BY TEQUILA MINSKY | Escaping a drenching rain, dozens of people huddled under two white tents in Kimlau Square that had been erected by volunteers so that Chinatown neighbors could pay their last respects to slain Officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu on Sat., Jan. 3.
Before noon, Councilmember Margaret Chin had attended the public wake for Liu in Dyker Heights. At the Brooklyn funeral home, the councilmember waited with others in line for two hours for the viewing. There was also a special separate room at the funeral home for Chinese cultural observance.
The vigil in Manhattan’s Chinatown gave the local community a chance to say goodbye.
“We put this together very quickly,” said Chin, who represents Chinatown, Lower Manhattan and parts of Soho and the Village. “There are elderly and others who couldn’t make it to the wake.”
During her brief statement at the vigil, she said, “The public has come to see how great these men were.”
She also mentioned how, historically, Chinese parents didn’t want their children to become police officers, but that the public outpouring of grief and support has indicated respect for this profession.
Liu immigrated from Guangzhou with his family.
Glowing red candles circled the plaza, offering some light and a symbol of warmth in the wintery downpour. Inside the square, flames darted from a small drum for the burning of paper money, a provision for the deceased — that they have money in the afterlife.
After the brief formal remarks, those in attendance, one by one, placed a votive candles in front of a large photo poster that commemorated the two officers.
The Chinatown Merchants’ Association was one of the many sponsoring organizations of the event, as was the Restaurant Association. The Fujianese Association provided the candles and oranges on the altar. In all, 26 groups were involved — including commercial, civic, cultural, tenant and many community organizations — with a total of 50 volunteers, in helping make this community vigil happen. And, in spite of the cold, wet, miserable weather, it was evident that those attending felt compelled to be a part of this informal ceremony recognizing the city’s tragedy.
“The vigil had roots in Buddhism and Chinese cultural practices,” said Wellington Chen, executive director of the Chinatown Partnership. “But it was ecumenical. Father Nobiletti from Transfiguration Church on Mott St. also spoke.”
Chen also said how people came from all sides of the “police debate.”
“This was a moment for healing regardless of the varied opinions,” he said. “This was a moment to come together in solidarity, as one. God forbid we should be like they work in D.C., completely divided.” A consummate optimist, Chen said, “I do believe something better will come from this.”
Many officers, some on duty at nearby police headquarters at One Police Plaza, made a quick stop to light a candle.
Another altar was also set up under one of the tents. Incense burned. There was bowl of fruit, and paper gold and silver bars to accompany the deceased to the next plane.
At one point, calligraphy was presented in honor of both officers. Under Ramos’s name in Chinese it read: “His name will live forever.” Under Liu’s name: “He becomes immortal.”
Even after the bulk of people had left and night had fallen, neighbors steadily continued to stop by to pay homage and light a candle.
Chen estimated that several hundred individuals in all had come by during the whole afternoon and evening.
“I know they came from Battery Park City and Independence Plaza,” Chen said. “This was very spiritual.”
Further commenting on the police force’s makeup, Chen offered an assessment:
“The look of the police force is changing,” he said. “Today 4.7 percent of the police force is Chinese. In 1976, there were five officers — one for each borough. Chinatown has a greater representation.”
He was happy to report that he had learned that two Chinese graduates from the latest Police Academy class will be joining the Fifth Precinct.
