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.
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
