Sens. Linda Ujifusa and Victoria Gu, the first Asian Americans elected to the Rhode Island state legislature, gathered community leaders from across the state Tuesday for a celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month at the State House.
The event celebrated the diversity, achievement and contributions of these communities in Rhode Island while highlighting resources and organizations working to help AANHPI immigrants.
“In a time when the world is becoming increasingly hostile to immigrants, it is essential to celebrate the achievements of the AANHPI immigrants whose contributions have made Rhode Island a vibrant, diverse and thriving community for people of all backgrounds and to uplift the organizations and individuals in our state who continue to work hard to keep Rhode Island a safe, welcoming home for immigrants and refugees in need from around the globe,” Ujifusa and Gu said in a joint statement. Ujifusa, a Democrat, represents District 11, covering Portsmouth and Bristol, while Gu, also a Democrat, represents District 38, covering Westerly, Charlestown and South Kingstown.
Dr. Robert George Lee, associate professor emeritus in the Brown University Department of American Studies, delivered the keynote speech, titled “Beyond the Model Minority Myth: Asians and Pacific Islanders in America.” The event was emceed by Emily Koo, Rhode Island program director for the Acadia Center, whose Chinese father immigrated to the United States from Malaysia in 1972.
The celebration also featured a performance of Fon Ouy Phone Pimai, or the New Year Wishing Dance, by Olivia Vongsomphou, Miss Lao New Year 2019 and a performer and dance instructor at Wat Lao Buddhovath of Rhode Island.
The senators honored several organizations for their work supporting immigrants and refugees: the Alliance to Mobilize Our Resistance, the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island, Catholic Charities and Social Ministry, the Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island, the Immigrant Coalition of Rhode Island, the Lawyers’ Committee for Rhode Island, the Providence Youth Student Movement, the Rhode Island Center for Justice, the Roger Williams University Immigration Clinic and Sojourner House.
