Representative Hong’s Statement on Passage of APIDA Heritage Month Resolution

MADISON – Today, Assembly Joint Resolution 48 relating to recognizing Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Heritage Month as a time to honor the important contributions of Asians, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Desi Americans to the history of the United States, passed in the Wisconsin State Assembly.

Representative Hong (D-76) released the following statement: 

“The passage of the APIDA Heritage Month resolution is a historic moment for Wisconsin. I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Representative John Spiros (R-86) and Senator Dale Kooyenga (R-5) for seeing this bill through and my colleagues in the Legislature for their support.

As long as the story of Wisconsin is told, so will the story of Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi Americans, for those two stories are intertwined and of one another. Our heritage as APIDA is one to be celebrated, one to be remembered, and I am glad that after many years, the legislature has finally recognized our important communities.

For too long, APIDA Wisconsinites have suffered intense racial violence and ostracization at the hands of systemic white supremacy. This moment, therefore, is one where we must not only honor the resilience of the APIDA community, but also one where we mourn that which we have lost and promise that which we have not given.

Today, as an original author of this resolution and as the first APIDA legislator in Wisconsin history, I am also weighed down by the sadness of this moment. I acknowledge that my joy will never be complete if my Black colleagues and Black Wisconsinites continue to see the resolution honoring Black History Month denied on the basis of hatred and racism.

The Legislature must continuously reorient its purpose to fight systemic injustices. We cannot refuse to enact policy that uplifts every Wisconsinite, regardless of who they are.

We must be better than what we have been.”

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.