Council condemns VietRise content described as communist propaganda; vote 4‑0 with one abstention

The City Council on Sept. 24 adopted a resolution opposing promotion of content described in the staff report and public comment as "communist propaganda" distributed by the organization VietRise at a community event. The vote carried with one abstention.

Councilmember Fan West introduced the resolution, saying the city should "stand as a beacon of truth, liberty, and remembrance" and that the city should “reaffirm our commitment to preserving historical truth, defending freedom, and ensuring that the next generation understands the cost of tyranny.” Several councilmembers and members of the public said they found the content deeply offensive given the refugee history of Westminster’s Vietnamese community.

Vice Mayor Manzo and others criticized the staff packet for not including the full materials and urged staff to seek direct engagement with the organization before escalation. District 3 and District 4 councilmembers pressed for the council to both record its opposition and ask VietRise to engage with community stakeholders to present a balanced historical account.

Councilmember Nam Quan Nguyen said he had reviewed the organization’s social‑media post and described it as an unbalanced account; several speakers from the public asked VietRise to remove the social‑media material or otherwise engage survivors and diaspora historians.

The motion passed with one abstention (Vice Mayor Manzo). Council recorded the action as a statement opposing the material and reaffirming the city’s commitment to historical accuracy and community dialogue.