Protest Against Baseball Stadium Construction in Philadelphia's Chinatown

Protest Against Baseball Stadium Construction in Philadelphia's Chinatown

In the heart of Philadelphia, where the city’s historic legacy converges with its diverse, vibrant communities, there have been moments that stirred the very soul of its community, sparking intense debates and fueling the fight for preservation of vulnerable neighborhoods. The battlegrounds of urban development have often found a prominent stage in Chinatown, threatening the existence of an ethnic enclave that has stood as a steadfast guardian of not only its geography but its memories and relationships. In the early 2000s, the roar of discontent echoed through Chinatown's narrow alleys as residents fought off the construction of a $685 million baseball stadium for the Phillies near Chinatown at 12th and Vine streets, recognizing the gentrification threats it posed to their tight-knit community.

In these photos, members of CAAAV participated in the protest alongside other Philadelphia residents. People wearing “No Stadium in Chinatown” shirts emblazoned with red English letters and Chinese characters are marching and holding banners that say “Chinatown Coalition Committee to Oppose the Stadium.” The protesters marched from the Holy Redeemer Church in Chinatown to City Hall. Nearly all of Chinatown's businesses closed for part of the day to express their opposition to building the stadium in their neighborhood.

Reference: https://www.thedp.com/article/2000/06/chinatown_businesses_close_doors_to_protest_new_stadium_site

June, 2000

Cynthia Zhang

Copyright is held by CAAAV Organizing Asian Communities.

Photograph

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