We are concerned New Yorkers and friends with long-standing interests in the well-being and future of Chinatown, from poverty alleviation and labor rights to economic development, from health care access and civic participation to educational opportunities, and from promotion of the arts to the preservation of Chinese American history and cultural heritage. 

We support the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA), including its pursuit of a larger and permanent home. We oppose the Mayor’s plan to construct a larger jail in Chinatown. But we do NOT support blaming MOCA for the City’s decisions about the jail. We certainly do NOT condone the boycott of MOCA, the weekly pickets in front of the museum, and the harassment of artists who are participating in MOCA’s current exhibit. These protests are misguided and harmful to MOCA and to the community.

We support the continued fight against the expansion of the Chinatown jail. We urge that protests be directed at City Hall (Mayor & City Council), not MOCA. MOCA is a vibrant and robust cultural heritage institution with a long history that embraces and includes diverse narratives of Chinese-Americans. Their collections are important for the general public, researchers, and future generations.

While there are different views, opinions and interests involved, we seek to rebuild community solidarity and common ground based on civil and constructive engagement. Let’s stand together to support an important community institution that tells an important piece of the American story. 

Statement by:  (affiliations in parentheses for ID purposes only)

Charlotte Brooks (Baruch) * Karlin Chan (Founder, Chinatown Block Watch) * Dallas Chang, Artist * Tisa Chang, Pan Asian Repertory Theater * Jessica Chao * David S. Chen * May Y. Chen * Emily Cheng, Artist * Lana Cheung, Local 23-25 Workers United * Julisa Chin * Margaret M. Chin (Hunter/CUNY Graduate Center) * Rocky Chin * Sylvia Fung Chin, Esq. * Winifred C. Chin (NYU) * Chinatown Business Improvement District * Chinatown Partnership LDC * Marylin Chou * Dulcie Dee, Artist * Lotus Do, Artist * Dian Dong * Thomas Drysdale (NYU) * Kip Fulbeck (UC Santa Barbara) * Gary Gach * Larry Hama, Writer, Cartoonist, Actor & Musician * Alex Hing * David Ho * Gregory P. Ho * Alice Hom * Evelyn Hu-DeHart (Brown) * Jacqueline Huey * Shirley Hune (UW) * David Henry Hwang, Playwright * Victor & Lucy Kan * Rebecca Karl (NYU) * Christopher Kwok, Esq.* Eugenia Lean (Columbia) * Ana Paulina Lee (Columbia) * Bob Lee, Asian American Arts Centre * Hong Shing Lee * Jennifer Lee (Columbia) * Kin-Wah Lee (Board Member & Co-Founder, UA3) * Mae Lee * Regina Lee * Sokie Lee * Robert G. Lee (Brown) * Russell Leong * Lydia Liu (Columbia) * Chi Loek * Tzi Ma, Actor * Sumita S. Mukhi * Naoto Nakagawa, Artist * Virginia L. Ng * Mae Ngai (Columbia) * Lien-Hang T. Nguyen (Columbia) * Cao O * Elizabeth R. OuYang, Civil Rights Attorney, Educator & Advocate * Perry Pong, M.D. * Carolyn Queener * Edgar Romney (Workers United SEIU) * Chung Seto * Van C. Tran (CUNY Graduate Center) * Kathy S. Wong * Katie Ho & Kin Wong * John Woo, Asian CineVision * Alice Young, Esq. *Mel & Richard Young * Justin Yu, Chinese Chamber of Commerce * Eleanor Yung * Madeleine Zelin (Columbia) 

For More Information, please read this background information: https://bit.ly/3Ed9Qa0