Remembering the “Tacoma Method”
November 3rd, 2025, was the 140th anniversary of the forced expulsion of the remaining 200 Chinese residents of Tacoma, perpetrated by a mob led by the mayor and other civic leaders. This act of racial violence, later known as “The Tacoma Method,” was part of a broader wave of anti-Chinese sentiment and exclusion that swept across the West Coast in the late nineteenth century. For around a century, this painful history remained largely unacknowledged in the public memory.
For nearly thirty years, the Chinese Reconciliation Project Foundation (CRPF) has worked to bring this history to light, in hopes of reconciliation through education and remembrance. Through community engagement, public art, and the creation of the Tacoma Chinese Reconciliation Park, the CRPF has sought to help Tacoma confront this injustice and move toward healing, building understanding between people of all backgrounds, and fostering a shared commitment to equity and reconciliation.
In pursuit of our mission to remember and reconcile with this history, the CRPF once again led our annual Walk for Reconciliation Against Racism on October 25th, 2025. This community event retraced and reversed the route of the 1885 expulsion, symbolically reclaiming the City of Tacoma and Pierce County as welcoming, inclusive, and globally minded communities.
A Step Forward: Pierce County Honors Chinese History with Official Proclamation
We are honored to announce that the Pierce County Council and Executive have officially proclaimed November 3rd, 2025, as “Pierce County Chinese Expulsion Remembrance Day.”
By establishing this countywide day of remembrance, Pierce County recognizes the importance of remembering and reconciling with historical wrongdoings. The proclamation acknowledges the profound injustice of the 1885 expulsion and honors the resilience and contributions of the Chinese immigrants who helped build Pierce County.
We encourage you to read the proclamation, pictured below, in its entirety. Alternatively, you can watch the recording of the Pierce County Council meeting by clicking on the image above. They begin reading the proclamation at the 20:30 mark.
With Gratitude
The Chinese Reconciliation Project Foundation extends its sincere thanks to Pierce County Council Chair Jani Hitchens for her thoughtful guidance throughout this process and for her support in bringing the proclamation forward. We also thank Councilmember Bryan Yambe for his insightful revisions that strengthened the final resolution.
We are deeply appreciative of Gavin Ripka and Dr. Greg Youtz for their leadership in drafting and submitting the proclamation to the Pierce County Council. Their dedication and collaboration have been instrumental in ensuring that this important chapter of local history is honored and remembered for generations to come.
The CRPF also expresses its profound gratitude to Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello and the Pierce County Council for their support in establishing this significant day of recognition. Their shared commitment to truth, remembrance, and reconciliation reflects the best of public service and community leadership.