Call to Action:

Submit or Present Testimony at Multnomah County’s Budget Hearings

Together, Let’s Cross the Finish Line!

Support an Official Apology from Multnomah County to the Chinese American Community

For nearly two years, the C.A.C.A. Portland Lodge has been working to secure an official apology from Multnomah County for the historic harm inflicted on the Chinese American community— at the Chinese Section of Lone Fir Cemetery.

Based on the community input gathered last fall, we submitted a draft apology resolution that included a funding support request to Chair Jessica Vega Pederson this spring.  On February 4, board members Helen Ying and Michael Yun, along with Metro staff Karen Vitkay, presented this request to the Multnomah County Commission. Their briefing underscored the need for  recognition, repair, and a formal commitment to honoring the history of the Chinese community at the Lone Fir Cemetery. 

We thank Chair Vega Pederson for advancing the County apology and including $1 million in the proposed budget for the Block 14 Memorial. But that is less than half of what was initially requested to build the community-supported design. 

Now is the time to urge the Commission to fully honor its 2007 Memorandum of Understanding and partner with Metro to provide the necessary resources. The research, engagement, planning, and design are complete and the Memorial is ready to be built. 

Block 14 at Lone Fir Cemetery holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for Portland’s Chinese American community. Hundreds of Chinese American graves were desecrated, and nearly 3,000 ancestors were erased from public memory by the County's actions. Honoring ancestors is a core cultural practice, making these harms especially painful. 

The Memorial will restore dignity, preserve heritage, and reclaim the untold stories of early Chinese immigrants. It will serve as a place of healing, remembrance, and education—ensuring visibility and inclusion for communities long excluded from our shared history

Now is the moment to act! Submit your testimony in writing or in person to ensure this project gets the funding it deserves. 

How You Can Help

The County’s budget public hearings in May are a critical opportunity to advocate for funding for the memorial project and its long-term maintenance. Your voice is essential—submit your testimony in writing or in person and make an impact!

Mark your calendar and join us:

Wednesday, May 14 – Budget Public Hearing #1 (A hybrid hearing held virtually and at Multnomah Building, 6:00-8:00 PM)
Wednesday, May 21 – Budget Public Hearing #2 (In-person at Multnomah County East, 6:00-8:00 PM)
Wednesday, May 28 – Budget Public Hearing #3 (Virtual, 6:00-8:00 PM)

Click here to learn more about Multnomah County's role in the site's history. 
Click here to download the testimony template for your reference.
Click here to access the form to:

1. Sign up to testify during Multnomah County's three public budget hearings.

2. Submit written comments or suggestions about the County's proposed budget.\

Click here for information on the Multnomah County Budget Process and How to Participate 

Let’s stand together to ensure that Multnomah County acknowledges the past and takes meaningful steps toward healing. Thank you for your support!