Burmese thank Mayor in letter

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Local Burmese leaders are responding to Mayor Henry's comments about an anti-burmese sign.  The "Burmese American Community of Fort Wayne" sent the mayor a letter, thanking him for his response and offering it's cooperation in the future.

The following was provided by the Coordinating Committee of the Burmese American Community of Fort Wayne.


Dear Mr. Mayor,
We, the Burmese American Community would like to thank you for your attention to our last week's protest against the discrimination of the Burmese people of Fort Wayne. We also appreciated your invitation to constructive conversations and dialogues with our community. We are willing to cooperate with you to provide adjustments to services for the Burmese refugees, because there are some refugees who need to be adjusted in this new environment and the interest group is responsible for the assimilation of the Burmese have not been using their grants wisely. We also greatly appreciate all residents in Fort Wayne for their help and the long history of gratitude towards welcoming immigrants.
Obviously, some news channels kept publicizing that Burmese are spiting on the floor and that's why the sign was posted on that place but, in reality if some one, a Burmese or any other who is breaking the law or company rules and regulation, take action on a lawsuit directly to him or her by the law. We all were shocked when we saw the “NO BURMESE PEOPLE ALLOWED” sign. It not only insulted the whole Burmese Americans community, but also openly and ignorantly disgraced and violated the Equal Rights Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and a variety of other state and federal laws.
The 1964 Civil Rights Act made racial discrimination in public places, such as theaters, restaurants and hotels, illegal. It also required employers to provide equal employment opportunities.
However we are glad to hear from you to promote our community, but have to take serious precaution on the discrimination against Burmese American ethnicity, and for the future generation so this situation never occurs again. This morning we saw in news that a Wal-Mart store announcement ordered "Black" people to leave, and brought shame to the Washington Township, in southern New Jersey. We need to work together to become a model diverse city in the United States.
We are looking forward on working with you to further the adjustment services to the newer Burmese refugees, and to educate the Constitutional Rights to the people who violate it.

Coordinating Committee,
Burmese American Community of Fort Wayne.