'We get to shine:' Hmong-American students react to Gov. Evers signing Wisconsin AAPI history bill

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- In March, Wisconsin legislature historically passed a bill requiring state schools to teach Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) history.

Similar measures had been introduced for several years, but until Assembly Bill 232 and Senate Bill 240, all had failed. 

State law only required the teachings of Latino, Black, and Native American history, despite Wisconsin being home to more than 200,000 AAPI-identifying individuals, and the third-largest Hmong population in the country.

On Thursday, April 4, Governor Tony Evers held an official signing in Wausau, turning the bill into 2023 Wisconsin Act 266. 

"We have to honor our history in this state and think about the history that the Hmong folks and the Asian American folks have in our state. It's extraordinary," Evers said.

After the signing, he traveled to Milwaukee, where dozens of students at the Hmong American Peace Academy (HAPA) were dressed in traditional outfits to greet the governor.

“Although we are Hmong, we’re also Americans, U.S. citizens just like all of us," said HAPA Student President Andrew Vang. “I think that’s something that each person wants to have, to be represented in some way that no matter what’s going on, that you still have a voice.”

Vang, who was wearing his father's Hmong vest, said this bill is the first step to inclusion.

“We can be one of the first steppingstones where everyone can eventually be represented too," Vang said.

Gao Nou Yang, a senior at the school, said she was "proud" of the efforts from not only the legislators, but the people who fought to make the bill happen.

“I feel like now is finally the time where we get to shine," Yang said. “Everyone in my family, everyone’s talking about it, they’re so happy about it.”

Yang added that being Hmong has shaped her experiences in life and she hopes to spread "how beautiful" her culture is.

“Whenever I introduce myself, saying Hmong is my first go-to because that’s who I am," Yang said. "My pride, my identity."

Both Yang and Vang were among several students who were able to introduce themselves and ask questions to the governor about the bill during a 30-minute roundtable session.

"Our opinion does matter," Vang said. "That we're valued as a human being and seen and acknowledged by every single one of us."