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By Tsia Xiong

Stockton, Calif. – The Hmong community celebrated President Bush’s Dec. 26 signing of HR 2764, a bill that contained specific
language that the Hmong shall not be considered as a terrorist organization.

The legislation included automatic relief for the Hmong and other groups that do not pose a threat to the United States. “Appropriate groups affiliated with the Hmong and the Montagnards shall not be considered to be a terrorist organization on the basis of any act or event occurring before the date of enactment of this section,” the bill read.

The law was signed days after a Dec. 15 rally of more than 1,800 Hmong members in Stockton urging elected officials in the Central Valley to exclude them from the Patriot Act as terrorists.

In the 1960s, the Hmong were recruited by the CIA to engage in covert operations in Laos, where they were trained and supported by the United States. The Hmong’s goals included the disruption of the Ho Chin Minh trial; saving American pilots who were shot down in the region; and preventing the invasion of Laos by the Vietnamese. More than half (35,000) of the Hmong population lost their lives in the Vietnam War; 40 percent of Hmong soldiers did not return.

The Patriot Act does not specifically list Hmong as terrorists, but refugees may be denied entry to the United States if they are found to have provided material support to terrorists, defined under the act as having engaged in unlawful activity against their country. As a result, Hmong across the United States, specifically in the Central Valley, have been denied driver licenses and permanent resident status. For some, the naturalization process has been prolonged due to intensive FBI investigation. “We are not terrorists, we are American allies whom they have forgotten,” said Pao Vang, chair of the Hmong Leadership Network, a grassroots local organizing committee made of Hmong clan leaders and those concerned about the Hmong community in San Joaquin County

“I believe America is a nice place to live, but I also think America has a problem of remembering their allies,” said Wang Thao, president and CEO of Hmong Culture Institute. “The United States should remember that they were the ones who recruited the Hmong to fight on their behalf, and now, with this ridiculous law, it is unacceptable.”

PACT along with 15 other coalition partners held a town hall meeting on July 8, 2007 to express concerns about healthcare to local State Legislators.  the event was held at 4:00 PM at Central United Methodist Church and was attended by close to 400 people.  The elected officials that attended are Assemblyman Greg Aghazarian, Assemblyman Alan Nakanishi, and Senator Mike Machado.  Also in attendance were Lucinda Ehnes, the Director of the Department of Managed Health Care for the State of California and Angel Picon from Congressman McNerney’s Office.

The event included testimonies from local residents about the pain they have been experiencing because of lack of health insurance, under-insurance, high premiums, and high deductibles.  Each coalition partner that chose to do so shared their organization’s position on health care reform.  The coalition then presented the legislators with a set of common principles that ranged from health care coverage for everyone to all children being covered.  Legislators were asked to sign on to a large poster board copy of the principles, indicating their support.  Aghazarian said that he would support legislation that included accessibility, affordability, and sustainability.  He added those three to the board and signed them.  Nakanishi said that he could support the concept of the principles and signed the board to that effect.  Senator Machado went directly to the board without hesitation and signed his support.

Several PACT leaders took a role during the event.  LaCresia Hawkins from the Open Door House of  Prayer co-chaired.  Brenda Perry from Open Door read PACT’s position statement.  Esther Arias from St. Linus Catholic Church and Michael Fields from the Cathedral of the Annunciation gave testimonies.  Ytzel Gonzalez, a child leader from St. Edward’s Catholic Church read the last principle.  Diane Rivera from St. George Catholic Church together with Rich Fowler from Catholic Charities of Stockton asked the legislators for their commitment.  Sharee Vance from Open Door was the time keeper.  Rev. John Armistead from the Cathedral of the Annunciation led the closing prayer.

The other coalition partners were the CA Alliance for Retired Americans (CARA), the CA Children’s Health Initiative, the CA Nurses Association (CNA), the CA School Employees Association (CSEA), Catholic Charities Diocese of Stockton, CLUE San Joaquin (Clergy and Labor for Economic Justice), El Concilio, Health Care for All-San Joaquin, It’s Our Healthcare, Lao Family of Stockton, the League of Women Voters of San Joaquin County, the NAACP, the Peace and Justice Coalition, the Service Employees International Union Local 1021, and the Stockton Teacher’s Association (STA/CTA/NEA).

PACT is helping develop several efforts to improve local schools. Working with the Community Partnership for Families (CPF), PACT helped secure a two year grant from the James Irvine Foundation for CPF to work with Montezuma Elementary School to increase parent involvement. Nicole Barber and Jeremy Terhune have been hired to help the school and CPF develop and implement a plan of action. PACT has also formed a Better Schools Committee with over 20 leaders from 5 schools. Leaders have identified ten areas in which all schools need to excel. Along with parent involvement, leaders hope to see what can be done to change the dynamics that lead children to drop out.