85C - SUPPORT HUMAN RIGHTS VIETNAM

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WHEREAS, that act of provocation resulted in fifty-three (53) continuous days of demonstrations, with more than fifteen thousand (15,000) persons demonstrating in the Little Saigon business district against the symbols of the Vietnamese communist regime; WHEREAS, the City of Westminster incurred expenses in excess of seven hundred fifty thousand dollars ($750,000.00) as a result, including not only the additional cost to the Westminster Police Department, but also the costs of support from neighboring law enforcement agencies which assisted in controlling the unprecedented demonstrations; WHEREAS, the demonstrations of 1999 in the Little Saigon business district, caused by the provocation by a sympathizer of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, required the services of hundreds of law enforcement officers from multiple jurisdictions to maintain the peace and avoid further civil disturbance and unrest; WHEREAS, the anti-communist sentiments held by members of the Vietnamese- American community in Orange County, and particularly in Westminster, are as strong, if not stronger, than those held anywhere else in the world; WHEREAS, the risk to public safety and to the community, and also to representatives and officials of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam or their commercial or trade delegations, from stops, drive-bys or visits in or near the Little Saigon business district or the Westminster Vietnam Veterans War Memorial, particularly when inadequate notice is provided, are enormous, creating a significant threat of civil disturbance and unrest; WHEREAS, from stops, drive-bys or visits In or near the Little Saigon business district or the Westminster Vietnam Veterans War Memorial, by representatives and officials of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam or their commercial or trade delegations, are certain to provoke, and appear to be intended to provoke, outrage and reaction by the Vietnamese-American community; WHEREAS, the City of Westminster has extremely limited financial and human resources to respond to large scale civil disturbance and unrest, which could be anticipated from such provocative acts, and this Is compounded by the current budget deficit in the State of California, which Impacts all counties and municipalities in the State, Including Westminster; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Westminster does hereby resolve, determine and find as follows: 1. The City Council does not condone, welcome or sanction stops, drive-bys or visits, by representatives and officials of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam or their commercial or trade delegations, within the physical boundaries of the City of Westminster, which includes the Little Saigon business district and the Westminster Vietnam Veterans War Memorial, as such provocation could result in a repeat of the mass demonstrations of 1999 and the unprecedented financial burden imposed upon the City of Westminster by same; 3835-2 85C-4