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Jason Liu Incident | Gary Law Speaks on Procedural Fairness
On August 23, a community rally related to the “Jason Liu incident” was held outside Richmond City Hall. The controversy began over an AI-generated image used in an article written by Jason Liu. The image was later removed and Liu apologized, but the matter was subsequently referred to the BC Human Rights Tribunal, prompting further discussion in the community about how the incident was handled and whether the process was fair.
Gary Law and all City Council candidates from Advance Richmond attended the rally in support of the community, raising concerns about how the matter was handled and the questions residents have raised about fairness in the process.
During the event, a third-party YouTube channel livestreamed the rally. Gary Law, a former RCMP officer and 2026 Richmond City Council candidate, was interviewed on site by the host.
Gary Law: Looking at the Process Through His Policing Experience
Referring to Gary Law’s previous experience in policing, the host asked whether, from his perspective, there were any concerns with the way the incident had been handled.
“Of course. They asked him to apologize without first finding out clearly what had happened. Mr. Liu had already removed the image right away.”
Law’s response focused on whether the circumstances had been sufficiently understood before action was taken. He noted that Liu had quickly removed the controversial image and raised concerns about how the matter was handled before the full circumstances had been clarified.
This was also one of the reasons Gary Law chose to attend and support the rally. He believes that when residents question whether a matter has been handled unfairly, those concerns should be raised and taken seriously rather than ignored.
As a candidate for Richmond City Council in 2026, Gary Law said he will continue to follow developments in the Jason Liu incident, including what happens following its referral to the BC Human Rights Tribunal and whether the concerns raised by residents receive a response.
Advance Richmond: A Fair and Open Opportunity to Be Heard
At the same rally, Advance Richmond City Council candidate Sam Wang spoke on behalf of the team and outlined the team’s position on the Jason Liu incident and the process surrounding it.
Advance Richmond stated that regardless of ethnicity, language or background, everyone should have the right to express their views. The team does not tolerate or support any form of racial discrimination. At the same time, it believes that when a controversial matter is being addressed, the person involved should have a fair and open opportunity to explain their position.
Regarding the Jason Liu incident, the team noted that Liu amended the material and apologized after the image became controversial, while the matter was subsequently referred to the BC Human Rights Tribunal. Advance Richmond believes Liu was not given a fair and open opportunity to fully explain what happened and present his position.
The team also outlined three actions it would seek to advance if elected to Richmond City Council:
- Calling for a public hearing where Liu could explain the circumstances and his position.
- Seeking to rescind the related City Council motion and the complaint to the BC Human Rights Tribunal.
- Reviewing relevant City Council and City administration procedures for handling similar matters.
Advance Richmond emphasized that opposing racial discrimination and asking whether a matter has been handled fairly are not contradictory positions. When controversy arises, different voices should have the opportunity to be expressed and heard.
City Council candidate Ji Zhou Wang, also known as William, also spoke about the incident. He questioned whether those involved in the decision to condemn Liu had fully reviewed the article and understood its context beforehand. In his view, the full circumstances should be understood before a decision is made, rather than reaching a conclusion based on the controversial image alone.
Listening to Different Voices
Gary Law believes that regardless of who is elected to Richmond City Council, councillors should be willing to listen to residents.
Richmond is a diverse community. Residents of different ethnic, cultural and linguistic backgrounds will naturally hold different views. Listening does not mean agreeing with every opinion. It means giving people the opportunity to speak and making an effort to understand why they are raising their concerns.
Gary Law will continue to follow the Jason Liu incident and the questions residents have raised about whether the matter has been handled fairly.
Bringing the Discussion to More Richmond Residents
To date, discussion of the Jason Liu incident has taken place primarily in Chinese-language media and within the Chinese-speaking community, while coverage in English-language media has been limited. This English version is intended to help more Richmond residents understand the background of the incident and the concerns being raised about how it has been handled.
Fair treatment should not depend on a person’s ethnicity, language or background. When members of a community believe something may have been handled unfairly, they should have the opportunity to raise those concerns. Other residents should also have access to different perspectives so they can understand the issue and form their own conclusions.
Every Richmond resident, regardless of ethnicity or language, deserves to be treated fairly and to have an opportunity to be heard.
This article presents statements and viewpoints expressed at the community rally. Readers should consult official records and other perspectives for the full context of the matter.
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