On February 13, from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. , leaders of over 100 Asian American community organizations will celebrate the first proclamation of Asian Lunar New as a Day of Commemoration in Maryland at the Senate President Conference Room in Annapolis . After Governor Martin O’Malley makes the formal proclamation, a reception will follow.

The reception will feature cultural performances by leading Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese artists. “Newly-elected and reelected members of the Maryland Senate and House of Delegates, cabinet secretaries, and the Governor will be there,” noted Asian American leaders Chung K. Pak, Helen He, D. Martin Ma and Hoan Dang.  “As such, it will also be a great opportunity” to raise major community issues with them.

The bill was introduced and strongly supported by Delegate Susan Lee (D-Legislative District 16) and Senator Brian Frosh (D- Legislative District 16). Last session, leaders of over 100 organizations, among them Stan Tsai, David Yao,Kun K. Sin, Young Ha Kim, and George Dang converged on General Assembly in Annapolis to urge its passage. At the hearings, those who testified in support of the bill included League of Korean American of Maryland Chairman Pak, Organization of Chinese Americans President Lily Qi, Coordination Council of Chinese American Associations President Henry Lau and Vice President Helen He, Serina Moi, and Maryland Vietnamese Mutual Association President Hoan Dang.

NAACP Executive Vice President Elbridge James, Progressive Maryland’s Sean Dobson, MCGEO’s Bob Stewart and Food and Commercial Union Anthony Perez and political leaders also testified in support of the bill. The bill passed with a unanimous vote, and was signed into law by former Governor Bob Ehrlich.