New Flag Controversy Rises in Little Saigon

WESTMINSTER —  Just when life was returning to normal in Little Saigon, new conflicts are looming that threaten to further divide the Vietnamese community and put it at odds with other residents as well.

Although some say the friction creates the opportunity for a new dialogue and understanding between Vietnamese and the larger community, others fear a confrontation Friday when thousands are expected to flood the city for events commemorating the fall of Saigon.

“There may be a clash,” said Do Trong Duc, president of the Vietnamese Community of Southern California, a nonprofit social services agency. “I am very worried about that.”

Underlying the tension is the latest blow to Vietnamese activists: the Westminster City Council’s decision Tuesday to back off from a compromise that would have allowed South Vietnamese flags to fly from city light poles with American flags Friday. The request, granted in past years, raised the ire of veterans groups and other longtime residents, who said it was disrespectful to the American flag.

But under the surface, some local Vietnamese leaders suspect, lingers a prejudice against them that was exacerbated by seven weeks of noisy protests over a video store owner’s display of a Communist Vietnamese flag earlier this year.

“I just feel a lot of people opposed our request under the pretext of patriotism. In reality, it just reflects a disturbing anti-Vietnamese sentiment in the community,” said Luan Tran, an attorney who supports the flag proposal. “I think that’s very regrettable. I think there’s a lot of bigotry from those veteran groups.”

The veterans and City Council members who opposed the plan, however, say the decision has nothing to do with the Vietnamese; instead, they say, the proposed display seemed disrespectful to the Stars and Stripes. But they acknowledge that the numerous South Vietnamese flags put up along Bolsa Avenue following protests at the Hi Tek video store has overwhelmed them.

“I’m not going to let people take over my city,” said Councilwoman Margie Rice, who had planned to support the flag display if it was for one day, but later changed her mind. “That’s what I felt like when I drove around and saw all those flags. They just arbitrarily put them on every building there. I feel like that’s wrong.”

Mayor Frank Fry, part of the 3-2 minority supporting the flag plan at an earlier meeting, reversed himself Tuesday because of the effect the controversy has had on the community.

“I have never seen a more divisive item come before this council. Ever,” said Fry, who was first elected to the council in 1966.

City Councilman Tony Lam was the only council member to vote in favor of the flag plan Tuesday. Ironically, he is also the object of a recall effort by Vietnamese who are critical of him for not supporting them during the first flag controversy. Lam has said he stayed out of the debate on the advice of the city attorney.

Police, meanwhile, say they have been working with community leaders to avoid a confrontation with local Vietnamese who are expected to show up Friday for a controversial rally. Police, who denied the rally’s permit for safety and noise reasons, say they will enforce ordinances against loud amplified noise and live entertainment.

Organizers of the event, who earlier this week vowed to hold it without a permit, said Wednesday that they will try to comply with those restrictions.