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HABA Participates in AAPI Roundtable on stopping AAPI Hate

On March 25, 2021, our Vice President, Nu Vang, represented the Hmong American Bar Association at a roundtable hosted by Minnesota’s Attorney General, Keith Ellison.  Fellow attorney Ma Manee Moua also participated in the event.

  • Attorney General Keith Ellison
  • U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota, Anders Folk
  • FBI Special Agent in Charge, Michael Paul
  • Commissioner of Human Rights Rebecca Lucero
  • Ramsey County Attorney John Choi
  • Executive Director, Coalition of Asian American Leaders, Bo Thao-Urabe
  • Executive Director, Council of Asian Pacific Minnesotans, Sia Her (tentative – rep from CAPM will be there)
  • State Senator Foung Hawj
  • State Rep. Fue Lee
  • St. Paul City Councilmember Mitra Jalali
  • St. Paul City Councilmember Nelsi Yang
  • Roseville Area School Board Director Dr. Rose Chu
  • Ma Manee Moua, Attorney, Moua Law Office, PA
  • Nu Vang, Vice-President, Hmong American Bar Association

A link to replay the roundtable discussion can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/AGEllison/videos/463012194748569/

Thank you to Attorney General Keith Ellison for convening this important discussion and for including HABA in this work. This event will be a prelude to further discussions within HABA regarding anti-Asian sentiments against Asians and specifically Hmong women.

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Statement on the Relentless Attacks and Murders of Asian Americans

The Hmong American Bar Association sends its condolences to the friends and families of the eight victims—six who were Asian American—who lost their lives in the horrifying and blatant Atlanta, Georgia, murders on March 16, 2021. We also lend our support in solidarity with the survivors.

America has seen a dramatic increase of violence against the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities based on fear and hatred—over 3,800 incidents since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily against women. There is absolutely no place for racism in our communities. We must work together to support each other, especially when the world continues to fight against the deadly COVID-19 virus that has left many of our community members already vulnerable to the virus as well as food scarcity and unstable housing.

The Hmong American Bar Association denounces these acts of violence and will work together with our members and partners towards protecting our community.

For immediate assistance in Minnesota, if you have witnessed or experienced any acts of violence, bias, or discrimination, there is help. Please call the Minnesota Discrimination Hotline to report incidents. The information received will go directly to an investigator at the Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR).

To report online, follow this link: https://mn.gov/mdhr/intake/consultationinquiryform/

To report to a MDHR staffer, call this number: 1-833-454-0148

To report an incident at a national level, here is a link to the Stop AAPI Hate reporting center: https://stopaapihate.org/

If you are currently experiencing a hate crime or fear for your safety, please call 911 immediately.

The HABA board members urge our members and community to stay strong during this troubling time. Stay safe out there.

Respectfully,

The Hmong American Bar Association

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HABA 10 Year Anniversary Virtual Banquet

Everyone has been affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic and HABA is no exception. Due to the pandemic, HABA was forced to move its banquet celebration to a virtual platform in conjunction with the HABA CLE. To commemorate 10 years since HABA was reborn the board, with the help of its members, reflected on what HABA has meant to this community.  Happy watching, Happy Holidays, and here’s to the hope that we get to see each other in person next year!

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HABA CLE: Reflecting on Hmong Youth in the Juvenile Justice System

Thank you to our panelists of the HABA CLE: Reflecting on Youth in the Juvenile Justice System.

  • Judge Adam Yang
  • Ka Vang, Ramsey County Attorney’s Office
  • Kong Hang, Ramsey County Juvenile Probation
  • Dr. Zha Blong Xiong, University of Minnesota
if you would like to receive CLE credit, please complete the registration so that your attendance will be recorded.
Thank you again to the panelists and all of the attendees for the great discussion.
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HABA Statement on the Killing of George Floyd

Click here for the HABA Statement on George Floyd

On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, a Black man, was killed by Minneapolis police officers while handcuffed and forcibly detained against the ground.

The Hmong American Bar Association stands with our fellow bar associations and our community in asking for justice. We grieve with the family of George Floyd, the Black community and all families who have lost loved ones to senseless violence, racism, and abuse of power. We grieve for our community, especially those who have experienced racism, bigotry, and hate. We unreservedly stand in solidarity with those who actively work for reconstruction of our system for long and effective change.

The firing and prosecution of the four officers involved, appointment of the Attorney General to prosecute the case, and the charge by the Minnesota Department of Human Rights against the Minneapolis Police Department are good first steps. But more needs to be done.

We must acknowledge and critically examine the centuries of deeply- rooted racism in our nation, and quickly implement change for a better future. The legal system should work for the benefit of victims and not to protect the perpetrators.

The time for meaningful and lasting change is now. We must act so we can eliminate racism, hate, prejudice, bigotry, and all other forms of discrimination in our society amongst those bestowed the greatest civilian powers to police our communities. We demand better for our communities. Justice and equality require better.

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Racial Harassment & Attacks on Asian-Americans During COVID-19 Pandemic

HABA has issued issued a statement on the recent issues of harassment and attacks in light of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Click the link below to the letter.

HABA Letter 03.25.2020

The Hmong American Bar Association has received reports of recent racial
harassment and discriminatory attacks on people of Asian descent in our
Minnesota communities and across the country during the coronavirus
(COVID-19) pandemic. On March 25, 2020, Minnesota Public Radio aired
a report on the recent racially motivated incidents directed at Asian
Americans.1

We are extremely concerned that the anxiety and fear caused by
the pandemic will result in growing instances of racial harassment and
violence against Asian-Americans, including Hmong Americans.
The Hmong American Bar Association condemns these acts.
We are heartened by the responses of Governor Walz and others who have
issued remarks condemning blame against Asian-Americans but we believe
there is more that can be done to curb the attacks as we all deal with the
effects of the pandemic.
We write asking for your agency’s assistance using the authority at your
means to prevent and discourage these harmful acts. We urge you to publicly
announce how and where reports should be filed and that your office will
investigate and prosecute these racially motivated acts to the fullest extent of
the law. We trust that you will have other ideas and methods as to how your
agency may continue to provide a sense of safety for our Asian-American
neighbors who now fear to go out in our communities.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to me, our board, and our members of
the Hmong American Bar Association should you have any questions or
ways in how we may partner together for our community members moving
forward.
We hope that you join the Hmong American Bar Association in condemning
these racially motivated acts.
Respectfully,

Mai Lee Yang
HABA President