Pierce County proclaims Nov. 3 as Chinese Expulsion Remembrance Day; community leaders outline reconciliation events

Pierce County’s Council and Executive on Oct. 21 issued a proclamation recognizing Nov. 3, 2025 as Pierce County Chinese Expulsion Remembrance Day, marking the 140th anniversary of the forced expulsion of Chinese residents from Tacoma in 1885, often called the “Tacoma Method.” The proclamation, read into the record, traced the history of Chinese immigration, the Page Act of 1875, the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the territorial alien land laws that restricted East Asian immigrants’ ability to own land.

Representatives of the Chinese Reconciliation Project Foundation — including Gavin Ripka, Doctor Yates and Theresa Pin Hasili — spoke to the council. They described the walk for reconciliation scheduled for Oct. 25, 2025 (10 a.m.–1 p.m.), which will retrace the route of the 1885 expulsion in reverse as a symbolic act to reclaim public space and educate the community. Speakers noted the historical context — including economic contributions of Chinese pioneers to logging, mining, railroads and other industries — and urged ongoing public education and reconciliation work.

Council members praised the foundation’s work, described the county’s funding support for a nearby reconciliation park and noted previous public events and an opera that recounted the Tacoma Method. The proclamation passed on the council agenda with the reading into the record and public comments in support from community leaders.