AAPI group seeks help to replace missing Denver Chinatown historical marker
By Ryan General
February 15, 2024
One of the three historical markers commemorating Denver’s Chinatown has reportedly been missing
About the marker: Nonprofit Colorado Asian Pacific United (CAPU) installed the markers last year near the intersection of 16th Street and Wazee Street in LoDo to raise awareness of Denver’s one-time Chinatown and serve as a reminder of the vibrant community that once thrived in the area.
“The marker talks about all the different reasons why Chinese folks had immigrated here, how Chinatown got started, and talked a bit about the resiliency of our community,” Joie Ha, executive director of Colorado Asian Pacific United, told 9News.
About Denver’s Chinatown: Once a vibrant hub, Denver’s Chinatown faced a tragic fate in 1880 after a racist mob rampaged through it. In 1882 the Chinese Exclusion Act slammed the door on new immigration and further isolated the existing community. Urban renewal initiatives by the government in 1940 bulldozed the remaining structures.
Efforts to rebuild: CAPU, in collaboration with the Denver Asian American Pacific Islander Commission, spearheaded efforts to reconstruct Chinatown’s history amid rising anti-Asian sentiments and ongoing struggles for representation. The missing marker is a crucial component of the initiative, called “Reimagining Denver’s Historic Chinatown.”
Investigations underway: CAPU has filed a police report with the Denver Police Department and reviewed nearby CCTV footage, but no significant leads have emerged so far, reported Denverite. While the exact circumstances surrounding the marker’s disappearance remain unclear, Ha acknowledges the possibility of malicious intent, given the rise in anti-Asian hate incidents in recent years.
Call to action: CAPU has launched a GoFundMe campaign to seek support from the community in funding the fabrication and reinstallation of the missing marker. The organization also encourages anyone with information regarding the marker’s whereabouts to come forward and assist in their efforts to reclaim this vital piece of history. With a target goal of $12,000, the campaign has raised $2,200, as of this writing.
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