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Asian Pacific Minnesotans unite at Minnesota Capitol
“We come together as one unified community,” said Emma Yu, the founder of AAPI Youth Voices.
SAINT PAUL, Minn. — Asian Pacific Minnesotans gathered at the Minnesota Capitol Wednesday to rally together and learn about policymaking as well as connect with lawmakers.
The event was hosted by the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans, that works toward equity for those with API heritage.
Those in attendance noted the importance of the event, especially with the 2024 election around the corner.
Speakers at the rally emphasized community, celebrating culture and discussed immigration. Governor Tim Walz also addressed the crowd.
“Minnesota has a long tradition of being welcoming, understanding that outside of our 11 indigenous tribes, each of us came here from somewhere else,” said the governor. “Now in Minnesota we have ethnic studies so we can learn about the beautiful diversity of all of the cultures that are in Minnesota.”
“We come together as one unified community,” said Emma Yu, the founder of AAPI Youth Voices. “Asian Americans are American. The history of AAPI encompassing the struggles and ongoing contributions to this nation is an important part of American history.”
Montha Chum is the executive director and co-founder of Minnesota 8, a group working toward the liberation of Southeast Asian communities. She was born in a refugee camp located in Thailand after her family fled Cambodia.
“We are carrying a powerful legacy of resilience and hope,” she said.
Khendum Gyabak is on the board, appointed by the governor.
“Asian Pacific Minnesotans, we are not a monolith,” said Khendum Gyabak. “We are very diverse and rich, and beautiful. Our voice will continue to grow as our communities do. And recognizing the key role that API Minnesotans play in the future of our state is essential to a responsive and effective government.”
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Officials say Jonathan Fleury was last seen leaving a Moorhead care facility on Sept. 16.
MOORHEAD, Minn. — Moorhead Police are asking for the public’s help in finding a 16-year-old reported as missing.
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) posted on X that teenager Jonathan Fleury was last seen leaving a Moorhead care facility on Sept. 16.
Fleury is described as 5 feet 8 inches tall and 150 pounds with brown hair. Officials say he was last seen wearing a blue shirt and black pants.
If you have any information on Fleury’s whereabouts, call 911.
Protesters were calling on the University of Minnesota to divest from companies that support Israel.
MINNEAPOLIS — Protests continued at the University of Minnesota Tuesday after 11 people were arrested the night before after barricading themselves inside Morrill Hall, and damaging the building.
Across town, outside the Hennepin County Justice Center, those involved in last night’s protest were waiting out front for the 11 individuals arrested, to be released.
“We don’t want our money to be sent to contribute to a genocide,” said student organizer Juliet Murphy. “Especially for those of us who have family that live in Lebanon, live in Palestine.”
Murphy is a sophomore at the U, and part of Students for a Democratic Society. She says Monday’s occupation was needed for students to get their voices heard. Students have been calling for the university to divest from companies that support Israel. They also want the university to divest academically and stop study abroad programs in Israel.
“We have gone through all of the ‘right channels’ and this seemed like the logical next step since there are so many escalations happening across the world from us right now,” Murphy said.
Around 5 P.M. on Tuesday, while the protest was going on, The University of Minnesota sent out a safety alert saying that buildings surrounding the campus mall were locked until further notice.
Protesters deny that they held any staff inside Morrill Hall against their will Monday, but the University says some employees were unable to exit. University President Rebecca Cunningham said in a statement that this was a “terrifying experience for many of our employees.”
Steve Hunegs, the Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relation Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas, says he’s grateful for the response of President Cunningham, and feels that Monday’s occupation was about stoking fear into University staff.
“Everybody should be against the behavior that was conducted yesterday on campus,” Hunegs said. “This is not about free speech, this is about intimidation, this is about vandalism.”
At this time, KARE 11 is not naming the 11 people arrested as they have not been charged yet. According to organizers of the occupation, all 11 arrested are either current students or recent graduates at the U.
The teen had been last seen around 5 a.m. Tuesday in the area of Forest St. and 4th Ave. E. in St. Paul’s Dayton Bluff neighborhood.
ST PAUL, Minn. — A missing teenager in St. Paul has been found safe, according to a brief news release from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
Ke-Andre Oliver-Butler had been last seen around 5 a.m. Tuesday in the area of Forest St. and 4th Ave. E. in St. Paul’s Dayton Bluff neighborhood. Officials announced he was found in an update Tuesday evening.
“Thank you to all who helped search for him or shared the information,” Minnesota BCA said on social media.
