PROCLAMATION

OF THE

PORT OF SEATTLE COMMISSION

WHEREAS, every May, we celebrate the history, contributions, and achievements of Asian

Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs) across our

nation and at the Port of Seattle; and

WHEREAS, the annual Asian and Pacific American Heritage Week was first introduced by

Congressmen Norm Mineta and Frank Horton in 1977, and transformed over the

following decades to a month-long celebration known as APA Heritage Month,

which was officially designated in 1990 with the passing of Public Law 101-283;

and

WHEREAS, despite discrimination such as the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, the

Immigration Act of 1924, and exclusionary laws and policies that prevented

access to naturalization, education, jobs, housing, and public services, each

successive generation of AANHPI’s helped build our great nation’s infrastructure

and economy, and defended our democracy in times of crisis. AANHPI have laid

railroad tracks, tilled fields, started businesses, cared for our infirm, and served

honorably in the military to protect our freedom; and

WHEREAS, we celebrate the achievement of Vice President Kamala Harris, the first person

of South Asian descent to hold the second highest office in the nation, and who

is blazing a trail for AANHPI communities, and women in general, and that

AANHPI are part of the American fabric and higher aspirations are achievable;

and

WHEREAS, we also celebrate the achievements of our Port of Seattle Commissioners Sam

Cho and Toshiko Grace Hasegawa, who are of Asian ancestry, paving the way

for future AANHPI leaders; and

WHEREAS, despite the many achievements, disparities still exist when Asian, Native

Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Communities are disaggregated on a racial and

ethnic basis, and we must strive to disaggregate information in order to identify

these disparities and work to close the equity gaps that continue to exist among

AANHPI communities; and

HEREAS, we recognize the valuable contributions and many sacrifices our diverse

AANHPI community members have made to our nation and to the Port of Seattle,

Agenda Item: 4a

Meeting Date: May 10, 2022

as we remain cognizant of the continued struggles faced by our AANHPI

communities, such as an immigration system in need of comprehensive reform

and systemic barriers to economic justice, health equity, educational attainment,

personal safety, and “glass ceilings” in the workplace; and

WHEREAS, AANHPI communities have long histories in the Pacific Northwest and together

make up the largest non-white ethnic group in King County, refuting the

perception that they are “perpetual foreigners;” and

WHEREAS, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen an increase in anti-Asian

sentiment and violent acts towards people of Asian descent, including elders.

March 16 marked the one-year anniversary of the 2021 Atlanta Spa shooting

where six Asian American women – two of Chinese descent and four of Korean

descent – were targeted because of their ethnicity; and

WHEREAS, the Covid-19 pandemic disparately impacted Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander

and COFA Islander communities, who experienced significantly higher incidence

of contraction, hospitalization and death, and experienced significant workplace

discrimination; and

WHEREAS, the recognition of May as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander

Heritage Month is an important and meaningful step in honoring the history and

contributions of AANHPI people and Port employees.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Port of Seattle Commission hereby commemorates May as

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month; acknowledges the

contributions of the “Home of Asian and Pacific Islander” (HAPI), Port of Seattle employee

resource group; and commits to demonstrating an inclusive and welcoming environment for

AANHPI people and promoting racial equity.

Proclaimed by the Port of Seattle Commission this ___ day of __________, 2022.

Port of Seattle Commission