Sequoia Gregorich, Columnist
Mary Yu, the first Latina, Asian, and LGBT justice serving on Washington State’s Supreme Court spoke on behalf of Martin Luther King Jr. on Vashon Island, Monday Jan. 16. The Katherine L. White Hall in which she spoke packed nearly 300 people there to celebrate the anniversary of the once great and still memorable civil rights leader.
As a friend of the justice, and a woman who shares the same birthdate and passion for social justice as MLK, Vashon resident Emma Amiad introduced to the speaker. She argued that discrimination today remains alarmingly brutal, just as in the 1960s. She reminded us that the words of MLK are just as relevant today as they were 54 years ago.
Yu stepped up to the podium after her friend. She began reflecting on the past six years since she had been asked to give a similar speech. She applauded the political improvements our country has made, including the election of our first African-American president.
“It’s one to be proud of… MLK would only smile and be proud of Barack Obama,” Yu said.
As the crowd cheered, Yu listed off more achievements the country has made, including the growth of the Black Lives Matter movement and the legalization of same-sex marriage. Yu countered the widespread post-election despair among liberals with messages of optimism.
“I am not here to paint a picture of doom and gloom… I am not in despair… I believe in the rule of law,” Yu said.
Yu described her experiences campaigning for a seat on the WA Supreme Court bench. Although Yu had been aware of the fact that she only needed to campaign in Western Washington, she continued to do so in all 39 counties. The further east she campaigned, the more conservative the communities became. But, to the surprise of many audience members, she did not speak of discrimination.
“I never encountered hatred,” Yu said.
She learned to probe and listen, helping her better understand and empathize with conservative voters, who are so often stigmatized in Western Washington. She specifically noted that they were not, in fact, closed-minded. Rather, they had one underlying question:
“What about me?”
They felt left behind, Yu said. Forgotten. She noticed that at the root of all the hatred was a sense of inferiority.
But if the basis of discrimination was simply the missing piece to a basic human need, she asked, were we really that different?
As she wrapped up her speech, she reminded her audience of the powerful march led on March 9, 1965. It was a peaceful march powerful enough to overcome fists, police batons, and firehoses.
Yu reminded us that change does not happen overnight.
“Fear not, I have faith in the human person, I have faith in resilience, I have faith in courage,” Yu said.
Yu finished with a call to action.
“People, friends, colleagues, hear your voice and lend [yours] to those who don’t have one.”