Wing Luke Museum Celebrates the 100th Birthday of Civil Rights Icon, Wing Luke

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 11:00:00 +0000
Press Releases

*Fought for housing equity, Indigenous fishing rights, antidiscrimination and cultural preservation*

*SEATTLE, WASHINGTON / ACCESSWIRE / January 7, 2025 / *The Wing Luke Museum is proud to announce the 100^th birthday of our namesake Wing Chong Luke, who was born on Feb. 18, 1925. Throughout the upcoming year, the Museum will celebrate his contributions and legacy through educational programming, giveaways, special events, and much more.

Highlights in 2025 will include a community celebration on Feb. 15 ahead of Wing Luke's official birthday on Feb. 18, our annual Auction and Gala commemorating the contributions and legacy of Wing Luke on Mar. 22, our annual JamFest community celebration, and much more to be announced.

Wing Luke was a civil rights icon, a man whose preservation and antidiscrimination work is still being felt today. When Wing Luke tragically died in a small plane crash in 1965, he left behind a family, a community, and an amazingly abundant legacy. To learn more about Wing Luke, *visit **www.wingluke.org/about**.*

As an attorney, a Washington State assistant attorney general, and the first Chinese American elected to the Seattle City Council, Wing Luke fought discrimination, advocated for fair housing, and supported Indigenous fishing rights. While serving as Washington State's assistant attorney general in the Civil Rights Division from 1957-62 (governor-elect Bob Ferguson named the division after Wing Luke in 2015), Wing participated in ground-breaking court cases. He was the lead attorney on the state's first antidiscrimination Cease & Desist order. He also represented the state (with others) in housing discrimination work that blew open the doors to fair housing in Washington.

During his time, Wing also argued for preserving some of Seattle's most iconic historic sites, including the historic Pike Place Market, the Central Seattle Waterfront and the Pioneer Square neighborhood. His work to preserve these sites not only retained culture but also continues to be major economic drivers for small businesses and state and city tourism. Information on events and goings on in celebration of Wing Luke will be announced via our social media pages, e-news and our Web site. To learn more, visit www.wingluke.org/about.

*About The Wing Luke Museum*

The Wing Luke Museum's mission is to connect everyone to the rich history, dynamic cultures, and art of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders through vivid storytelling and inspiring experiences to advance racial and social equity. As a Smithsonian Affiliate, National Park Service Affiliated Area, and the only pan-Asian American museum in the nation, The Wing Luke Museum is a national treasure, preserving and sharing the personal stories of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. In 2025, the Museum will celebrate the 100^th birthday of Wing Chong Luke, our namesake and Washington state's first Asian American to hold elected office. To learn more about the Museum, visit www.wingluke.org

*Contact Information*

Steve McLean
Senior Director of Strategic Communications
smclean@wingluke.org
206-935-6566

*SOURCE:* Wing Luke Museum
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