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The mayor of Elk Grove, California, in a sit-down interview with KCRA 3, denied allegations that she made racist comments towards the Hmong community.
Recently, a group called Elk Grove Hmong Americans accused Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen of making racist comments towards the Hmong community in June of 2020. According to KCRA 3, Singh-Allen called on then Elk Grove Mayor Steve Ly, who is Hmong, to acknowledge the “patriarchal clan system” that is “a controlling and intimidating system used to attack and silence” local women.
The co-founders of Elk Grove Hmong Americans, Mia Foster, Marie Vue, and Sai Vang, say Singh-Allen’s comments triggered hate against the Hmong American community. In March, they launched an effort to recall Mayor Singh-Allen, ABC 10 reports.
“She called our Hmong system ‘intimidating,'” Foster told KCRA 3. “She doesn’t get to generalize about someone else’s culture.”
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Vue also argued that the mayor’s interpretation of Hmong culture was wrong.
“That is wrong, that is the wrong interpretation of who we are, what our culture is, our culture is actually a very loving and uplifting culture that uplifts women,” Vue told ABC 10.
The mayor denied the allegations during the sit-down interview.
“It’s absolutely untrue,” Singh-Allen said. “They made these ridiculous claims during the campaign and they’re rehashing them now.”
Singh-Allen clarified that her comments were directed at former Mayor Ly’s use of the clan system.
“I have never said anything racist towards the Hmong community or the culture. My statements were completely directed at the former mayor and his associates and his use of the clan system and patriarchy to bully and harass women,” Singh-Allen said.
Several Hmong women have also defended Singh-Allen.
“Bobbie is not racist,” Linda Vue, once former Mayor Steve Ly’s campaign manager, told KCRA 3.
Linda Vue had previously spoken with KCRA 3 about the bullying and harassment she received from Ly’s supporters. Linda believes
“This is not about an election,” said Foster. “Maybe the next time she wants to make a blanketed statement about any other community, maybe she’ll think twice.”
During their recall effort announcement, the Elk Grove Hmong Americans said they had created a list of demands. They asked for a formal apology, a meeting with Singh-Allen and a cultural sensitivity class for the mayor. The group said their demands went unanswered, according to ABC 10.
Singh-Allen does not intend to step down and will continue working to rebuild the economy of Elk Grove.
“I’m an Asian American immigrant myself. As a school board trustee for over eight years, I was known as a champion for immigrants, for communities of color,” Singh-Allen told KCRA 3. “That’s what the voters elected me to do. At the end of the day, I’m not going to give light to something … completely false.”
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