The Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Library, the Press Photographers Association of Greater Los Angeles (PPAGLA) and the Chinese Culture Development Center (CCDC) present “Through the Lens: An Asian American Experience in 2021” from July 8 to August 8, 2022 on the first floor of the library.

Photos on display featured ten award-winning photojournalists who documented anti-discrimination rallies and commemorative events in the Asian American Pacific Islander community throughout the Greater Los Angeles area. This project was sponsored by East West Bank.

On July 30th  this event was opened to the public to see all of the photographs for themselves and meet with some of the photographers who captured the events on film.

Monterey Park City Clerk Vince Chang welcomed the guests to this very special exhibit. These pictures will be part of our history that showed racism against Asians due the Pandemic with some people called the China Virus. In 2020 some people were badly hurt and  some people got killed. So Asian Americans joined together to fight it off.

The photographers’ show pictures of what had happened. This show should be part of Monterey Park’s history. It was currently on display at the library. It is an experience to share.

Congressmember Judy Chu said she was happy to be here to see all of these pictures. It supported the hate of some people living in Monterey Park. It has been going on for the last two years. It was traumatic for all of us. In March 2020 11,000 anti-Asian hate crimes were committed because of the Pandemic. Monterey Park had Asians hurt. These criminals hated the Asians. The Asian Americans fought back.

She spoke about the crimes committed against the AAPI. In May 2021 the Asian American people want to teach people that they helped to develop our America. They are part of our history.  People have been divided by hate. She thanked the photographers for their pictures.

Judy Chu presented Proclamations to Donghai Xu and Arturo Quezada for putting this show together for our city.

Assemblymember Mike Fong thanked all of photographers for this show.  He thanked Judy Chu. He thanked the press for sharing these pictures that showed up  the hate. He said that one-third of the San Gabriel had experienced hate crimes last year. We support the people to fight against hate. There are 40,0000 members who are AAPI in our valley. He thanked the photographers for their wonderful pictures.

Mike Fong presented Proclamations to Donghai Xu and Arturo Quezada for putting this show together for our city.

Former Monterey Park Mayor Mike Eng said it was an honor to be here today. He thanked the library staff for this event. We need to fight folks for the same environment.

Jennifer Tang, Vince Chang, Donghai Xu, Mike Eng, Judy Chu, Mike Fong, Arturo Quenzada,  Dora Leung and Andy Yam posed for a group picture.

Arturo Quenzada, President of the PPAGLA said their group has over 400 members dedicated to photography and journalism. These images are expected to tell a story. This is the time to fight hate. He thanked all of the photographers and Judy Chu.

Donghai Xu, Operating Director of CCDC thanked all of the talented photographers for their photos for AAPI. It shows us about of our times. We just want to be members of our community.

Dora Leung, President of the Greater Monterey Park Chamber of Commerce said it was the first time the Chamber has joined to bring this photography show to us. The photos take us back in time to 2021. The Chamber helps to improve the quality of life in Monterey Park. They support the AAPI for fighting against crime. They are dedicated to fight for policy changes. We can make a difference today.

Deborah Niblick, Senior Librarian thanked everyone for being here today. She thanked the Chinese Culture Center and the photographers for this exhibit. We need to promote this event. She thanked everyone for attending.

Keith Briminghan, Damian Dovarganes, Mr. He’s translator, Yanguang He, Brian Feinzimer and Richard Vogel are some of the photographers who were on hand to answer questions from the audience about their efforts to record history and their fears about being surrounded the crowds.

Vince Chang thanked everyone for attending this special event.

The photographers were jointed by Members of the Library Board and Members of the Chamber for a group pictured in honor of this special event.