Protest planned against EGUSD, Trustee Singh-Allen over unaddressed alleged claims of 'racism, bigotry and hate' against Hmong culture

Upset at what they say are unaddressed concerns, a group of Hmong-Americans has planned a protest against the Elk Grove Unified School District Board of Trustees and administration. 

The protest, which will take place at the school district's administrative offices on Elk Grove-Florin Road, will be held this Friday between 5 and 7:30 p.m. Organizers say the school administrators and the Trustees have not addressed what they say are racist statements directed against the Hmong culture by Trustee Bobbie Singh-Allen.

The alleged demeaning statements made by Singh-Allen came as a result of complaints directed at Elk Grove Mayor Steve Ly by Singh-Allen and other Elk Grove women who have claimed they have been threatened and harassed by Ly and members of the Hmong clan system. Those complaints against Ly, who is of Hmong descent, led the Elk Grove City Council during its most recent meeting to request the Sacramento County Grand Jury to investigate the claims.

The complaints against Singh-Allen, who is challenging Ly for mayor, were outlined in an August 17 letter to the EGUSD by attorney Ali Moa. The letter says that Singh-Allen's alleged derogatory comments about the Hmong culture have violated the district's education and ethics codes and have created a hostile environment for Hmong youth.

The protest poster lists Hmong American Ad Hoc as an organizer. An intermediary who contacted Elk Grove News through Twitter confirmed they are staging the event and issued a statement that, in part, cited Moua's letter.

The statement said the district and trustees failed to acknowledge their complaints during their August 11 meeting. Until the concerns outlined in Moa's letter are addressed, and action is taken, the statement said, "we will not stop protesting until our conditions are met."

Another statement issued by three individuals associated with the protest echoed the sentiments by the Hmong American Ad Hoc committee. Their statement read in part "this protest will be in demonstration to support and reiterate the demands as put forth by his [Moua's] letter."

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