A Vietnam communist flag on display at the Plaza Park on 5th.  The display of this flag has caused great pain and grave concerns for tens of thousands of Vietnamese Americans in Oxnard and in Southern California, where a very large body of Vietnamese Political refugees and former South Vietnam Army veterans called home.  After the fall of South Vietnam in 1975, more than three hundred thousand former South Vietnam veterans were thrown into numerous jails throughout the jungles – where they was jailed from a few years to a dozen years or more.  They were forced into hard labor, physical and mental torture to break their demeanor and soldier dignity – Many tried to escape and were shot to kill when spotted.  These tortures bear physical and metal scars.  Till present days, many still suffer the Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Researching on the Plaza Park’s events shows an upcoming 23rd Annual Multicultural Festival on Saturday October 6th.  And it prompts us to speculate the display of international flags was to recognize and celebrate the diversity of communities in Oxnard.  While we commence the City for such a noble cause in organizing the celebration, our community has grave concerns and are upset when we notice a display of  the communist flag which represents the brutal oppressions toward its citizens.  We are hoping for a good answer that perhaps, City staffs in searching for and ordering flags of the nations that are a part of the ethnic communities in Oxnard, did not comprehend the nuance difference between the Vietnamese Political Refugee Community (who had dared all including their life in search for Freedom, of which the Yellow flag and three red stripes symbolizes) and that of the brutal communist/dictatorial regime (of which the Red flag symbolizes as bloodshed and terrors.

We sincerely request the City of Oxnard to consider replacing the Vietnamese communist flag with the Yellow and Three Red Stripes flag – it is recognized by this Great State of California as the Heritage Flag of the Vietnamese American Community.  This Yellow Flag is also officially recognized and displayed widely throughout the cities of Garden Grove, Westminster, Santa Ana, etc.

Vietnam under communist regime, is listed by the US State Department and by the Human Rights Watch, as one of the top violators of human rights and human trafficking.  This brutal regime continues to rob defenseless people of their lands and homes.  Religious leaders are still being persecuted.  Bloggers, musicians and activists are still being beaten, tortured and sent to jail without a trial, let alone a fair trial – the people are still being oppressed every day (link to report by the Human Rights, Watch, https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2018/country-chapters/vietnam).  Three months ago, Will Nguyen, a U.S. citizen and a Yale honor graduate, was beaten, kicked and dragged on the street by government police staffs.  With blood spattered all over his face and shirt, he was thrown into the back of a police truck.  All that, simply because he joined thousands in a peaceful protest.  His ordeal was reported on Fox News, BBC, New York Times, the Time, Washington Post, etc.

Displaying the Vietnamese communist flag here in this county is like displaying the Nazi flag in the heart of the Jewish community or the KKK flag in the heart of the African American community.  The City of Garden Grove, Westminster, and Santa Ana have all passed resolutions opposing the display of the red flag with a yellow star within the city.

Phat Bui, Chairman
Vietnamese American Federation of Southern California