In an exclusive interview with VOA, Zong Khang Yang who is leading 10 other Hmong-American from St. Paul, Minnesota, on a 1,800-kilometer trek to Washington, D.C., says the main purpose of the trip is to draw attention to the plight of the Hmong people in Laos.
He says his group left St. Paul on June 15th and plan to arrive in Washington by the end of August.
Mr. Yang adds that he hopes the walk will encourage the U.S. to urge the Lao government to allow humanitarian aid into the country for the Hmongs hiding in the jungle.