Seattle apologizes for past discrimination against Chinese

The entrance to Seattle's Chinatown.

SEATTLE became one of the few cities in America to issue an apology for its racist past, specifically, the actions taken against the Chinese during the 19th century.

Sponsored by Council member Nick Licata, he said the resolution was presented to him by  the Organization of Chinese Americans-Asian Pacific American Advocates, and the Chinese American Citizens Alliance. 

The city council passed the resolution on July 2, perhaps the first of its kind in the nation.

“Discriminatory policies ripple from the past and still affect Chinese communities today. Awareness and recognition of shameful policies in our history is the first step to moving forward together,” Licata read from a statement.

"In the 1800s, a wave of anti-Chinese sentiment swept the United States including Washington Territory. Federal immigration laws were enacted to limit the number of Chinese in the United States, and to restrict their status by denying them the right to bring their families to join them and denying them the right to become U.S. Citizens. Local jurisdictions also passed Anti-Chinese legislation that were intended to restrict their ability to remain in the United States, and to economically support themselves. 

Visitors are greeted by dragons upon
entering Seattle's International District,
which includes Chinatown.

"Anti-Chinese sentiment erupted into physical violence in many locations including Seattle where the Chinese were forcibly removed.

"Despite these hardships, the Chinese continued to positively contribute to the growth and development of Seattle and established a community known in Seattle that continues to this day.

"Consistent with the City’s commitment to Race and Social Equity, this Resolution acknowledges this history, the significant positive contributions past and present of the Chinese to this City and re-affirms the City’s commitment to the civil rights of all people." 

The history of discriminatory anti-Chinese legislation began in Washington Territory, before statehood in 1889. The Territory passed measures that denied Chinese the right to vote in 1853; a poll tax in 1864; and a law prohibiting Chinese from owning land. The US Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882, among other discriminatory acts.

In this environment, the Seattle City Council passed three discriminatory laws directed against Chinese in 1885, relating to living space, commercial licenses, and public laundries. In 1886, an anti-Chinese riot took place in Seattle, and a mob of 1500 forced 350 Chinese to leave Seattle. This was part of a regional and national pattern.

“The resolution is a strong and powerful statement that expresses gratitude for the contributions of the Chinese and denounces the racial discrimination towards the early Chinese pioneers,” said Doug Chin, board member of the Organization of Chinese Americans-Asian Pacific American Advocates. “It also recognizes the role of the Chinese in the history of this city and will make us feel that we are a valuable and integral part of Seattle.”

Previously, the City of Tacoma, Washington issued a similar apology as did the U.S. Congress and the State of California.

Last year, the council did away with the celebration of Oct. 12 as Columbus Day and turned it into Indigenous People's Day.

"If we are to address persistent issues of racial and economic inequality in Seattle, we must acknowledge the institutional racism of our past," said Mayor Ed Murray. "I commend the Council for making this statement of regret about our City's painful history of legal racial discrimination."


If it is seemingly impossible to have a national conversation on race, there is nothing to prevent local governments, especially in California (yes, I mean L.A. and S.F.), from following Seattle's example.

###