Fiscal Note
No fiscal Impact.
Title
Recognizing April 2022 as Hmong Heritage Month in the City of Madison
Body
WHEREAS, the Hmong are a diverse Southeast Asian ethnic group whose roots can be traced back to many countries, including Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam; and,
WHEREAS, during the Vietnam War (American War in Southeast Asia/Secret War) from 1955-1975, countless Hmong cooperated with the American Central Intelligence Agency and fought valiantly alongside United States Armed Forces; and,
WHEREAS, following the fall of Saigon and the withdrawal of the United States military in 1975, these Hmong allies and their families were forced to flee their homes or face retaliation from Communist regimes; and,
WHEREAS, thousands of Hmong refugees resettled in the United States throughout the 1970s and 1980s and have spent the past decades contributing to the cultural, historical, and economic fabrics of those communities; and,
WHEREAS, Wisconsin has the third-largest Hmong American population in the United States - making them the largest Asian ethnic group in the state; and,
WHEREAS, in 2004, Wisconsin proclaimed its first Hmong Heritage Month; and,
WHEREAS, in 2022, on the 18th anniversary of Hmong Heritage Month, Wisconsinites continue to come together to remember the sacrifices made by and celebrate the culture of the Hmong people;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and Common Council recognize April 2022 as Hmong Heritage Month in the City of Madison and around the United States.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the City encourages and invites all residents to celebrate this month by learning more about the rich history and culture of Hmong Americans and how their experiences and contributions have shaped our state and nation.
Sources: Hmong in Wisconsin <https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS1754> (Wisconsin Historical Society); Hmong Heritage Month 2021 <https://recollectionwisconsin.org/hmong-heritage-month-2021> (Recollection Wisconsin)