Healing Through Art: Bellevue College Rededicates “Never Again Is Now” Mural After Years of Controversy

In a ceremony focused on reconciliation and historical memory, Bellevue College has officially rededicated a powerful mural that became the center of a national conversation on censorship and social justice. The artwork, titled “Never Again Is Now,” was created to honor the history of Japanese American incarceration during World War II while drawing parallels to modern civil rights struggles.

The Act of Defacement

The controversy began in early 2020 when a senior administrator at the college ordered the removal of a specific sentence from the mural’s description. The sentence highlighted the role of local businessmen in the 1940s who lobbied for the removal and imprisonment of their Japanese American neighbors.

The act of “white-outing” this historical fact was widely condemned as an attempt to sanitize local history and protect the legacies of those involved in systemic racism. The fallout led to the resignation of the college’s president and a vice president, sparking a period of deep soul-searching for the institution.

Restoring the Truth

The rededication ceremony marks the full restoration of the mural, including the previously censored text. By restoring the original vision of the artist, Erin Shigaki, the college is taking a public stand on the importance of “uncomfortable” history.

• The Artist’s Vision: Shigaki, whose own ancestors were incarcerated at Minidoka during the war, designed the mural to ensure that the patterns of the past are recognized in the present.
• A Teaching Tool: The college has integrated the mural and its history into its curriculum, using the incident as a case study in how institutions can fail—and eventually work toward—accountability.

The Path to Reconciliation

The event brought together students, faculty, and members of the Japanese American community. Speakers at the ceremony emphasized that the restoration is more than just a fresh coat of paint; it represents a commitment to transparency and the protection of academic and artistic freedom.

1. Apology and Acknowledgment: The college administration offered a formal apology to the Japanese American community for the harm caused by the 2020 defacement.
2. Community Healing: For many attendees, the rededication served as a moment of closure, signaling that the college is moving toward an era of genuine inclusivity rather than performative gestures.

The “Never Again Is Now” mural stands as a permanent fixture on the Bellevue College campus, serving as both a memorial to those who suffered during the mass incarceration of the 1940s and a reminder of the vigilance required to prevent history from repeating itself. The rededication proves that while history can be obscured, the truth—and the art that carries it—has a remarkable way of resurfacing.