Hmong protest at KDWB studios over “utter disrespect and outright ridicule”

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Over 200 protesters, both Hmong and allies, rallied outside of KDWB studios on Friday in a protest over the Clear Channel radio station’s airing on March 28 of “30 Hmongs in a House”, the parody song that uses stereotypes against Hmong people as humor.  The protest was organized by Take Action Minnesota’s Hmong Organizing Program (HOP).  TakeAction Minnesota (TAM) sent two letters to KDWB on April 1 and April 13 calling the apologies the station has provided to be inadequate.  (“It was never our intention to offend anyone”, KDWB posted on their Facebook page).In the April 13 letter, they demanded the apology appear online permanently and demanded the station fire Steve LaTart, who wrote the lyrics to the song.  They also demanded that KDWB dedicate public airtime to promote racial and cultural tolerance through art and music, public service announcements from the Hmong community, an hour-long “Dave Ryan in the Morning Show” about Hmong veterans’ role in the Vietnam conflict, and a 30-minute segment with Hmong women and how negative cultural stereotypes impact them.  Friday’s rally began with a picket line on the sidewalk in front of the building, blocking the entrance to the parking lot.  The protesters then crossed the street where there were number of speakers, including several poets.  Victori Vu, HOP leader, said at the rally that KDWB committed a racist and sexist action by airing the song.  “KDWB, Steve LaTart, and Clear Channel amplify and reinforce the oppression of women and racial minorities,” he said.  “They sent a clear message that it is fine to treat women and people of color, this time Hmong, with utter disrespect and outright ridicule.”  After a number of speeches, chanting, and performances by such artists as poet Chili Lor, several groups of delegates went to the different entrances of the building in order to try to meet with KDWB leadership.  Representatives from the station said they would accept a letter from the group, but would not meet with them on the day of the protest, saying they plan to hold a meeting with “members of the Hmong community” next week.  KDWB’s General Manager Mike Crusham, when asked by Liz Xiong, one of the delegates, what he thought about the community being at the studios, he said “I think you have every right by the First Amendment to express…”  and didn’t complete the sentence.  “They’re telling us that they’re setting up a meeting with the community,” Xiong said, “But the community is already here.”  When the delegates returned to the rally, Victori Vu reported to the crowd that he and his group of delegates asked if they could speak with Rob Morris, and were refused.  “They called the cops on us to kick us out,” he said.  However, Vu said that the community would return.  “We’ll be back!” he said, which was repeated by the crowd in a chant.  MinnPost reports that ATT, Health Partners and Blue Cross and Blue Shield have suspended advertising on KDWB over the song issue. Continue Reading

Mysteries remain in Jason Yang’s death

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UPDATED 11/24/2010—Standing atop the I-394 bridge which leads to Ramp C in downtown Minneapolis, one thing is chillingly obvious about this 70-foot drop: If you jump over the concrete barrier, you will die.  Although there is no path for pedestrians, this area of the ramp is flooded with good lighting and plenty of safety barriers to prevent an accidental fall.Yet, this is the exact location where police say 29-year-old Jason Yang “jumped to his death” in the early morning hours of Saturday, November 13 while trying to elude police who were chasing him on foot for three city blocks in downtown Minneapolis and into Ramp C.”During the foot chase [suspect] jumped from a bridge and was pronounced DOA by paramedics,” the two-sentence official police report said of Jason’s death.Minneapolis police spokesperson, Sgt. William Palmer told KSTP-TV news that, “As soon as he got past that cyclone fencing, he vaulted the barrier and fell about 70 feet. We had 5 officers in close proximity to the suspect when he jumped. We had not yet caught up to him. Nobody had even touched him.”For those who know Jason, however, the version of Jason’s death documented by police does not sit well, especially when considering the full extent of Jason’s life accomplishments and his larger-than-life personality. He was an All-Conference soccer player who played four years of varsity soccer at St. Continue Reading

President of the Short Senators Caucus: St. Paul Sen. Mee Moua in surprise farewell

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Minnesota Senator Mee Moua surprised her colleagues as she announced she would not seek another term in the Senate. (Video below) 
Senator Mee Moua – partial statement:

My life has afforded me the opportunity to see the best of what Minnesota has to offer. Serving in the Minnesota Senate has given me the opportunity to have experiences and break down barriers that I never could have imagined. Over the last nine years I have been blessed to be surrounded by an extraordinary group of staff, supporters and colleagues – all of whom gave me the strength and inspiration to keep fighting for Minnesota’s future. I will always treasure their partnership and I am forever grateful to my supporters for allowing me to stand on their shoulders as I have realized the greatest honor of my life – serving the people of Saint Paul’s East Side and the state of Minnesota. Continue Reading

Immigrants, refugees still linked to home countries

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How do immigrant lives remain linked to their home countries? When are these ties problematic? How do the links differ from generation to generation and from one immigrant group to another? Immigrant leaders and immigration scholars at the University of Minnesota addressed these questions February 1 at the University of Minnesota. The conference, titled Linked Lives: When are Immigrant and Refugee Engagements Problemetized? Continue Reading

No excessive force in Fong Lee shooting, jury rules

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Minneapolis police officer Jason Andersen did not use excessive force when he shot Fong Lee eight times on July 22, 2006, a jury ruled this afternoon. No damages will be awarded to Lee’s family, who filed the wrongful death lawsuit in federal court.The 12-member, all-white jury deliberated for roughly six hours before determining that Andersen had not acted negligently in shooting the 19-year-old North Minneapolis resident. The week-long trial before U.S. District Court Judge Paul Magnuson featured 35 witnesses and competing narratives of what occurred on the night in question.Lee’s family argued in their lawsuit that he was unarmed and presented no threat to Andersen at the time he was gunned down. They also contended that the Russian-made handgun recovered at the scene was planted there by the police.// Attorneys for the City of Minneapolis countered that Lee was a dangerous gang member and that Andersen only opened fire because he legitimately feared for his life. He was awarded a Medal of Valor by the department for his conduct.The jury apparently found the latter narrative to be more credible.Minneapolis Police Chief Tim Dolan issued a statement this afternoon hailing the court decision. Continue Reading

May Lee-Yang: Minnesota activist and artist

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This month, the Center for Hmong Arts and Talent is presenting writer May Lee-Yang’s Sia(b) at Gremlin Theater from May 29th to June 7th. May Lee-Yang is a playwright, prose writer, poet, and performance artists living in Saint Paul who has been involved with theater since she was eighteen. Her plays include Stir-Fried Pop Culture, Sia(b), and The Child’s House. Her writing has been published in the following magazines and anthologies: Bamboo Among the Oaks: Contemporary Writing by Hmong Americans, Water~Stone Literary Review, Unplug Magazine, Paj Ntaub Voice, Jade Magazine, and others. She is a two-time recipient of the MN State Arts Board Artist Initiative Grant and of the Playwright Center Many Voices fellowship. Continue Reading

Fong Lee case will head to jury

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Did Fong Lee have a gun on July 22, 2006, when he was shot eight times by Minneapolis police officer Jason Andersen? That’s the crucial question that a 12-member jury should begin deliberating Wednesday.Attorneys for Lee’s family wrapped up their case Tuesday, arguing that the Russian-made handgun recovered at the scene was planted on Lee in order to cover up for Andersen’s fatal mistake. The City of Minneapolis then called just four witnesses in making the case that Andersen legitimately feared for his life and the shooting was justified. Closing arguments and jury instructions are slated for Wednesday morning.After attorneys for Lee’s family had finished presenting their case, Minneapolis City Attorney Jim Moore argued that the lawsuit should be tossed out by U.S. District Court Judge Paul Magnuson because the plaintiffs had failed to present a credible case. But Magnuson quickly ruled from the bench that the case would proceed to a jury.The city then presented its first witness, Michael Brave, a veteran law-enforcement officer who has frequently consulted with police departments on proper procedures and training. Continue Reading

Judge threatens mistrial in Fong Lee case

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Day two of the Fong Lee trial apparently started off exactly where it left off — with U.S. District Court Judge Paul Magnuson extremely pissed off. This morning he threatened to declare a mistrial in the civil case and force the attorneys for Lee’s family to cover all costs of the proceeding, according to Rochelle Olson’s excellent play-by-playover at the Star Tribune.The legal mischief started late yesterday afternoon when attorney Michael Padden, who is representing Lee’s family, flashed a photo of his bullet-riddled corpse on a projection screen in the courtroom. Lee’s family, who were seated in the courtroom, began to audibly sob.The problem with the grisly picture: it hadn’t been admitted into evidence and therefore shouldn’t have been shown to the jury. Padden claimed it was an innocent mistake. // Judge Magnuson apparently wasn’t buying it. “Let’s be candid,” Magnuson said. Continue Reading