On May 2, P.S. 331 in Brooklyn officially renamed the school in honor of Detective Wenjian Liu, a Chinese-American officer who died in the line of duty. This marks the first time in Brooklyn’s history that a school has been named after an Asian-American, signifying a significant community achievement. The full name of the school is “The Detective Wenjian Liu School of Civics and Entrepreneurship,” located in the 20th school district of Dyker Heights in Brooklyn.
New York City Mayor Adams, Councilwoman Susan Zhuang, as well as high-ranking officials from the police and education sectors, gathered at the school’s entrance to participate in the meaningful ribbon-cutting ceremony. Mayor Adams recalled the tragedy of the past and mentioned the resilience of Detective Wenjian Liu’s family and how they turned their grief into strength by founding the Wenjian Liu Foundation to continue serving the community.
Councilwoman Susan Zhuang stated that naming the school is a recognition of the contributions of Asian-Americans, emphasizing that “our story is America’s story,” highlighting that Brooklyn’s first school to be named after an Asian-American is not just a local triumph but a source of pride for the entire city and community.
Detective Wenjian Liu’s widow, Peixia Chen, along with several community leaders, expressed gratitude for this achievement. Principal Lisa Lin of P.S. 331 in Brooklyn mentioned plans to promote educational projects within the school in Detective Wenjian Liu’s name to strengthen community collaboration and provide practical learning opportunities for students.
Guests present at the ribbon-cutting ceremony included State Assembly Members Lester Chang and William Colton, City Council Members Kalman Yeger and Daniel Goldman, representatives from the office of Congressman Daniel Goldman, Paul DiGiacomo – the President of the Detectives’ Endowment Association, the New York City Police Department, the New York City Department of Education, as well as numerous community leaders.