Asian Arts Initiative and partners present No Arena: Making A Movement

On the occasion of America’s 250th anniversary, this exhibition shows how a movement led by people of color can reclaim power. The arena was first proposed by billionaires in July 2022. Over the next two and half years, activists demonstrated how the proposed construction at what is now the Fashion District (the old Market East) and the abandoned Greyhound bus terminal on Filbert Street (now slated to reopen this year) would displace Chinatown residents, ruin Chinatown businesses, be unsustainable for SEPTA, and create a traffic nightmare in Center City, which would delay patients and physicians on their way Jefferson, likely costing lives. Despite the majority of Philadelphians opposing the arena (about 69 percent according to independent polling), the arena was endorsed by Mayor Cherelle Parker and most of City Council. Then an 11th-hour deal between the 76ers and Comcast killed the plans.

A “politically toxic” proposal

But organizers believe that public pressure played a role in a outcome. “We made the project so politically toxic that no council members, no elected officials—mayor or city council—would talk about it during their campaigns in 2023,” said Jenny Zhang, an APIPA Philly field organizer, at the exhibition’s March 31 opening celebration. “No one wanted to publicly support the arena until they had to. While there is a narrative out there that the 76ers just used this to get a better deal on the arena, this exhibit shows what actually happens and reclaims the agency and power of the people.”

Celebration and calls to action

The installation has five distinct sections. The first is titled Joy and Gathering. This section shows video footage of protestors dancing, colorful t-shirts, and art pieces made for protests.

“Being on the other side of it and seeing it as a celebration is very emotional,” said AAU executive director Vivian Chang. “It was a really long 2.5 years and there were a lot of challenges. It’s special to see it as a celebration, especially as we don’t often get a win on the community side.” The joy and celebration on opening night was palpable. Within the first hour, more than 200 people came through, making it one of AAI’s best-attended opening nights.

The show’s second section is titled Participation. This highlights the powerful calls to action of the organizers that led to overwhelming community response. One of the artifacts highlighted here are the postcards that Philadelphians wrote to City Council voicing their opinions against the arena. At an interactive display, AAI visitors can use Post-Its to answer a question: “How were you involved in the No Arena fight?”

Movement and testimony

The third section is titled Movement Culture. PFP executive director Mia Kang explained that it demonstrates “how this [No Arena] movement benefits from a continuous history of organizing” in Philly’s Chinatown, “a very culturally grounded struggle, where people understand the significance of this place.” This unit explores the historical background on previous successful organizing against a casino and baseball stadium in Philly’s Chinatown.

The fourth section is titled Confrontation, featuring a replica of the City Council podium and a television showing protestor testimonies at community meetings. It made me recall powerful town-hall testimony from a youth activist of the Ginger Arts Center, who shared how important Chinatown is for her and her community and why she didn’t want that taken away.

Transforming the future

The fifth section is titled Transformation, asking where does the movement go next? The No Arena movement has birthed relationships and organizing power that feeds other causes. That energy has gone into fighting occupation by ICE, and other displacement and gentrification issues. Philly’s successful fight against this arena must be used as a model and blueprint to other Chinatowns in the country fighting against similar predatory developers.

Community members can join in on a free open mic night at Asian Arts on May 12, which invites poems, readings, and songs. In times where there is so much fear in our communities, it is important to step back and celebrate the wins of relationship, community, and democracy. No Arena: Making A Movement does that in spades.