Interrupting Peña’s address, Reynold’s repeated Maasbach’s accusations, shouting remarks like “you’re paid protesters ” “this is silly ” and “Nancy is a wonderful person.” Jeff Reynolds (left), MOCA’s facilities manager, arguing with one of the protesters We no longer accept your false narrative.” “We’re here to save our community because we know that will say that they’re for the Asian community while also displacing us. “How dare they say we’re getting paid?” said Yanin Peña from the Coalition to Protect Chinatown and the Lower East Side. In front of the museum yesterday, the protesters echoed similar statements against the accusations. “These elderly protesters are workers and residents of Chinatown who have been on the frontlines of fighting against displacement and wage theft in the neighborhood for decades.” “My campaign for City Council is over, and we won with overwhelming support,” Marte added. In a statement to Hyperallergic which was also shared with the Gothamist, Marte denied Maasbach’s allegation, calling it “demonstrably false.” Maasbach claimed that some of the elderly protesters were “paid” by a local politician to attend the demonstrations In the interview, Maasbach claimed that she was told by some of the “elderly protesters” that they were “paid” to attend the demonstration by City Council candidate Christopher Marte, who’s known for his opposition to the city’s jail expansion plan. The demands for Maasbach’s resignation were prompted by an interview she gave to the Gothamist after last week’s protest. (A representative of Chu told Hyperallergic last week that “The owners of Jing Fong made the decision on their own to relocate their restaurant.” Jing Fong’s owners had said that the restaurant was closed as a result of plummeting revenue during the pandemic.)

Chu, a real-estate developer who owns several buildings in Chinatown, is accused of evicting the decades-old restaurant Jing Fong while it struggled to pay the rent during the pandemic. The demonstrators have also been protesting against MOCA’s co-chair Johnathan Chu, whom these accuse of contributing to the gentrification of their neighborhood. MOCA has consistently denied supporting the construction of a new jail in Chinatown, though public records show that the money received is tied to the jail expansion program.ĭemonstrators demanding the resignation of MOCA director Nancy Yao Maasbach outside of the museum In return, the funds would finance a permanent location and a performing arts space at 215 Centre Street. The plan would expand the Manhattan Detention Complex near MOCA to a 29-stories tower. The protesters voiced their months-long opposition to the museum’s acceptance of $35 million in city funds as part of a “community give-back” package in Mayor Bill de Blasio’s plan to build four borough-based jails in lieu of the Rikers Island detention complex.

The multi-generational group, ranging from Gen Z activists to septuagenarian community members, called to boycott MOCA for “promoting displacement and racism” against Chinatown residents. Last week, a coalition of activists and community members staged a protest during the museum’s reopening after more than a year of closure. A protest that followed the press event culminated in shouting matches between the protesters and the museum’s facilities manager, Jeff Reynolds, who attempted to interrupt their speeches. In a press conference outside the museum yesterday, July 18, protesters called for the resignation of the museum’s director Nancy Yao Maasbach, accusing her of making “blatant racist and ageist insults” against seniors from the neighborhood.

The museum is closed New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.Tensions between the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) and members of the New York Chinatown community reached a new height this weekend. Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago 220 E Chicago Ave Chicago, IL 60611įirst and Second Floors, South Side MCA Contact Information Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago 220 E Chicago Ave Chicago IL 60611 Hours Museum Hours MCA - MCA Store | Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago Jump to content Menu MCA

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