38th Black April Commemoration – In Response to SJMN IA’s May 6th

SAN JOSE, Calif. - May 7, 2013 - PRLog -- SAN JOSE, Calif. – On Tuesday, April 30, 2013, the Vietnamese American Roundtable (“VAR”) hosted the 38th Black April Commemoration at San Jose City Hall Rotunda.

Black April is a deeply meaningful and important occasion for the Vietnamese diaspora remembering the Fall of Saigon. The 38th Black April Commemoration marked the historical significance of this period through photo and video exhibits, student art, and personal stories from community members. The community was diversely represented, from former US and South Vietnam veterans to local high school students, grandparents to grandchildren, who came together under the Rotunda to reflect on the number of lives lost and forever changed as a result of the Vietnam War.

In response to the Mercury News Internal Affair's May 6, 2013 article (http://www.mercurynews.com/internal-affairs/ci_23176609/internal-affairs-after-embarrassing-rape-comments-california-republican), VAR wishes to clarify that it does not take any position supporting or endorsing Vice Mayor Madison Nguyen, or any candidate for public office. Vice Mayor Nguyen’s statement that “many of the youth who helped organized [sic] the event are supporters of mine” is therefore counter to the VAR’s intention that the 38th Black April Commemoration and the efforts of its members are not used to advance any political agenda or campaign. The statement is also not accurate.  

VAR welcomes a variety of differing opinions and perspectives from its individual members and the San Jose Mercury News is encouraged to engage and communicate with these members directly to avoid the publication of statements which may be misconstrued. As such, the individual opinions do not reflect the opinions of VAR as a whole.

VAR wishes to thank the numerous volunteers, business and community sponsors for their overwhelming support of the 38th Commemoration of Black April. Substantial volunteer hours were expended to make this event meaningful to our community as a whole. We wish to specifically thank the City of San Jose, the offices of Councilmember Kansen Chu and Councilmember Ash Kalra for their sponsorship, time and staff support in organizing this event. We send our deep gratitude to all of our speakers, legislators, trustees, students and community who came and participated in the event.

VAR meets on the first Tuesday of the month at varying locations. To learn more about VAR please visit: https://www.facebook.com/VARoundtable or contact us at info@varoundtable.org

Link to SJMN IA’s May 6th article: http://www.mercurynews.com/internal-affairs/ci_23176609/internal-affairs-after-embarrassing-rape-comments-california-republican

Contacts:

https://www.facebook.com/VARoundtable
info@varoundtable.org