1function GetPreview95(){document.write(`<div id="cus-highlight-95" class="carousel slide mb-2 position-relative pb-3 px-95" data-bs-ride="carousel" data-bs-interval="false"> 2 <div class="d-block w-100 mb-2 py-3" style="border-bottom: 3px solid #f24d34 !important;"> 3 <span class="text-dark fw-bold text-uppercase"> News </span> 4 </div> 5 <div class="carousel-inner cus-highlight-95-inner"> 6 7 <div class="cus-highlight-95-box hpe-in-prev col-md-3 mb-3 px-sm-s px-md-1" data-article="1176" data-cms-article-id="1176" data-url="legacies-of-war-embarks-on-a-new-chapter-after-years-p1176-95.htm" data-menu="NEWS" data-submenu="News" data-date="09_11_2026"> 8 <div class="cus-preview-133-img mb-2 mb-md-0 px-0"> 9 <a class="cus-preview-133-link d-block border text-decoration-none position-relative overflow-hidden" href="legacies-of-war-embarks-on-a-new-chapter-after-years-p1176-95.htm"> 10 <div class="ratio-3-2" data-cus-src="/articles-2026-09-11-03-36-08-100.jpeg"> 11 <div class="img-content"> 12 <img src="/articles-2026-09-11-03-36-08-100.jpeg" alt="Legacies Of War Embarks on a New Chapter After 22 Years" class="img-fluid" /> 13 </div> 14 </div> 15 <div class="cus-preview-133-slide cus-preview-133-slide-95 w-100 py-1 px-2"> 16 <p class="cus-preview-133-heading d-inline-block text-decoration-none fs-5 fw-bold text-black lh-base line-2 mb-0 transition text-red-hover"> 17 Legacies Of War Embarks on a New Chapter After 22 Years 18 </p> 19 <p class="cus-preview-133-date d-inline-block text-decoration-none fs-6 text-muted lh-1 pb-2 mb-0"> 20 <i class="fa fa-calendar" aria-hidden="true"></i> Fri, Sep 11, 2026 21 </p> 22 <div class="cus-preview-133-body line-3 text-dark fs-6 lh-base mb-0"> 23 By Marc Yablonka Since 2004, the Washington, D.C.-based NGO Legacies of War has advocated for the eradication of massive tonnage of unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Southeast Asia. The organization has also taken a hands-on approach to removing the massive amount of UXO left behind, particularly in Laos. During the Vietnam War era, Laos was subjected to more bombing than any country in history, with more bombs dropped there than during all of World War II. Legacies of War was founded by Channapha Khamvongsa, who was born in Laos. In 2019, Sera Koulabdara, also born in Laos, became CEO and under her leadership, the organization has expanded its work to include Vietnam and Cambodia . After 22 years, “Legacies of War’s current mission remains the same. We advocate for families in Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam to live on bomb-free land. As a diaspora and women led organization, we utilize our lived experiences, shared history, and culture to raise awareness of the lasting impacts of U.S. wars,” according to Danae Hendrickson, the group’s Chief of Mission Advancement and Communications. The group plays a critical role in growing support for the UXO issue and translating it into action by what it called “humanizing the impacts of the war.” It translates lived experiences, of the Lao, Cambodian, and Vietnamese who came of age in the Southeast Asian diaspora during and after the war most often associated with Vietnam, and those who remained because they could not get out or chose to remain there. Among the impacts of the war in Laos is the fact that UXO has caused an estimated 50,000 deaths or maiming since the “bombees,” as bombs are called in Lao, began to fall in 1964. Twenty thousand of the casualties have occurred since the end of the war in 1975, according to estimates compiled by the Mines Advisory Group and the National Regulatory Authority for the UXO/Mine Action Sector in the People’s Democratic Republic of Laos. “Our communities have ensured that the U.S. policymakers learn about these issues by sharing our stories in government and public spaces,” Hendrickson stated. Sera Koulabdara looking at a bomb shell used as a neighborhood bell, Laos. (Photo credit: Anna Phommachanthone, Legacies of War) In addition, Legacies of War volunteers make frequent trips to Laos to meet with villagers, and both learn about their experiences with UXO and teach them how to avoid exposure to them if possible. “We work closely with both the Lao and U.S governments to ensure that challenges experienced in the sector are voiced, new developments are communicated, and progress is being made,” she added. This year alone representatives from the Lao government traveled with Legacies of War volunteers to Xieng Khouang Province, in northeastern Laos to implement their “Village Data Project.” It brings together village interviews, U.S bombing data, and clearance data to demonstrate the impact of UXO on a village and community level over generations. “We traveled to three different villages in Pek District and interviewed Hmong and Lao families, elders, farmers, women, and children. These interviews illuminate how these communities have adapted to life with UXO, the memory that is held and passed down, and basic needs that are still needed for these communities to thrive,” Hendrickson added. The group hopes that this data shows a clearer picture of how war continues to impact individuals and the long road ahead until these communities are bomb-free. “It is an incredibly difficult problem to understand. This report will provide important perspectives and new information. We are eager to release this report which is set to be published in January of 2027. It will be announced on our social platforms and newsletter,” she said. Facing roadblocks Unfortunately, things have not proven to be 100 percent positive for the group. A lack of funding has become a major issue. Over the last few years, Legacies of War have felt the restrictions on their work when philanthropic institutions have either stopped taking on new projects or have had to restrict their own budgets. In other instances, the organization’
23s mission does not fit in with what funders are looking for making region, priority areas, or budget their criteria. “The challenges that we face raising awareness of these issues within the public space are mirrored to the philanthropic space: With growing conflict around the world, why is this need critical when the U.S. wars ended more than 50 years ago?” she asked rhetorically. “The impact that the U.S. cuts to foreign aid have had cannot be understated. Though funding for demining has now been restored in countries such as Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, international non-government organizations, like World Education, who were facilitating USAID funds to support survivors of explosive ordnance accidents in Laos, have since been shut down. Now, someone who is injured by explosive ordnance faces even greater financial and logistical burden to receive necessary care,” she added. “We exist to support the progress of demining in Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam and raise awareness of the need within the American public,” she stressed. Legacies of War speaking with civilians in Laos who are beneficiaries of demining. (Photo credit: Anna Phommachanthone's Fulbright Research, Fall 2023) Though Legacies of War doesn’t receive government funding, lack of funds has impacted the organization greatly. In all three countries, work stopped for 90 days, and much progress was rolled back, according to Hendrickson. But all was not lost. Opportunities arose despite the challenges. More Americans became aware of the need to support organizations that lost their funding. The group needed to build its base in order to respond to the need. That’s where its youth-oriented Advocacy Ambassador program came in. It was started to engage youth in the U.S. who are interested in disarmament and what Legacies of War does in working toward that goal. “We equipped them to support our communications through writing, advocacy, and creative projects. Investing in these young leaders in early 2025 has led to a growth of now more than 40 Advocacy Ambassadors that we work together with on a daily basis. This group is entirely volunteer-led, but we hope with more funding that we can further invest in strengthening this cohort which has proven critical to our work,” Hendrickson said. Still the struggles continue. They were unsuccessful at winning many grant applications that they had applied for and were facing a very real possibility that without \$25,000 they would not make it to year’s end. But Legacies of War kept a positive outlook because of their many friends, including its Board of Directors, who are aware of the work the group does, and is always there when assistance is needed. The group has reached out to family foundations and donors. It has also carried out fundraisers to meet their needs. The organization eventually met its emergency goal of \$25,000 and has been able to transition to a new fiscal sponsor with the Friends Committee on National Legislature (FCNL) - Education Fund. As a fiscally sponsored project, the organization can receive donations and grants and access health benefits. Legacies of War delegation with Mines Advisory Group, Xieng Khouang Province, Laos. (Photo credit: Cyrus Kanga, Legacies of War) The future of Legacies of War On a more personal note, Hendrickson said, “As a Lao American who still has family living and farming in Laos, this work is extremely important to me. Over the last five years, I have witnessed the critical role that Legacies of War takes on. Not only in the humanitarian demining sector but also as a leader in educating the public on our shared history and responsibility.” “The road ahead is long,” she admits. “And while that is not always the most inspiring picture to paint for donors and supporters, it is the truth. We need continued collaboration across sectors including education, economic, and health, more creative solutions from artists, youth, elders, and makers, more stories from those with lived experience of war and its impact, more of our history represented in curriculums, and more visits from the American public, diaspora, and policymakers to Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.” “The future of this work is not guaranteed, but it is possible when we work together, recognizing our shared history, humanity, and responsibility.” Anyone wishing to donate to the Legacies of War can contact Danae Hendrickson directly at [email protected] . Report a correction or typo here . 9/12 ~ A change to the article added a statement about Sera Koulabdara the organization's current CEO. 24 </div> 25 <p class="cus-preview-133-more d-inline-block text-decoration-none fs-6 text-dark lh-1 mb-0 fst-italic transition text-red-hover pt-2"> 26 More... 27 </p> 28 </div> 29 </a> 30 </div> 31 </div> 32 33 <div class="cus-highlight-95-box hpe-in-prev col-md-3 mb-3 px-sm-s px-md-1" data-article="1090" data-cms-article-id="1090" data-url="memorial-to-the-ravens-dedicated-at-wrightpatterson-afb-p1090-95.htm" data-menu="NEWS" data-submenu="News" data-date="
3306_16_2026"> 34 <div class="cus-preview-133-img mb-2 mb-md-0 px-0"> 35 <a class="cus-preview-133-link d-block border text-decoration-none position-relative overflow-hidden" href="memorial-to-the-ravens-dedicated-at-wrightpatterson-afb-p1090-95.htm"> 36 <div class="ratio-3-2" data-cus-src="/17-06-2026-12-10-25-am-7212402.jpg"> 37 <div class="img-content"> 38 <img src="/17-06-2026-12-10-25-am-7212402.jpg" alt="Memorial To the Ravens Dedicated at Wright-Patterson AFB" class="img-fluid" /> 39 </div> 40 </div> 41 <div class="cus-preview-133-slide cus-preview-133-slide-95 w-100 py-1 px-2"> 42 <p class="cus-preview-133-heading d-inline-block text-decoration-none fs-5 fw-bold text-black lh-base line-2 mb-0 transition text-red-hover"> 43 Memorial To the Ravens Dedicated at Wright-Patterson AFB 44 </p> 45 <p class="cus-preview-133-date d-inline-block text-decoration-none fs-6 text-muted lh-1 pb-2 mb-0"> 46 <i class="fa fa-calendar" aria-hidden="true"></i> Tue, Jun 16, 2026 47 </p> 48 <div class="cus-preview-133-body line-3 text-dark fs-6 lh-base mb-0"> 49 By Marc Yablonka News Twenty-two Ravens might have been looking down with pride from a very high perch upon the Museum of the Air Forceâs Memorial Garden at Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, Ohio on April 8. But not the black-winged bird type. These Ravens were pilots, Forward Air Controllers (FAC), whose lives were lost during the Secret War in Laos. Their presence was definitely felt during the dedication to a new memorial in honor of them and all the Air Force veterans who volunteered for duty with the clandestine Ravens unit in the fight against communism during the Vietnam War. "The actual idea for the Ravens Memorial came from Gene Hamner, call sign Raven 12. After we had completed the dedication of the Raven Exhibit in the National Museum of the US Air Force (NMUSAF) almost three years ago,â said Lew Hatch, call sign Raven 44, president of the Ravens Association. When Hamner asked whether Hatch had ever visited the museum, Hatch said he hadâabout a decade earlierâfor the dedication of the all-FAC memorial. Hamner had "wondered if there should be a memorial to our Raven brothers before we âshuffled off this mortal coil,ââ Hatch said quoting Shakespeareâs play Hamlet . Hatch asked Hamner if he would consider becoming the Chairman of the Raven Memorial Committee. Little did he know that it would be a committee of one. He took on a two-year project to design, produce, and dedicate the memorial that now stands at the NMUSAF Memorial Garden. For his part, Hamner feels, "This memorial provides a snapshot view of what 205 motivated Air Force pilots volunteered to do. The memorial, coupled with the Raven display inside the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, may provide some answers to friends and families of Ravens as to what we did when we couldnât talk about a certain time we spent during our tours in Southeast Asia,â he said. "There is no better place for this memorial,â said Hatch. "NMUSAF is the premier military aviation museum in the world. As a unit operating clandestinely in civilian clothes as volunteers to assist a foreign government, the Ravens were unusual, but not unique.The Lafayette Escadrille in WWI and the 14 th American Volunteer Group (14 th AVG-or "Flying Tigersâ) of WWII were other such units.â The back dedication of the Ravens Memorial depicts the names of 205 Air Force pilots. The front shows a map of Laos, history and mission of the Ravens. (Photo courtesy NMUSAF). "Surprisingly, the numbers involved with these three units were very similar, both total serving and casualties. Both of these units are honored by the NMUSAF. The Flying Tigers were particularly close to the Ravensâ mission in that many of the fixed wing cargo pilots flying for Air America in Laos started as Flying Tigers and CAT (Civil Air Transport) pilots before they became Air America pilots in Laos,â Hatch said . Hatch described the memorial this way: "All elements of the memorial were chosen to reflect and honor our unique mission. The map of Laos of that era, the pictures of our two most commonly flown aircraftâthe Cessna O-1 Bird Dog and the T-28D Trojan manufactured by North American Aviation..." Hatch went on to describe that the monument displayed the brief history of their unit and mission and, most importantly, the list of names that included every man who flew in their program: call sign Ravens, Butterfly, Cherokee, or Eagle Control. The list showed the combat losses and the one remaining Missing in Action pilot, Sam Deichelmann. "I think they were all impressed with the honor being paid to their relatives. Many knew of the Ravens, many did not. My nephew and grand-nephew will never forget that day, long after I am gone.Decades from now, family members can go to that memorial and see the names of 205 men who risked it all for the people of Laosâ¦Hmong and Laotian,â Hatch said about those in attendance. "While we all volunteered for the assignment to serve our country, it didnât take long for us to fall in love with the Lao and Hmong people. I was there on the last day of the war, and I cannot tell you how heart-rending an experience that was for me,â he said. Gene Hamner (right), mastermind of the Ravens Memorial, and Ellis Nottingham (left) stand beside the memorial at Wright-Patterson AFB. (Photo courtesy Gene Hamner). For his part, Gene Hamner feels, "When I
49see all of the names of the Ravens together on a list, I often think of how so few carefully selected men fought so hard alongside our Hmong and Lao allies against the NVA and Pathet Lao. I especially think about the 22 Ravens who gave their lives in this effort. I am glad that we Ravens have a memorial now. I wish it had been done when more of us were able to see it.â At the dedication memorial, Hamner said he thought of Chuck "Docâ Russell, who was killed on Dec. 3, 1971, when his O-1 aircraft collided midair with a Laotian CH-34 helicopterâa tragic accident that claimed his life. Joe Scheimer, call sign Raven 42, also attended the dedication. "I was proud to see an impressive memorial that depicted where we fought. I thought of my boss, Richard (Dick) Defer, who checked me out at Paksé. He was killed when he went up North to spell someone on leave and will never see the memorial. I also thought of Jim Lemon, one of the two who started the Raven program. He was unable to attend the dedication,â Scheimer said. "Itâs nice to have something that documents what we did in Laos. It shows that 205 of us were actually fighting in an area where we werenât supposed to have any military,â he added. Former SGU Lt. Yee Robin Xiong, who was stationed in Long Tieng, headquarters of the CIA, had equally strong feelings about the memorial. "Finally, the government canât hide the truth about the Secret War in Laos anymore, and that they allowed us to build something that represents us and the sacrifices made to the country,â Lt. Xiong, call sign Robin 07, said. Xiong earned the right to use the pronoun "usâ because, as a Robin, he flew as a back seater to Jerry "Spikeâ Milam, call sign Raven 29, whom Xiong reunited with at the memorial for the first time since 1972, the year Milam left Laos. "We flew lots of missions together and destroyed seven [Russian-made NVA] 130mm artillery in the Plain of Jars. He pulled me off one Raven [mission] to fly with another pilot after he checked the first pilot out. That Raven was shot down. I wouldn't be here if not for Jerry,â Xiong said. Hmong SGU Lt. Yee "Robin" Xiong flew as a back seater to Ravens Jerry 'Spike" Milam reunite at the dedication for the first time since 1972. (Photo courtesy Yee Robin Xiong). When asked what it felt like being at the memorial, Xiong had this to say: "Now that I am getting older, itâs easier to be emotional because when I read the names on the backside of the memorial for the first time, I knew many of those guys and some of them I was supposed to fly with on their last mission. I am lucky to be here because I got pulled to fly with different Ravens,â Xiong reflected deeply. "Itâs important for the world to see and learn that there were many lives lost because of the war, but the government still pretended that it never happened,â he added. Xiong, who was a pilot for Sun Country Airlines for 13 years before retiring in 2003, also views the Ravens Memorial as a teaching tool for young Hmong. The younger Hmong generation should learn this history and understand that their families did not come to the United States without sacrifice. Many of their parents and grandparents served in the Secret War, and among the 35,000 Hmong troops who fought, thousands never returned home. Yee Xiong and other Hmong in attendance at the dedication. (Photo courtesy NMUSAF). As for EAPLS President Lew Hatch, he was flooded with emotions on April 8. For one thing, he lost his son Cody, a frequent attendee to Ravensâ reunions, and a veteran of Afghanistan, to cancer just nine months before the dedication. Cody revered the Ravens. "I choked up,â Hatch said. "Standing before the list of all the men who served is emotional. The only experience I can relate it to is the first time I was able to stand at the Vietnam Wall in front of my panel, ten years after the memorial was made. To view my friends, who died at 23 years old, who most people didnât know, was overwhelming. The same was true when I stood before our memorial and saw all the names we have been reading every year for fifty-four years. We remember. The nation doesnât. We hope the memorial can correct that.â Watch a YouTube video of the April 8, 2026, dedication of the Ravens Memorial at the Museum of the US Air Force at Wrigth-Patterson AFB in Dayton, OH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWoFrZXrQFI Share your thoughts and let us know in the comments below. Report a correction or typo here 6/17/26 - Corrections were made to the original article Marc Yablonka is a Burbank-based author and military journalist. His work has been published in the US Military newspaper the Stars and Stripes, Army Times, Vietnam magazine, and many other publications. He is the author of Tears Across the Mekong , a book that profiles the lives of many Hmong, Lao, and Americans who took part in the secret war in Laos. His latest book Hot Mics and TV Lights: The American Forces Vietnam Network was published by Double Dagger Books in 2023. For more information on Marc's published work visit WarStoriesPress.com . Hmong Daily
49News is funded by Press Forward , the nationwide movement to strengthen communities by reinvigorating local news. Learn more at pressforward.news . News, Secret War, Ravens, Laos, Ravens Memorial, Wright-Patterson AFB 50 </div> 51 <p class="cus-preview-133-more d-inline-block text-decoration-none fs-6 text-dark lh-1 mb-0 fst-italic transition text-red-hover pt-2"> 52 More... 53 </p> 54 </div> 55 </a> 56 </div> 57 </div> 58 59 <div class="cus-highlight-95-box hpe-in-prev col-md-3 mb-3 px-sm-s px-md-1" data-article="1083" data-cms-article-id="1083" data-url="california-vs-hate-conference-addresses-antiasian-resentment-p1083-95.htm" data-menu="NEWS" data-submenu="News" data-date="05_18_2026"> 60 <div class="cus-preview-133-img mb-2 mb-md-0 px-0"> 61 <a class="cus-preview-133-link d-block border text-decoration-none position-relative overflow-hidden" href="california-vs-hate-conference-addresses-antiasian-resentment-p1083-95.htm"> 62 <div class="ratio-3-2" data-cus-src="/18-05-2026-10-45-41-pm-7895052.jpg"> 63 <div class="img-content"> 64 <img src="/18-05-2026-10-45-41-pm-7895052.jpg" alt="California vs Hate Conference Addresses Anti-Asian Resentment" class="img-fluid" /> 65 </div> 66 </div> 67 <div class="cus-preview-133-slide cus-preview-133-slide-95 w-100 py-1 px-2"> 68 <p class="cus-preview-133-heading d-inline-block text-decoration-none fs-5 fw-bold text-black lh-base line-2 mb-0 transition text-red-hover"> 69 California vs Hate Conference Addresses Anti-Asian Resentment 70 </p> 71 <p class="cus-preview-133-date d-inline-block text-decoration-none fs-6 text-muted lh-1 pb-2 mb-0"> 72 <i class="fa fa-calendar" aria-hidden="true"></i> Mon, May 18, 2026 73 </p> 74 <div class="cus-preview-133-body line-3 text-dark fs-6 lh-base mb-0"> 75 By Ken Magri News Summit explores multi-racial bigotry in America while finding creative ways to reduce it. "They fear each other because they don't know each other, and they don't know each other because they don't communicate with each other, and they don't communicate with each other because they are separated from each other." Dr. Martin Luther King To find creative solutions for combating hate, the California Civil Rights Department held a conference in San Francisco focusing on strategies to confront hatred in all its forms. Individuals and participants from non-profit organizations gathered in person and online for the all-day May 11 summit, held at the Commonwealth Club and organized by CA vs Hate in partnership with the California Commission on the State of Hate and Stop the Hate. The event highlighted state programs including CA vs Hate, a reporting hotline and support connection network, and Stop the Hate CA , an anti-hate initiative â and addressed hateful acts against Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Californians in particular. After a wave of anti-Asian violence from the COVID-19 era, and during this current period of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids on American neighborhoods, many AAPI still fear the simple task of leaving their homes. Almost half of AAPI adults say they experienced a hate act in 2025 â a figure that compares closely to 49% in 2023 and 53% in 2024, according to the nonprofit Stop AAPI Hate . Attendees at the conference joined interactive workshops on dealing with different views, making cross-cultural connections, and spreading social justice through sharing lived experiences. Panels addressed the role of media and art in communicating positive messages as they inform the public. In Sacramento, the fear is immediate. Sacramento City Councilmember Mai Vang, who represents District 8 in South Sacramento and is currently a candidate for the US House of Representatives in California's 7th Congressional District, put it plainly. "Despite the tireless efforts of community-based organizations including those that attended the CA vs. Hate conference, Hmong and Southeast Asian and immigrant communities are living in fear because of ICE and this authoritarian administration," said Vang. Vang referenced last January's illegal ICE detention of Saint Paul, Minnesota resident Chong Ly "Scott" Thao, a U.S. citizen who was made to stand outside his home in freezing temperatures wearing only undershorts and a blanket. "What we saw in Minnesota, in
75which ICE racially profiled members of our community â we need to stay vigilant and united against hate," she said. "The way forward requires us to be unafraid in naming that we need to dismantle and abolish this racist rogue agency. It also demands that we find commonalities and our shared humanity to fight hate and racist institutions." Attendees at the conference joined interactive workshops on dealing with differing social views, making cross-cultural connections and spreading social justice through sharing lived experiences. Panels addressed the role of media and art in communicating positive messages to inform the public about why hate is not the answer to social differences. Former Assemblymember Phil Ting was one of the first panelists. As chairman of the Assembly Budget Committee, he helped create the CA vs. Hate and Stop the Hate CA programs. Sacramento City Councilmember Mai Vang who is currently running for Congress in California's 7th District. (Photo courtesy of Mai Vang) Ting said that in recent years there has been a "concerted effort to roll back rights we have taken for granted" since the 1960s. His solution was to get more political. "What we've been doing hasn't been working, let's just be frank," said Ting. He encouraged nonprofit organization members in the audience to lobby Sacramento legislators more frequently, invite them to events and learn to communicate more effectively. "Make sure you're going to their events too, engaging them and sharing your point of view," he said. Two short films screened at the conference â one about the elderly and one about children â focused on viewing hate and discrimination from someone else's point of view. Asian Health Services presented Kevin Wong's documentary "Love Has Two Meanings," which follows 12 Chinese American elders from East Oakland's Chinatown who fear their own neighborhoods due to a wave of post-pandemic robberies. Watch: Love Has Two Meanings After learning basic self-defense strategies, the elders are taken on a field trip to learn about other ethnic neighborhoods, including West Oakland, San Francisco and finally San Quentin State Prison â where they learn about how Asian youth, like others, become caught up in the criminal justice system in a sometimes lifelong pattern of recidivism. San Quentin inmates on the Asian Prisoner Support Committee introduce the elders to the in-prison ROOTS (Restoring Our Original True Selves) program run by the Asian Prisoner Support Committee , which has helped over 250 young offenders rehabilitate themselves through ethnic studies curricula and reentry planning. The Chinese elders wrote personal letters to the inmates they met, thanking them and encouraging them to keep moving forward. After the trip, most of the elders said they felt less fearful about the future. In the second film, Daren Dienâs "Birth of a Mind," three children play online games together without caring that one is white, one is African American, and one is Filipino â until their parents separately admonish each child to prioritize their own race first. Watch: Birth of a Mind (Directorâs Cut) The film shows viewers how this parental misguidance feels from a child's perspective. Dien, whose film was produced by LA vs Hate , told the conference the dialogue came from angry posts he found on social networks and things he had overheard firsthand. Tony Douangviseth, executive director of Youth Together â a multiracial organization in Oakland that supports youth and families in creating transformative schools and communities â also spoke at the conference. "When you've been in a community and you've been impacted, it creates harm, and that harm stays for a long time," said Douangviseth. "It's not only important to develop youth leaders, it's important to inspire, to model what we have as adults." Local organizations that assist the community Several organizations in the area offer support to the Hmong community. Hmong Youth and Parents United (HYPU) is a Sacramento-based nonprofit offering culturally sensitive educational, social and economic services and resources to youth, adults and parents. The organization has programs focused on innovation, youth power, well-being, community commitment and preserving cultural heritage. The Stockton-based nonprofit Uplift the Human Spirit (UHS) provides traditional music, dance and arts that allow Hmong seniors to reconnect with their roots and share their culture with others. In addition to a food pantry and assistance with daily health needs, the organization offers social activities, outings and interactive games that encourage a sense of belonging within the greater Stockton community. "For generations, being refugees has left my people feeling like we don't truly belong anywhere, and many elders perceive themselves as mere guests, even though most are now naturalized citizens," said Susan Her, founder of UHS. "Given our history, the elders are not surprised by these events. We have experienced this cycle before, and it feels inevitable that authorities will once again target our community,â The history Her refers to makes further hostility toward Hmong people especially difficult to fathom. In the 1960s and 1970s, 30,000 to 40,000 Hmong were killed supporting America. The so-called "Secret Warâ in Laos, conducted by the CIA between 1961 and 1975, was an anti-communist effort fought alongside the Vietnam War â but because Hmong soldiers were secretly helping the U.S., Americans remain largely ignorant of those sacrifices. "Many Americans remain unaware of the reason for the Hmong presence in the U.S.," said Her. "With the current global climate, it seems that there is a growing acceptance of bigotry and hate. This isn't a new issue. Experts are aware of what works and what doesn't. The real challenge is whether our government is committed to helping us." Get support for hate The California Civil Rights Department (CRD) is the statewide agency that enforces the state's civil rights laws, protecting Californians from unlawful discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations and state-funded programs, as well as from hate violence and human trafficking. Run by the CRD, California vs Hate is a non-emergency, multilingual hotline and online portal offering confidential support for hate crimes and incidents. Victims and witnesses can get confidential help anonymously by calling 833-8-NO-HATE (833-866-4283), Monday to Frid
75ay, 9 a.m.â6 p.m. PT, or online at any time, with no police or ICE involvement. 76 </div> 77 <p class="cus-preview-133-more d-inline-block text-decoration-none fs-6 text-dark lh-1 mb-0 fst-italic transition text-red-hover pt-2"> 78 More... 79 </p> 80 </div> 81 </a> 82 </div> 83 </div> 84 85 <div class="cus-highlight-95-box hpe-in-prev col-md-3 mb-3 px-sm-s px-md-1" data-article="1080" data-cms-article-id="1080" data-url="tulare-county-supervisor-continues-the-fight-for-sgu-veterans-benefits-p1080-95.htm" data-menu="NEWS" data-submenu="News" data-date="05_14_2026"> 86 <div class="cus-preview-133-img mb-2 mb-md-0 px-0"> 87 <a class="cus-preview-133-link d-block border text-decoration-none position-relative overflow-hidden" href="tulare-county-supervisor-continues-the-fight-for-sgu-veterans-benefits-p1080-95.htm"> 88 <div class="ratio-3-2" data-cus-src="/14-05-2026-08-47-42-am-2996039.jpg"> 89 <div class="img-content"> 90 <img src="/14-05-2026-08-47-42-am-2996039.jpg" alt="Tulare County Supervisor Continues the Fight for SGU Veterans Benefits" class="img-fluid" /> 91 </div> 92 </div> 93 <div class="cus-preview-133-slide cus-preview-133-slide-95 w-100 py-1 px-2"> 94 <p class="cus-preview-133-heading d-inline-block text-decoration-none fs-5 fw-bold text-black lh-base line-2 mb-0 transition text-red-hover"> 95 Tulare County Supervisor Continues the Fight for SGU Veterans Benefits 96 </p> 97 <p class="cus-preview-133-date d-inline-block text-decoration-none fs-6 text-muted lh-1 pb-2 mb-0"> 98 <i class="fa fa-calendar" aria-hidden="true"></i> Thu, May 14, 2026 99 </p> 100 <div class="cus-preview-133-body line-3 text-dark fs-6 lh-base mb-0"> 101 By Marc Yablonka News In a county of nearly 490,000, there are roughly 950 Hmong residents in Tulare County, according to the 2020 U.S. Census. But those Hmong have been very much on the mind of Tulare County Supervisor Larry Macari these days. Thatâs because the Hmong, who fought with Royal Lao Army General Vang Pao and the CIA during Laosâ Secret War, have long sought veterans benefits that Supervisor Macari believes they are owed. "They did a great sacrifice for us and what I want to do is honor them and respect them. My first contact with the Hmong was in law enforcement. It started in 1984 when a lot of Hmong families migrated here,â Macari told the Hmong Dailly News. Among his early recollections of all the hill tribes in Tulare County, including the Hmong, Mien, Khmu and others, was their work ethic. "We worked with them. They were a great part of our community. They're some of the most loyal Americans that we have in the United States. Great hardworking people. We started coming up with all kinds of little three- and five-acre strawberry and vegetable stands because they went out and went to work,â he said. "When they got here, they were put on aid and it just wasn't enough, so they went into business for themselves,â he added. He also remembers the impact the Vietnam War had on him as a young boy. "I was a kid watching the news with Walter Cronkite. It was on every day. You could not turn the TV on and not watch the Vietnam War.â Macari also learned about the Ho Chi Minh Trail [going through] Laos. "I remember seeing children armed and fighting. There were interdiction campaigns. We eventually learned how the Lao, Hmong, Mien, and other cultures all took part, and they helped us. They were our allies. They helped save American lives,â Macari stressed. Supervisor Macari recounted how he first learned about the quest for VA benefits by Gen. Vang Paoâs Special Guerilla Units (SGU). It is estimated that between 1,500 and 2,000 are still alive in the U.S. today, according to the SGU Veterans and Families of U.S.A, Inc . Former Hmong SGU fighter addresses the Tulare County Board of Supervisors in December 2025 (Photo courtesy Tulare Co. Board of Supervisors). "I was on the Veterans Advisory Committee, and I went and had coffee with the vets on a Wednesday morning [as] we do here in Visalia. The Vietnam guys were pointing out these gentlemen that were there that told how they had fought for us, and they were not allowed to receive VA benefits because they had fought under the CIA. I started learning a little more, checking into that, and found out that they were given these DD-214 [military retirement] forms, but they were not valid,â Macari recalled. "When it came to our board meeting, they talked about how they were like 15 years old, and they and their families were recruited [by the CIA],â he said. This was happening while, at the same time, the Pathet Lao communists were forcing people out of their villages and forcing them to fight with them. "The Hmong took up arms and sided with us to fight to help protect themselves,â the Supervisor said. One of the Hmong who impressed the Supervisor was a radio operator who talked about how he was just a kid hearing
101kids screaming for help, when they were being attacked. "It was very solemn what they went through. But they don't brag. They're very, very humble.â At that December 2025 meeting of the Tulare County Board of Supervisors, Macari led the Board in passing a formal resolution in support of the SGU veterans. "It was a 5-0 vote. Unanimous. That allowed me to take the resolution to NACo, the National Association of Counties.â "We put that out nationwide and got a lot of support from Wisconsin, Virginia, and numerous other states who were meeting there. I brought this up and started some interest. We had a representative teach us how to make a resolution for NACo and what the process was. I'm told that I'm the first one for the Tulare County Board of Supervisors to ever get a resolution brought before NACo,â he said. The resolution was passed unanimously on their resolution platform in 2025. However, because it was mid-year, Supervisor Macari has to go back to the upcoming NACo conference and present it again. "It's gone through. We've got overwhelming support. People have continued to reach out. It's already been passed once, so I do not anticipate a problem getting it passed in July,â he said. Tulare County residents attend a County Board of Supervisor meeting during which the issue of granting VA benefits to the Hmong SGU fighters was discussed (Photo courtesy Tulare Co. Board of Supervisors) . When asked if he had reached out to anyone in Congress, Supervisor Macari answered in the affirmative. One of those he has had contact with is Rep. Jim Costa, who represents San Joaquin and Fresno Counties. In 2018, Rep. Costa urged his colleagues to pass the Hmong Veterans Service Act. He also advocated for burial rights for the Hmong SGU in National Cemeteries. "We go to Washington, D.C. annually. I talked to our Congress people there. I spoke with Congressmen Costa, Fong and Valadao. They're all aware of it. Congressman Costa has told me that he was involved with getting them burial rights at National Cemeteries. He's been very involved for a long time. Much longer than I. Everyone says it's a challenge,â Macari said. "I understand there are challenges. You have to prove that you actually served. I just want to give them a pathway to see what they have. They're in their 80s now, and they need help. They fought for us. We brought them here. We should take care of them,â he added. "When they came to the United States, there had to be a process for them to get here. They had to be recognized. They had to get those fake DD-214 forms somewhere,â he said. "They had to get some kind of acknowledgement in order to get burial rights. This is just one more step. Instead of closing the door, let's give them the opportunity to be able to apply and see what we can do to help them. That's all I'm asking.â Share your thoughts and let us know in the comments below. Report a correction or typo here Marc Yablonka is a Burbank-based author and military journalist. His work has been published in the US Military newspaper the Stars and Stripes, Army Times, Vietnam magazine, and many other publications. He is the author of Tears Across the Mekong , a book that profiles the lives of many Hmong, Lao, and Americans who took part in the secret war in Laos. His latest book Hot Mics and TV Lights: The American Forces Vietnam Network was published by Double Dagger Books in 2023. For more information on Marc's published work visit WarStoriesPress.com . Hmong Daily News is funded by Press Forward , the nationwide movement to strengthen communities by reinvigorating local news. Learn more at pressforward.news . News, Hmong American, SGU, Tulare County, Secret War, Veterans Benefits 102 </div> 103 <p class="cus-preview-133-more d-inline-block text-decoration-none fs-6 text-dark lh-1 mb-0 fst-italic transition text-red-hover pt-2"> 104 More... 105 </p> 106 </div> 107 </a> 108 </div> 109 </div> 110 111 <div class="cus-highlight-95-box hpe-in-prev col-md-3 mb-3 px-sm-s px-md-1" data-article="1071" data-cms-article-id="1071" data-url="legendary-catholic-priest-father-lucien-bouchard-passes-away-p1071-95.htm" data-menu="NEWS" data-submenu="News" data-date="
11104_26_2026"> 112 <div class="cus-preview-133-img mb-2 mb-md-0 px-0"> 113 <a class="cus-preview-133-link d-block border text-decoration-none position-relative overflow-hidden" href="legendary-catholic-priest-father-lucien-bouchard-passes-away-p1071-95.htm"> 114 <div class="ratio-3-2" data-cus-src="/26-04-2026-12-46-09-pm-3363765.jpg"> 115 <div class="img-content"> 116 <img src="/26-04-2026-12-46-09-pm-3363765.jpg" alt="Legendary Catholic Priest Father Lucien Bouchard Passes Away" class="img-fluid" /> 117 </div> 118 </div> 119 <div class="cus-preview-133-slide cus-preview-133-slide-95 w-100 py-1 px-2"> 120 <p class="cus-preview-133-heading d-inline-block text-decoration-none fs-5 fw-bold text-black lh-base line-2 mb-0 transition text-red-hover"> 121 Legendary Catholic Priest Father Lucien Bouchard Passes Away 122 </p> 123 <p class="cus-preview-133-date d-inline-block text-decoration-none fs-6 text-muted lh-1 pb-2 mb-0"> 124 <i class="fa fa-calendar" aria-hidden="true"></i> Sun, Apr 26, 2026 125 </p> 126 <div class="cus-preview-133-body line-3 text-dark fs-6 lh-base mb-0"> 127 By Marc Yablonka News When I interviewed Father Lucien Bouchard in 2016 for my book Tears Across the Mekong , about the Secret War in Laos, the Catholic priest from the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate told me, "Iâll leave things in Godâs hands. If He wants me to keep ministering, or wants to call me to Him, thatâs okay, too.â Early in the morning of April 24, God did call him home. "Father B,â was affectionately known to many Hmong, Lao, and Americans who experienced the war and loved him dearly. He was 97 and a resident of the Oblate Retirement Home in Tewksbury, Mass., when he passed. Father Bouchardâs calling was religious, not political. Yet politicsâand warâwere constantly in his path. And that path included 19 years in Laos from 1956 until 1975, just before the communist Pathet Lao overtook the country in May of that year. Father B was a legend to practically anyone who was in Laos during the years of the Secret War. From the lowland Lao, various hill tribes, and Gen. Vang Paoâs Special Guerilla Units, to CIA, USAID (United States Agency for International Development), and the Air America pilots who often flew him to wherever in-country he needed to be. Very often, Father B, who was fluent in French, Lao, Hmong, and English, found himself working far beyond what most people would consider the typical duties of a Catholic priest. "In 1957, ten villagers from the mountains came to me because there were no doctors around, and theyâd had problems having their teeth pulled. I was afraid they might hemorrhage. I had Novocain from the hospital in Luang Prabang,â he told me in 2016. "I tried to help them as much as I could,â he added at the time. Father Lucien Bouchard, of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, with Hmong villagers in Phu He, Laos in 1971 (Photo courtesy Galen Beery Collection via Hmongstory Legacy, Fresno State University). That help also reached the two leper colonies he helped establish. He worked with Edgar "Popâ Buell, a farmer from Steubenville, Indiana, who worked for the International Voluntary Services , a Peace Corpsâlike agency, as an agricultural adviser in Laos after his wifeâs death in 1958. "I felt bad for the lepers as individuals. They had to live by themselves a quarter mile from the village. Their relatives would bring them rice,â he said. Whenever Father B would tend to the lepers, it was a three-hour walk not without peril. They were close to Pathet Lao strongholds, which meant that some lepersâ family members did not want to risk bringing food and needed medicines to their relatives living there.In one case, Father B took medicines to one of the lepers for six months straight. On one occasion, Father Bâs life was in danger when, though he had been previously warned by three women with leprosy, the Pathet Lao stalked him as he walked along the trail to the leper village. They were by his side when the Pathet Lao surprised them. All at once, the women shouted to the cadres, "Donât shoot him. Heâs a priest!âTheir exclamation was apparently enough to dissuade the Pathet Lao from taking his and their lives, and the cadres marched off into the jungle. "It was a close shave, but Iâm still free from the Pathet Lao,â he told me happily. Though a Catholic priest, Father Bouchard admits that most of the people he helped practiced Buddhism, the main religion in Laos.But his help had nothing to do with attempting to bring them to the Catholic faith. "I would visit the hospitals at Long Tieng (headquarters of the CIA), and the hospitals for wounded soldiers. Some of the patients were Hmong, some were Khmu Lao, some were animists, and some were Christians. It made no difference to me. I would visit everyone.â Although he wasnât a trained physician, he helped distribute medicine in the villages. He obtained it from Dr. Charles Weldon and his first wife, Dr. Patricia McCreedyâboth USAID physicians in Laosâor from USAID medic and former Green Beret Steve Schofield. Father B
127would then help the sick and have a Sunday prayer meeting for whoever wanted to attend. Father Lucien Bouchard, at the retirement home of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in Tewksbury, Mass., blessing Xia Vue Yang, co-founder of the Lao, Hmong, American Veterans Association of Sheboygan, Wisc., and his wife Pa Vang Yang (Photo courtesy Xia Vue Yang). Life was pretty much cyclical for him. When he was up at Sam Thong, an encampment for the Hmong SGUs, he and Pop Buell would be flown by Air America into various villages and take care of whatever needs they could. Air America would then fly them back to Vientiane to obtain more medicine from Dr. Weldon. Theyâd sneak in a Mass in Laosâs capital city and then be flown back to Sam Thong to do it all over again. During one stopover in Sam Neua, things quickly went from routine to extremely dangerous. "I was painting the doors of the nunsâ convent when the Pathet Lao started attacking Sam Neua near the main mission there,â he told me.â On the last day of the siege, the Pathet Lao got hold of a mountain overlooking the city. They shelled it with mortars. I had to get out.â Father B left at noon that day along with doctors from an organization based in the Philippines called Operation Brotherhood , who had a Jeep, so they were able to make a fast getaway. He always had to be prepared for his liturgical work by night and attacks from the Pathet Lao by day, which is why he made it a practice to never say Mass in the mornings. For his own "comfort,â Fatherâs living quarters often were a small four-foot-high lean-to in which he would often bivouac atop a mountain. Under it, he would dig a hole in the earth one foot deep and settle in as best he could for the night with the jungle and all that it conjured up surrounding him. By May 1975, the future for a free and democratic Laos was looking extremely dim. "Things were falling apart. I went to visit the bishop, who had previously taken stock of the villages and the safety factor in reaching them. The bishop had visited the SGU strongholds in Sam Thong and Long Tieng and determined that things were very dangerous,â Father B remembered. "By this time, half of the city of Vientiane had been taken over by the Pathet Lao. I went to Steve Schofieldâs house, and we talked until 11:30. Steve felt that it was too dangerous for me to leave his house or even to be driven the six kilometers to where I was staying. We would have been ambushed.â So, Father stayed overnight with Steve, and the very next day, on May 8, 1975, got a visa to leave Laos as whatever vestige of freedom that remained in-country was crumbling all around him. He crossed the Mekong River by boat and pulled up at Nong Khai, Thailand. Godâs providence must have been shining down on Father B that day because, right after he left, he later learned from fellow priests, two Pathet Lao cadres came looking for him and, undoubtedly, would have carted him away to years of servitude in one of the notorious communist re-education camps known in Laos as the "Seminar.â Father was not yet through with Southeast Asia after Laos, however. Father Lucien Bouchard at Christ the King Catholic Church in Perrine, Florida (Photo courtesy Xia Vue Yang). Between 1976 and 1983, the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate assigned him to Indonesia, primarily in the Sintang Diocese in West Kalimantan, Borneo. There he focused on pastoral care. Much like his work with the Hmong, Khmu, Mien, and Lao-Thung tribes in Laos, he worked closely with the Dayak tribes in the jungle, establishing local Catholic communities. Among many other liturgical opportunities throughout his life, Father B delivered the Mass in French to Haitian refugees at Christ the King Catholic Church in Perrine, Florida from 2005 to 2013. The Hmong Wake Prayer for Father Bouchard will be held Tuesday, May 5, at 1:00 pm. The Funeral Mass will take place on Wednesday, May 6, at 11:00 am. Both will take place at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel, 486 Chandler St. Tewksbury, MA 01876. For more information, call 978-851-7258. Share your thoughts and let us know in the comments below. Report a correction or typo here Marc Yablonka is a Burbank-based author and military journalist. His work has been published in the US Military newspaper the Stars and Stripes, Army Times, Vietnam magazine, and many other publications. He is the author of Tears Across the Mekong , a book that profiles the lives of many Hmong, Lao, and Americans who took part in the secret war in Laos. His latest book Hot Mics and TV Lights: The American Forces Vietnam Network was published by Double Dagger Books in 2023. For more information on Marc's published work visit WarStoriesPress.com . Hmong Daily
127News is funded by Press Forward , the nationwide movement to strengthen communities by reinvigorating local news. Learn more at pressforward.news . News, Father Lucien Bouchard, Secret War, Leprosy, Catholic Priest, Laos, Hmong 128 </div> 129 <p class="cus-preview-133-more d-inline-block text-decoration-none fs-6 text-dark lh-1 mb-0 fst-italic transition text-red-hover pt-2"> 130 More... 131 </p> 132 </div> 133 </a> 134 </div> 135 </div> 136 137 <div class="cus-highlight-95-box hpe-in-prev col-md-3 mb-3 px-sm-s px-md-1" data-article="1069" data-cms-article-id="1069" data-url="fear-of-ice-leaves-hmong-californians-less-likely-to-report-hate-incidents-p1069-95.htm" data-menu="NEWS" data-submenu="News" data-date="04_22_2026"> 138 <div class="cus-preview-133-img mb-2 mb-md-0 px-0"> 139 <a class="cus-preview-133-link d-block border text-decoration-none position-relative overflow-hidden" href="fear-of-ice-leaves-hmong-californians-less-likely-to-report-hate-incidents-p1069-95.htm"> 140 <div class="ratio-3-2" data-cus-src="/22-04-2026-07-59-28-pm-9304518.png"> 141 <div class="img-content"> 142 <img src="/22-04-2026-07-59-28-pm-9304518.png" alt="Fear of ICE Leaves Hmong Californians Less Likely to Report Hate Incidents" class="img-fluid" /> 143 </div> 144 </div> 145 <div class="cus-preview-133-slide cus-preview-133-slide-95 w-100 py-1 px-2"> 146 <p class="cus-preview-133-heading d-inline-block text-decoration-none fs-5 fw-bold text-black lh-base line-2 mb-0 transition text-red-hover"> 147 Fear of ICE Leaves Hmong Californians Less Likely to Report Hate Incidents 148 </p> 149 <p class="cus-preview-133-date d-inline-block text-decoration-none fs-6 text-muted lh-1 pb-2 mb-0"> 150 <i class="fa fa-calendar" aria-hidden="true"></i> Wed, Apr 22, 2026 151 </p> 152 <div class="cus-preview-133-body line-3 text-dark fs-6 lh-base mb-0"> 153 By Macy Yang News Heightened federal immigration enforcement has raised concerns among immigrants, advocacy groups and policymakers about hate-based targeting of Hmong residents in California. At the intersection of immigration enforcement and hate incidents lies a complex overlap of policy, civil rights and public safety. The Hmong community in Northern California f
153inds itself caught in that tension. In the city of Oroville, about 70 miles north of Sacramento, members of the Hmong community report widespread anxiety tied to immigration enforcement, saying fear has begun to shape their daily lives. The Hmong, originally from China and Laos, were granted refugee status in 1975 and allowed to immigrate to the United States following the Secret War. Butte County is home to roughly 5,400 Hmong residents. Oroville (1,712) and Chico (1,618) account for a significant share of that population, according to Neilsberg data . The first Hmong resident is believed to have arrived in Oroville in the early 1980s. Local organizations say the current climate has discouraged people from reporting harassment or potential hate incidents. The Hmong Cultural Center, a nonprofit serving the region, has expanded community education and support efforts in response to rising fears regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities. The Center provides youth programming and mental health services aimed at improving quality of life for Hmong residents in Butte County. Amid heightened ICE raid campaigns earlier this year, " Hmong families were afraid to leave their homes, go shopping, visit loved ones, or travel, even though they are citizens,â said Seng Yang, executive director of the Center. That fear intensified after a widely circulated video showed ICE agents arresting without a warrant Chongly Scott Thao, a Hmong American and naturalized U.S. citizen. Thao was forcibly removed from his home by agents and made to stand outside in freezing temperatures wearing only underwear and Crocs. The incident reverberated beyond Minnesota. In Sacramento, Cha Va canceled a planned trip to the Twin Cities for a funeral after watching Thaoâs arrest, citing concerns about potential detention despite being a naturalized citizen. He said he feared being held for hours, days or even weeks before being told he was " free to go.â CA v Hate rally (Courtesy of CA v Hate photo library) " We are afraid of these killings; that â s why we left communism in Laos to come to the United States,â Yang recalled one couple telling him at the Center. The couple had said the current climate resurfaced their memories of state violence in Laos, where they saw authorities target families and those aligned with U.S. efforts during the warâtaking children, parents and other community members and killing them. Yang also described another incident that happened one year ago involving an older Hmong woman living alone. While watering herbs outside her home, she noticed a nearby man gestur ing his hand across his throat while looking at her. The woman interpreted the gesture as a threat to kill her. She turned to the Center for help. Unaware that the incident could be reported through non-law enforcement channels such as the statewide hate incident and hate crime prevention campaign CA vs. Hate , staff connected her with a Hmong neighbor, with whom she exchanged contact information to stay in touch and offer support. " There are many older people who live alone here,â Yang said. " They are vulnerable to everyday harassment and are less likely to report it due to cultural and language barriers.â The CA vs. Hate hotline, launched in 2023, allows California residents to report hate crimes and incidents without interacting with law enforcement or having to provide identifying information. Reports can be filed online or by phone. The hotline offers support in more than 200 languages by phone and 15 languages online. In 2025 alone, nearly 1,000 reports were filed across 46 counties. (Courtesy of CA v. Hate photo library) While CA vs. Hate does not handle immigration-related issues, community organizations like the Hmong Cultural Center can help connect residents to services, including interpretation and referrals. The California Department of Justice defines hate crimes as acts involving physical harm or threats against a victim singled out because of their actual or perceived disability, gender, nationality, race, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation, or association with a person or group with these actual or perceived characteristics. The state also recognizes " hate incidentsâ as noncriminal acts motivated by bias, such as verbal harassment, insults or the display of hateful materials, including the posting of hate messages in public spaces. Whether fear of immigration enforcement is suppressing reporting remains an open question. For many of Californiaâs Hmong community members, however, the effect is already visible in daily life. Get Support After Hate: California vs Hate is a non-emergency, multilingual hotline and online portal offering confidential support for hate crimes and incidents. Victims and witnesses can get help anonymously by calling 833-8-NO-HATE (833-866-4283), Monday to Frid
153ay, 9 a.m.â6 p.m. PT, or online at any time. Anonymous. Confidential. No Police. No ICE. This story was produced in collaboration with California vs Hate. Join them for the first-ever CA Civil Rights Summit on May 11, 2026. Register and find more information at www.cavshate.org/summit. 154 </div> 155 <p class="cus-preview-133-more d-inline-block text-decoration-none fs-6 text-dark lh-1 mb-0 fst-italic transition text-red-hover pt-2"> 156 More... 157 </p> 158 </div> 159 </a> 160 </div> 161 </div> 162 163 <div class="cus-highlight-95-box hpe-in-prev col-md-3 mb-3 px-sm-s px-md-1" data-article="1058" data-cms-article-id="1058" data-url="man-plows-car-into-parade-injuring-at-lao-new-year-p1058-95.htm" data-menu="NEWS" data-submenu="News" data-date="04_05_2026"> 164 <div class="cus-preview-133-img mb-2 mb-md-0 px-0"> 165 <a class="cus-preview-133-link d-block border text-decoration-none position-relative overflow-hidden" href="man-plows-car-into-parade-injuring-at-lao-new-year-p1058-95.htm"> 166 <div class="ratio-3-2" data-cus-src="/05-04-2026-08-35-16-pm-5039504.png"> 167 <div class="img-content"> 168 <img src="/05-04-2026-08-35-16-pm-5039504.png" alt="Man Plows Car into Parade Injuring 15 at Lao New Year" class="img-fluid" /> 169 </div> 170 </div> 171 <div class="cus-preview-133-slide cus-preview-133-slide-95 w-100 py-1 px-2"> 172 <p class="cus-preview-133-heading d-inline-block text-decoration-none fs-5 fw-bold text-black lh-base line-2 mb-0 transition text-red-hover"> 173 Man Plows Car into Parade Injuring 15 at Lao New Year 174 </p> 175 <p class="cus-preview-133-date d-inline-block text-decoration-none fs-6 text-muted lh-1 pb-2 mb-0"> 176 <i class="fa fa-calendar" aria-hidden="true"></i> Sun, Apr 5, 2026 177 </p> 178 <div class="cus-preview-133-body line-3 text-dark fs-6 lh-base mb-0"> 179 By Hmong Daily News News On Saturday, April 4, a vehicle crashed through the gates of Wat Thammarattanaram during a three-day Lao New Year parade set at Lanxang Village, a Laotian neighborhood near New Iberia, Louisiana. Around 2:30 p.m. local time, police responded to reports of an incident "involving a vehicle that stuck multiple pedestriansâ at the corner of Savannakhet and Melancon Road, according to reports released by law enforcement. At least 15 people were reported injured, some to be seriously injured, as reported by the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office and Associated Press. "Based on the preliminary investigation, this does not appear to be an intentional act,â said Rebecca Melancon spokesperson for the department. Todd Landry, 57, arrested and charged with DUI after driving into a crowd at the Lao New Year (Photo Credit: ABC30) The driver, Todd Landry, a 57-year-old Jeanerette resident, has been arrested and charged with driving impairment, the Louisiana State Police (LSP) reported. On social media, people recounted "shock and very saddenâ with the incident. The organizer, Louisiana Lao New Year Festival , posted a statement on Facebook that states, in part: "We are profoundly saddened by the news of the incident near the festival grounds. We are awaiting additional details from authorities as they become availableâ¦We are praying for the victims and for their families during this difficult time.â The organizers canceled Sunday activities but planned to hold religious services instead. The Lao New Year is celebrated annually with Southeast Asian food, live music, a parade, and other family-friendly activities. The event attracts thousands each year. Share your thoughts and let us know in the comments below. Report a correction or typo here News, New Iberia, Lao New Year, Todd Landry, Parade 180 </div> 181 <p class="cus-preview-133-more d-inline-block text-decoration-none fs-6 text-dark lh-1 mb-0 fst-italic transition text-red-hover pt-2"> 182 More... 183 </p> 184 </div> 185 </a> 186 </div> 187 </div> 188 189 <div class="cus-highlight-95-box hpe-in-prev col-md-3 mb-3 px-sm-s px-md-1" data-article="1053" data-cms-article-id="1053" data-url="fresno-county-coroner-seeks-relatives-of-deceased-man-p1053-95.htm" data-menu="NEWS" data-submenu="News" data-date="
18903_26_2026"> 190 <div class="cus-preview-133-img mb-2 mb-md-0 px-0"> 191 <a class="cus-preview-133-link d-block border text-decoration-none position-relative overflow-hidden" href="fresno-county-coroner-seeks-relatives-of-deceased-man-p1053-95.htm"> 192 <div class="ratio-3-2" data-cus-src="/25-03-2026-11-39-54-pm-4253702.jpg"> 193 <div class="img-content"> 194 <img src="/25-03-2026-11-39-54-pm-4253702.jpg" alt="Fresno County Coroner Seeks Relatives of Deceased Man" class="img-fluid" /> 195 </div> 196 </div> 197 <div class="cus-preview-133-slide cus-preview-133-slide-95 w-100 py-1 px-2"> 198 <p class="cus-preview-133-heading d-inline-block text-decoration-none fs-5 fw-bold text-black lh-base line-2 mb-0 transition text-red-hover"> 199 Fresno County Coroner Seeks Relatives of Deceased Man 200 </p> 201 <p class="cus-preview-133-date d-inline-block text-decoration-none fs-6 text-muted lh-1 pb-2 mb-0"> 202 <i class="fa fa-calendar" aria-hidden="true"></i> Thu, Mar 26, 2026 203 </p> 204 <div class="cus-preview-133-body line-3 text-dark fs-6 lh-base mb-0"> 205 By Hmong Daily News News **UPDATE**According to the Fresno County Sheriff's Office, family members have contacted the department, and no further action is needed. The Fresno County Coronerâs Office needs the publicâs help in locating relatives of 48-year-old Van Ter Lee. Lee passed away near E. Floradora and N. Jackson Avenues in Fresno. According to a Fresno County Sheriffâs Office Facebook post, Lee may have previously lived in Minnesota, Florida, and Colorado. He is described as 5â6â and 175 lbs. Attempts to search for Leeâs relatives have been unsuccessful. Locating immediate family members is necessary to release the body for a proper burial. 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Line numbers count LF bytes from the start of the resource, as the search results do. Vendor segments are library code the classifier recognised; they are stored but not indexed. Bytes are shown as Latin1 characters, one per byte.