Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Lindsey Horvath will introduce a motion to change the date of “Jane Fonda Day” following a backlash from members of the Vietnamese-American community.
As City News reported Monday, the board recently passed a resolution authored by Horvath, which declares every April 30 “Jane Fonda Day.” However, April 30 is also the anniversary of the fall of Saigon when South Vietnam fell to Northern forces. Also known as “Black April,” it ushered in a repressive communist regime and led to one of the largest refugee crises in history.
Fonda sparked outrage in 1972 when she traveled to Hanoi to meet with the North Vietnamese, and was even photographed on an anti-aircraft gun. Given her anti-war activities, many Vietnamese-Americans considered the board’s resolution a slap in the face. The resolution was condemned by a number of state and local politicians, as well as the Westminster City Council.
On Tuesday, the the Los Angeles Times reported that supervisors plan to move “Jane Fonda Day” to April 8 out of respect for the Vietnamese community. The board will consider the motion at its May 21 meeting.
Constance Farrell, a spokesperson for Horvath, said the initial date choice was not meant to be offensive.
“The April 30 date was a function of our board schedule and was unintentional,” she told the Times.