As most know by now, Chai Saoua Vang was charged today. It is going to be interesting to see the defense on this one. There was a hint that there may be some sort of insanity defense. Additionally, if Vang's lawyers play the race card, this is not going to help white-Hmong relations in Wisconsin.
Any kind of traditional defense lawyers could have made for Vang seems shot with the revelation that Vang initially lied about what happened, and with the appearance of several holes in his story. His lawyers are well known to pull out the stops in defense of their clients, so I suspect that this will indeed get ugly.
If it does get ugly, I recommend this article for all in Northern Wisconsin. Keep in mind, if anger begins to build, that just because they are not like you, Hmongs are not your enemies. In fact, they may be the most loyal allies the United States has ever had, and they still pay a price for that. Many of the older Hmong in your community may yearn for their homeland, a place they can never return to. Vang is an isolated person whose actions were an isolated incident. Much of the Hmong community has come out in the past week to stand with the victims, not with one of their own. If you feel anger during this case, direct it to its natural source-the defense lawyers (said firmly with tounge in cheek).
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