Seattle Chinatown rallies against Mayor Wilson for dumping homeless drug addicts into their district during World Cup: ‘She’s racist’

CID residents, business owners, and advocates gathered at Seattle's Hing Hay Park before the World Cup Match to bring awareness. In addition to expressing concerns about homeless open-air drug abuse, they also complained that Mayor Wilson's decision cost the already struggling district tourism revenue, since many World Cup attendees avoided the area.

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Gary Lee, a CID advocate, slammed Mayor Wilson as a "racist" and a "liar."

"We trusted Mayor Wilson. We believed Mayor Wilson. But in the end, she lied to our Asian American community. She said there would be zero tolerance for drug dealing and the selling of stolen goods, but the corner of 12th and Jackson is worse than ever," Lee said during a speech.

He added, "We will not be taken advantage of by white city leaders who only come to the CID for dim sum and to buy cheap trinkets. We are more than their entertainment. This is so racist!"

Community activist and former moderate city council member Tanya Woo reported that many businesses have seen a 20 percent decrease in sales compared to the previous year. She organized efforts to invite World Cup fans into the neighborhood, stating that the CID "should be benefiting from the FIFA World Cup, not being left behind," and that it has largely become a pickup/drop-off zone instead of a destination. The CID is located directly next to Lumen Field, the stadium hosting the World Cup.

"The China International District has taken a lot of burden from the City of Seattle, the county, and the state," Woo said while leading the march. "We don't have adequate resources to address some of our concerns. So our way of resistance, our way of protesting peacefully, is bringing light to our community, to our issues, and to invite the people to come support us and support our small businesses."

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Protesters vowed that demonstrations would continue unless the city takes meaningful action to clear encampments, address open-air drug use, and restore foot traffic to local restaurants and shops.

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Seattle has long struggled with visible homelessness, fentanyl-related drug activity, and associated crime. The CID, home to generations of Chinese, Vietnamese, and other Asian American families and businesses, has been particularly hard-hit in recent years.

Mayor Katie Wilson, a socialist-leaning progressive who took office in January 2026, acknowledged the CID's issues in a statement to Fox News. "Crime and disorder issues in the CID have gone unaddressed for far too long," said Wilson. "We continue to work with the CID community to address their concerns and ensure it is a safe, active, and vibrant neighborhood."

Mayor Katie Wilson, who took office in January 2026 and has been described in coverage as a socialist-leaning progressive, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the specific “dumping” allegations