Thursday, February 19, 2026

FEBRUARY 19: Day of Remembrance has added significance today

NATIONAL MUSSEUM OF AMERICAN HISTORY


It’s February 19, and if you’re feeling a heavy sense of déjà vu, you’re not alone. This Day of Remembrance isn’t just a somber look back at the 84 years since Executive Order 9066 uprooted our community; it’s a flashing red siren about the here and now.

While we usually spend this day honoring those who survived the barbed wire, the 2026 commemorations have a sharper, more urgent edge. From the streets of Little Tokyo to the halls of D.C., the message is clear: the "never again" we’ve been reciting for decades is being put to its ultimate test under the Trump administration.

Here’s why this year’s DOR hits differently:
  • The Ghost of 1798: The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) and other advocacy groups are sounding the alarm over the White House’s invocation of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. Yes, the exact same law used to justify the WWII incarceration is now being dusted off for mass deportations.
  • "Silence Today, Injustice Tomorrow": That’s the official theme of the Los Angeles DOR organized by the Japanese American National Museum (JANM). It’s a direct response to the "erasure and censorship" of our history and a warning that the machinery used against Japanese Americans in 1942 is being rebuilt for immigrant communities today.
  • A Slap in the Face: Many in the community haven't forgotten Trump's campaign rhetoric, where he compared the treatment of Jan. 6 defendants to the WWII incarceration—a comparison survivors called "egregiously inaccurate" and a gross insult to those who lost everything.
As survivors like those at Densho point out, the "dangerous logic" that national security justifies stripping away constitutional rights is back in vogue. Whether it’s raids on long-term residents or the targeting of specific ethnic groups, the parallels are no longer just academic—they’re our daily headlines.

On this Day of Remembrance, the community isn't just looking at the past; we’re looking at the neighbor next door, wondering if we’re the only ones who remember how this story ends.

The 2026 Day of Remembrance (DOR) weekend is packed with events across the country, many focusing on the theme of "Neighbors Not Enemies" and resisting modern-day detention and deportation.

San Francisco Bay Area

  • Solidarity Across Borders: Remembering Japanese Incarceration
    • Date & Time: Friday, February 20, 2026 | 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
    • Location: UC Berkeley Campus, Tilden Room, MLK Student Union
    • Type: Commemoration and activist gathering.
  • Day of Remembrance Interfaith Vigil 2026: Sacred Protection
    • Date & Time: Wednesday, February 25, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
    • Location: ICE Field Office, 630 Sansome Street, San Francisco
    • Type: Interfaith vigil and protest.
  • Films of Remembrance 2026
    • Date & Time: Saturday–Sunday, February 21–22, 2026
    • Location: AMC Kabuki 8, San Francisco Japantown
    • Type: Film showcase and panel discussions.
Los Angeles
  • 2026 Los Angeles Day of Remembrance: The Power of Action
  • Short Films Honoring the Day of Remembrance
    • Date & Time: Thursday, February 19, 2026 | 7:00 PM
    • Location: Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
    • Type: Film screening commemorating the 50th anniversary of the rescindment of EO 9066.
Seattle & Pacific Northwest
Chicago
  • Day of Remembrance: "Enough" Screening & Panel
  • Day of Remembrance Vigil at Broadview ICE Facility
    • Date & Time: Thursday, February 19, 2026 | 12:00 PM (Noon)
    • Location: Broadview ICE Abduction Center, 1930 Beach Street, Broadview, IL
    • Type: Direct action protest and vigil; carpools available from Chicago.
    EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge.

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Olympic star Eileen Gu says she was assaulted at Stanford University


Eileen Gu studies when and where she can on the Stanford University campus.


In a series of reports released on February 17, 2026, freestyle skiing sensation Eileen Gu revealed the dark reality of her time as a student at Stanford University, disclosing that she was "physically assaulted on the street" amid a climate of intense political hostility.

The 22-year-old athlete, currently representing China at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, detailed a pattern of harassment that underscores a deep ideological rift within the Chinese American community and the broader US political landscape.

Gu revealed several harrowing incidents that occurred after she enrolled at Stanford in the fall of 2022:  Gu told The Athletic she was physically assaulted on the street, an incident that required police intervention.

She alleged her dorm room was robbed during her time on campus.and disclosed receiving persistent death threats linked to her 2019 decision to compete for China rather than the US.

Stanford University has remained reticent, citing student privacy as the reason for not providing specific details on the assault or robbery.

“Stanford University’s top priority is the safety and well-being of every member of our community. Our dedicated Department of Public Safety (DPS) is committed to creating a safe and secure environment for everyone on campus," the university statement said.

Chinese American community split

The depth of the ideological split surrounding Gu is most visible in her upcoming role as the Grand Marshal for the 2026 San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade on March 7.

Gu, a San Francisco native, went to local private schools before getting accepted to Stanford, but continues to face backlash for her decision to represent China instead of the United States in international competitions, including the ongoing 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. Critics frequently label her a "traitor" or "opportunist" for benefitting from American training while representing a geopolitical rival.

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Supporters and parade organizers, including the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, view Gu as a local hero and a bridge between cultures. They emphasize her commitment to inspiring young girls and her advocacy against anti-Asian discrimination.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Gu described a terrifying incident in a San Francisco Walgreens where a man screamed anti-Asian profanities about the virus at her and her grandmother.

Following the 2021 Atlanta spa shootings, she spoke out against anti-Asian racism and "domestic terrorism," emphasizing the need to stand against bigotry.

Critics—including some members of the Chinese American community—view her as a "PR asset" for the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) and the Chinese Communist Party. This faction has allegedly organized petitions to block her Stanford admission.

One more event, then home

Despite the controversy swirling around Gu, she is focused on the Olympics this week having won two silver medals already she has a chance to medal in her preferred event. She will compete in the qualifying round of the halfpipe today, with the final scheduled on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. ET.  

Then she will fly home to be the Grand Marshal for the Lunar New Year Parade in San Francisco. Gu is looking forward to being the Grand Marshall for the Chinese New Year parade ushering in the Year of the Horse. 

"Growing up in San Francisco, this was a huge part of my childhood and I remember going every year," Gu said. "I can't wait to light the fireworks and start the parade and being a part of the Asian community in San Francisco, and coming back to my roots is something that I'm so much looking forward to."

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

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Wednesday, February 18, 2026

2026 Olympics: Alysa Liu in position to medal in figure skating

Californian Alysa Liu skated a clean short program Tuesday at the Olympcs

Alysa Liu sits in third place after a stellar short program at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, keeping American medal hopes alive on a night of mixed results for Team USA.

Skating to Laufey’s "Promise," the 20-year-old reigning world champion posted a season-high 76.59, trailing only Japan’s Ami Nakai and Kaori Sakamoto.

“I am really happy about how I skated,” Liu told NBC. “I'm really glad I did super well. I felt super grounded, and I connected with my program on another level compared to the rest of the season.”

Liu, raised in Richmond, California, executed the most difficult jumping sequence of the night, a triple Lutz-triple loop combination.

While Liu delivered the "cleanest" performance of her season, she faces a narrow climb to the top of the podium. Finishing ahead of Liu is 17-year-old breakout star Ami Nakai (Japan) leads the field with a 78.71 after landing a massive triple Axel in her Olympic debut; and three-time world champion Kaori Sakamoto (Japan) in second with 77.23, just 0.64 points ahead of Liu.

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Aksed if she could catch up to the Japanese skaters, Liu told NBC: “Whether I beat them or not is not my goal. My goal is just to do my programs and share my story. And I don't need to, I guess, be over or under anyone to do that.”

Since her return from a brief retirement, the reigning world champion Liu has been praised for her "creative expression," moving away from traditional scores toward more contemporary, edgy music like her current short program.

Liu is the lone "Blade Angel" in the top five. Teammates Isabeau Levito and Amber Glenn finished in eighth and 13th place, respectively, after US champion Glenn suffered a costly error on her triple loop.

The women’s individual competition concludes with the free skate final on Thursday, February 19, where Liu will look to become the first American woman to win an individual Olympic medal in 20 years.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

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Tuesday, February 17, 2026

2026 Olympics: San Francisco's Eileen Gu wins her second silver

Eileen Gu's third run was enough to come from behind silver medal at the 2026 Winter Olympcs.


China's Eileen Gu won the silver medal in the women’s freestyle skiing big air final at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics today, February 16, 2026.

Despite being defending champion, the American-born Gu was narrowly outscored by Canada’s Megan Oldham, who took the gold. Italy's Flora Tabanelli earned the bronze medal.

The final in Livigno was delayed by over an hour due to heavy snow and high winds. Gu started with a strong first run almost assuring a spot onthe medal podium. However a shaky second run forced Gu to focus on her third run to get a medal.
Under immense pressure, she landed a spectacular left-side double cork 1260, earning an 89.00 and securing the silver with a total score of 179.00.

Canada's Megan Oldham took the gold medal and Italy's Flora Tabanelli earned the bronze medal.

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Gu's second silver medal of the 2026 Games makes her the most decorated female freestyle skier in Olympic history with five career medals. In 2022 Gu won two gold and a silver. Those were added to the silver she won won Monday in the big air event and the silver she won last week in slopestyle.

She has a chance to add another medal. The 22-year old Gu will attempt to defend her final title in the women's halfpipe, with qualifying scheduled for Thursday, February 19 and the final on Saturday, February 21.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 


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Sunday, February 15, 2026

2026 Olympics: Skater Alyssa Liu and skier Eileen Gu divide the Chinese American community

Two Chinese American daughters of the San Francisco Bay Area are in the Olympics: Eileen Gu, left, competes for the Peoples Republic of China and the United States' Alysa Liu.



In the heart of the San Francisco Bay Area—a place where identity is as layered as the fog rolling over the Golden Gate—two young women were born into a world of complex heritage and shifting loyalties. As the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics unfold, Alysa Liu and Eileen Gu have become the mirror images of a community’s deepest fractures.

The two young women are roughly the same age, both products of elite Northern California environments, and both balancing the rigors of American higher education. Yet, on the world’s biggest stage, their paths have diverged in ways that put Chinese Americans in a quandary: Who do we claim as our own?

On one hand, Alysa Liu  represents the United States. Born in Clovis, Calif. and raised in the East Bay, she was homeschooled in her high school years and attends the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). Liu is the daughter of a political refugee who fled China following the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. Her story is the classic American immigrant arc—one of seeking freedom and finding gold. 

On February 8, she helped lead Team USA to a gold medal in the figure skating team event, a triumphant return after a two-year break from the sport.
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On the other hand, Eileen Gu competes for the People's Republic of China. A San Francisco native, she attended a private high school and attends Stanford University, the same school attended by her Chinese-born mother, reportedly a venture capitalist. Gu spent summers in Beijing and speaks fluent Mandarin with a local accent. In 2019, she made the controversial choice to represent China, citing a desire to inspire young girls in her mother's homeland. 

On February 9, she secured a silver medal in the freestyle skiing slopestyle final for China, missing gold by a mere 0.38 points.

Gu is reportedly the richest athlete competing in the Winter Games. Newsweek reports her net worth at $50 million,the majority gained through modeling and endorsements, not prize money.

A community divided by choice

For many in the Chinese American community, these athletes aren't just competitors; they are "opposing archetypes" in a narrative they didn't write. 

In some circles, it is simple, it is The "Patriot" vs. The "Mercenary." Political commentators have been quick to weaponize their choices. Liu is often championed as a symbol of American values, while Gu faces labels of "traitor" or "mercenary" for representing a geopolitical rival while benefiting from American training and sponsorships.

However, in real life, the reality of duality makes the choice more complicated. Despite the backlash, Gu’s famous refrain—“When I’m in the US, I’m American; when I’m in China, I’m Chinese”—strikes a chord with those who live a hyphenated existence. They see her not as a defector, but as someone navigating the "messy middle" of a two-power world.

The comparison between the two has sparked fierce commentary on social media widening the everpresent gap between pro-PRC segments and democracy advocates; Alysa cast as a free spirit and Gu as an ungrateful elitist. 

"All of this frames how the media and the public make sense of Liu and Gu, who have been cast as the good and bad immigrant respectively," Professor Richard King of Columbia College Chicago told the BBC.

View from the edge

Though they represent different flags, their lives share a striking rhythm. Both are navigating the pressures of Gen Z stardom, balancing exams with Olympic podiums, and dealing with the weight of two cultures on their shoulders.
FYI: Alysa Liu is back on the ice for Women's Short Program on February 17.Gu will have the big air final on Monday, followed by the halfpipe qualifiers on Thursday, with the final coming Saturday.
They have never met, yet they share a specialized SF Bay Area upbringing that few others can understand. In a different world— one less dominated by "Great Power Competition"— they might have been friends, two California girls sharing boba and talking smack about their rival schools, discussing the impossible pressure of being everything to everyone. Instead, they remain the two poles of a community searching for its place on the edge of two worlds.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 




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2026 Olympics: Snowboarder Chloe Kim offers life lessons -- on and off the snow

Chloe Kim rushes to congratulate Gaon Choi, who won the halfpipe gold medal.

History will say that Chloe Kim took home silver at the 2026 Winter Olympics, her quest for a historic halfpipe "three-peat" falling just short of the top podium spot. But Kim won something much more enduring than another piece of hardware. She won by standing in her truth and lifting others as she climbed.

Chloe Kim of the United States didn’t get her Olympic three-peat on Thursday, February 12, but she might have achieved something even more enduring -- a legacy. 

Taking the silver medal with a score of 88.00, Kim proved she’s still "the baddest" in the game, competing just 34 days after a debilitating shoulder labrum tear. But the real story was who stood above her on the podium: 17-year-old Gaon Choi, the South Korean prodigy whom Kim has mentored for nearly a decade.

She’s my baby,” Kim said of Choi. “I’ve known her since she was so little.” They trained together in Mammoth Mountain with Kim often translating for Choi.

“But it’s really cool to see how much she’s progressed,” Kim said. “I met her when she literally started halfpipe snowboarding. Sometimes it feels like I’m seeing a mirror reflection of myself and my family."

When Choi surged ahead with a 90.25 to take the gold, Kim was the first to celebrate, calling it a "full-circle moment," recalling her own debut on the medals podium three Olympics ago.
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Kim's preparation was severely limited by two shoulder dislocations in the four weeks leading up to the Games. She stated after the event that she was "so proud" to have competed and medaled despite the injury.

Beyond the 'model minority' trope

Like her decision to go for broke in her last run, Chloe Kim has refused to play it safe. During a week when political rhetoric in the US turned toward immigration crackdowns, she used her platform to defend teammate Hunter Hess after he was targeted for his views on immigration.

"Obviously, my parents being immigrants, this one definitely hits pretty close to home," Kim said, pointedly adding that "diversity is what makes us a very strong country." In a world that often demands Asian American excellence remain "invisible" and quiet, Kim’s refusal to stay silent is something she encourages her young followers to continue to speak out.

By honoring her roots and mentoring the next generation—including 18-year old Bea Kim, who placed 8th in the halfpipe and 16-year-old newcomer Thai American Lily Dhawornvej, placed 20th in the big air event and is scheduled to compete in her strongest event, slopestyle, Chloe Kim serves as a critical mentor for young Asian American athletes by directly addressing cultural barriers that often discourage  participation in sports or impact the mental well-being of those in professional sports.

An all-Asian podium for the halfpipe competition. From left, Chloe Kim (US), Gaon Choi
(South Korea) and Mitsuki Ono (Japan) took the bronze medal.


Kim has been remarkably transparent about her "darkest spaces" and her need for intensive therapy following the 2022 Olympics. Mental health is often a taboo subject in Asian American communities due to cultural shame or the "collectivist" desire to hide symptoms from family and larger society.

In late 2025, she joined the "Love, Your Mind" Campaign, a major public service initiative to encourage young people to prioritize mental well-being. By normalizing these struggles, she helps the younger Asian athletes understand that mental health is a foundational part of athletic longevity.

Breaking stereotypes

Because of her success snowboarding she has busts the stereotype that casts Asian Americans as unathletic, encouraging the younger athletes that its OK to be pursue interests beyond the classroom.

Her dominant aathletic career and grit — competing in 2026 through a dislocated shoulder — shatters racist tropes that depict Asian bodies as "fragile" or unathletic.

Kim has used her platform at the 2026 Olympics to call for unity among athletes facing political or racial scrutiny, showing younger peers that they have a right to voice their opinions and do not need to remain "invisible" or "silent." 

Kim's statement on Choi's gold medal: "It's all about inspiring the next generation. It's all about passing the torch. There's no one else I would have rather stood next to on the podium than her. I'm so proud of her, and I'm so excited to see what she does next ... it was so inspirational."

Chloe Kim teaches that a win or loss does not define a person’s value. She teaches that true success is being content with who you are, rather than just what you achieve. She warns against tying your entire identity and self-worth to results. That lesson is more valuable than any medal.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 


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Friday, February 13, 2026

2026 Olympics: Judging controversy tarnishes a silver medal in figure skating

The husband-wife team of Madison Chock and Evan Bates win silver at the 2026 Olympics.

Although figure skaters Madison Chock and her husband Evan Bates delivered a performance of a lifetime winning a silver medal in ice dancing, a judging controversy has marred the final outcome.

On Feb. 11, Chinese/Hawaiian Chock and her husband, Evan Bates, captured the silver medal in ice dance, but the victory felt "bittersweet" following a judging scandal. 

Despite delivering what legendary skater Scott Hamilton called "one of their all-time greatest performances," the three-time reigning World Champions finished just 1.43 points behind France’s Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron.

While five of the nine judges actually scored Chock and Bates first in the free dance, French judge Jézabel Dabois sparked a "scandale" by scoring her compatriots nearly eight points higher than the American duo. Dabois was the only judge to give Chock and Bates a score under 130, a move that critics and fans on social media have labeled as "possibly rigged."

Clearly disappointed at the results, Chock told CBS News that it's "important for the skaters that the judges be vetted and reviewed to make sure that they are also putting out their best performance because there's a lot on the line for the skaters when they're out there giving it their all, and we deserve to have the judges also giving us their all and for it to be a fair and even playing field."
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Fans and fellow figure skaters have voiced support for the Americans, arguing they delivered a flawless free dance while Beaudry and Cizeron weren’t as clean. 

She and husband Evan Bates won silver medals after Dabouis gave the American team a 129.74, the lowest score they received from any of the nine judges. If the French judge scores were not counted, the American pair would have won gold with five of the remaining eight judges having them as the top team.

The disparity of scores of the American team and the French team coming from Dabouis were judge to great to overcome the other judges' closer scores.

Data from previous competitions, including the December Grand Prix Final, suggested a pattern of Dabouis favoring French skaters even when they committed major errors or falls.

Twizzles and bobbles

The controversy centered on technical errors by the French team, Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron, that critics felt were not adequately penalized, particularly when compared to the "near-flawless" performances of silver medalists Chock and Bates.

The primary technical disputes involved two specific elements where the French team appeared to struggle while the Americans excelled. 

In both the Rhythm and Free Dances, the French pair exhibited visible synchronization issues and "bobbles". Despite these errors, they received high Grades of Execution (GOE) and personal best scores.

A major point of contention was the Level 4 difficulty rating awarded to the French for this element, while Chock and Bates received a Level 3. Commentators noted the Americans' supposed error (coming down on the wrong blade edge) was "pretty impossible to tell," leading to a lower-than-expected score. The final gold-silver gap was only 1.43 points.

Bates emphasized that they did not believe the surprisingly low score was warranted, noting that he thought he and his wife skated "even better" than they had at their team event, at which they scored a 91.06.

The International Skating Union (ISU) defended the results on February 13, 2026, stating that "mechanisms are used to mitigate variations" and expressing full confidence in the panel.

Prior to 2026, the most infamous judging scandal was the 2002 "Skategate" incident in Salt Lake City, where a French judge admitted to pressure to vote for the Russian pair over the Canadian pair, leading to a massive overhaul of the scoring system.

Madison Chock and Evan Bates at the medal ceremony.


Is this the end?

The silver medal is the first medal for Chock and Bates in the individual rhythm skating event in the three Olympics In which they competed. Altogether, they have  two gold medals they won in the Team event in 2022 and this year in addition to the silver this year.

At 33 and 36, Chock and Bates are undecided about their competitive future.
As of Feb. 12, the couple has not officially announced their retirement. When asked if the Olympics was their "last dance," Bates responded, "I’m not sure," while Chock noted they were focused on processing the "waves of emotions" from their 15-year journey.

US Skate is reportedly going to file a request for a review of the judging but that might not change the final results.

"It's been the most special journey. I mean, we've been blubbering our way through all these interviews, just reflecting on what an incredible 15-year journey it's been and how intertwined our lives are with the sport," Bates a day after the results were announced. "And we fell in love on the ice and met each other through the sport, and all of our friends and support system are here because of the sport, and we're so grateful for everybody who's helped us get here."

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. 

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