Thread by @benwikler

On a gorgeous central Wisconsin morning, @GovEvers is here to kick off the Hmong Wausau Festival—a landmark event that draws nearly 10,000 visitors to Wausau for two days of celebration.

Round of applause for the Lao veterans here today, who stand in their uniforms as they are honored—“If it weren’t for you,” says MC Isaac Lee, “we wouldn’t be here in America!”

Major Cheurchai Vang, National President of Lao Veterans of America, greets and thanks the many leaders here today.

The Hmong community is a pillar of Wisconsin. More than 50,000 Wisconsinites are Hmong, the third-largest Hmong population after CA and MN. It’s an extraordinary and resilient group. Learn the history here:

mnhs.org/hmong/hmong-ti…

Marathon County Board Supervisor and Democratic Party rising star Ka Lo addresses the opening ceremony. Says she shares the late general Vang Pao’s last wish: “Let me be reborn as Hmong.” “I never want to be anything but Hmong!”

“40 year ago, our parents and grandparents could only dream of full citizenship. They came here as refugees, and were met with racism and aggression. They looked like the enemy Americans had seen on TV. They were told to go back to their country. Today, we are elected to office.”

“We can not forget the struggles of our parents and grandparents who gave up so much to allow us to be here. Refugees who found asylum here. Together, we make this country stronger.”

“I hope that every day, we can celebrate the victory of acceptance here in Wausau,” says Mayor Robert Mielke.

Also here to celebrate: the county administrator, city council members, county board members, state legislators, and @GovEvers. Proud to join these leaders today.

It’s been a tough road to reach this moment. Roy Beck, head of the vociferously anti-immigrant group NumberUSA, kick-started his rise by writing, in “The Ordeal of Immigration in Wausau,” about racial anxiety here. His dark predictions proved wrong. wausaudailyherald.com/story/opinion/…

It’s not that all is perfect now—there’s a ton of work to do. But Wausau’s rising cohort of Hmong political leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals are a reminder that fears and stereotypes leveled at today’s refugees will one day be discredited as obvious slanders as well.

I’m now tweeting about the speeches at the opening ceremony. Coming up: athletic, singing, and dancing competitions (pictured: amazing garb), fireworks—and the Mr. Hmong Royalty contest!

Read all about the festival here: wausaudailyherald.com/story/news/loc…

I was honored to stand onstage with Wausau’s powerhouse women leaders for the address by guest of honor Judge Sophia Vuelo, the first Hmong judge in MN and the third in US history.

And to cap it all off: a fashion show by the men and women of the Male Hmong Royalty Court and Miss Hmong pageants.