On a sunny Sunday afternoon, the Voice of Vietnamese Americans (VVA) led several rallies, denouncing China for its aggression in Asia over territorial disputes, including “placing Oil Rig Hai Yang 981 in the Exclusive Economic Zone of Vietnam.”
VVA President Genie Nguyen stressed the rallies were a “demonstration for the sovereignty of Vietnam, peace in Asia Pacific,” and a prayer for Buddhist Dong Xuan who self-immolated in a protest.
She said 20 other organizations in the Vietnamese American community in Washington D.C, Maryland and Virginia joined the rallies, which began at the embassy of China, located in the nation’s capital. “We came by bus or individual cars, and we also rallied in Virginia, maybe a hundred in all,” she said in a phone interview.