Originally hosted during December 9-10, 2023, LA 1871 delved deep into the history of the Chinese Massacre of 1871 and its lasting impact on Los Angeles today. The two-day symposium included three panels featuring speakers from the Chinese American Museum, community leaders, and policymakers alongside a special performance from world renowned composer Nathan Wang. This program was developed by CAM in partnership with Our Shared Future: Reckoning with Our Racial Past to explore the history of race and racism in Chinatown and the greater Los Angeles area.   

The Chinese American Museum hosts our Annual Commemoration of the Chinese Massacre of 1871 every year to remember the victims of the brutal tragedy. On October 24, 1871, A violent conflict between two rival tongs resulted in the deaths of a policeman and local rancher, inciting a mob of five hundred to “take their revenge” against the Chinese. The mob gathered in Calle de los Negros (now known as El Pueblo) and attacked any person of Chinese descent regardless of their involvement in the shootout.

Within three hours, eighteen Chinese immigrants were killed—three had been shot to death and fifteen had been hung. Afterwards, ten men of the mob were charged with murder and eight were convicted of manslaughter, however they were all released a year later when their sentences were overturned. 

Additional resources are included on this page to learn more about the Chinese Massacre of 1871.

Never Forget: LA 1871

CAM partnered with world renowned musical composer Nathan Wang to host Never Forget: 1871, a special live performance on December 10 to commemorate the Chinese Massacre of 1871. The musicians reunited in the studio to capture the nuance of each lyric and chord. Watch the behind-the-scenes video and experience the making of Never Forget: 1871. 

Buried History: Retracing the Chinese Massacre of 1871

This video contains adult material, including harsh language and graphic descriptions of violence.

Step into the past with a walking tour of significant sites of the Chinese Massacre of 1871. This tour was prerecorded and featured locations from Historic Chinatown and modern-day Downtown Los Angeles. The tour was hosted by retired City Councilmember Michael Woo and featured interviews with FCAM Board Chair Dr. Gay Yuen, Asian American Studies Professor Dr. Juily Phun, El Pueblo Commissioner David Louie, and historian Scott Zesch. Watch to learn about and envision the hidden, buried past of 19th century LA. This production was a part of the Chinese American Museum’s eight days of programming in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Chinese Massacre of 1871.

This production originally premiered on Thursday, October 21, 2021.

LA 1871, Panel 1 – The Past

Saturday, December 9, 2023 | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM PST

Reflect on the historical context of the Chinese Massacre of 1871 with panelists Suellen Cheng (Executive Director Emerita of Chinese American Museum), Eugene Moy (Community Historian and FCAM Board Member), and William D. Estrada (Curator and Chair, History of Natural History Museum of LA County), along with moderator Elaine Woo (Writer and Editor).

LA 1871, Panel 2 – The Present

Saturday, December 9, 2023 | 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM PST

Explore the long-term impacts of the Chinese Massacre of 1871 and how this history is kept alive today with panelists Christopher Hawthorne (Senior Critic of Yale School of Architecture), The Honorable Mike Woo (President and Project Director 1871 Memorial Project), and Dr. Gay Q. Yuen (Board Chair of Friends of the Chinese American Museum), along with moderator Felicia Filer (Director of the Public Art Division, Department of Cultural Affairs).

LA 1871, Panel 3 – The Future

Sunday, December 10, 2023 | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM PST

Explore how we can reckon with the past to build a shared future with panelists Ron Wakabayashi (Former Regional Director – US Justice Department’s Community Relations Service), Connie Chung Joe (Chief Executive Officer – Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Southern California) and Stefanie Lau (Producing Artistic Leader – Artists at Play) alongside moderator Robin Toma (Executive Director of LA County Commission on Human Relations).

Educational Resources

In partnership with The Asian American Education Project, CAM has developed lesson plans to help educate students on the Chinese Massacre of 1871.

Chinese Massacre of 1871: Not an Isolated Event

This lesson plan is suitable for students in grades 6-12.

In this lesson, students will learn about the Los Angeles Chinese Massacre of 1871, and identify the causes by examining the attitudes and policies of the time. They will learn about and analyze other massacres that have occurred in the United States in order to gain a better and more nuanced understanding of how and why these acts of violence occur. Lastly, students will research the process for reparations and consider how to address and rectify the harm of such injustices.

Chinese Massacre of 1871 – Connecting the Past with the Present

This lesson plan is suitable for students in grades 3-5.