West OC Times

Assemblyman Tri Ta Condemns Designation of “Jane Fonda Day” on Black April by Los Angeles County Board

May 1, 2024

April 30th, known as Black April, holds sacred meaning for the Vietnamese refugee community in Southern California. The Fall of Saigon was a painful and emotional closing chapter to the Vietnam War and the day we lost our country.

Today, Assemblyman Tri Ta released a statement following the designation of “Jane Fonda Day” by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. Ta expressed his deep concern, stating, "The decision by the Board of Supervisors to honor Jane Fonda, an outspoken pro-communist activist who earned the nickname “Hanoi Jane,” on Black April is deeply painful to the Vietnamese community in Southern California and around the world."

Black April commemoration ceremonies are held annually on April 30th to mourn the loss of those who gave everything in the cause of freedom. Ta emphasized the significance of this day and the sentiments attached to it, saying, "Honoring someone on Black April who purposely worked with the horrific communist regime is not just poor timing, it unnecessarily causes pain to our community and re-opens the wounds of war."

The Assemblyman called on the Board of Supervisors to take immediate action, urging them to reconsider their decision and engage more closely with the Vietnamese-American community. Ta stated, "I call on the Board of Supervisors to immediately rescind this honor and work closer with the Vietnamese-American community to understand the pain caused by this decision."

The controversy surrounding the designation of “Jane Fonda Day” on Black April by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors continues to evoke strong emotions within the Vietnamese community, prompting calls for reconsideration and understanding from Assemblyman Tri Ta.