Armed Vigilantes Threaten Chinese Residents in La Conner
A group of six masked, armed men confronted the Chinese laundry workers in La Conner, demanding they leave town within ten days.
Six masked men, armed with revolvers, waited on the Chinese laundry Saturday evening about 12 o'clock and informed them that they would give them ten days to leave the town in. The Chinese feel considerably alarmed, but say they will not leave. When questioned concerning being registered, they said they were in no hurry to register, but would if they had to.
“Six masked men, armed with revolvers, waited on the Chinese laundry... and informed them that they would give them ten days to leave.”
This event took place during the height of the anti-Chinese sentiment that plagued Washington in the late 19th century. The act of intimidation by armed vigilantes in a small town like La Conner reflects the broader climate of exclusion and the struggle for safety experienced by Chinese migrants in the Pacific Northwest.
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