Janice R. Andrews
About two dozen staff members of Seattle’s Wing Luke Museum staged a major walkout on Wednesday in opposition to the new exhibit “Confronting Hate Together,” which resulted in the museum’s temporary closure. The exhibition was scheduled to run through June 30 and was intended to examine different manifestations of hate directed towards Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander populations, in addition to Black and Jewish communities.
The Washington State Jewish Historical Society’s content, which the staff claimed confused anti-Zionism with antisemitism, was the source of the protest. The staff believed that although the exhibit had been revised following a media preview on May 14, Zionist viewpoints were still projected.
The staff members in protest listed four main demands:
- Elimination of terms from publications and collaborations with museums that characterize anti-Zionism and Palestinian freedom as antisemitic.
- acknowledgment of the perspectives that are lacking, especially those from Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian populations.
- a public evaluation of the display.
- Focusing on anti-colonial and anti-white supremacist frameworks, the museum aims to elevate voices and viewpoints that are consistent with its goal and ideals.
Twenty-six employees signed a letter stating these demands, however it’s not clear if they all took part in the walkout. A statement recognizing the staff members’ freedom to voice their opinions and outlining the museum’s continuous attempts to resolve their concerns is now visible on the homepage.
The head of communications of the museum, Steve McLean, stressed that staff members are actively addressing the concerns brought up. Future initiatives, he said, are being planned to guarantee that other communities, including Arab Americans, are represented.
The show attempts to give a modern picture of racism, antisemitism, and intolerance with a local focus. It was inspired by a 2022 New-York Historical Society exhibition. The Washington State Jewish Historical Society’s executive director, Lisa Kranseler, reaffirmed that the exhibit’s goal was to spark dialogue among various groups and encourage them to contribute their own narratives.
While these conversations go on, the museum stays closed.
