ICYMI: Rep. Derek Tran Hosts Event Series, Introduces Bipartisan Resolution to Commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Fall of Saigon
Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, on the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, also known as Black April or “Tháng Tư Đen,” Congressman Derek Tran (CA-45) held a series of events and brought a bipartisan group of Members of Congress together to commemorate this solemn milestone.
Rep. Tran is the first Vietnamese American elected to the U.S. Congress from California and the son of refugees who fled communist Vietnam. California’s 45th Congressional District is home to Little Saigon, the largest Vietnamese diaspora in the world. Rep. Tran led these events from Washington, the center of American power, to amplify his community’s voice and share their history from the national stage.
Congressman Tran introduced a bipartisan Congressional Resolution to formally recognize April 30th as the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon. The resolution formally acknowledges the significance of Black April, ensuring that no communist regime can erase the stories of Vietnamese soldiers and refugees from history. The full text of the resolution can be found HERE.
Rep. Tran held a press conference at the U.S. Capitol recognizing the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, and honoring the sacrifices of former Republic of Vietnam veterans and U.S. veterans who fought alongside one another in the name of freedom and democracy. Rep. Tran also acknowledged the resilience of the Vietnamese refugee community, highlighting their courage as they searched uncharted waters for liberation abroad. Rep. Tran was joined by Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Chair Grace Meng (NY-06) and Reps. Judy Chu (CA-28), Sam Liccardo (CA-16), and Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), as well as Virginia Delegate Kathy Tran and Christina Bich-Tram Le, a Vietnamese-American journalist from Little Saigon in Orange County, California.
Rep. Tran also welcomed Vietnamese human rights activists and former prisoners of conscience to a roundtable discussion, where they shared their personal journeys and spoke about the state of human rights in Vietnam. Speakers at the event included Dr. Nguyen Dinh Thang, CEO & President of Boat People SOS; Quyen Dinh, Executive Director of the Southeast Asian Resource Action Center; Michael Nguyen, former prisoner of conscience; and Mr. and Mrs. Dang Dinh Manh, human rights defenders in exile. Also in attendance were CAPAC Chair Grace Meng (NY-06) and CAPAC Chair Emerita Judy Chu (CA-28).
Congressman Tran ended the day with a Black April Commemoration event, where community leaders gathered to share personal journeys of struggles, triumphs and resilience. The Congressman was joined by House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and House Whip Katherine Clark, who gave remarks in recognition of how the Vietnamese community has enriched our nation, and discussed Rep. Tran’s contributions to Congress thus far.
“Today, in some ways, is really a full circle moment that captures the strength and the spirit, the resolve, of the Vietnamese American community,” said Leader Hakeem Jeffries. “This is the people’s house, and to have so many prominent members of the Vietnamese American community here with us is what makes this Capitol special. Our values and your values are the same, and the Vietnamese American community makes America stronger.”
“To see Derek be able to take that American experience of having refugee parents, of volunteering to be in the army at 18 years old, to go on to be an attorney, and have this career defending civil rights and justice, and a small business owner with his pharmacy with his family–all of this is the dream we have for all of our families,” said Whip Katherine Clark. “And Derek, in his short time here, has just been what we so often see in the Vietnamese American community. That success–already a leader in our caucus, a model for us to look at, who knows exactly where his roots are, knows what is important to his community at home, and is here to be a voice for them.”
Rep. Tran spoke aboard the U.S.S. Midway last week to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon and Operation Frequent Wind, where he honored the legacy of Black April and expressed his gratitude to the brave Veterans who laid down their lives defending democracy. Rep. Tran also joined Pan-Am to recognize the 50th anniversary of Operation Babylift, an American mission to evacuate Vietnamese children orphaned during the fall of Saigon to safety. Rep. Tran paid tribute to the courageous flight crew and personnel who made Operation Babylift possible while recognizing the lasting impacts of displacement on the children who were evacuated.
Black April is a solemn time for the Vietnamese community to remember the sacrifices of those who fled their homeland in search of freedom, and to honor the resilience of the refugees who have rebuilt their lives around the world.
Congressman Derek Tran represents California’s 45th Congressional District. Serving his first term in Congress, Congressman Tran is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and House Small Business Committee, where he is Ranking Member of the Oversight, Investigations, and Regulations Subcommittee. Congressman Tran is the son of Vietnamese refugees, a Veteran, and fought for consumers as an attorney before entering Congress.