Edmonds WA – On Saturday March 27, 2021 the community is invited to a Rally and Silent March to send a message that Hate Has No Home in Snohomish and King Counties.
The event, which is being organized by local business owners and Edmonds’s resident Will Chen, and co-sponsored by a number of community organizations and volunteers will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at Esperance Park, located in Edmonds. Everyone is welcome to attend the event, which is not sponsored or affiliated with any political party or campaign and will feature a number of speakers leading up to a silent march in honor of all those who have been victim to, or lost their lives as a result of hate.
This event serves as an opportunity for our community to show support of our AAPI residents and to show that we are an inclusive community. “We have to stand up in the face of the fear that some AAPI community members experience on a daily basis, and show that we are better than this,” said Roberto Ha, who is a member of the Asian-American and Pacific Islander community and an Edmonds business owner.
The event will officially begin with a gathering inside Esperance Park, which is located at 7830 222nd St SW in Edmonds. (Please use 224th St SW entrance and parking lot) Speakers are expected to begin around 10:30am and will be followed by the silent march around the park before gathering for final comments to close the event. Participants are encouraged to invite their friends and family to show support, and will be expected to wear masks and follow recommended social distancing guidelines as set by the CDC, the State of Washington and the local Health Department.
“We want to ensure that everyone feels welcome in our community, and this event is just one more opportunity to end our silence and come together to promote respect and share our stories so others know that they are not alone,” said event organizer Will Chen.
A number of organizations have joined as cohosts and in the planning for the Rally, among those are the Korean Community Service Center, Community Health Worker Coalition for Migrants and Refugees, WA United Chinese Association and several others. “We have a chance to demonstrate that we are united against hate in all forms, and we are very excited to continue the message forward, said Joomi Kim, Executive Director of the Korean Community Service Center.”
If you would like to be involved in supporting or organizing this event with me, please feel free to contact event organizer Will Chen at friendsofwill21@gmail.com.
Author: Mario Lotmore
