It’s rare that a one-minute piece of public testimony at a Seattle City Council meeting snaps the entire room to attention.
But at a recent meeting to discuss legislation that would reduce homeless encampment sweeps, activist Sonny Nguyen—an organizer of API Food Fight Club, a coalition of young, progressive Asian and Pacific Islander American activists—stood up for their community with a commanding statement.
“It seems like the city only comes to Chinatown when they need to use us and pit us against other disenfranchised communities,” Nguyen said. “API Food Fight Club is here to say that we won’t be used to justify violence anymore and we will not be your model minority.”
The room erupted in applause.
We talked to Nguyen, who is also a Washington Bus engagement coordinator and pho speed-eater, about their work and what they’re doing when they’re not at City Hall.
