Photo credit: LLoveLee Photography

We mourn the loss of Tou Ger Xiong, beloved community leader, activist, and comedian. All of us at WSCO send our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and community. Xiong made a big impact from the West Side, across the city and nation, and around the world, with his humor and ability to bring people together. When growing up in Dunedin Homes, he talked about how he and his friends were racially profiled, so he created the Hmong Cultural Club at Humboldt High School when he was only a freshman to show pride and unity as Hmong youth. In 1992, he graduated as Humboldt's valedictorian.

Xiong was murdered this week while traveling in Colombia, news sources reported.

His family released the following statement: