From Chauntyll Allen:

Thao Xiong was entering a community center for his volunteer shift at a local food shelf when he was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The last thing he said when he was allowed to call a friend was “Please take care of my mom.” To the many who know him, those words and actions perfectly illustrate who Thao is: a devoted son and committed community servant working tirelessly to support those around him.

I met Thao in 2016 when he stepped up with Asians for Black Lives, consistently showing up to make sure Black leaders on the frontlines had solid security, while also doing political organizing for Hmong leaders. He took pride in having fought for the promise of America, serving in the active-duty military to advance democracy and safety of oppressed people overseas. And he was a true leader; he knew when to step back when he was struggling but, even at his lowest, he was always providing information and looking out for the most vulnerable.

In recent months, Thao has dedicated himself to uplifting others who have been and are currently incarcerated through the End Slavery in Minnesota campaign. He’s the kind of organizer who’s always doing outreach, pausing a call because he sees someone he knows on the street and stops to make sure they got the invitation to an upcoming campaign event. The kind of organizer who knows so many people on the street because he’s involved in so many efforts to uplift his community — from food security to housing justice.. The kind of organizer that makes strategic but authentic connections to advance the cause, like consistently attending a men’s circle convened by a local judge. And the kind of organizer who doesn’t just show up but greets everyone with a genuine smile and will stand at the front of the room, courageously sharing his experiences to prevent others from enduring the same harms.

Our community will not be the same without Thao — and neither will his family. Thao cared for his mother, providing physical, emotional and financial support. Thao spent countless hours pouring into our collective wellbeing, fighting for a better future for all of us. Now we can give back by supporting his legal fees, potential transition to Laos and, most importantly, to ensure his family is safe and cared for. Your contributions will go directly to Thao’s expenses and funding for his mother’s stability and wellbeing.

Please give as generously as Thao has given to all of us.