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Olympia council proclaims Budd Inlet 6 anniversary, Disability Awareness Month and honors stand against anti‑Chinese violence
Summary
The council read and adopted three proclamations recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Budd Inlet 6 events, proclaiming March 2026 Disability Awareness Month and commemorating the 140th anniversary of Olympia's stand against anti‑Chinese violence; witnesses and local historians provided context at the meeting.
The Olympia City Council used its March 3 meeting to adopt three historical and awareness proclamations and to hear related remarks from eyewitnesses, advocates and local historians.
The council proclaimed 2026 the Budd Inlet 6 fiftieth‑anniversary year and designated March 7, 2026 as Budd Inlet 6 commemoration day. Karen Monroe Elek, introduced by the mayor as an eyewitness, recounted sailing in Budd Inlet in March 1976 and watching orcas being herded into nets. "The orcas' cries were heartbreaking," she said, describing seaplanes and boats and the public outcry that followed. Edward Mackey, then-chief deputy attorney general, described the ensuing legal response and federal legislative action that led to protections for orcas in Puget Sound. Mayor Dante Payne presented copies of the proclamation to the speakers.
Council member Green read a proclamation recognizing March 2026 as Disability Awareness Month. Jocelyn Nelson, program manager for the Disability Justice Task Force, accepted the proclamation and spoke about how disability intersects with race, income and other identities, urging sustained systems‑level change rather than one‑off recognition. "This proclamation reflects that reality by naming barriers rather than blaming individuals," Nelson said, calling for long‑term accountability on accessibility and inclusion.
The council also recognized the 140th anniversary of Olympia's stand against anti‑Chinese violence in February 1886. Speakers from the Locke Family Association and the Olympia Museum described local history, noting that Olympia leaders and law enforcement intervened to prevent expulsion and that the subsequent prosecutions were an unusual example of accountability in the era. The museum has opened an exhibit, "Remembering Exclusion, Honoring Community," to document local Chinese history and memory, presenters said.
Council members praised the speakers and emphasized the importance of public education, preservation and ongoing civic engagement. The proclamations were presented by Mayor Payne and will serve as focal points for community events, exhibits and learning opportunities throughout the year.
