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Protesters at MOCA Gala Declare: “Chinatown is Not a Museum”

Protesters at MOCA Gala Declare: “Chinatown is Not a Museum”


## Protesters Criticize MOCA’s Ties to Chinatown Jail Project and Displacement

*By Hyperallergic Staff*

On November 7, 2024, 45 members and allies of the **Coalition to Protect Chinatown and the Lower East Side** gathered outside an event in Tribeca to protest the Museum of Chinese in America (**MOCA**) during its Legacy Awards Gala. The demonstrators accused MOCA of indirectly harming Chinatown’s community and endorsing the construction of a controversial new jail in the area.

The protests were organized mainly to call out the museum’s acceptance of a $35 million “community give-back fund” from the de Blasio administration in 2018. This fund was perceived by many community activists as a bribe for the museum’s support of a multi-billion-dollar plan to build a new jail in Chinatown, which the activists argue would lead to further gentrification and displacement.

### Disrupting the Narrative

Aaron Yin, an organizer from **Youth Against Displacement (YAD)** and a prominent protest leader, voiced strong concerns over the museum’s role:

> “They have some of the richest benefactors … including the wealthiest landlords in Chinatown. We want to disrupt this event and tell them they can’t control the narrative around Chinatown.”

The demonstration gained attention after comedian **Jimmy O. Yang** and actor **BD Wong** withdrew from the gala after public pressure from supporters of the boycott. Although the two celebrities have not publicly commented yet, their decision drew media interest to the event.

Jennifer 8. Lee, a member of MOCA’s board of trustees, expressed understanding for the concerns raised by the protesters but called for productive dialogue. In a statement to *Hyperallergic*, she said:

> “Many of the concerns the protestors bring up — loss of jobs due to iconic restaurant closures, preservation of NYC’s Chinatown, and the impact of the jail — are things the museum staff and board are concerned about. We look forward to having productive, actionable conversations about these issues.”

### Central Demands: Return the Money, Reopen Jing Fong

The protests started around 5 p.m., an hour before the gala began. Activists marched with hand-painted signs condemning MOCA’s acceptance of the jail-related funding. The coalition is also pushing for the reopening of the famous **Jing Fong banquet hall**, which closed in 2021 after years of struggle with its landlord, **Jonathan Chu**, who also happens to be a MOCA board member.

Previously, Chu was at the center of community outrage after being accused of pushing Jing Fong out of its site on Elizabeth Street, a location where the banquet hall had operated for decades. Jing Fong’s closure during the pandemic dramatically affected the local economy, as **Chen Liang**, a long-time employee of Jing Fong, explained in an interview with *Hyperallergic*:

> “The restaurant brought a lot of foot traffic to the neighborhood, and since we’ve been displaced, small businesses around Chinatown are suffering … Since closing, the museum doesn’t care about the life and death of Chinatown. They’re the reason why Chinatown is dying.”

As he held his sign among the crowd, Liang urged MOCA to acknowledge the harm they’ve caused — “return the $35 million back to the community and stand against the jail.”

### Reactions from Inside and Outside the Museum

The opposition extended personal critiques toward MOCA’s new director, **Michael Lee**, particularly when it was revealed that Lee sits on the Board of the **Chinese-American Planning Council**. The council has been accused of wage theft by home-care workers — another issue linked to unfair labor conditions in the community.

The event drew critical views of prominent figures being honored during the gala, including journalist **Connie Chung**, whose exchange with a demonstrator outside the venue became a focal point. Attendees drove up in black SUVs and were often met with cries of “Shame!” from the crowd as they crossed the picket line.

Significantly, only one person ended up heeding the protestors’ demand not to attend: **New York State Senator John Liu**, who turned back after speaking with organizers outside.

> “Senator Liu was apprised of the problem by articulate and spirited young activists, and he decided to skip the event out of respect for their effort and is looking further into the issue,” his office stated.

### A Larger Fight for Chinatown’s Future

The protest against MOCA is just one front in a larger and ongoing battle to protect Chinatown from displacement and gentrification. Activists from the **Coalition to Protect Chinatown and the Lower East Side**, like YAD organizer **Jun Chang**, insist their goals are straightforward: to reopen Jing Fong, return the $35 million from the jail fund, and oppose the construction of the jail itself.

> “This is what the people of Chinatown want,” said Chang.

Despite the tense atmosphere, the protest ended by