Press Release: When Will Councilman Dai Thao and Others Apologize and Stop Their Prejudice and Discriminatory Misconduct Toward the Mong Community?

By | March 5, 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

St. Paul, MN, March 5, 2022. The Mong Equality Committee (MEC) will hold a press conference at the Saint Paul-Changsha China Friendship Garden at 12 PM to address Councilman Dai Thao and several Mong individuals’ need to apologize and stop their prejudice and discriminatory misconduct toward the Mong community.  

On September 21, 2021, Councilman Dai Thao initiated an attempt to silence Mong Leng by stating on his Facebook timeline that “Hmoob/Hmong” are standard terms while “Moob” is not.  Moob is the proper way speakers of the “green/blue Hmong/Mong” dialect (Mong Leng) would refer to our people.  He later attempted to mislead unsuspecting individuals and our non-Hmong friends that “Moob” is not an inclusive word, meaning that it does not refer to both Mong Leng and Mong Der.  

Shortly after the ribbon-cutting ceremony, in early September 2021, Kongsue Xiong, the VP of the Hmong Advisory Committee (HAC) of the Minnesota China Friendship Garden Society publicly proclaimed on social media that he was against the decision that HAC made with using the word “Moob” inscribed on a rock at the Saint Paul-Changsa China Friendship Garden.  At a public engagement event organized by Councilman Dai Thao on 11/23/2021, both Genghis Khang aka Kang Yee Khang (VP of SGU and Families of USA, Inc.) and Captain Xai Paul Vang aka Xai Nu Vang (adviser to SGU and Families of USA, Inc.) also joined in on Councilman Dai Thao and Kongsue Xiong’s baseless claim.

All four of them together, they launched an attempt to eliminate the word “Moob” that led to heated discussions between family members and friends privately, on social media such as Facebook and YouTube, Mong telephone conference calls, and on Mong media outlets for the past five-six months.  Consequently, many Mong Leng became targets of bigotry and hatred. 

Surprisingly, after months of heated discussions all over the world within the Mong community, due to the outpouring of support from both Mong Leng and Mong Der, the efforts of the MEC, and the wisdom of St. Paul Director of Parks & Recreation, on March 2, 2022, Councilman Dai Thao posted on his Facebook timeline that he supports the decision of Mr. Hahm’s action to leave the four stones as is at the Saint Paul-Changsha China Friendship Garden at Phalen Lake. He also stated that he was in support of Mr. Hahm’s four key commitments going forward with the project. Councilman Dai Thao further goes on to comment as if he was part of the solution.

However, through his record of misconduct, we know very well that Councilman Dai Thao was one of the main culprits that led to the unnecessary upheaval in our community in the last several months.  Councilman Dai Thao, Kongsue Xiong, Genghis Khang, and Xai Paul Vang must be held accountable for their grave misconduct in bringing shame, division, and unrest to the Mong community.  At our first press conference on February 19, 2022, we requested that Councilman Dai Thao apologize to the Mong community, however to date, he has not done so.  

“We now call upon Councilman Dai Thao, Kongsue Xiong, Genghis Khang, and Xai Paul Vang to help heal our community by apologizing for their prejudice and discriminatory misconduct immediately.” -President Zong Khang Yang

The Mong Equality Committee is a collective group of concerned Mong individuals who stand for mutual respect, dignity, inclusion, unity, and equality within our community.

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2 thoughts on “Press Release: When Will Councilman Dai Thao and Others Apologize and Stop Their Prejudice and Discriminatory Misconduct Toward the Mong Community?

  1. John Loe

    Why not use Hmong. It is the most
    recognized, use, and known over. Just saying If its for yourself, your organization, or assume name then spelling doesn’t matter. If it’s for the community then you have to use know name and spelling.

    I think the community wants Hmong to spelling Hmong.

    Why China garden and not Hmong garden. Hmong brand name need credits too. We are not from China. We
    Are from Laos. So Hmong garden represents us best don’t you think. Cause there are no Chinese living around the St. Paul area.

    Reply
    1. James

      I agree. But to what I know the Chinese came with this idea, the friendship bridge with the community not us, Hmong/Moog. So we just follow and support them. They are able to do this because they have a country, China.

      Reply

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