Bellevue College is condemning a racist voicemail left for the artist behind a campus mural about Japanese American incarceration during World War II and is increasing security ahead of a planned permanent installation next month.
School officials said the message, received March 11, contained racist language and came shortly after a news conference about the mural’s upcoming rededication. The college reported it to campus safety and Bellevue police and notified artist Erin Shigaki.
Erin Shigaki (Photo by Giles Clement )
The mural, “Never Again is Now,” depicts the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II, including children in camps, and connects that history to broader civil rights issues.
Erin Shigaki (left) with fellow artist Alexis Silva, standing in front of her mural at Bellevue College. (Photo from Erin Shigaki’s Instagram account)
In 2020, the mural became the focus of controversy when a college administrator altered it by whiting out part of its text, including a reference to anti-Japanese agitation by Eastside businessmen. The incident led to months of backlash and ultimately the resignations of the college’s president and a vice president.
After being restored and rededicated, the artwork is now set to become a permanent installation on campus during a May 14 ceremony titled “Never Again is Now: A Permanent Commitment.”
In a statement released to the media, Bellevue College said, “Equity and inclusion are top guiding principles at Bellevue College that are embedded into everything the institution does. The college takes the safety and well-being of its campus and community very seriously. Racism is unacceptable and does not align with the institution’s values, policies, or practices.”
Leave a Reply