With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
LA County Moves 'Jane Fonda Day' On The Calendar After Vietnam War Controversy
Assemblymember Tri Ta was one of several California lawmakers of Vietnamese descent who protested Los Angeles County's designation of Jane Fonda Day.
(
Rahul Lal
/
CalMatters
)
Topline:
The L.A. County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday changed the date of "Jane Fonda Day" to April 8 after getting pushback from anti-Communist Vietnamese immigrants. The original date of April 30 coincided with the anniversary of the fall of Saigon — which felt like salt in the wound of refugees who haven't forgiven Fonda for her opposition to the Vietnam War.
The backstory: Earlier this month, the board chose April 30 to honor the actor during Earth Month for her environmental activism and other contributions. That date is also referred to as "Black April" within the Vietnamese American community, marking the 1975 fall of Saigon in southern Vietnam to the North Vietnamese Communists — and the end of the Vietnam War.
The backlash: Supervisors said the choice of April 30 was not intentional. But picking that date to recognize Fonda, who actively opposed the war and took an infamous photo in North Vietnam, angered her critics. Vietnamese American state legislators Sen. Janet Nguyen and Assemblymember Tri Ta, both Republicans, led the charge to rescind the honor.
Sponsored message
The compromise: Supervisors wanted to recognize Fonda with a date during Earth Month and chose April 8 instead. The vote at Tuesday's meeting was unanimous with Supervisor Kathryn Barger abstaining. Vietnamese Americans who testified at the meeting, including council members from Westminster, part of Little Saigon, expressed gratitude to the board for responding to their concerns.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
