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Published on January 22, 2025
Seattle's Chinatown-International District Vandalized on MLK Day, Japanese American Art DefacedSource: Google Street View

Seattle's Chinatown-International District has been marred by an act of vandalism on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, targeting a public art exhibit that honors Japanese American history. The incident, which drew significant concern from the neighborhood known for its cultural vibrancy and resilience, involved defacement with paint and the scrawling of Bible verses across the artwork. The community discovered the damage on a day meant for reflection and reverence, turning the occasion into one of distress and disappointment for many local advocates and residents.

According to KING 5 News, the damage was not only a visual blight, but also, a blow to the memory and history that the artwork represented. In a related incident, an educational mural that commemorated the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II was similarly vandalized.

A local citizen, Glasco noted, "I noticed it was just smeared, and it had some Bible verses written on it," according to FOX 13 Seattle. The verses added to the mural, however, did not present a clear connection to the depicted historical events, leaving advocacy groups puzzled about the perpetrator's intent.

Stella Liu, a University of Washington student and intern for OCA Greater Seattle, wrestled with understanding the meaning behind the vandal's actions. "So earlier, we googled what the verses are actually supposed to mean, and we can't really find a connection," Liu told FOX 13 Seattle. The act of vandalism has since ignited a discourse among local advocacy groups, including OCA Greater Seattle - Asian Pacific American Advocates, regarding the preservation of history and the struggle against recurring incidents of hate.

The affected neighborhood, often celebrated as a cultural icon, now calls for solidarity and community support in the aftermath of the vandalism. "We are a cultural icon so what we need is the love, attention, and for people just to come here, eat here, shop here," relayed a local business owner, emphasizing the importance of communal resilience in times of adversity. "The way I think about fear is, you don’t run away. We want the whole city, we want everyone to come here and show the CID and Little Saigon compassion," he said speaking to The Seattle Times. Amidst conversations on fear and safety, the collective response appears to lean towards greater engagement and support for the culturally rich, yet periodically targeted, Chinatown-International District and Little Saigon.