FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: napawf@berlinrosen.com

Joined by community and advocacy partners, the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF) holds the family of Nolan Wells close as they grieve their beloved son and stands with his mother, Christine Wells-Wonsley, as she continues demanding answers about what happened to Nolan weeks after he was found. 

Nolan, a Black and Filipino American young man, and Christine, a nurse who has spent her life caring for others, reflect the beautiful diversity of the AANHPI community NAPAWF represents. 

Nolan would have turned 19 today, on August 19.

For thirty years, this organization has existed to ensure AANHPI women and families are heard, supported, and able to advocate for themselves, and we will not let Christine’s calls for transparency about what happened to her child go unheard. 

Alongside our partners, we are calling on the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office to act with the seriousness this case demands and conduct a thorough and urgent investigation to ensure the Wells family has the answers every family deserves.

The following statements can be attributed to NAPAWF and participating partners:

“Christine Wells-Wonsley is being vilified for doing what every mother would do in this situation: fight for her child. Nolan, like every other kid in this country, deserves a fair and transparent investigation into his tragic death. We stand with Christine and defend her right to seek justice for  Nolan and grieve his death without baseless attacks on her safety and character.”   — Christina Baal-Owens, Executive Director, NAPAWF

“Nolan was a Black and Filipino American young man, and his family’s fight for the truth belongs to all of us. Our communities know all too well what it feels like to be ignored and attacked for merely seeking answers.  On what would have been Nolan’s 19th birthday, we stand with Christine and the Wells family and their demands for a transparent and thorough investigation.”  — Cynthia Choi, Co-Founder, Stop AAPI Hate

“Nolan Wells’ family deserves an urgent and thorough investigation into his death. SEARAC stands with Nolan’s mother, Christine Wells-Wonsley, and her family, calling for their protection from those attempting to exploit their grief to fuel racism and spread hate. Grieving families should not be forced to seek answers alone or to have their characters attacked for seeking those answers. Southeast Asian American communities join Black and AANHPI communities in demanding accountability for Nolan Wells and their family.” — Quyen Dinh, Executive Director, Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC)

“Women should be able to demand transparency from the institutions entrusted with serving their families without facing intimidation, harassment, or attempts to undermine their credibility. Christine Wells-Wonsley has every right to keep asking questions about what happened to Nolan. We stand with her in refusing to accept silence in place of accountability.” — Simone Jhingoor, Executive Director, Jahajee

“Nolan Wells should still be alive, and we must all stand in solidarity with his family in demanding truth, transparency, and justice. Because the histories of AAPIs and Black Americans are intertwined through struggles against racism, colonialism, exclusion, and state violence, we must always speak out, organize, and demand accountability whenever Black lives are threatened, harmed, or denied justice.” — Dr. Kevin Nadal, Distinguished Professor, City University of New York

“At a time when so much violence in our communities is fueled by hatred and, in some cases, perpetuated by the state itself, transparency and accountability in investigations are more important than ever, Nolan’s family deserves clear answers about what happened to their son and a full, transparent investigation into his death. OCA stand in solidarity with his family and all those calling for the truth and justice they deserve.” — Thu Nguyen, Executive Director, OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates

“Nolan Xavier Wells’ death is a profound tragedy made even worse by the absence of a comprehensive and transparent investigation and the unanswered questions his family and communities still face. A young Black and Filipino man, Nolan should have been celebrating his birthday today (August 19th).

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities know all too well the persistent pattern in which Black and other communities of color face unequal treatment in securing accountability around the circumstances of their deaths. NCAPA joins in solidarity with all those demanding justice for Nolan and his family.” — Gregg Orton, National Director, National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA)

“Nolan’s life and memory will always be a part of both the Black and Filipino American communities he represented. Our hearts are with his mother Christine and their entire family as they grieve Nolan and seek answers. We hope they are surrounded by compassion and support during this incredibly difficult time. Nakikiramay po kami sa inyong pagdadalamhati.” — Joshua Ang Price, Executive Director, National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA)

“The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) joins the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF), and our community partners in calling for a federal investigation into the death of 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells. We urge the Department of Justice to launch an independent federal review and a full and transparent investigation regarding the circumstances of Nolan’s death. 

“No parent should have to fight for transparency and answers while grieving the death of their child. As the nation’s oldest and largest Asian American civil rights organization, JACL believes and values the power of communities standing together to fight for justice, accountability, and equal protection under the law. Our history has taught us the importance of speaking out when families and communities are denied answers and when systems are slow in providing accountability. We stand in solidarity with Nolan’s family and with our Asian and African American community partners in calling for a thorough and independent review of the circumstances surrounding his death. 

Every family deserves to know that their loved one’s life is valued and that every appropriate avenue for seeking the truth has been pursued. We urge federal authorities to ensure that Nolan’s family receives the accountability, transparency, and answers that they deserve.” — Lilly Simmering, Executive Director, Japanese American Citizens League (JACL)

“I’ve spent my career fighting for women who are told to stay quiet, and I know what it costs a mother to keep asking questions when the world wants her to stop. Christine deserves better than silence. She deserves the truth.”  —  Reshma Saujani (founder of Girls Who Code and Moms First)

“Nolan Wells’ parents deserve justice and the truth about what happened to their son. It is unconscionable that Christine Wells-Wonsley has to spend what would have been her son’s 19th birthday still fighting for answers and accountability. We are fully behind Christine and her continued demands for a thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation into Nolan’s tragic death.” — Mini Timmaraju, President and CEO, Reproductive Freedom for All 

“On behalf of the 1.1 million AANHPI union members in the U.S., The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance-AFL-CIO (APALA) stands with the family of 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells in calling for a thorough, transparent, and independent investigation into the college student’s death in Mississippi last month.  The security of our families is at the core of our fight for economic justice at work.  Nolan’s family deserves to know the truth of what happened, and we add our voices to the growing chorus of others who will remain vigilant until there is justice for Nolan.” — Mikayla Vu, President, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance-AFL-CIO (APALA)

“The death of Nolan Wells is a tragedy no family should have to endure. The Wells family deserves our support and they deserve answers, not intimidation for raising questions. Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC joins with allies representing AANHPI and civil rights organizations in calling for an immediate full and transparent investigation into the death of Nolan Wells.” — John C. Yang, President and Executive Director, Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC)

“The Asian American Psychological Association stands in solidarity with Christine Wells-Wonsley, the entire Wells family, and all those seeking transparency and accountability following the death of Nolan Wells. As Asian American psychologists committed to racial justice, AAPA recognizes the importance of standing together across racial and ethnic communities. Nolan’s life mattered, and his family deserves a full, transparent, and accountable investigation. We join our AANHPI partners in demanding answers, transparency, and accountability for Nolan and his family.” — Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA)

“The Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) mourns the death of Nolan Wells and stands in solidarity with his family and all those seeking truth and justice. As Filipino American history is deeply intertwined with the history of Black Americans’ ongoing struggle for racial justice, especially within the U.S. justice system, we call for a full, transparent, and independent investigation into Nolan’s death, and for accountability for those responsible.” — Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS)

“LEAD Filipino stands with the family of Nolan Wells as they seek answers and accountability surrounding his tragic and mysterious death. As they grieve, they should not also have to endure the racist vitriol and harassment repeatedly directed toward their family. We call on Filipino and AAPI communities everywhere to stand in solidarity with Nolan’s loved ones, reject racism in all its forms, and join their demand for truth, dignity, accountability, and ultimately, justice.” — LEAD Filipino

“We stand with the Wells family and seek answers and accountability for Nolan’s death.” — Little Manila Rising

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The National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF) is the only multi-issue, community organizing and policy advocacy organization for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women and girls in the U.S. NAPAWF’s mission is to build collective power so that all AAPI women and girls can have full agency over our lives, our families, and our communities.