Austin proclaims 50 years of Vietnamese American freedom and contributions
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Summary
Councilmember Chito Vela read a bilingual proclamation recognizing the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon and the contributions of the Vietnamese American community to Austin, citing economic and cultural impacts.
Councilmember Chito Vela presented a proclamation recognizing April 30 as a day to honor 50 years of freedom, perseverance and contributions by the Vietnamese American community in Austin.
Vela read a bilingual proclamation that recalled the fall of Saigon and the subsequent waves of displacement and resettlement. The text cited demographic and economic figures for Vietnamese Americans nationally and locally, saying more than 2 million Vietnamese Americans live in the United States and referencing economic contributions, including labor income and added value in 2022.
Vela thanked community leaders and volunteers, including Casey Lung, Chloe Chow Tran, Hung Le and Dr. Nam Nguyen, for organizing the ceremony and asked the council to recognize the community’s service and cultural contributions. The proclamation noted local institutions and community groups and said the city will continue to support arts and cultural spaces.
The remarks were ceremonial and commemorative; the transcript records no formal council action, ordinance or funding decision tied to the proclamation.