BUFFALO, N.Y. — Buffalo officials joined others Saturday in Niagara Square to raise the Burmese flag outside of City Hall.
The annual ceremony recognizes the advent of democracy in Burma, which is now known as Myanmar. It happened 34 years ago this month.
Speakers on Saturday reflected on the impact that the Burmese community has had on the Queen City.
"Buffalo's Burmese community, which numbers more than 10,000 people, played a leading role in the City of Buffalo's first population increase since 1950, over 70 years, as documented by this 2020 census," according to Greg Garrett Jr., a press information officer for the city.
Speakers talked about the culture, diversity, and new businesses that Burmese immigrants have brought to the Western New York region.
Buffalo is home to thousands of refugees from Myanmar, most of whom resettled here after dealing with decades of political turmoil in their native country.