Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Gravesite Controversy

Human remains, including some partial and whole skeletons from 128 burials, were unearthed June 2005 at the Metro Gold line Eastside Extension light rail project in Boyle Heights. While the archeologist retained by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) identified only 19 of the skeletal remins as Asian, and 83 of the indeterminate ancestry, the site of the burials either coincides with or is in the immediate vicinity of the original Chinese burial ground.

In the Media:
Reminders of Bigotry Unearthed, Los Angeles Times, March 15, 2006
The Burials They Deserved, Los Angeles Times, April 9, 2006
MTA Defends Handling of Chinese Graves, The Rafu Shimpo, May 26, 2006
Supervisor Michael Antonovich Calls for Investigation Into MTA Excavation Practices

A memorial wall plaque has been designed in memory of early Chinese American pioneers. There will be a dedication ceremony. Stay tuned for announcement of date and location of ceremony.

Save Riverside Chinatown


Save Our Chinatown Committee (SOCC)'s case against the City of Riverside, the Riverside County Office of Education and the developer, Doug Jacobs, finally took place today, July 9! We’ll have to wait for Judge Sharon Waters’ decision and final judgment, but she promised to make it as quick as possible.
A special thanks to our lawyers, Ray Johnson and Veera Tyagi, for all the hard work they did leading up to our day in court. And thanks to those who came in person to support the preservation of Chinatown and Riverside’s cultural history.
Here’s a link to the Press-Enterprise’s story in case you’re interested. "Judge's tentative Chinatown findings leave both sides with questions", Press Enterprise, Thursday, July 10, 2009
http://www.pe.com/rss/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_W_wchinatown10.47ec94f.html

http://saveourchinatown.org For more information and to inquire how you can help please email to saveourchinatown@gmail.com.