AAPI teen’s social justice artwork to ‘End The Violence’ against Asian Americans wins Congressional Art Competition award

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — This AAPI Heritage Month, we are highlighting a younger gentleman on the Peninsula whose artwork caught the eye of a distinguished Bay Spot leader for its social justice concept.

For 15-yr-old significant college freshman Lucas Du, actively playing the piano is just one particular of the many ways he expresses his creative imagination. But this is a story not about tickling the ivories. It can be about how news stories about hate crimes and attacks on Asian Us residents – a lot of, broken by ABC7’s Dion Lim – influenced Lucas to use his creativity in one more way.

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“That is why I drew this portray and hopefully it’s going to spread awareness to men and women,” reported Du.

In the sketch-turned-portray titled “End The Violence,” Lucas describes the a few scenes.

In the prime still left corner, you will find an picture of a man, falling face-down onto a paved sidewalk. In 2021, Lim broke the tale of dozens of attacks in Oakland’s Chinatown, which incorporated a 90-year-old person receiving pushed violently to the ground.

“There’s an elderly lady with a Band-Help on her head, and on the bottom left there are folks protesting to finish the violence,” explained Lucas, from his family’s Millbrae residence.

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This painting was element of a competition Lucas entered at Mills High College for United From Despise 7 days. He then determined to post it for the Congressional Artwork Competition, a nationwide contest encouraging inventive talent in every congressional district.

When questioned if he predicted to get, he claimed, “No, not at all. I experienced a large amount of thoughts, joyful, stunned, anxious most of all.”

Lucas ended up profitable third area. Congresswoman Jackie Speier’s presented him and the other winners from District 14 at an awards ceremony in Hillsborough this thirty day period.

But to his mom Minfang Gao, an immigrant from Shanghai, this recognition is component of an even larger accomplishment.

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“As a minority, if you will not speak for you, your voice will never ever be heard. I want him to be very pleased of remaining Asian American. I’m extremely happy of him,” explained Gao.

Though Du continues to go after his numerous hobbies these kinds of as martial arts and volunteering in his community, he encourages other youthful individuals with this message.

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“I feel you should go out and do what you want, even one thing as small as… portray,” Du.

For the reason that you never know what could materialize. Lucas’ art, alongside with the 2nd put winner’s, will dangle in Congresswoman Speier’s place of work for the relaxation of the 12 months.

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