Lonnnng overdue apology

A month ago the mayor of Bellingham, Dan Pike, formally issued a long overdue apology to the Chinese community for the expulsion it suffered from towns in the Northwest over 125 years ago. Locals and civic leaders supported this atrocity in the Puget Sound area when the new immigrants were thought to be threatening the jobs of white people.

Commemorative plaque in Fairhaven

The commemorative plaque above is in plain sight on Harris Avenue near what had been referred to as the deadline after thousands of Chinese citizens were banished in 1885 and 1886. The apology and related events this month in Bellingham are part of a year-long Chinese Expulsion Remembrance Project. Seattle, Tacoma, Olympia and Mount Vernon are also taking part. Good for you, Dan. And in an election year too.

But, God...it's about time.

Now if we can just get Pike to support the Bring Our War Dollars Home campaign. But we're working on him.