” takes a triedand-true romance trope—the fake

relationship—and adds a very specific Asian twist to it. Companies like Rent for your ’Rents actually exist in Asia and you can tell Chao had fun creating Drew’s fictional employer and the attention to detail is impressive.

Both Chloe and Drew are at that stage in their lives where they’re figuring out who they are, separate from their parents and what that means for those relationships. Seeing them go through

all of that reminded me of those times in my own life and made me grateful I’m (mostly) past them.

You know a book is good when you have a physical reaction to what you’re reading. And there’s a moment about halfway through this story that got my heart beating and all sorts of agitated (in the best way). You’ll just have to read it to figure out what it is.

Fatal Fried Rice

By Vivien Chien St. Martin’s Paperbacks, 2021 Lana Lee may be a boss at managing her family’s Chinese restaurant in Cleveland’s Asia Village, but in the kitchen, it’s a different story. Beyond cooking rice, her Chinese culinary skills see SHELF on 14

10

asianweekly northwest

39 YEARS

APRIL 24 – APRIL 30, 2021

■ AT THE MOVIES

A new ‘Kung Fu’ debuts at a crucial time for Asian Americans

By ALICIA RANCILIO ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK (AP) — Up-and-coming actors will sometimes claim to know a variety of skills to be considered for roles, but Olivia Liang set a boundary early in her career.

“When I started off in the industry, people would ask me why martial arts wasn’t on my resume because it was such a typecast for Asians to do martial arts roles,“ said Liang. “So I made a promise to myself. I was like, ‘I’ll never learn martial arts until someone pays me to learn martial arts.’”

Liang kept that promise. She learned martial arts as the lead of The CW’s new series, “Kung Fu”—and she’s getting paid for it.

“Kung Fu’’ is inspired by the 1972 series starring David Carradine. It stars Liang as Nicky Shen, who while visiting China, joins a monastery where she is taught Shaolin values and martial arts. When her mentor is killed, she returns home to find her community disrupted by a local gang.

She must use the martial arts skills she learned to protect her neighborhood and family, and soon discovers she’s being targeted by the same assassin who killed her Shaolin mentor.

Liang says what makes “Kung Fu’’ different than the superhero shows The CW is known for is that Nicky is not a vigilante.

“Nicky is heroic, but she doesn’t see herself as a hero. She doesn’t have a hero complex where she is going out to find bad guys. She sees bad things happening and feels like she needs to do something about it.’’

The series has a mostly Asian American cast with an Asian American showrunner and executive producer, Christina M. Kim. “I’m so excited that I get to give some people this opportunity to shine,” said Kim. “When I was on set for the first time, we did a camera test and I literally was staring at the monitor and it just hit me. I was like, ‘I’ve never seen the screen filled with Asian American faces like this is.’”

Kim says her writers room is also diverse. She has five writers of Asian descent on staff. Half of the writers are also women, which Kim says is a novelty.

“Usually it’s just me and one other woman in a room.’’

Tzi Ma, who plays Nicky’s father, Jin, says it’s remarkable to have so many people with Asian backgrounds working on the show, because he doesn’t have to explain the Asian experience to people

who are making creative assumptions to what that’s like.

“Not only is there representation on screen but we back it up from our writers room to all our guest directors. It is an amazing sight to behold. I’ve been doing this for a minute now and I have never seen this kind of make up,’’ said Ma. Ma hopes the authenticity of the series will help to change the public consciousness at a time when hate crimes against Asian Americans are on the rise.

“The camera is a very interesting instrument. I want the audience to have the opportunity finally to see what real reputation representation is like. And when they get educated... they will begin to develop their taste of what’s good, what’s real and what’s true.’’

The Asian American community is also paying attention, not only to see their stories on TV but to see how they’re told. Valerie Soe, a professor in the Asian American Studies Department at San Francisco State University, hopes the producers and writers will be careful with what imagery is presented to viewers.

“The tricky part will be for the folks

who are in charge to make sure that the show doesn’t veer too much into older stereotypes and tropes.” She cites the gang storyline as potentially problematic because it promotes the theory “that all Asian men are gangsters and villains.”

Overall, Soe says the series is a win because it’s one more example of an Asian American story being told.

“There’s a phrase called ‘narrative plentitude’ that Viet Thanh Nguyen the author uses—about having a lot of different stories out there to pick from so we don’t have to just like obsessively focus on one. Like, ‘Is ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ going to represent us accurately?

Is ‘Joy Luck Club’ going to represent us accurately?’ It’s like, ‘Well, if that one doesn’t, then we’ve got this other one,’” she said.

“The more the merrier. I think not everything’s going to be fabulous and not everything’s going to be exactly what we want. But, if you have a lot of different choices, then you don’t expect everything from one.”  “Kung Fu’’ premiered on April 7 on The CW.

APRIL 24 – APRIL 30, 2021

YOUR VOICE EBAY from 5 escalated recently.

“Sales of our history are never a good thing but are especially hurtful now, when we hear cries to ‘go back to your country,’ exactly what we were told during World War II,’’ they wrote.

Japanese American groups also got a New Jersey auction house to halt the sale of a much larger collection of internment art in 2015. In that case, hundreds of pieces were turned over to museums that commemorate the forced internment of more than 110,000 people of Japanese descent for more than three years on the dubious claim they might betray America in the war.

The artwork for sale on eBay were 20 pencil sketches from 1942-1943 with the name Matsumura written at the bottom, along with the word Manzanar. The drawings depict mostly what appear to be Japanese landscapes, including one of Mount Fuji.

The groups suggested the artist could be Giichi Matsumura, the subject of a series of stories first reported by The Associated Press about a Manzanar prisoner who died in a storm while sketching and painting in the high Sierra in the final days of the war.

Several Matsumura families were held at

RACISM from 6 refused to apologize, saying that “Striscia la Notizia” is satire, “and like satirical and comic programs all over the world, politically incorrect.”

And they struck back, citing “spurious and fascist initiatives of those who think they are blackmailing international companies and brands.”

It was the second time that the pair were skewered recently on social media, after they replayed an older sketch that used racist language to describe African children. And it comes a week after Black Lives Matter protests outside the Rome studios of RAI state television over on-air racist language and the use of blackface on one show.

The co-hosts had their defenders, who on radio shows decried what they saw as the importation of ‘cancel culture’ from the United States and the death knell of satire.

A representative of the Chinese community in Milan, Francesco Wu, said

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the camp 180 miles north of Los Angeles.

Lori Matsumura, the granddaughter of Giichi who recently reburied her grandfather’s remains after a hiker unearthed his skeleton in 2019, thought the sketches could be by her late father, Masaru, or another family member. The name printed in block letters was similar to the way her father signed high school reports.

Arts and crafts created in the 10 Japanese internment camps have often resurfaced later at yard sales or auctions. Some people abandoned their works when they left camp because they could carry little and had nowhere to go, while others stored it in attics or garages to be discovered later, said Bernadette Johnson, superintendent at the Manzanar National Historic Site.

If the artwork was by one of her relatives, it could have been in a trunk of her grandmother’s mementos that her aunt kept, Lori Matsumura said. The collection, however, was lost to the family after the aunt died in 2019, and the house was the subject of a legal dispute with her aunt’s partner that was settled for an undisclosed sum.

Lori Matsumura had discovered the auction on day six of the weeklong bidding, and entered an $82 bid to try to win the

satire should be aimed at the powerful, not against minorities, especially those easily singled out.

“In this historic context, when there are many episodes of violence against the Asian community around the world, we need to be careful and not convey a message that can generate racism and discrimination,” Wu told The Associated Press.

Wu said he made the same points in an interview with “Striscia la Notizia” in a bid to calm tensions. He emphasized that the threats against the co-hosts did not come from the Chinese community.

Black Italian activist Maddalena Fadika said shows like “Striscia la Notizia” normalize racism. “Everything is taken as satire, as a joke, stereotypes projected on minorities are taken as normal,” she said.

Black Lives Matter protests have grown in Italy in the last year, campaigning for looser citizenship laws for the children of foreign residents and underlining that Italy is already a multicultural society, with more than 1.2 million African-origin

asianweekly northwest

11

works. The price had climbed to over $470 when the sale was yanked by eBay. After the groups contacted eBay, the company removed the auction because it violated an artifacts policy prohibiting the sale of items from government or protected land, spokeswoman Parmita Choudhury said in an email.

Matsumura had a mixed reaction to the sale being halted.

“I feel I may never see those sketches again,’’ she said. “It depends how the seller reacts.’’

Higuchi said eBay would contact the seller and put one of the groups in touch to try to obtain the collection.

The seller, listed as sunset derby in Sharon Springs, New York, said the works came from the Japanese family of a former girlfriend in the 1980s. The seller would not name the girlfriend in a follow-up message and said the full name of the artist was unknown.

The seller said they weren’t violating eBay’s policies and said other major auction houses had sold similar art.

“It’s absolutely preposterous to think that I am doing anything wrong,’’ the person wrote in response to a question sent through eBay. Erin Thompson, a professor of art crime

at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said anyone who legally owns a work of art is entitled to sell it. But she said consideration should be given to the circumstances of a work’s creation and the artist’s intent. When the creator can’t be consulted, a community consensus could be sought.

She said the first question should be about the authenticity of the work, which can be “questionable at best’’ on eBay. Any investor not swayed over the provenance might consider the moral issues brewing, Thompson said.

“People don’t want to buy a controversy along with a landscape drawing,’’ Thompson said. “It seems they’re worth the paper they’re created on and not much more.’’

Bif Brigman, a former art dealer, said he had purchased similar Manzanar works from the same seller over a year ago by an artist named Matsui. He hopes to reunite them with the artist’s family or provide them to a museum, but he said he wouldn’t participate in future auctions of the kind.

“I didn’t want them scattered to the wind,’’ he said. “The whole notion that somehow eBay thinks that objects made by prisoners in a concentration camp is a commodity to be sold ... is super offensive.’’ 

residents.

Chinese comprise the third-largest nonEU population in Italy, numbering some 320,000, with a strong business presence in textile-making in Tuscany and in Italy’s financial capital Milan. Panic over the coronavirus in the last year has made them increasingly the target of discrimination.

An influencer who goes by the name of Momoka Banana said in a video post that she endured teasing for her Chinese

appearance growing up in Rome.

“It didn’t make me feel comfortable,” she said. “In fact, it made me ashamed of my origins, so much that I refused for many years to learn Chinese.”

Even now, Momoka Banana, who frequently shares stories of her life on Instagram and YouTube, said she endures people yelling on the street to make fun of the typical Chinese accent. 

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KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON NOTICE TO PROPOSERS Proposals will be received for KC000192, Planning, Engineering and Related Services for South King County Corridor Improvements (Route 165 and Route 181); by King County Procurement and Payables Section until 12:00 PM on May 11, 2021.

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King County, in accordance with the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (78 Stat. 252, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000d to 2000d-4) and the binRegulations, hereby notifies all Proposers that it will affirmatively ensure that any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded full and fair opportunity to submit proposals in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award. Prospective proposers can view more details at: https://kingcounty.gov/procurement/ solicitations Contact: Alice Phoenix, alice.phoenix@ kingcounty.gov, 206-263-9311

12

asianweekly northwest

APRIL 24 – APRIL 30, 2021

SIKH from 4 November and was a dedicated worker whose husband was disabled.

“She was a workaholic, she always was working, working,” he said. “She would never sit still ... the other day she had the (COVID-19) shot and she was really sick, but she still went to work.”

In addition to Sekhon, the Marion County Coroner’s office identified the dead as: Matthew R. Alexander, 32; Samaria Blackwell, 19; Amarjeet Johal, 66; Jasvinder Kaur, 50; Jaswinder Singh, 68; Karli Smith, 19; and John Weisert, 74.

Kuldip Sekhon said his family lost another relative in the shooting—Kaur, who was his son’s mother-in-law. He said both Kaur and Amarjit Sekhon both began working at the FedEx facility last year.

“We were planning to have a birthday party tonight, but now we’re here instead.

This ... this is tough for us,“ Sukhpreet Rai, who is also related to Kaur and Sehkon, said. “They were both very charming.”

Komal Chohan, who said Amarjeet

Johal was her grandmother, said in a statement issued by the Sikh Coalition that her family members, including several who work at the FedEx warehouse, are “traumatized” by the killings.

“My nani, my family, and our families should not feel unsafe at work, at their place of worship, or anywhere. Enough is enough—our community has been through enough trauma,” she said in the statement.

The coalition says about 500,000 Sikhs live in the U.S. Many practicing Sikhs are visually distinguishable by their articles of faith, which include the unshorn hair and turban.

The shooting is the deadliest incident of violence collectively in the Sikh community in the U.S. since 2012, when a white supremacist burst into a Sikh temple in Wisconsin and shot 10 people, killing seven.

In Indianapolis, police said Brandon Scott Hole, 19, a former worker at the FedEx facility killed eight people there before killing himself. Authorities have not released a motive.

Hole was in possession of two assault

CHANG from 4 situation well.

“He’s an extremely mature young man and he’s fine,” Francona said.

With the Indians and White Sox tied 3-3 in the ninth inning and Chicago threatening with two runners on base and one out, Chang fielded a ground ball and attempted to get the forceout at second, but hit runner Yasmani Grandal in the helmet.

The ball ricocheted toward the left-field line, allowing pinch-runner Nick Madrigal to score and giving the

OLYMPICS from 5 Tokyo organizers are pressing on. The IOC, which relies on selling broadcast rights for 73% of its income, has seen its cash flow stalled by the postponement.

Japan has already invested at least $15 billion to organize the Olympics, and national audits suggest it might be twice that much. All but $6.7 billion is public money.

In an editorial last week, the British Medical Journal questioned Japan and the IOC going ahead with the Olympics.

Organizers have said the Olympics will be “safe and secure,” which the editorial challenged.

“While the determination is encouraging, there has been a lack of transparency about the benefits and risk, and international mass gathering events such as Tokyo 2020 are still neither safe nor secure,” the editorial said.

The government minister in charge of Japan’s vaccine rollout, Taro Kono, said even if the Olympics go on, there may be no fans of any kind in the venues.

He said it’s likely that the Olympics will have to be held in empty venues, particularly as cases surge across the country.

Fans from abroad have already been barred.

Hashimoto, who had said previously that a decision on venues would come in April, seemed to push back that deadline. She was not asked about Kono’s suggestion and did not raise the issue or challenge it.

“Within April I would like to set the basis direction,” she said. “The final judgement time—this as well we need to monitor the situation of the pandemic and we need to remain flexible for that.“

39 YEARS rifles, which he purchased legally in July and September of 2020, according to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Police said Hole was witnessed using both rifles during the assault.

Hole’s family said in a statement that they are “so sorry for the pain and hurt” his actions caused.

Paul Keenan, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis field office, said on April 16 that agents questioned Hole last year after his mother called police to say that her son might commit “suicide by cop.” He said agents found no evidence of a crime and that they did not identify Hole as espousing a racially motivated ideology.

Samaria Blackwell, of Indianapolis, was a soccer and basketball player who last year graduated from Indy Genesis, a Christian competitive sports organization for homeschooled students.

Her parents said in a statement that she was an outgoing “people person” who will be missed “immensely” by them and her dog, Jasper.

“As an intelligent, straight A student, Samaria could have done anything she

White Sox a 4-3 win.

Chang, who came up as a middle infielder in Cleveland’s organization, is playing first base for the first time this season. The Indians signed him as a free agent in 2013.

Chang was not in the lineup on April 13, but Francona said Jake Bauers playing first had nothing to do with the error.

“I can promise you we will never make a lineup out from somebody’s tweet the night before,” Francona said.

Chang flied out as a pinch-hitter on April 13 in the Indians’ 2-0 win in 10 innings. There was no noticeable

Organizers had hoped to generate $800 million from ticket sales. Much of that revenue will be lost and the Japanese government will have to cover the shortfall.

No fans of any kind might simplify matters. Organizers can then focus solely on 15,400 Olympic and Paralympic athletes entering Japan, and keeping in a bubble in the Athletes Villages, the training sites, and at the competition venues. Tens of thousands of judges, officials, media and broadcasters will also have to enter Japan.

The vaccine rollout in Japan has been slow with less than 1% having had the shot. The numbers will be better in three months, but will contrast sharply with non-Japanese entering the country. A large percentage of those are expected to be vaccinated, including athletes.

Hashimoto said Japanese athletes were not a “priority” for vaccination.

Putting athletes at the head of the line has been largely opposed in Japan.

The IOC has said vaccination is not a requirement to participate in the Olympics. On the other hand, IOC President Thomas Bach has left no doubt he wants as many athletes vaccinated as possible.

Japanese Olympic Minister Tamayo Marukawa told reporters that the government is considering conducting daily virus tests on athletes during the games as a way to guarantee safety.

Previous plans had called for virus tests every four days.

Marukawa also said the government was not talking about prioritizing athletes for vaccination.

Japan has attributed 9,500 deaths to COVID-19, good by world standards but poor by results in Asia. 

chose to put her mind to, and because she loved helping people, she dreamed of becoming a police officer. Although that dream has been cut short, we believe that right now she is rejoicing in heaven with her Savior,” they said.

Matthew Alexander, of Avon, just west of Indianapolis, was a former Butler University student and a 2007 graduate of Avon High School. Relatives and several of his former teammates on Avon’s baseball team attended a game on April 17 in his memory. They carried his former uniform, No. 16, onto the field, where they hugged and cried.

Albert Ashcraft, a former FedEx driver, said Alexander dispatched drivers to locations for deliveries, prepared their paperwork and was well-liked because he looked out for the drivers, even making sure they got treats.

“People would bring doughnuts in and he was always sticking doughnuts back for his drivers,” he told The Indianapolis Star. 

reaction from the socially distanced crowd when he batted.

The racist social media postings directed toward Chang are part of an ugly trend of abusive behavior toward Asians, which included the fatal shootings of six women of Asian descent in Atlanta by a white gunman last month.

Former NBA player Jeremy Lin has been outspoken about the racist behavior and sports organizations have offered support to quell incidents. 

KAUAI from 5 Both are cause for “appropriate corrective action,” said a Feb. 26 letter written by commission chair Catherine Adams that was obtained by the newspaper.

Raybuck said he respects the findings of the Police Commission investigation and will accept any disciplinary action.

Raybuck, hired in 2019, said he has sought guidance and professional assistance over the last few months “to respond better to difficult situations, and I’m committed to the work that I’ve begun to improve myself and my relationships with others.”

“I’ve made my mistakes, but I’ve always looked to learn from them and done my best to get better and not repeat them,” Raybuck said.

Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami said the allegations don’t reflect the police chief he knows and works closely with.

The mayor said he felt “a deep obligation” to forgive if the allegations turned out to be true. They wouldn’t affect his ability to work with Raybuck, Kawakami said.

But the police union, the State of Hawaii

MARCH from 3 Zhang urged the crowd to speak up when they experience or witness racism, and to hold elected officials accountable.

“Our love will outshine their hate,” she concluded.

Natalie Murphy Mayhew addressed the crowd next, about police violence and in support of making policing obsolete.

She is the sister of Miles Murphy, a UW student who was shot and killed by Seattle

Organization of Police Officers, called for Raybuck’s resignation.

“These charges and findings involving blatant racism are appalling and will not be tolerated by SHOPO and our rank-and-file officers,” the union said in a statement.

The Kauai Police commission received an internal complaint against Raybuck in September. The investigation found two incidents that year, on July 29 and Nov. 13, violated the county’s discrimination policy, according to Adams’ letter.

In one case, Raybuck “squinted his eyes” and bowed his head while mimicking someone with a Japanese accent, the investigation found.

In another incident, Raybuck relayed a story of meeting someone of Asian descent in a restaurant in which he parodied the person’s speech and mannerisms.

The complaint said the chief laughed and thought his demonstration was funny.

Raybuck became the Kauai police chief in 2019, following his retirement after nearly 27 years from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. 

police in 2009.

After the speakers wrapped up, there was a lion dance performance, followed by open mic opportunities for the crowd to speak, before the actual march began.

The protesters chanted, “We are not your model minority! Ending racism must be priority! We are not your model minority!

Equity for all must be priority! We are not your model minority! Solidarity must be priority!” throughout the march. 

YOUR VOICE AAPI from 1 ways, but we all have to get involved nonetheless.”

Co-founder, Madeleine Magana, added, “What helps me is knowing that when AAPIs do feel the need to speak out on something that has happened to them, they know that their voices will be uplifted by their community. Even as #StopAsianHate is a trend right now.

Organizations, we are doing more…they are willing to reach out to people that want to be heard. If anything, I hope that people ... know there is a community that is really wanting to hear from them.”

Along with Anson Huang, Debra Erdenemandakh, and Ben Yan, these five college and high school students came together in early March of this year to combat racism and hate. After contributing to their establishment, Yan had to step out, and the group was joined by Alicia Ying, who helps with their virtual rallies and designing weekly posters. None of the leaders claim a position higher than another—they are all on equal footing for the cause.

“After the Atlanta shootings, I experienced a lot of anxiety and waiting for the push back,” Magana shared. “The police officers in Atlanta said he was ‘just having a bad day’—the most infamous phrase. I was expecting white supremacist

BILL from 1 lives, history, achievements, and contributions of Chinese Americans.”

The bill is largely symbolic, but it is a good start, said WA Asians for Equality, the group that lobbied for the bill.

So why is it stalling in the State Senate with a Democratic majority that espouses principles for equity and which just enacted a holiday for “Juneteenth,” to celebrate the end of slavery in the United States?

The answer depends to some extent on who you talk to.

For the Republican who sponsored the bill, Sen. Keith Wagoner, the bill is a chance to extend recognition to another marginalized group.

“I voted for Juneteenth,” he said in an interview.

Moreover, Wagoner is married to a Taiwanese woman whose father was a leader of the Chinese Nationalist’s navy.

Wagoner, a former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot stationed in Okinawa, visited his wife’s ancestral home in China with her father in 1992.

“I usually get asked to sponsor things like this,” he said, mentioning that the Taiwanese government had bestowed upon him thousands of masks during the outset of the pandemic for him to coordinate distribution.

But for WA Asians for Equality, it is a direct plea for the state and country to wake up to the wave of anti-Asian hatred that has been roiling society since before the start of the pandemic.

They contend that, since the bill is stalled in the Senate (as of press time), this shows a bias of the Democrats against Asians—and apparently in favor of other marginalized groups—since they control the chamber and recently passed the bill for Juneteenth.

“The Democrat controlled Senate stalled Asian bill and let it die yet put Black bill on fast track to pass,” said a press statement from the group on April 9.

Democrats, reached by the Asian Weekly, on the other hand, say the bill is being used as a wedge to divide Asian Americans from Blacks and even create tensions within the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community at

APRIL 24 – APRIL 30, 2021

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groups to come out and come face to face with us at the rallies. Every time I go with a little bit of hesitancy that we might be facing people that disagree.” Undeterred by the possibility of confrontation, AAPI Against Hate joined with other community groups to form the rally at Hing Hay Park in the International District on March 13. They also quickly began online “action rallies” every Monday and corner rallies on weekends in person, in locations around the area, including Maple Valley and Burien.

The group met each other through other activities going on in the community and reaching out to local activist leaders such as Michael Itti, Kim-Khanh Van, and Tanya Woo. “Without their help, we would not have been able to do that within a week,” Magana said of the successful rally at Hing Hay Park. When asked what AAPI Against Hate is hoping for, Magana stated, “Our goal is to open a safe space to come up with solutions.”

“I got involved by contacting Tanya Woo through the CID night watch and from them, the group organically came together over shared interests,” Duong explained. Van helped Magana meet Erdenemandakh.

“We’re both from Maple Valley. We went to the same high school. There are not too many Asian Americans in Maple

Valley. I met Anson and Ben through a fellowship we did earlier in the quarter, People Power Washington. Nathan is from pretty far away, in Monroe. He was starting his own virtual event and Kim heard about his event and connected him with us,” Magana said.

All of the youth were already active in their own ways. Magana, who is going for a degree in Public Affairs at Seattle University, has been working on creating an AAPI student association there, and last year, she organized a Black Lives Matter protest in her hometown. All were spurred by watching anti-Asian crimes unfold nation-wide.

“When we came together, it was March 7,” Duong recalled. “I know that we were all really impassioned long before that.

For me personally, what caused me to get involved ... was the murder of Vicha Ratanapakdee. Seeing that video was really traumatic. I’ve been involved in other social justice work, but that caused me to spring to action.”

In terms of being the victims of racism themselves, the students’ experiences have been mixed. Magana feels her life in Maple Valley has been relatively safe.

However, in response to an increased feeling of insecurity in Renton, her grandparents have relocated to her neighborhood. Duong told of racism his parents experienced since emigrating

from Vietnam, and of being called racist slurs himself.

“It’s something that, as we’re experiencing the surge in hate and violent incidents…it’s not like it’s anything new, and it’s also frustrating that it’s not anything new. My dad used to get beat up on his way to school. My mom got screamed at, at her job making sandwiches because the guy couldn’t stand that a Chinese person was making his food.”

As a group, AAPI Against Hate has already been targeted during their streetside protests. Neither their youth nor a special religious holiday has deterred attackers.

“Easter Sunday, we were doing an AAPI Against Hate corner rally in Maple Valley and there was this man who drove past really fast,” Duong said. “He shouted something out of his car and I kind of heard him, I wasn’t sure I heard him right, but I checked with the other people around me and they heard him, loud and clear. He shouted ‘Whites are better! Go kill yourselves!’” 

a time when urgent action is needed on other fronts, such as combating the pandemic.

They say that symbolic statements such as the one in the short bill, which requires no funding from the state, can be issued either by a resolution from the floor in the Senate or as an executive order from the governor.

By contrast, the bill creating the holiday of Juneteenth required the state to provide funding to pay for the salaries of state employees that would be compensated for taking time off.

Yet the bill calling for Chinese American history month requires no funding from the state and therefore does not need the approval of the legislature, one of whose functions is to apportion funds.

“Juneteenth needed appropriations, so it needed to go through the legislative process,” said state Rep. My-Linh Thai.

“Chinese American history month would not need to go through the legislative process, it can be done through executive order by the Governor.”

Moreover, she said, “I have learned that for a bill to have a better chance in the legislative process, it needs to be involved, engaged, and supported by communities at large for feedback and inputs.”

WA Asians for Equality did not respond to multiple emails.

However, its website accused Democrats of having an “inherent antiAsian bias” that was responsible for stalling the bill. It said the same bias was also apparent in other bills, including one for affirmative action, which it perceives as tantamount to creating racial quotas.

“The insensitivity to bills’ negative impact on Asian American community has been showing in many bills,” said a press statement on April 9. It listed another bill that “would without a doubt, create racial quotas against Asian students in medical school admissions. Increasing the number of underrepresented students at medical schools, while excluding Asian students from the underrepresented student definition, will effectively decrease the number of Asian students at medical schools.”

The group’s frustrations appear to

represent broader outrage on the part of mostly affluent first-generation Chinese immigrants who feel that measures such as affirmative action are in fact simply quotas placed on them and their children who have relied on not only their own unstinting work, but a lifetime of sacrifice on their families’ part.

Recent lawsuits against Yale and other Ivy League schools, as well as organizing against I-1000, which would have reinstituted affirmative action in Washington state, apparently represent these frustrations and fears.

During a press conference on April 7, Linda Yang of WA Asians for Equality said that violence against Asians sprang from the same bias that fostered discrimination against them in admissions to higher education.

“Racism against Asian Americans is nothing new. It is unfortunate that it has taken so many recent tragic incidents and deaths for Americans to wake up to the racism Asian Americans have been facing for so many years,” she said.

“While people are appalled by the brutal attacks on Asians, they should be equally outraged that Asian students are being deprived of their fair chance at a college education due to their race.”

WA Asians for Equality and other organizations with similar agendas have often allied themselves with the Republican Party, where they have found common interests, including opposition to affirmative action.

But state Sen. Joe Nguyen questioned that such an alliance was based in common opposition to anti-Asian hate incidents.

The Republican Party has often State Sen. Joe Nguyen protected those within its ranks who have spewed anti-Asian invective, including in the state legislature, he said.

“The anti-Asian rhetoric is coming from a party that is now trying to sponsor the bill,” Nguyen said.

Complicating the issue are outsiders such as Stephen Ling, a former teacher

at Bethel Junior High School, who was contacted by the Tacoma News Tribune to voice support for the bill.

Ling said he supports the bill because he beStephen Ling lieves the region’s public schools have grievously neglected their duty to prepare students for a future in which they are “world citizens” as China becomes increasingly dominant.

Ling said the bill was about the future, not the past, and hoped it would encourage more public schools to offer classes in Chinese language, history, and civilization.

Still, such a goal perhaps highlights the need for cooperation among different organizations. The Washington chapter of the Chinese American Citizens’ Alliance, the oldest such civil rights organization in the country, worked for years to have lessons about the Chinese Exclusion Act included in the state’s curriculum. In the end, it was possible to implement the lesson plans in only a few schools because there is no common curriculum for the state.

In the end, though, for WA Asians for Equality, the most bitterly-felt part of their mission seems to be an objection to lumping the teaching of Chinese American history with an overall strategy to counter white supremacy. After a speech made by Thai on March 22 in which she made such an equivalency, they issued a call to denounce her strategy.

The group said Thai was using the issue of Asian hate to advance a broader agenda of appealing to multiple ethnicities for political purposes.

Thai said her mission is to work for the benefit of the most vulnerable.

“When decisions are made by civil society that are based in taking care of those who are the most vulnerable, that is where a community reaches its apex,” she said. 

For young adults interested in supporting local action with AAPI Against Hate, contact aapiagainsthate@gmail.com.

Kai can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

Mahlon can be reached at info@nwaweekly.com.

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asianweekly northwest

SUmmONS To: Julie Renee Novak: I have started a court case by filing a petition.

You must respond in writing if you want the court to consider your side. Deadline!

Your Response must be filed and served within 60 days of the date this Summons is published April 11, 2021. If you do not file and serve your Response or a Notice of Appearance by the deadline: No one has to notify you about other hearings in this case, and The court may approve the requests in the Petition without hearing your side (called a default judgment).

Follow these steps: 1. Read the Petition and any other documents that were filed at court with this Summons. Those documents explain what the other party is asking for.

2. Fill out a Response on this for FL Divorce 211, Response to Petition about a Marriage.

3. Serve (give) a copy of your Response to the person who filed this Summons at the address below, and to any other parties. You may use certified mail with return receipt requested. For more information on how to serve, read Superior Court Civil Rule 5.

4. File your original Response with the court clerk at this address: Superior Court Clerk, King County 516 3rd Ave Seattle, Washington 98104 5. Lawyer not required: It is a good idea to talk to a lawyer, but you may file and serve your Response without one Person filing this Summons or his/her lawyer fills out below: March 9, 2021 - Khaled Youseff Ali. I agree to accept legal papers for this case at the following address (this does not have to be your home address): 15127 NE 24th Street, Suite 314 Redmond, Washington 98052

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39 YEARS

CLASSIFIEDS

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mETROPOLITAN KING COUNTY COUNCIL Senior LEGISLATIVE ANALYST Closes: April 26, 2021 at 11:59 pm Salary Range: $110,098.56 - $139,556.35 The Council is seeking to hire one or more Senior Legislative Analysts. The successful candidates will have a strong background in policy analysis and will be able to navigate complex and controversial policy initiatives to support the Metropolitan King County Council and its committees.

Senior Legislative Analysts conduct quantitative and qualitative analysis of legislation and policy issues, including fiscal impacts, consequences, and associated risks, and presents analysis in public meetings. The positions we are looking to hire will be generalist policy analysts.

These positions are salaried, overtime-exempt classifications, and members of the Teamsters Local 117.

HOW TO APPLY: To apply and view a complete job announcement and apply, go to www.kingcounty.gov/jobs Interested applicants must complete the supplemental questions and submit a resume and letter of interest highlighting your qualifications for this position.

EmPLOYmENT

WOK CHEF Need wok chef for upscale restaurant. Little English is fine. Good work ethnic. Team work. Good Pay. Full healthcare, vacation and bonus. Call 206-227-8000.

Request for Proposals King County Housing Authority is issuing a competitive Request for Proposal (RFP) from qualified applicants to provide consulting services to develop a Five-Year Strategic Plan for the Resident Services Department based on resident feedback. To submit an application, view the RFPs on our website: https://www.kcha. org/business/professional/open/.

Applications due on May 28, 2021 at 3:30 PM PDT.

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Asian Counseling & Referral Service seeks mental Health Clinical Case managers. Provides culturally competent & recovery oriented case mgmt & counseling services for Korean-speaking & other members of Asian American & Pacific Islander community living w/ mental illness. See https:// www.worksourcewa.com & Job ID # 226300129 for details. FT, 10% in office, Seattle, WA and 90% telecommuting within MSA. Apply to: ACRS, Attn: Tracey Fugami, 3639 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S, Seattle, WA 98144 or hr@ acrs.org

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SHELF from 9 are nonexistent.

So to quiet her sister’s teasing, Lana signs up for Chinese cooking classes at a local community college. But because it’s Lana, it doesn’t take long for a dead body to show up. This time, it’s her cooking instructor, Margo Han. So once again, Lana is on the case—especially since she discovered Margo and is at the top of the suspect list.

As I’ve established in this column, I love a good series. And I love Chien’s Noodle House Mystery series. But one issue you can run into—especially in cozy mysteries—is the storylines can get a bit repetitive. And with this being the seventh book in this series, Lana and her best friend/roommate Megan have gotten pretty good at solving mysteries. So I appreciated the extra challenge Chien added this time of Lana having no connection to the victim, and no one in her immediate community having a connection to Margo either.

Another thing I love about this series is seeing the characters we love and watching their growth and development with each new installment. My favorite character in this series is Lana’s other best friend, Kimmy Tran. Like Megan, she is ride or die when it comes to being there for Lana (as I’ve said before, we all need a Kimmy in our lives) and I loved that Kimmy received more page time in “Fried Rice.” Juxtaposing Lana’s more cautious personality with Kimmy’s punch-first-ask-questionslater approach definitely has a comedic effect. But this contrast also serves to show readers that not all Asians—specifically,

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KING COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL DISTRICT CHIEF ENGINEER $112,856 - $151,779 ANNUAL This position will remain open until filled however, the screening process will move quickly. Please submit your application materials as soon as possible to be considered by the screening panel.

The King County Flood Control District is looking for a highly skilled and motivated individual, to conduct engineering review, technical oversight and quality control for the implementation of the King County Flood Control capital improvement projects and operating work programs. The Chief Engineer analyzes and reviews technical engineering, project and program work from service providers who implement river and floodplain management projects and programs on behalf of the King County Flood Control District.

The successful candidate is a leader with a proven track record of using environmentally sensitive techniques used in river and floodplain management projects in the Pacific Northwest. This is an exciting opportunity to join the King County Flood Control District staff and play a role in improving levee protection, flood water conveyance and capacity and foster effective partnerships with communities within King County.

This position requires a self-starter with a keen political acumen and experience working with service providers, local jurisdictions, tribes, and other parties to identify and prioritize projects and programs for implementation and ensure the Flood Control District understands the broad spectrum of issues facing the County, as well as the people they serve. The Chief Engineer is a salaried, at-will, overtime exempt classification that reports directly to the Executive Director but is responsive to all members of the Board of Supervisors.

TO APPLY: To ensure that your application is received and properly processed, the subject line of your email must be Application - Chief Engineer.

Interested candidates should apply immediately by sending a comprehensive resume, and a compelling cover letter of interest to: KCCOUNCILHR@kingcounty.gov To be considered, applications must include: · A letter of interest detailing your qualifications and experience for this position including: 1. Whether you are: a) a Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) in the State of Washington or b) a Licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) from another state with the ability to obtain a P.E. license in the State of Washington within six (6) months of employment.

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3. Your experience writing and/or administering consultant and/or construction contracts. Include your role in the contract administration. · A comprehensive resume with a chronological history of your related experience.

Cover letters and resumes should be submitted as soon as possible for consideration by the screening panel. It is in an applicant’s best interest to submit materials as soon as possible.

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Asian women—are the same. Which, given everything that’s happening in the real world, is apparently something we still need to teach people.

The Dragon Warrior

By Katie Zhao Bloomsbury Children’s Books, 2019 Twelve-year-old Faryn Liu wants nothing more than to become a warrior in the Jade Society and honor her family and the gods. But ever since her father disappeared years ago, she and her brother Alex have been shunned and forced to train in secret.

This seems to be the Liu siblings’ fate, but while out on an errand in San Francisco’s Chinatown, Faryn comes across a demon. She battles it and actually helps to defeat it. And that changes everything because it soon comes out that she might be the Heaven Breaker—a powerful warrior meant to serve the all-mighty deity, the Jade Emperor, with an army of dragons at their command. But first, she has to find the island of immortals and prove herself

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before the Lunar New Year.

So with Alex and a few other allies, Faryn sets off on a quest that takes them to Chinatowns all over the country. The closer they get to the island, the more Faryn realizes that something’s going on among the deities and things aren’t as straightforward as they thought.

One of the themes throughout “Dragon Warrior” is Faryn’s and Alex’s feeling like they’re outsiders and outcasts in their community. Part of this is due to their father’s disappearance, but another part is because they’re “only” half Chinese. For many of us, this feeling of otherness is so relatable. And while people within the Jade Society might look down on Faryn’s and Alex’s mixed backgrounds (they’re Egyptian, Greek, and Turkish on their mother’s side), there are moments in which other characters think their heritages is a good thing—which is a great message for readers of all ages.  Samantha can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

SOLUTION from SUDOKU on page 6.

YOUR VOICE

■ ASTROLOGY

APRIL 24 – APRIL 30, 2021

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15

Predictions and advice for the week of April 24–30, 2021

By Sun Lee Chang Rat—When trying to solve a puzzle, step back and take in the whole picture before focusing on the details.

Dragon—The road less traveled is often filled with unexpected turns, but you are more than ready for the challenge.

Monkey—Don’t assume that you know what the other person is thinking. Their motivation could be entirely different from yours.

Ox—Doing the bare minimum will yield you just that. However, going the extra distance could result in a promising opportunity.

Snake—Navigating through unfamiliar territory?

Think about asking someone you trust to come along for the ride.

Rooster—A sticky situation is easily resolved if you stay calm and proceed with tact or diplomacy as appropriate.

Tiger—You have something very specific in mind.

If it is difficult to find, consider a close substitute.

Horse—With a penchant for adventure, you are willing to take chances. Just make sure they are not unnecessary ones.

Dog—You are devoted to getting the job done, but allow yourself a break from the hectic pace every now and then.

Rabbit—A difference of opinion could take a while to sort out. Communicating effectively, as well as listening, is key.

Goat—An attractive offer is not without its risks.

As tempting as it seems, this might not be the right one for you.

Pig—Before you commit more time and resources, think about whether this is really the direction you want to go.

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.

BLOG from 7 then misled others afterwards.

Challenge reporters by asking questions

Even as a journalist, I don’t recommend you to believe everything you read. The best way is to raise questions after reading a story. What was the story trying to convey? Is there any bias in it, meaning is it onesided? Is the article a news story or an opinion piece? If it’s strictly a news story, the reporter shouldn’t include his views unless it helps to understand the complexity of the story. Is the commentary based on an informed opinion with facts and analysis?

Two years ago, I called a Seattle Times reporter for his bias in covering a City Council race. All the white challengers’ photos were included in a front-page story, and the incumbent City Council member’s photo was inside, except the woman of color candidate.

It turned out the reporter did provide all the candidates’ photos, but the layout person omitted

Ami Nguyen, who is a woman of color and Asian American. It wasn’t intentional. I was pleased with the Times’ prompt response.

It published a correction on page two afterwards. Later, Nguyen was even featured in a front-page story on another topic.

When you see unbalanced news coverage, call the reporter.

Sometimes, he might not even be aware of the layout because he may have only read the online version and not the print version, a copy editor usually writes the headlines, and other staff members do the graphics and layout.

Had I not made the call, I would not know the truth.

If you take J&J vaccine

I have heard that some highly-educated people, even government officials, who have taken the J&J vaccine are worried sick. That’s irrational. If you are male, you shouldn’t be. Same with older women like me. The J&J vaccine risk affects only younger women from age 18 to 40s. In any

 Article missing Ami Nguyen’s photo.  Ami Nguyen’s photo was added in a Seattle Times correction days after.

vaccine you get, you should know there is a risk involved. The risk is small though.

What the CDC does is to minimize risk. So it recommended a pause to understand more about the J&J vaccine. It also says that not taking a vaccine will pose more risks in getting COVID. Avoiding vaccination would

be a big mistake. Those people who have COVID suffer far more and even those who have recovered experience many side effects. Their lungs get destroyed, their brains become foggy, they experience shortness of breath, their muscles ache, and much more. Not taking the vaccine will pose more risk to yourself and

loved ones, as COVID can spread without mercy.

If I had to do it again, J&J would still be my choice. No second thoughts.  Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.

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APRIL 24 – APRIL 30, 2021

39 YEARS

This Earth Day, let’s not choose between our planet and our communities.

SB 5126 cuts emissions to benefit both.

“The Climate Commitment Act... would enable the state to slash greenhouse gas emissions at the pace and scale necessary to fight the climate crisis, help address the disproportionate and historic pollution burden in many low-income communities and communities of color, and provide a policy model for other states on how to achieve their emission reduction goals.”

Katelyn Roedner Sutter, Environmental Defense Fund, April 13, 2021 Environmental organizations along with equity advocates, local employers, businesses, and people all across Washington support the Climate Commitment Act (SB 5126) because it can make Washington cleaner, healthier, and more prosperous. Legislators, you have a chance to do what’s right for the state, our planet, and our next generation. Pass SB 5126 for Washington’s future.

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