WING LUKE AND THE MUSEUM

In 1925, Wing Chong Luke was born the son of a laundryman and grocer. Immigrating to Seattle when he was 6 years old, Wing enjoyed his time as a Boy Scout. He was known by his classmates as a skilled artist and he often won arguments with humourous cartoons.

Before his career in politics began, as an attorney Wing defended Bob Satiacum, a member of the Puyallup Tribe, and the right for Native tribes to fish on traditional fishing grounds. When the case was dismissed, Wing and his team successfully appealed—and eventually, Bob won the case in the U.S. Supreme Court.

Wing campaigned fiercely for the removal of discriminatory housing practices in Seattle. His efforts, both as an attorney and city councilmember, contributed to the creation of the Seattle Human Rights Commission and the eventual passing of an open housing ordinance.

In 1965, Wing Luke’s life was cut short at the age of 40 in a plane crash in the Cascade Mountains. In 1967, the Wing Luke Memorial Foundation was created in honor of Wing Luke’s legacy. In 2015, the Washington State Attorney General’s office established the Wing Luke Civil Rights Unit in Wing Luke’s honor to investigate and enforce civil rights and anti-discrimination laws.