Hmong Protest Against Police Brutality

Hmong Protest Against Police Brutality
By Mike Rhodes
May 23, 2005

Members of the Fresno Hmong community protested today against police violence. Susane Moua, a spokesperson for the group, said Fresno Police Department (FPD) officers brutally attacked Neng May Her during a domestic dispute. Her has been charged with obstructing and resisting the officers. His trial is now taking place in the Fresno County courthouse.

Moua said that the attack on Her happened in July 2004 when the family’s children got into a conflict. The FPD was called, but instead of bringing peace to the family, the officers "immediately used a loud tone of voice toward the mother and attacked the mother verbally to scare her. The officers physically attacked the father when he arrived to the home." According to Moua, Her suffered from multiple bruises and other injuries from this incident. There were photographs at today’s protest to substantiate these accusations.

When about 50 Hmong showed up at the courthouse today, protesting the police abuse of Mr. Her, they were told to leave. Security guards at the Fresno County Courthouse told the group that since they didn’t have a permit, they were not allowed to hold a protest on Fresno County property. The security guards said that the permit rule applies because there were more than 10 people present. The protest was moved several hundred feet away, to a sidewalk across the street from Courthouse Park.

One community activist that I spoke with today said that the security guards were just trying to intimidate the Hmong because they are politically powerless. This activist claims that there is no ordinance limiting protests to under 10 members and that there are events held there all of the time that are not permitted.

A Press Release issued by the protestors says:

"Members of the Hmong community feel that the police officers failed to do their job that night. Instead, they intimidated, insulted and scared the family with load tone of voices, threats, and extreme physical forces at the family who were supposed to receive help. The officers ignored the family’s desperate and constant requests for Hmong officers. The officers told the family that there were none available that night. The officers then arrested the father, and the two sons in the home; and booked them for criminal charges.

This demonstration is to bring community awarness that police brutality will not be toerated. We want the Police Department to drop all criminal charges against Mr. Neng May Her and clear their records. We want the Police Department to refund any money that was paid in terms of bail fees. We want the Police Department to hire more Hmong Police Officers and promote Hmong to higher ranks, hire more 911 Hmong Dispatchers, and stop discriminating against Hmong families who don’t speak English. Hmong Community wants a happy medium with the Police Department so that trust can be build and we can have a stronger relationship."

The protests will continue on Tuesday and Wednesday, starting at 8 AM each day. Community support is invited.