January 9, 2021
An assault on democracy took place this past Wednesday, January 6, when violent mobs attacked the United States Capitol. As the world watched the insurrection in shock, countless Vietnamese Americans experienced an added level of shame: seeing the yellow and red striped flag flying alongside symbols of white supremacy. For many, the Vietnamese Heritage flag represents the quest for freedom and democracy — a symbol of unity, pride, and honor that has no place among emblems of hate.
With this statement we condemn and repudiate the months-long attacks on America’s free and fair elections, fueled by dangerous conspiracy theories and misinformation which culminated in one of the most shameful moments in American history.
As Vietnamese Americans, we enjoy and respect the freedom to protest and the freedom to express dissenting views — basic rights that many people in Vietnam today lack and have been imprisoned for exercising. We absolutely reject blatant disinformation and violence. It is morally reprehensible for any leader to continue supporting President Donald Trump, whose seditious actions and divisive rhetoric undermine our democratic institutions and shared values.
Congress and the courts have affirmed the results of the recent election. We are committed to doing our part to support the American democratic system and to engage in the national discourse. As America moves forward, we reaffirm our commitment to fight for justice and opportunity for all.
45 Signatories (alphabetical by first name)
Andrea Nguyen
Cookbook Author
Angelina Trang Huynh
Co-founder and Executive Director, Vietnam Rise
Annie Le
President, Networking Organization for Vietnamese Americans
Atkinson Tran
President and Board of Directors, Vietnamese American Roundtable (VAR)
Bao Ky Vu
Former Bush 43 appointee
Binh Nguyen, MD
Vietnam For Progress
Cathy Vu
Interim President, Union of Vietnamese Student Associations of Southern California (UVSA)
Christine Hoang Nygaard
California Democratic Party Delegate
Daniel Albert, Esq.
The Daniel Albert Law Firm
Diedre Thu-Ha Nguyen, Councilmember
City of Garden Grove, California
Duc Nguyen
Emmy Award Winning Filmmaker, Right Here in My Pocket
Emmerick Doan
External Vice President, Phan Boi Chau Youth Association
Huy Pham
Founder, I Am Vietnamese
Huy Tran, Esq.
Partner, Justice at Work Law Group
Isabelle Thuy Pelaud
Co-founder and Executive Director, Diasporic Vietnamese Artists Network (DVAN)
Jenny Do, Esq.
Law Offices of Jenny Do
Khoa Le
CEO, Saigon Entertainment Network (SET)
Kim Bernice Nguyen, Mayor Pro Tem
City of Garden Grove, California
Lan Cao,
Author of Monkey Bridge
Lillian Trinh
President, The Union of Vietnamese Student Associations of the Southern Region of America
Liza Chu
Co-founder, Empowering Marginalized Asian Communities
Mai Du
Co-founder, Greater Malden Asian American Community Coalition (GMAACC)
Manh Kim
Editor-in-chief, TheNewViet
Michael Nguyen
Founder, Fitness and Martial Arts Southern California
Nancy Tran, PhD
Director, Radio TNT Sacramento-Central Valley, California
Nhat Anh Ho, OD
CEO, Focus Vision
Nina Hoabinh Le
Publisher, Viet Bao Daily News
Pamela Huynh
Co-founder and Executive Director of Viet Family Center of GA
Philip Nguyen
Lecturer, College of Ethnic Studies, San Francisco State University
Phu Do Nguyen, Esq.
Do Phu & Anh Tuan, PLC
Quan Nguyen, MD
Museum of the Republic of Vietnam
Ryan Hubris
CEO, Royal Jade Group
Sophia Duong
Owner, NVRadio
Summer Phung
President, Union of Vietnamese Student Associations of the Southeast (UVSASE)
Tammy Tran
Co-founder, VietAct
Thang Do
CEO, Aedis Architects
Thu Nguyen
Director, OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates
Truc Ho
Musician
Trung Duong Nguyen Thi Thai
Writer/journalist, damau.org
Tu David Phu
Top Chef 15, TDP Enterprises LLC
Tuan Hoang
Associate Professor, Pepperdine University
Tuong Vu
Professor & Director, US-Vietnam Research Center, University of Oregon
Uyen Hoang
Executive Director, Viet Rainbow of Orange County, California (VROC)
Viet Thanh Nguyen
Co-founder, Diasporic Vietnamese Artists Network (DVAN)
Ysa Le
Executive Director, Vietnamese American Arts & Letters Association (VAALA)
