Breaking Barriers: Securing Water Rights for Hmong Americans in Siskiyou County

In the bucolic county of Siskiyou, on the California-Oregon border, two edicts that drew the ire of Asian Americans have been nullified, marking a significant victory for their cause.

The legal advocacy group, Asian Americans Advancing Justice-ALC, heralded the revocation of regulations that had deprived numerous Hmong Americans of their access to water.

The court case, brought forth by a non-profit legal service based in San Francisco, laid bare the discriminatory nature of these laws, which had unfairly targeted not only Hmong Americans but also Chinese Americans and other Asian American denizens within the region.

Dubbed Lo v Siskiyou County, the lawsuit attracted support from eleven tenacious residents of the county. They courageously accused the local authorities of subjecting the Asian American community to harassment, discrimination, and racial profiling.

Russell Mathis, a resident of Siskiyou County and a party to the lawsuit, shared his disheartening experience, where he and his neighbors were left with heart-wrenching choices between personal hygiene and providing essential water to their beloved pets, livestock, and gardens. County officials appeared to harbor ill intentions, seeking to suffocate the community, and these water ordinances served as a tool in their ignoble quest to drive many away from their cherished neighborhoods.

John Do, a senior staff attorney at the ACLU of Northern California, remarked on the changing landscape of Siskiyou, where the Asian American community has been growing steadily. More parents have chosen to enroll their children in local schools, and grandparents have sought the solace of rural areas reminiscent of their homelands, such as Laos, while families strive to draw closer together. However, he expressed concern that Siskiyou County and its Sheriff’s Department have taken disconcerting measures to expel the Asian American community. Yet, he commended community members for their resolute efforts in creating a haven of safety and inclusivity.

Glenn Katon, the litigation director for the Asian Law Caucus, vehemently denounced Siskiyou County’s prejudiced practices, drawing attention to a long history of discriminatory U.S. policies that treated individuals of Asian descent as second-class citizens, perpetuating the notion that they do not truly belong in the nation. He lamented the selective freedom that some have to build better lives while others are left vulnerable and unsafe.

The triumph over these discriminatory ordinances is a significant stride towards a more just and equitable society, signaling hope for a brighter future where all Americans can live free from prejudice and bias.