West OC Times

Rep. Michelle Steel has strongly condemned the decision of the L.A. Board of Supervisors to designate April 30, 2024, as “Jane Fonda Day,” a move that has sparked outrage within the Vietnamese American community. In a statement, Rep. Steel expressed her dismay, stating, "Instead of standing with the Vietnamese civilians and American soldiers who were displaced, tortured, brutalized, and killed during and after the Vietnam War, Jane Fonda allied herself with the communist Viet Cong."

The congresswoman went on to criticize the Board's choice to honor Fonda on the poignant anniversary of the Fall of Saigon, emphasizing, "It is unconscionable that the L.A. Board of Supervisors would choose to honor someone with a history of such disdain for innocent Vietnamese and American veterans on the somber anniversary of the Fall of Saigon." Rep. Steel further added, "To elevate Hanoi Jane over the Vietnamese Community, Americans who sacrificed their lives, and the loved ones they lost to communism, is deeply offensive to the freedom-loving Vietnamese Americans who bear such tragic and painful memories of the Vietnam War."

Representing areas in Los Angeles County and Orange County, including the prominent Little Saigon community, Rep. Michelle Steel has been a staunch advocate for the Vietnamese community. Over the years, she has actively supported and honored the Vietnamese Community through various initiatives and legislative efforts.

Among her endeavors, Rep. Steel has authored resolutions annually to commemorate Black April, introduced legislation to rename the U.S. Post Office in Westminster, CA as the “Little Saigon Vietnam War Veterans Memorial Post Office,” and co-chaired the Congressional Vietnam Caucus and the Victims of Communism Caucus. She has also engaged in meetings with families of journalists and prisoners of conscience in Vietnam and urged administration officials to address human rights violations in the country.

In response to the controversial recognition of Jane Fonda, Rep. Steel has called for the immediate rescission of the honor. She has been a steadfast voice for the Vietnamese American community, advocating for justice, remembrance, and respect for those affected by the Vietnam War.