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A Hmong Mother Grieves for George Floyd

A photo of Youa Vang Lee, taken from the neck up. She has a solemn look on her face as she looks to at something out of frame. She is standing in a backyard, the background slightly blurred due to the depth of field.
Youa Vang Lee's 19-year-old son was killed by Minneapolis in 2006. When she saw George Floyd murdered, she called upon Asian Americans to stand in solidarity to support the Floyd family. | Courtesy of the May 19th Project
May 19, 2022
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This story is part of the May 19th Project, which promotes solidarity within Asian and Pacific Island communities and with all communities.

The murder of George Floyd exposed harsh realities about what it means to be a person of color in America. Not long before this, Minneapolis police killed 19-year-old Hmong American Fong Lee. See how his mother, Youa Vang Lee, called upon Asian Americans to stand in solidarity to support the Floyd family and stand for Black lives.

Youa Vang Lee's 19-year old son was killed by Minneapolis police. When she saw George Floyd murdered, she called upon Asian Americans to stand in solidarity to support the Floyd family.

The May 19th Project is co-founded by Renee Tajima Peña and Jeff Chang. Click this link to view a complete list of credits for the project.

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