MEDIA
CPR, March 10 – It’s a long life noodle that transforms into the railroad
Axios, March 3 – A new mural in downtown Denver will honor the city’s former Chinatown
Denver Post, November 8 – Denver’s historic Chinatown is long gone — but a new historic district is in the works
5280, November 3 – Restaurants are Among What’s Left of Denver’s Lost Chinatown
Denverite, November 2 – Denver’s destroyed Chinatown is getting a mural dedicated to the once-thriving area’s past, present and future
RMPBS, November 1 – Upcoming mural will honor Chinese history, heritage in downtown Denver
CBS4 , October 27 – Denver takes another step to remember city’s historic Chinatown
NBC News, August 10 – Denver officials remove anti-Chinese plaque that marked city’s Chinatown destruction in 1880
CGTN, August 9 – Historical plaque considered offensive by many Chinese-Americans removed in Denver
CBS4, August 8 – LoDo plaque removed, Denver continues effort to make amends for history of violence towards Chinese community
RMPBS, August 8 – Denver removes offensive, inaccurate plaque about 1880 anti-Chinese race riot
Denverite, August 8 – Denver just took down a “Chinese Riot” historical marker that was actually about an anti-Chinese rio
9News, August 8 – Denver removes anti-Chinese historical marker across from Coors Field
Fox 31, August 8 – Denver mayor, community remove anti-Chinese historical marker in LoDo
Smithsonian Magazine, April 21 –Denver Apologizes for Anti-Chinese Riot of 1880
CNN, April 20 – Denver is the latest city to apologize for its history of anti-Chinese racism
CGTN, April 20 – Denver formally apologizes for the 1880 anti Chinese riot
Christian Science Monitor, April 19 – ‘Focused on healing’: Denver apologizes for anti-Chinese race riot
NBC News, April 18 – Denver formally apologizes for anti-Chinese riot in 1880 that left one dead
Denverite, April 17 – Denver officially apologizes for anti-Chinese riot, 142 years later
CBS 4, April 17 – Denver’s Chinese community receives apology for riot 140 years ago
AsAM News, April 17 – Denver issues formal apology for history of anti-Chinese racism
RMPBS, April 16 – 142 years later, the City of Denver officially apologizes for 1880 anti-Chinese race riot
9News, April 16 – City of Denver apologizes for role in the anti-Chinese riot of 1880
Denver 7, April 15 – Apology for 1880 riot: Denver to raise awareness about old Chinatown
CBS 4, April 15 – City Of Denver to issue formal apology to Chinese immigrants, descendants for role in 1880 anti-Chinese riot
CPR, April 12 – Denver will formally apologize for anti-Chinese riot in 1880
RMPBS, April 11 – 142 years later, the City of Denver will officially apologize for 1880 anti-Chinese race riot
Denverite, April 6 – Denver will formally apologize for the anti-Chinese riot that left a person dead in 1880
2021
Colorado Sun, Dec 16 – Geographic naming board agrees to scrape offensive name from Chaffee County gulch
9News, Nov 19 – Strides made in community efforts to re-envision Denver’s Historic Chinatown
9News, Oct 21 – The meaning of a name; Board considers changing names of Colorado landmarks with racist ties
Colorado Sun, Oct 21 – Colorado governor tells renaming board to consider easier-to-pronounce alternatives
Channel 7, Oct 21 – Colorado Asian Pacific United launches fundraiser to re-envision Denver’s historic Chinatown
AsAM News, Aug 9 – Denver’s historic Chinatown is remembered with a colorful event
Channel 7, Aug 8 – Group unveils proposed text for Denver Chinatown historic marker
CBS4, Aug 8 – Dragons Descend On LoDo At Event To Bring Awareness About Denver’s Historic Chinatown
9News, Aug 8 – Re-Envisioning Denver’s Historic Chinatown: An organization hopes that starts with removing an offensive plaque
Denverite, Aug 2 – 140 years after rioters burned down Denver’s Chinatown, descendants will commemorate its history
CPR, June 7 – Un-Whitewashing Denver’s Anti-Chinese Riot
CNN, May 30 – Burned from the land: How 60 years of racial violence shaped America
CBS4, May 30 – Colorado AAPI Teenagers Work To ‘Uplift The Voices’ In Fight Against Anti-Asian Hate
Chalkbeat, May 27 – ‘Invisible for a long time:’ Asian American students and parents in Colorado call for more support, AAPI history
CBS4, May 26- Denver’s Historic Chinatown To Get Revitalization
Denver 7, May 24 – Colorado Asian Pacific United pushing to remove historic plaque in LoDo
9News, May 12 – Denver group hopes to change anti-Chinese riot historic plaque, revitalize Chinatown
Denverite, February 26 – How can Denver recognize its once-thriving Chinatown?
AsAmNews, February 14 – Denver to “re-envision” historic Chinatown destroyed by race riot
2020
Colorado Sun, December 24 – A plaque near Denver’s historic Chinatown marks a race riot. Its critics see it as an opportunity
DEVELOPMENTS
2023
Newsletter, March – Click here.
Helping Reporters and Community Connect: What AANHPI Coloradans Want From News Coverage – February 10
Watch on YouTube – “Reclaiming Denver’s Chinatown” documentary – January 30
2022
Newsletter, October – Click here.
The Association of Asian American Studies presented its Community Leadership Award to CAPU – April 16, 2022.
April 16 apology event – Press release and Apology Letter from the City of Denver.
Key takeaways from the April 16 event:
• A historic apology by the City of Denver for its role in the anti-Chinese race riot that destroyed what had been a thriving Chinatown district in 1880.
• An agreement by the owner of the building (near Coors Field), with the racially insensitive and inaccurate “Chinese riot” plaque, to finally remove it.
• A firm commitment by the city towards the establishment of an Asian Pacific Historic District and the founding an Asian Pacific American community museum, which will be the first of its kind in the Rocky Mountain Region.
CAPU needs your help to document our AAPI heritage in Colorado. We are in the process of creating cultural trunks on AAPI history in Colorado. If you have story to share or artifacts to donate, please let us know by emailing us at: [email protected].
The Colorado Geographic Naming Advisory Board agreed that Chaffee County’s offensively named Chinaman Gulch should be changed to Yansing Gulch, which means resilience in Cantonese.
A video introduction to CAPU by director and photographer Bruce Tetsuya who is based in Denver and New York City
Video message from CAPU Board Chair Joanne Liu on Denver Chinatown’s commeration day – Oct. 31.
Non-profit status – As a first step towards the becoming a non-profit organization, CAPU has registered with the state as a non-profit corporation – without the 501(c)(3) status – on October 4. To obtain the designation of a non-profit corporation, CAPU has created a board of directors and filed paperwork with the secretary of state, including its articles of bylaws and articles of incorporation.
CAPU launches GoFundMe campaign – In August, CAPU launched its GoFundMe goal of $10,000. We look forward to your support and would like to thank everyone who have generously contributed to it.
CAPU unveils proposed text for Denver Chinatown historic marker – On August 8, 2021, CAPU hosted an event to reveal its new proposed text for a plaque commemorating Denver’s historic Chinatown. The event, which was well attended, was held at Zoe Ma Ma at Union Station. In addition to the wonderful lion dance performances by the Shao Lin Hung Mei troupe, we were honored with speeches from Zoe Ma Ma’s owner Edwin Zoe, members of the Lung and Chin families, Derek Okubo, Executive Director, Agency for Human Rights and Community Partnerships at the City and County of Denver, and Professor William Wei, CU professor of History and former Colorado State Historian. Visit CAPU’s Facebook page for the event images.
VOLUNTEER
If you are interested in volunteering with CAPU, we welcome the support for our six sub-committees. Please sign up here for the committees.