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Multnomah County issues formal apology and commits funding for Lone Fir Block 14 memorial
Summary
The board unanimously adopted a resolution acknowledging historical injustices at Lone Fir Cemetery's Block 14, offered a formal apology to the Chinese American community and committed initial funding and partnership to build a memorial honoring those interred and displaced.
The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Thursday to adopt a resolution acknowledging historical injustices committed at Block 14 of Lone Fir Cemetery and issued a formal apology to the Chinese American community.
The board’s resolution recounts findings from county and community research that between the late 19th century and the 1940s thousands of Chinese and Chinese American residents were buried in Block 14; that post-1928 county actions halted Chinese burials and cultural use there; and that county workers in 1948 exhumed remains — in some cases using heavy equipment — and directed that many sets of remains be repatriated to China or reinterred elsewhere. County staff and community witnesses said the actions resulted in the destruction or loss of cultural artifacts and left many individuals’ final resting places unknown.
Neil Lee, vice president of the…
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