Raymond Lee
Raymond Lee first began organizing while attending California State University, Sacramento, where he was active in the campus' Ethnic studies movement. During the 1970s, Lee was a member of the League of Revolutionary Struggle and helped build the city's first people's bookstore. Later in life Lee served as Founding Executive Director of the Asian Resource Centre and helped advocate for the city's police oversight board.
Black struggles are at the crux of Lee's organizing Lee has worked with the local Black Lives Matter chapter and sees his role as helping to bridge the divide between Blackand Asian American communities in the city. He states, “I try to be out there because theyneed to know Asians care. We're not all selfish or self-enclosed.” Lee believes that the AsianAmerican communities in the city, especially older generations, are "out of touch and oftenturn their backs on injustice,” in an effort to better align themselves with the state and whit esupremacist systems that they hope to benefit from, too.[1]
Married to Susan Lee.
Education
- Studied Political science at Sacramento State.
Career/activism
- Former Warehouse Worker at Farmers' Rice Cooperative
- Former Founding Executive Director at Asian Resources Training Project
- Former Supervisor at Human Resources Consultants
- Former Forklift Driver at Farmers Produce warehouse
- Former Associate at Human Rights-Fair Housing
- Former Union Business Agent at United Public Employees
- Safeway Warehouse
- Former Organizer at Service Employees International Union Local 250 (SEIU)
Taking a Knee
Raymond Lee June 4, 2020 · Colton, CA ·
Taking a knee for George Floyd — with Joshua Kaizuka, Norb Kumagai and Michelle Huey at Caesar Chavez Park.
Asian-Americans honoring MLK
Raymond Lee January 16, 2017 ·
Asian Americans honoring Rev., Doctor Martin Luther King.
With Mel-Odile, Mel Ody, Ian Lee, Di Ngua, Phillip Kim.
Sacramento comrades
Raymond Lee January 16, 2017 · Sacramento, CA ·
— with Ryan Lee Boyd and Chingona Rutilia, JoAnn Fuller, Mario Galvan, Marianna Rivera, Di Ngua, Anamaria Ragland-Munoz, Victor Rivera, Tanya Faison and Jeanie Keltner at Los Jarritos.
FRSO connection
Raymond Lee November 20, 2016 · Sacramento, CA ·
With Faye Wilson Kennedy and Carl Pinkston at the Sacramento NAACP Centennial dinner.
May Nguyen connection
Raymond Lee and May Nguyen.
Jim Hard connection
Raymond Lee November 15, 2016 ·
My comrade, my friend. Jim Hard has been in the struggle 4 his entire life. A true warrior and leader who helped change the face of the Progressive Movement in Sacramento.
— with Jim Hard.
Jim Hard, Rafael Espinoza, Raymond Lee.
Organize California
Organize California September 14, 2016 ·
— with Karlee Bee and AR Gomez, Kahla Shosho, Earl Lagomarsino, James Lee Clark, Steven Payan, Courtney Jade, Raymond Lee.
BLM
July 2016, a little over 50 protesters gathered in front of the Sacramento Police Department on Saturday afternoon for a rally in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
It’s the second rally hosted by the group in two weeks. According to a press release sent out by the group, the rally is to bring awareness to the several officer-involved shootings in Sacramento.
Among the protesters was activist Raymond Lee. He wants to see change now. According to Lee, as long as black men are targeted by law enforcement, activists like him will react.
“African American unarmed men are becoming an extinct species. That’s what’s happening,” Lee said. “People realize the outrage happening in this country right now.”
Lee has been to several of the Black Lives Matter protests in the Sacramento area and said attendance at Saturday’s protest was smaller than usual. Protester Sherri Mikel noticed the same thing.
“I’m surprised with the limited amount of folks that are out here,” Mikel said.
Despite its size, Black Lives Matter leader Tanya Faison said it was a good turnout and in the end, they still had a chance to voice their message.
“We want to keep it alive and keep talking about it to get justice,” Faison said.[2]