Title
Proclaiming May 14 as Hmong/Hmoob Day.
Body
WHEREAS, May 14, 2021 marks the forty-sixth anniversary of the evacuation of General Vang Pao and the Hmong people out of Long Cheng; and
WHEREAS, that day lead to the introduction of the spoken and written name of Hmong to the US personnel working in Thailand and the US government; and thereafter the name Hmong was recognized and use in the US official documentation of the Hmong people; and
WHEREAS, many Hmong refugees and their families immigrated to the United States, and today over 80,000 Hmong Americans are residents of Minnesota; and
WHEREAS, like many immigrant groups before them, Hmong refugees resettled to the United States to escape war, persecution and discrimination, to find opportunities, and to better their lives and the lives of their children; and
WHEREAS, a majority of Hmong Americans have settled in the City of Saint Paul; and
WHEREAS, Hmong Americans are helping build a vibrant and diverse Saint Paul, contributing culturally, academically socially, politically, and economically to our city; and
Whereas, former MN Governor Mark Dayton proclaimed May 14, 2013 to be Hmong American Day in the state; and
WHEREAS, the Hmong American Day Planning Committee seeks to establish a standard in using the name sake Hmong in celebrating the memories of those we that were lost, and celebrating and recognizing Hmong contributions to their current home, no matter where it may be; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Saint Paul hereby proclaims May 14, 2021 as Hmoob Day, recognizing and celebrating the history, culture and contributions of Hmong Americans and the name Hmong/Hmoob in Minnesota and the City of Saint Paul.