This Year In Review: Hmong Community 2009
A Grand Year For Gran Torino
Hmong stars shine in Hollywood hit that rakes in nearly $300 million in world-wide sales.
Officially released on January 9, “Gran Torino” would debut as the number one movie at the box office that week. Directed by and starring Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood.
“Gran Tornio” would also mark the first time in which a major Hollywood movie would highlight the Hmong, including several scenes which depicts culturally sensitive enactments.
At the insistence of the filmmakers, all actors portraying Hmong characters were played by actual Hmong community members cast from throughout the nation. According to industry websites, the blockbuster movie would gross nearly $270 million world-wide and continues to be a popular movie to rent.
However, according to a movie insider, the Hmong actors averaged less than $12,000 for each of their parts.
Now There Are Two On Board
Vallay Moua Varro joins Kazoua Kong-Thao on the St. Paul Public School Board, marking the first time in history when two Hmong Board members sit together at the same time.
The younger sister of Sen. Mee Moua, Vallay Moua Varro announces her candidacy for the School Board during a time when numbers are declining and the education gap continues to widen in the district. Asked why she chose to run for this rigorous post, the young politician stated, “I got tired of talking all the time on how we can improve the system. So rather than talking, I decided to do something about it.”
A lifelong educator, Varro holds the position of Education Policy Director for the City of St. Paul under Mayor Chris Coleman.
Totaling nearly a third of the entire school system, Hmong students play a huge role in the future of the district, which is why Varro’s victory in 2009 is so vitally important.
Justice Denied!
Despite a mountain of evidence going against him, an all white jury finds that Minneapolis Police Officer Jason Andersen did not use excessive force when he shot 17-year-old Fong Lee eight times, killing him in 2006. The community cries foul and a group of concerned citizens are still pursuing justice in the case.
Beginning in March, attorneys for the family of Fong Lee funnel their case through the media, providing what seemed like an air-tight case against Minneapolis Police Officer Jason Andersen.
Released are video images which depict a foot chase between Fong Lee and law enforcement officers. The close-up images from these scenes clearly show that the running teen did not have any objects in his hands, contradicting police testimony that Lee had a gun in his right hand, thus giving police the right to shoot the young man down.
Also released are forensic results which indicate that the gun found by Lee's side had no trace of fingerprints, sweat or blood splatter. The gun was found to be in meticulous condition, which would seem to go against all reason, considering the footchase and the amount of blood that was spilled by Lee.
During the week-long court hearing, US District Judge Paul Magnuson continuously sides with Andersen, denying many of the Lee family's legal requests. On the day of the verdict, the judge tells the family to go to lunch with the verdict being read to an empty courtroom.
The Lee family is pursuing an appeal.