In a significant step towards acknowledging historical injustices, the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved an apology to the Chinese community regarding the mishandling of Block 14, a section of Lone Fir Cemetery in Portland reserved for people of Chinese descent.
Commissioner Shannon Singleton expressed the gravity of the situation, stating, “The Chinese community had something taken that can never be fully compensated. There’s no price tag in honoring ancestors, in knowing people’s names and in the trauma that resulted from these county actions.”
This formal apology comes after extensive discussions with community organizations and a commitment from the county to fund a memorial dedicated to the site.
Chair Jessica Vega Pederson has been actively engaging with community groups since last year, ensuring that plans for a memorial for the gravesite, where at least 2,892 individuals of Chinese ancestry were buried, move forward.
Historically, Multnomah County purchased Lone Fir Cemetery in April 1928 and soon after closed the area designated for Chinese burials. Over the years, officials disturbed and paved over Block 14, leading to the erasure of the burial sites of early Chinese Americans and immigrant workers, according to research from the Chinese American Citizens Alliance.
Helen Ying, vice president of the Chinese American Citizens Alliance, shared her perspective during the meeting, stating, “These actions resulted in the erasure of the individuals who were buried at Block 14. Chair and commissioners, we bring our sincere gratitude for you being bold in your actions to bring an apology to the community.”
The Board of Commissioners has allocated $1 million in the fiscal year 2026 budget to assist the Metro regional government in constructing a memorial at Block 14’s west end. However, officials from Metro have indicated that developing the memorial is complex and hindered by rising construction costs.
Commissioner Meghan Moyer voiced strong support for additional funding for the memorial during this year’s budget discussions, alongside Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards. Despite their proposal being removed due to the county’s various financial challenges, the Board signaled a commitment to provide further funding in 2027.
Moyer articulated her perspective on representing District 1, where Lone Fir Cemetery is located. She stated, “It is my honor to represent District 1… because it gives me an opportunity to participate in the truth telling and beginning of a reconciliation between an institution that I am proud to be a part of, but for whom has committed acts that have inflicted incredible pain on a community.”
Brim-Edwards expressed her agreement with Moyer’s sentiments. “While it’s long overdue, I welcome that we’re taking this action today,” she added.
In an emotional testimony, Stephen Ying from the Oregon Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association shared his long-standing commitment to addressing the issue. He conveyed gratitude for the county’s acknowledgement of past wrongs, stating, “It brings me great comfort to see Multnomah County now acknowledging the past wrong.”
Having personally worked on interpreting burial records, Ying found meaning in recognizing the names of those buried, stating, “During that process, I found myself apologizing to every single one.”
As Multnomah County takes these steps towards reconciliation, the hopes for a memorial reflect a broader movement toward recognizing and rectifying historical injustices faced by marginalized communities.
image source from：oregonlive
